In Matthew 4:19, Jesus says “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” This verse means more to me now that we are doing ministry here in Uganda. Over the last 8 years, it has been amazing to witness the way God is moving in and through the lives of people here. As Leland and I have both mentioned previously, discipleship (making “fishers of men”) has not been an easy road. But Jesus’ call isn’t an easy one. He never promises health and wealth, although that’s often a lie told to people from all backgrounds. He actually says the opposite: that we will be persecuted, mistreated, abused, taken advantage of, scorned, laughed at…we will be tempted and pursued by Satan to discourage us and pull us away from God.

But God is faithful. Jesus is victorious. And we get to see how the Holy Spirit is transforming lives to be more like Jesus here on earth.

My first discipleship group was an emotional and spiritual challenge. The ladies were very spiritually immature, even though they would never admit it (which was part of the problem). They were hoping to get some financial benefit out of being in the group or from being close to me. Even my co-leader left the group once she realized it wasn’t the employment opportunity she was wanting. But I have stayed in contact with the ladies through phone calls, visits, and conferences, and I have watched how God continues to move in their hearts and lives. It may have been at a much slower pace than I wanted, I have seen how God is transforming each of them into who HE wants them to be. I have also experienced how God has been growing me through my relationships with these ladies: in trusting in His timing and in His plans. He has also humbled me, reminding me that I am NOT the one to save them, but Jesus. My job is to disciple them – He will do the rest.

The first discipleship group met together again this year to catch up, worship together, share how God has been working in our lives, and pray for one another. This year was especially good because we all needed the encouragement and prayers. Over the past several months, every single one of the ladies shared the different challenges they had been experiencing, and they were intense! Health issues on the verge of death, miscarriage and difficult pregnancy, death of family members, children sickness and disease, struggles and divisions in the church, suicidal thoughts, people questioning motives and faith, etc. We spent most of our time together in prayer because we all needed it. But it was also very encouraging to hear how their faith had grown, how they had relied on God through the situations, and how they had grown in His Spirit. I saw God working in ways I wasn’t expecting because each of them was learning to rely on our One True Savior. And we were all encouraged because we knew we were still praying for one another throughout the year, even if we didn’t see each other.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” – Philippians 2:1-2

It was such an encouraging time and reminder of how God is moving, even when I don’t see it. And I hope this is encouraging to you as well. God is moving in our relationships, if we allow Him.