Updates

What Africa really needs

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

This is an article that I read on The Gospel Coalition website a few weeks ago. This story proves why we are focusing on more training of Christian leaders and discipleing believers in Africa at UWM (read to the end to hear more). It is an inspiring story of what God can do through anyone.

Bringing Christ to Castaways

He was cursed before he ever came out of his mother’s womb.

Maxwell Blay grew up in Ghana as an outcast of his tribe, stigmatized as unclean by virtue of being the tenth-born of his mother. The Bulu curse branded him and all those around him. Yet he had not been aborted before birth—the fate of his kind—or killed or abandoned in the jungle. Instead, his parents chose to keep him, even in the face of condemnation. His mother, strengthened by her Christian faith, put her trust in the Lord in sending Maxwell to them.

The belief in Bulu or Badu, the Ghanaian name meaning tenth-born child, springs from dark tribal folklore in remote areas of the country, and marks people as cursed. This same superstition applies to so-called “spirit children,” those born disabled or diseased, or whose mothers die in childbirth.

Though no official statistics exist, it’s believed that thousands of babies have been put to death. Untold more are abused, exploited or abandoned.

Maxwell, whose wife, Joana, is also the tenth-born in her family, carries a heavy burden for castaways. Through God’s miraculous providence, he became founder and president of Ransom Foundation, an indigenous Christian charity. In 2007 he partnered with the Children’s Hunger Fund Mercy Network (CHF)to reach out to people in dire poverty. To read more….http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/bringing-christ-to-castaways

In 1910, 9% of Africans professed to be Christian. Today, that number is 38%. This tremendous growth has left Africa in a desperate need of discipleship and leadership training. By 2050, it is estimated that 1 in 3 Christians in the world will be African.

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One of the ways we, UWM and the RouseHouse, are tackling this great need is through a ministry in South Africa called East Mountain. They are dedicated to developing Christian leaders from Africa as well as the US. Participates in the East Mountain program receive practical experience in local ministry while being mentored spiritually and theologically by seasoned leaders. These participated return to their local communities more equipped to be effective, godly leaders. m,mm

I am very excited to share with you that Lara and I will have the chance to visit East Mountain in Cape Town this month! We both feel blessed to have this opportunity to travel together as well as it is the first time in 5 years that both of us have been in Africa!!! Please pray for us as we prepare and travel to South Africa. We will be sure to send some vlogs (videos blogs) while we are there.

Thank you for all that you do in partnering with the RouseHouse!

 

 

 

Super Heros or Missionaries

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

(None of these pictures are UWM personnel or ministry sites) 

  I LOVE missionaries! Since the age of 14 I have had a draw to those who are living out there faith in big ways among another culture…why I ask. 

  
I am standing here in a time of worship with a group of missionaries and I begin to wonder what is it that is so remarkable about them. They truly are amazing people and families, so what is it about them? 

  This is a personal reflection that I have listed out that I thought I would share with you. I share it because I believe that they aren’t some super Christians or more anointed children of the King than anyone of us have the right to, but when you are with them you realize there is something more about them. So, here is what I have noticed…

  • They pursue God all out with their life! 
  • Worship is sweeter to them
  • Prayer is more powerful to them
  • That care deeply for others
  • Their love is not just a theory but an action
  • They are normal people that believe God can use them
  • They have the idea that life is short so enjoy it…they know how to have fun! 
  • They care less about themselves and more about others
  • They see people as those loved by God 
  • They are adventurous
  • They are a bit crazy (in a good way)which leads them in faith not rationalizm 
  • Their joy is attractive 
  • They are steadfast and strong

  
Missionaries are encouraging, inspiring, and in my mind, resemble Jesus. The hero’s of faith that I look up to and use as guides to who God wants me to be actually have faces and names that the majority of this world will never know…I thank God that I have the previledge of knowing many of them that are true world changers! 

 

Thailand weekly update, 2016

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

Earlier this year I decided to start vlogging instead of just writing blogs. I’m still trying to get the hang of it. One reason for this change was to give others an opportunity to experience the amazing places I get to visit and people I work with. Unfortunately, here in Asia I am not able to disclose many of our field personnel due to safety measures but I can share the beauty of God’s creation like here in Thailand! 

This week is the annual UWM Asia Conference and here is an update of me sharing what I have been able to experience and get out of this time. Thank you for following along! 

Everything is going to be alright

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

Tis the season…

This is this Christmas season. It is also the season that most of us get sucked into stress, worry, and feeling overwhelmed because of the extra financial items in the monthly budget. I could talk about how bad this is and how this is nothing more than the enemy distracting us from the real reason for the season, Jesus, but this week I am caught up in the cycle of worrisome and frustration too. Therefore, I am probably not the best to be talking about the reason for the season.

We have been trying to save money for a new car since both of our cars have well over 200,000 miles but it seems like the more we try the harder it gets. Just in the past few weeks we have had expensive plumbing issues, both cars needing extensive repairs, medical bills from Lara’s shingles and my ankle, and all that comes along with Christmas. Needless to say the car fund has been depleted and I have been stressing over my stupid, rich, first world problems! (Embarrassed but honest)

–On the bright side I am SO thankful that we had the money to pay cash for some of these items. That is a blessing and we know it!–

After spending some much needed time of being refreshed by the Holy Spirit, I began looking through some emails and work stuff when I ran across this..It was a video from one of the missionaries I support in Africa that serves local at-risk-children. It was a GREAT reminder that “everything is going to be alright because of Jesus“. Hearing little African voices singing this song broke me, renewed me, and reminded me that life is all good with Jesus. I am blessed. 

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I am thankful for the small reminders my Heavenly Father sends me right when I need it! He is so gracious and merciful to this slow learner he calls, His beloved.

Set the date

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

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Dating from the Urban Dictionary:

1. To see someone.
2. To be with someone.
3. To be “together”.
4. The action of doing any sort of various activities to gain acquaintance with someone romantically.

When Lara and I were just teenagers we began dating each other. These are some of the greatest memories that I have. We use to have fun together, eat dinner, drink coffee, walk around parks, sit at the airport and watch planes, and ride around in my Jeep just holding hands. It was awesome! For some reason when people get married, begin having children, and get real jobs they think it is also time to stop dating each other. We believe that this is the exact time that we should be dating one another!

About a week and a half ago in the middle of a busy season of travel, work, and ministry Lara said she needed a date day. What a great idea it was! We dropped the boys off at school, left Elly with someone, and hit the road. We drove up to Black Mountain just outside of Asheville for the day. It was the perfect day. Nice weather. Good food. Shopping.  Hiking. Enjoying the changing leaves. But my favorite time of the whole day was just me and my love sitting at the top of the mountain talking, laughing, and enjoying the view. There was nowhere else I would have rather been in that moment and nowhere else I would rather be right now!

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Some may think that it was irresponsible to take a day off in the middle of the week. It absolutely was the right thing to do that day! Going on a date with my wife was just what I needed. The next day at work a friend asked how it was and I told her that it was good medicine. I seriously felt recharged and ready to tackle the world.

The question of dating your spouse is not a question for the RouseHouse. The only questions we have are when is our next date and how often can do this together. We want our marriage to last, be healthy, and be an example to others. To accomplish these goals we must make time to date, talk, laugh, and love on each other! IMG_8186