The Power of Prayer and God's Word in Crisis (Update on Baby Jane, Ebola in Uganda, and Harvest Crusade)

In this episode, Daniel Mamora and Pastor Gary Kusunoki discuss the heartbreaking realities faced in Uganda, the power of prayer, the importance of God's Word, and how believers can respond to darkness with hope and faith.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:01

Welcome to God Stories, the broadcast ministry of Ingater National Relief, where our mission is to share the love of Christ with others around the world. We disciple and raise up leaders to preach the gospel to unreached people groups, minister to the inner city and poverty-stricken areas in the U.S. and abroad, provide support to local police and relief organizations in response to natural disasters. We work to train up chaplains in the police and civilian industry. And we assist churches in training teams permission and disaster response. We hope you're blessed by what you hear in this next half hour or so about what God is doing through this ministry.

SPEAKER_04 0:48

We want to update you with a couple things, and we're going to go in depth in that uh these next few minutes uh during our time together. And um kind of have some sad news to report. Um, those of you that subscribe to our text thread, uh, you've probably seen it, but in case you haven't, um I'm gonna hand this to Pastor Gary. Uh kind of a sad situation. Um, not kind of, it is a sad situation. And uh it kind of brings like awareness and light to what's really going on in there in Uganda. And um, Pastor Garrett will have you take it away.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

Yeah, uh my heart's pretty heavy. Um, we had a little baby named Jane, and she um the our field teams that go out uh every day of the week and uh survey the community, found her extremely severely malnourished. And um, so she was immediately transported by them to um a special feeding hospital um about an hour and 15 minutes away. And she was she was in really bad um shape, she was in critical condition, and um, because she was so malnourished, the family had no food, and and um they hadn't been able to feed her, and it was just a really sad situation. Cutest little baby, and um, you know, um uh we'll show you a picture here of her, and and you know, some of these kids they they actually look chubby, but it's not fat, it's swelling, it's a edema because of their malnutrition, their body, their whole body just swells up, and you know, you look at them and you say, Oh, they look pretty healthy, but but in reality, they're dying. And um, so anyway, so she was in in the hospital and she was starting to respond to care. And the parents uh or the caretakers came and removed her against medical advice. And the reason they took her out is because the witch doctors in our area had told them that they need to go get her, that um, you know, we're gonna kill her, and that that uh her the hospital's gonna kill her, and so he that that he could help her with his um witchcraft and traditional um herbs and medicines. And, you know, it was just so heartbreaking. So the the staff went to and our nurse went to see the caretakers and said, please, you know, let us bring your baby back. She's not gonna survive. And they said, no, the the witch doctor has told us he can cure her, and so we're we're going to uh trust him. And um, you know, and they they said, well, at least let us bring her to our feeding center, and then we can try and treat her from there. And they said, No, the witch doctor said we shouldn't do that, that we shouldn't trust you guys. And then um a few days later she died. And it was so, so heartbreaking because it was preventable. Um and and I just really wrestled. I mean, every time we lose a child, and and you know, the child children that we've lost in in the last few months have really been cases where um we got them too late and they never actually came into the feeding center. Um, in other words, they weren't there as part of our daily program. They were taken directly to the hospital. And the last one was one of the twins that that passed away. And I I just, you know, it's it's heartbreaking. I struggle over uh those things, those kids. And so I was just seeking the Lord and going, God, you know, uh what are we doing? Now, you know, our area, we we told you that that it's uh uh majority Muslim area, but it's a hundred percent witchcraft. I mean, you know, everybody but Christians is in involved in that. And um there's just such a hole that Satan has over this area that we need to pray for. And and please, um, we're asking um all of our followers and listeners and on on whatever platform we're on, please pray uh for people's eyes to be open. And I I think of you know, when Jesus started his ministry in Galilee in Matthew chapter 4, in verse 16, it says, The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has gone. From that time, verse 17, Jesus began to preach and say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And really, that's our prayer. That's what what we're asking is for the light of Christ to shine brightly in this whole region of darkness, and and that that the love of Christ will will shine through. So, so I'm I'm I you know, I don't want this to be a long podcast because I really want uh people to be praying and that that God would do just that, open, open blind eyes. And you know, I I mean it's not that we're not seeing that. We are. I mean, we're we're we we started in an in this area with just three uh three people and um some seven years ago and and now in our church, we we've got you know 250 adults, 200, 250 adults, and and uh 400 kids. And so um, you know, so God's doing the work and people are getting saved and and and and accepting the Lord, but there's still so much darkness and opposition. We I mean we have direct opposition from from the witch cra uh the uh witch doctors, whether it's blocking the road to the church or trying to block our the road to our compound, and you know, it's just been one thing after the the other. And you know, on top of that, you know, I uh I I'm I long to be there. And and Carol and I and Rebecca, you know, we've had our tickets canceled five times with two different airlines. Wow, you know, first it you know, in March it was was uh because of uh the war and we're flying on Qatar Airways, we're going through the Middle East, so that whole area shut down. And uh, and so then what we said is okay, we're gonna take our our we're gonna now reroute through Europe and uh we're gonna go on KLM. And for the last two months, KLM has canceled all their flights into Uganda because of Ebola. And uh so, and it's not like Ebola's out of control in Uganda. Actually, it uh seems to be very much in control, um, but they can't take a risk that their flight crews are going to get um you know grounded because they have to isolate or or quarantine um if they get exposed to Ebola. So they're not taking that chance. So they canceled all their take uh all their flights in June, all the flights in August. And so so then what I've said is okay, let's do this, let's let's just cancel uh KLM. It looks like Qatar's fine, and uh so we'll rebook on Qatar. Well, what happened yesterday? Qatar got bombarded by Iran, and so so you know, I mean, I'm I've struggled, honestly. I've struggled with this because we want to be there, and and you know, uh we want to be with our family over there, and and um, you know, I just think of of the times that that you know, the time that that the spirit hindered um Paul from from going into Asia. And instead he heard this, this uh, you know, had this dream of this man from Macedonia bidding him to come there. And and so, you know, and God used that to to further the gospel. And so, I mean, I I can only say that the spirit is hindering us at at this point, and God's I mean, I see a number of things that that God's doing. Um, so just continue to to pray for that, that also that that God would guide and direct us. I mean, um things are still going well in Nepal, in Uganda, and in Mexico. I I meet with our teams in Uganda, both the church team and the feeding center team every week. And um, and and they're doing well. And so, you know, the I think the other thing God's telling me is, you know what, Gary, I don't need you. You know, and it's it's not about me. And so, um, and because he's he's blessing the work over there. And in Mexico, and you know, the we just um one of our police officers there in Tijuana that our chaplains minister to, um, they have two young kids. His wife just passed away, and so from cancer, and so it's a Saldana family, and so we asked people to be praying for that. Um, one of our team members um from last year, uh Eric Chang, he and his he and his wife Sharon and their son uh Ronaldo were part of our team. And um last year going to Uganda, and Eric has has been faithfully just keeping in touch with everybody over there, you know, they love them. And and he just suddenly, um, you know, 57 years old, uh the Lord called him home and um two weeks ago, and he had a he had what we think was a heart attack and and just passed away. And so um, you know, it it's you know the one hand, um you know, it's extremely sad, and and we ask you guys to be uh praying for the the chain family, um, for Sharon and and their sons Ronaldo and and Joaquin, um, that God would minister to them and provide for them. And and um, and then uh, you know, just in the the midst of this, uh, there's joy because we know we're gonna see Eric again. You know, um, he was actually saved on a mission trip to Tijuana, uh, not with us, but with uh with his church. And he had just gone because his wife, you know, told him you have to go. And he ends up getting saved. This was about four years ago. And now now he's in the hands of the Lord. And so um, you know, I I I would say too, to bring this home, is there's so many people, um, people that I know and people all around, maybe that are even listening to this, that feel like they're sitting in darkness and that the darkness is just enveloping them and surrounding them. Well, Jesus is the light, you know, and he is the light in the darkness, and his message of salvation, of forgiveness of sins and and redemption, that's the light that that we all need in our life. And so I would urge anyone that's in that place wherever they are listening and just feeling like they're in darkness, to to come to Christ. And and He will cause that darkness to flee. That's his promise. And um so, you know, I know that that the Lord is faithful, and and I know that in the midst of all this, he's he's doing something. And I think one thing for you know, the community and and baby Jane is they saw the witch doctor failed, and he you know, she did not survive because um they took took her out of of the the hospital.

SPEAKER_04 14:14

It just kind of like reminds me to like Satan is the master, the father of lies, right? He's the master deceiver. You know, he promises that this will happen, or but literally, ultimately, he deceives us. And um, you know, it's so sad too when uh which is why the word of God, meditating on the word of God is so important, because we know what his promises are, and when we discern, we're able to be like, no, that's not of the Lord. Or if if it is of the Lord, and which is why, you know, um here in America, there's at least an average of two Bibles per household. In so many nations, they don't have access to the word of God and they're hungry for it. But yet we here in America are not hungry for it, we just let it lay there. And that's a reality to wake up to as well, on a spiritual sense, because when we do meditate on the word of God, you know, the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to see what's really happening, the real evil that's out there, and the real suffering that's happening, not some political um issue or anything like that, and I'm not trying to discount that whatsoever. But when we really see, hey, Mark's gospel, go into the world and preach the gospel, not just our little bubble here called United States of America says that's where we're recording at right now. I know many nations are watching right now, and many countries, so world countries are watching, because those countries that are watching us, you know, are pleaing for help, they're crying for help, they're asking the Lord, and they want resources, even just as simple as this. Just as simple as that. Why is it that on some of those nations, when you have possession of this, it doesn't matter what else you have, but when you have possession of this, why do they get so wild up? Why do they get so angry when someone holds this? Because in their heart they can't deny the power of the word of God, they can't deny the power of the Holy Spirit. They try not to acknowledge it, but they know in their heart they can't. That's how powerful the Word of God is. Yeah, and that's how powerful our Lord is, but at the same time, that's how graceful our Lord is, and that's how loving our Lord is, and He gives us that hope. And when God gives us a commission to go into the world and preach the gospel, take that, take that seriously and meditate on that. Meditate on everything that you read, and even if there's like some stories, you know, ask the Holy Spirit to speak through that. One pastor said it best if you don't ask the Holy Spirit to invite you when you're reading the word, all it is is just ink and paper. The Holy Spirit, he's the same yesterday, today, and forever. He's never changed. And so, and in regards to that, um, you know, with what we're talking about, like guys, wake up, wake up. I know there's so many crazy things happening here in the United States, but wake up. There are even videos there on social media that never make it to the mainstream media that of churches in Africa people being slaughtered literally for their faith. While there's hungry children still even in that same country, that same nation, and yet they're getting slaughtered because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Which is a whole nother definition of he who loses his life for me will find it. And so we need, we as Americans, and I'm and I'm speaking to myself as well, we need to put away our comfort zone and ask the Holy Spirit to wake us up and see what's going on. Because it's hor it's horrible, it's horrific. And these images you that you see, you're gonna think like, oh, this is AI generated. No, it's not, it's not at all. And so, um, Gary, do you want to you have anything else to add to that?

SPEAKER_02 18:54

Because well, yeah, I I just would say too that amen. Um the word of God in Hebrews 4 12, the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, peaceing, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and bone and marrow, and a deser discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And and the word of God has power, you know, because it's the spirit of God that is behind the word of God that is moving. And and you know, I I'll tell you, in Uganda, the a Bible is is in in our village is out of reach of people because they can't afford they're about ten dollars each, and you know, ten dollars is almost two weeks' wages for for these people. And and so, and and it's like they barely have enough to to feed their family. And well, they don't have enough, which is part of the reason why we've got so many kids in our feeding center. But um, for ten bucks, you know, what's that? Not even two cups of coffee at Starbucks and you know, um, and and it's just we could give somebody a Bible. And so, you know, we've been been getting Bibles into the church, and we just bought uh um a whole batch of children's Bibles, but but but we need more. We need more. And and so, you know, again, pray. Pray. You know, what's the three big things we always say, Daniel? Pray, give, or go. And, you know, pray for the people there, pray that God will provide for what they need, pray that God will open blind eyes, that light will come into the darkness, and that that God will will just um be able to penetrate in that darkness that that's there, and and that he will provide for for his people and for the church. And you know, um this week too, we've we've seen great things. We saw the water project finished at at the the um farming God's way farm and church compound. We saw saw the the you know, last year we actually did a a um like a car wash fundraiser to to um uh refinish the floors in the feeding center because they were just on bare concrete, and that just got completed yesterday. Um and hopefully we could put a picture of that, the beautiful floors and the water flowing, and you know, so so God's working in the midst of all this. And yes, and so um, but you know, if people have a heart to to even give 10 bucks, you know, to to um, you know, 10 bucks a month or five bucks a month, whatever, you know, God can use that in a a powerful way. And um, so You know, I just I and and then again to to to go and of course we want to go. And you know, God's God said not right now. And so, you know, we're just looking to God for his timing and and uh but you know we are are planning for a trip to Nepal again in in January and um so and prayerfully pray that that we're able to get out to Uganda in late September. That's our new goal, late September. So pray for that.

SPEAKER_04 22:36

Yeah, and uh those of you that have uh signed up or are interested in it, and um uh as far as the Uganda trip specifically, um please um keep on your email or your text thread. Uh we'll do our best to keep you updated uh with what's going on, if we're allowed to go or not, and uh and if we have to reschedule. Um so just keep uh be praying. Uh first and foremost, be praying, and then just be uh keeping an eye out when you're out as well. Um there's some things to celebrate about. Uh we got another event coming up on September 12th at Calvary South O.C. It's our other it's our another um annual fundraising dinner, and um it's free. Um I don't know if the RSVP is available on the website yet as we're speaking.

SPEAKER_02 23:26

Yeah, I think it is. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 23:27

So go to anchoredrelief.org and um and there'll be a registration link. It's free. Again, it's uh dinners provided. Um you just come join us September 12th at Calvary South O.C. We'll be out in the patio. Um just um, excuse me, um um fellowshipping with other brothers and sisters that are interested or have the have been in the uh mission field with us or just been mission field in general and um and just um be praying about how the Lord can use you to uh be a blessing financially and just what in whatever capacity. And so um again, September 12th at Calvary South OC, our fundraising derail. So RSVP on the website, anchorrelief.org. Um, another thing on that, Daniel.

SPEAKER_02 24:15

Um I'm just really excited. Our theme this year is this hope. And Anchored Relief is is based on Hebrews 6.19. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It goes behind the curtain where Jesus is entered on our behalf. And so it's how are we we bringing the hope of the gospel to our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria in the uttermost part? So it's it's not just about, hey, you know, support us, and you know, it is that, but it's about, you know, how is this happening in other parts of the world? But then it's also to spur us on as individuals, you know, because we have the hope that that the world is looking for, even though they don't know it, but we have it. We know it, we have it, and we need to share that hope and with whoever. And maybe it's our neighbor or a relative or whatever it might be. So I really am excited to see it as a time of encouragement and in our walk with the Lord and a time to glorify God for everything that He's done.

SPEAKER_04 25:21

Amen. And uh speaking of glorifying the Lord and the hope. Uh this past weekend, um at Angel Stadium, we've seen thousands of people come forward on the field to receive Jesus Christ at the Harvest Crusade. Um sadly, I missed that was the first crusade I've missed in 18 years going. And um uh for good reason, um, our good friends John Shear and Sammy Shapin got married uh this past weekend. Congratulations to them. And so uh, and uh John, of course, is um Billy Shearer's younger brother. You know, Billy, of course, has been uh with us uh in the past and um hosted this uh show as well. And of course, you know Casey, um, the other sister that puts all the car washes and all the events together. And so um, but congratulations to John and Sammy. But going back to the Harvest Crusades, just um just watching the archive, and uh you could tell the Lord was moving, it moves every year, and um not just an angel stand, but wherever they go. Um and uh just you know, of course, the worship was great. Pastor Rawl Reese, the giant in the faith, got to open up in prayer. Um, but most importantly, um just seeing so many souls come forward, and even seeing some of our church fam uh getting involved in being in the uh as a follow-up counselor and um and uh seeing the young generation just you know being used by the Lord. And that's a great example, too, just like hey, being used by the Lord, like here I am, Lord, send me. And um, and so and kudos to Pastor Greg Laurie and the Harvest team all these years uh just being faithful to um what God has called them to do. And and that's literally our all of our calls to do the works of an evangelist. And so um we're going there, here I am, Lord, send me, and the Lord has an assignment for us, and um, the Lord has been giving Pastor Greg, Kathy, and the team strength and blessing, and uh uh shout out to uh the harvest team for that. And um, it's so amazing just seeing it. Never gets old seeing people come to the Lord, and so and the Lord can use you too. Um and what we always emphasize here um in whatever we do, whether it's here at Anchored or wherever you go, pray. Pray, ask the Lord, what do you want me to do? And so, what's your will in my life? I want to be used by you. Here I am, Lord, send me. Sometimes it could sometimes sometimes it could be um out of the ordinary, it might not be, you know, something that you might not thought of in you know in your mind, but it's an assignment of the Lord. And so meditate on his word, pray, and you'll be able to see, you know, what the Lord can use and how the Lord can use you. And such a there's no greater blessing than being used by the Lord in the society of heaven. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 28:24

Amen.

SPEAKER_04 28:25

Amen. Yeah, of course, you could always reach out to us on social media, um, our phone numbers, uh, through text or through phone call, and um, those will be on the screens as well. And um guys, please reach out to us if you ever need help. If you ever um uh need prayer, need a Bible, you know, we have plenty of Bibles we would love to send to you. Um no charge whatsoever because there's no greater thing to have in your possession than the word of God. And um hold on to it like it's your life, because it is your life. It is my life. It should be everybody who believes in Jesus Christ, it should be everybody's life. So um, and stay tuned. Um, as we get closer to September, we're gonna raise awareness of about suicide, uh, because September is gonna be National Suicide Prevention Month. Um we're gonna try to bring awareness to that because this is one of the things too um that is not talked about, not just in the church, but just in general, and how much your life matters. And um, we're gonna have some incredible guests, incredible brothers um that I've partnered with the last few years, and even um and uh and even a pastor that um lost his wife to suicide. So um so just stay tuned for that. Um because you're definitely not gonna want to miss that. And uh we're gonna definitely um have some resources available for you um in case you guys need um um need to know how to um not only share um to someone that your life matters, but how much Jesus loves them. So um, but thank you guys again so much for joining us. And um but again keep update uh keep uh subscribe to our text for updates or just watch our our website or even our blog spot, anchorrelief.blog, and um and we'll keep you updated with all the latest news that we've got. So God bless you guys and have a great rest of your day and the rest of your week.

SPEAKER_02 30:30

Amen. And uh as we close, let me just uh close this in prayer. Yes. And uh Lord, we just thank you for all that you are doing. And Lord, we pray, we want to start praying right now. I mean, we have been, but let it let's continue that of uh praying that you would shine your light on the darkness in the the the our region and in Uganda, in Nepal, and Mexico, the areas that we're working are very dark spiritually. And so, Lord, shed your light, shine your light, strengthen our um the servants that are working there, the soldiers for you, Lord. Help us just to follow you, to know, Lord, in all things what you are telling us to do, that we go when you say go, that we stop when you say stop, that when you say turn left, we turn. And Lord, that we hear a voice behind us saying, This is a way walking in it, Lord. I pray, Lord, for for um we we do want to pray for the parents of Jane, the caretakers, that you would bring them to a saving knowledge of you. Use this, their heart, heartache, and heartbreak to bring them to a saving knowledge of you. And I just pray, Lord, that that um you would silence the mouths of these witch doctors, that they would would not be able to have any power or sway over the community. And people would see it for for what it is, uh, that it's just uh a ploy of Satan and it leads to death. And so, Lord, I just I thank you for the things that were accomplished uh in this this past week, and uh, flooring and the the feeding center getting done, the water project getting done, the the um Lord, all that you're doing, the the 60 youth from four different churches that got together in Nepal. And and um Lord, I also want to pray for our upcoming summer camp in Mexico with these uh inner city kids there and from Tijuana, that you would bless that and our work there and um all the cooking our team is doing for for this three-day camp. Lord, give them strength and and provide in every way. And Lord, for those here that are in darkness, that Lord, that they're in the midst of of you know America, or you know, they're in the midst of all this, and yet they feel like the darkness is enveloping them. I pray that they would reach out to you, that if they don't know you, that right now, that they would just confess their sins and say, Lord, I know that I'm a sinner. And I thank you for dying on the cross for me. And I ask you to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior and just wash me, cleanse me of my sins. And and Lord, just give me that new life in you and help me to follow you all the days of my life. And and maybe for those that that they're believers, yet they just seem like their their life is lost and they're all alone, Lord. That you would you would bring other believers around them, but most of all, you would comfort them with the words that you have never left them and you have never forsaken them. We just give this to you, give this broadcast to you, and and Lord, may it bring glory to you. Yes, sir. And may people get saved in Jesus' name. Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.

SPEAKER_04 33:59

God let you guys have a good day.

SPEAKER_03 34:06

We like to thank every single one of you for listening to God's stories. To connect with us, go to anchoredrelief.org and follow us on Instagram or follow us at our blog at anchorrelief.blog. You could also subscribe to our YouTube channel as well as our Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To subscribe to our text thread, text the word Air AIR to the number 949-384-9282. Again, that's 949-384-9282. Or you can call us directly on our office line at area code 949-432-6777. That's 949-432-6777.

SPEAKER_00 34:49

The Proceeding was a production and broadcast ministry of Anchored International Relief.