SOS

On this Thanksgiving weekend, SOS is thankful for the privilege granted to us, to participate in Christ's amazing work He is doing in East Africa. And we are thankful for YOU, for your prayers and support over the years.

" I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now"

- Philippians 1:3-5

As you make plans for year end giving, or participating in the international Giving Tuesday on December 1st, please consider partnering with SOS with the Bible College, Legacy Christian Academy and community outreach efforts to transform the village of Kubamitwe and nation of Uganda. Contact Us for more information, or

Donate Now.

Baptist Convention of South Sudan Leaders with SOS
(see article below - "Making an Impact on Sudan")

Rejoice and Be Glad!

by Shannon Hurley

Have you ever wondered what it would be like for Paul to establish all those churches across Asia Minor? Have you ever considered what it would have been like to see God powerfully save people throughout Paul's ministry? Well, I believe in Uganda I get a small glimpse into his life. I am able to see both his joy and suffering.For those that know my heart, I believe this is Africa's hour. I am convinced that God's last significant movement within the Church age is in Africa. Within Church history God has moved through Asia Minor, northern Africa, the Roman Empire, Europe, and in North and South America in massive ways. But until this modern day, most of Africa has been in darkness. Now within the last 50 years, God is powerfully moving through this land. It appears God has chosen what some would call the weak things of this world to shame the wise. As God moved through Asia Minor almost 2,000 years ago, I believe He is moving through East Africa today. And I feel so honored and blessed to be a part of what He is doing.

Praise God - new members at Community Bible Church of KubamitweThe work, however, is not all a bowl of cherries. It is hard. It is challenging. It is painful. Why? Because that is the way it is supposed to be. Remember that God told us that we would be persecuted. He said, "If they persecute me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20). He told us that our pearls would be trampled on and then we would be attacked (Matt 7:6). I have heard this truth all my life, but when it happens, I am still confused. I know I am working with sinners - people who know little about God -young sheep (or not yet sheep) who have only known sin, self, and sensuality.

I know that I am caring for babies in Christ, which is a messy and tiresome job. I know that I am shepherding sheep, which often leads to getting scratched and bitten. But sadly, I find myself being shocked and dismayed that these dear people I am trying to love are mistreating me. Too often I don't heed the words of Peter and instead am surprised at the fiery trials when they come upon me. Too often I find the sufferings of shepherding to be strange (I Peter 4:12-13), instead of expecting them as Jesus Christ foretold. Too often I feel sorry for myself and want to run away from the very people that need Jesus Christ the most, just because I want to protect myself and my image. Then I hear the words of Jesus, "Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is GREAT (Matt 5:12; I Peter 4:13). Or the words of Peter, "To the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed" (I Peter 4:13-14). And the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, "Do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."There is not a day that goes by that I don't stand amazed that God has given me a privileged ministry. And there is not a day that goes by that I don't see the scars of this war. But I am reminded that the reward to come is great and that the eternal weight of glory is going to be amazing. So pray with me that God will continue to help me to not lose heart, but to keep on rejoicing and be glad. Or as Paul said it in I Corinthians 15:58 pray that I will, "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."

- Shannon

An Interview with Sam Wamanga

SOS Community Outreach Manager

by Danielle Hurley

Walking through Uganda's History with Sam Wamanga

Chatting with SOS's manager of the Community Outreach department is an intriguing journey into the annuls of Uganda's history. Born during World War II in 1943, Sam grew up in the home of a well-respected chief. Though uneducated himself, his father valued education and made it possible for all of his own children as well as the children in his villages to attend school. In the 1960s, Sam remembers a stable economy in Uganda. He remembers reading statistics during that time that rated Uganda's economy as part of the highest 5 African countries. Uganda enjoyed profits from exporting cotton and coffee. Following high school, Sam studied at technical trade schools in Kenya and Uganda and was employed at the age of 22 as a technical officer for East African Telecommunications Co. He experienced Uganda's astronomic inflation firsthand. In the 60s, the USD $ exchanged at 7 shillings. Today, the exchange rate for $1 is 3,600 shillings!! In 1971, Sam purchased a used Japanese-made Corona sedan for 12,000 shillings, now equivalent to less than $3! What happened? The infamous Idi Amin came to power in the 70s and in his attempts for power, destroyed Uganda's economy...but not its faith.

Meeting the Lord

Having been raised by nominal Anglicans, Sam was familiar with the Bible, but didn't come to know the Lord until an evangelist visited his school. Sam remembers, "When he preached in a simple, clear language, it was so powerful and really convicted me of my sin and the need to repent. That's when I started my journey of repentance of serving the Lord as my Savior and Lord." This journey proved to be anything but easy, especially during the regime of Idi Amin.
Uganda's Persecuted Church

Sam recounts the state of the Christian church in Uganda. "In 1973, when Amin banned church meetings, Christianity at that time was so much in name, and Uganda was taken as a Christian country. But the Christians were just complacent, but were not serious with their faith. So we believe that God used Amin to awaken to the real meaning of Christianity. There was a kind of revival. During that time, that's when people started being more serious with their Christianity and others fell off completely." It was during this time when Sam transitioned from the Anglican denomination to the Baptists. After hearing a Baptist preacher teach the Bible, he knew that he needed to be there.Sam articulates the persecution under Amin: "We were not allowed to hold Bible studies or conferences. Of course, people (maliciously) would turn us in to the authorities. I was a bit crazy and went to the villages and encouraged them to continue to meet because our faith has been persecuted from day one. God has not promised you an easy way into his kingdom, but you must be willing to suffer. But Christians were FEARFUL! The African Christian wants to identify himself in a greeting with, "Praise the Lord," but that greeting subsided in fear of being apprehended. They withdrew from church activities. But others who took their grace seriously from the Lord grew stronger and stronger. And I think that was the best time for Christians. I really enjoyed that time, because if you were a bonafide believer, it could mean death or life. Christianity in Uganda was revamped during that era. But when Uganda gained freedom after Amin, Christianity slowly faded back into the same complacency. That's when you found this prosperity gospel-but before, we had no time for that prosperity thing. It was either life or death."

Sam personally received persecution by Amin's regime. He remembers having devotions as a family. "I read a passage from the Bible, sang songs, and we (my wife and I and my 8 kids) prayed. The army was making its patrols. They surrounded our home and accused me of breaking the law by praying. He (the officer) told me to lie down and take off my shirt. He whipped my back, tearing my skin. He was holding a gun in the other hand. I thought he may decide to finish my life. He just continued to lash me and warned me to never do it again. When others met in groups praying, some were rounded up and taken to prison. But I thank God that I didn't witness any who were killed."Sam's passion for the Lord led him to join the ministry full time in 1979. "I got so crazy loving Jesus. Most of the time I wanted to read the Bible, share the Bible, meet with people to study the Bible." Sam pastored a church and eventually served as the president of the Baptist Union of Uganda for 5 years in the '80s.
Sam Joins SOS

Sam attended the first year of conferences for the Baptists, back in 2008 on the Highly Exalted God. Sam recalls the impact of the teaching on his life: "...In my life, I had never heard anything like that. It was a new eye-opener. If I could grasp that, it would change everything else in my life. And I began to want to come to every future conference." As Shannon got to know Sam, he realized the valuable contribution he could make to SOS Ministries, and invited him to join our staff. Sam considered the invitation: "If I would join SOS, it was because I wanted to be near this man and hear more. His teachings were very inspiring and expository in the way of the truth. He was bringing out the truth of the Word of God, so I felt being near such a person would help me grasp the Bible because I love the Bible and growing my knowledge of God's Word."Having now served with SOS for almost 5 years, Sam looks back on the impact of SOS on his life. "Administratively, I have learned that we should dream to accomplish great things for the kingdom. Our leader has been emphasizing giving the best we could to the kingdom and the glory of God. I've seen a very high standard of the quality of Christianity here-in every way, especially in building families in God's Word, and raising men as God's leaders in the community, and using the Bible study groups as a form of evangelism. It has helped us recruit many Christians, and they come understanding the truth. The emphasis at church has been the drive to love Jesus Christ, and we should really love our Lord Jesus and pursue Him. In our men's muscle groups we have really learned that. In our other Bible trainings, it has been emphasized a lot. The issue is: do I love my Jesus? That is a very intimate thing because God is our best friend in this world...So here, I've gained the sense of God being central in the life of the Christian and it is pre-eminent. It should be utmost in one's life before anything else comes in."

Pray for SamSam requests prayer for the Baptist Union of Uganda (BUU), that SOS would be strengthened to continue ministering to its leadership so that their believers can be grounded in the faith.Sam requests prayer for his children to stay faithful to the Lord and actively serve Him wherever they may be.

Making an Impact in Sudan

One new encouraging development is SOS's new relationship with the Baptist Convention of South Sudan (BCOSS). This past month Michael Okwakols, that All African Baptist President and I met with their entire executive team to begin the process of rewriting their constitution. This convention is only a few years old and has over 200 churches. Some of their leaders have experienced SOS's impact in Uganda and are requesting that we extend our impact across the border. This newly formed country is virgin territory for the gospel and is in dire need of strong churches. It is so exciting to be on the front lines of what God is doing in East Africa.

To God be the glory.

A Neighborhood Pet

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Here is a pet that I found on our proper ty the other day. I decided to play with it so I could get a good picture of it for you. So many of you ask what kind of snakes we have on our property, so I thought I might send a picture of this five-foot friend. For those of you who are snake people, maybe you can let me know what kind it is as you pray for my kids' safety ☺.

- Shannon

Hurley Family Christmas Blessing

We would like to send the Hurley family a special blessing this Christmas. If you, or your church small group, would like to participate in this opportunity, please Contact Us for details. The Hurleys have a small "wish list" of special items for their unique home, which often hosts short-term mission teams along with the Hurleys "extended family" of local youth they are discipling and supporting. These special Wish List items include a freezer, lawn furniture, and an oven to handle the unique demands. Please prayerfully consider joining us in this treat for the Hurley, and let us know by December 8th if you are interested.

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November 2015

SOS Ministries Updates