Halls

Halls
July 2015

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Our beautiful girls




Celebration Sunday – Simba Ulanga

We are packed like sardines in the biggest church in town, seats about one thousand, (Africans that is it, would only seat about 600 Westerners). But today there are about 2,000 jammed in this church. There are about 4,000 outside hoping to catch a glimpse of the new Christian hero named Simba Ulanga.

I was ushered in by church leaders and given a seat right next to the drummer, the last square inch available. As I entered the building a thick wave of humid air hit me in the face and I was hoping this would be a short service but experience told me otherwise.
I am now seated in this massive African crowd and being the only white man strangely enough I do not feel out of place in the least. I belong here though I will never look the same. Simba Ulanga is just now making his way to the front stage as the crowd cheers and a choir is singing a celebration song and of course the drummer is slamming away next to my ear.

Simba was released this last Thursday (Feb.22nd) about noon after his 62-day prison time. He was transported to the court house in a big armored truck; as if he were a terrorist, but to know that he is just a common man. What makes him different, I thought, the difference is that this man loves his God and that he is willing to die for his God and for what he believes. He does not just sing about it, he lives it. He knows who he is in Christ and this is what makes him a threat. I asked myself (this good missionary that I am supposed to be), “Do I truly know who I am in Christ?” “Am I a threat in the Spirit?”

I arrived a bit late on his Thursday court day. The previous Friday was supposed to be his court date but it was denied him once again and the following Saturday the churches were to have a demonstration walk through town. The local government disapproved of this demonstration plan and shut it down immediately for fear of possible rioting. The churches were not happy with this, but what can you do? There is freedom here to hold demonstrations - at least according to the law. But what does the law mean? Several pastors I was talking with there at the court house were telling me that money and leaders have the final say, even above the law itself. A bribe or a pay-off will keep someone in prison or let someone out. If the offender can out-bribe the convicted then he wins. What a great justicesystem I thought, the law itself cannot even defend you!

In the first update I mentioned the Muslims who bribed the judge to keep Simba in prison. I found out that a Muslim business man in Ujiji (the other side of town) who is the one with all the money paying people off. Ujiji is the town where Charles Stanley met Dr. David Livingston back in 1870.

Back in the church, Simba has just made his way up to the pulpit and the crowd is cheering. Simba starts off by saying that he is not allowed to preach in any public setting while out on bail, “I am not here to preach,” he says, “I am simply among my friends giving my testimony of how God has been with me during my time in prison.” He says this several times because some government leaders have been appointed to be here in this service to make sure Simba does not preach lest he be taken to prison again. Simba shared for about an hour, even shared a few scriptures. I was saying to myself, “Simba, you better be careful! At least let someone else read; you just give the reference.”

Simba mentioned a Muslim man he had met soon after arriving in prison. This man admitted that he had been on a committee assigned to kill Simba. This man told Simba that he was very surprised to actually see him in prison, “We had arranged through “witchcraft” for an ambush on your transfer route, you were to be shot down, how did you get here?” Astonished, this Muslim man told Simba that “You better be careful here in prison or you will die before you leave this place.” In Bangle prison there was a small group of Christians and Simba became pastor of this church. Its membership grew. There were six Christians who had converted toIslam but after seeing Simba’s life, they rededicated their lives back to the Lord.He prayed for and discipled many. Many Muslims wanted to know about this Jesus and came to hear Simba whenever he spoke.

Simba spoke of the many in prison who were there because of false accusations. A policeman if paid off will make false accusation on another person; throw him in prison just to get his payoff.I invited Simba for dinner at our house a few days after he was released. Simba has 7 children plus two “adopted” orphaned relatives. He has spent 3 different times now in prisons; these were 10 days or more. Simba along with others of his team have often spent one or two nights in different jail houses around the country. Over our dinner time he told of once he was invited to come and minister at this prison, Bangwe, where he just spent 62 days. Because of circumstances he never did go, he even walked by this prison once and remembered the invitation. He went on to say “Now I am inside this prison and not by invitation, I had many opportunities to minister now.” He said he was shown favor in prison, from the guards and even the inmates.

Simba is only out on bail and he still has a long way to go. His next court date is now April some time; that is of course, if things go well. He left two days ago on the train to see his family who are 1000 miles away. There has been three train wrecks in the last three weeks with numerous casualties. There are also many bus accidents throughout the country, killing thousands. What else can you do, the system does not offer security in any way. Many times one has to choose between the lesser of the evils, there simply does not seem to be any “goods” to choose from.
It is not always easy to see God everywhere, but God is everywhere; it is our job to make Him visible. Many missionaries get frustrated working here where it seems that nothing ever changes, after all these years of Christianity here in Africa has we really made an impact? Yes there is change to some degree, but the spiritual strongholds is something that missionaries are now starting to understand in these spiritual cultures. Until we bind the strongman of the house, how can we ever go in to that house?

In short; over all Africa, 1 out of 4 children die before the age of 5. The average age is 49; about 20 African nations are either in war or have extreme unrest. Islam and Christianity continue to be at war throughout this continent. In specific rural areas the oldest person is only about 15 years old due to all adults dying of HIV/AIDS. The orphans of Africa left behind due to the death of parents from Malaria to Aids are uncountable. The majority of Africans live on less than 1 dollar a day. Witchcraft and slavery are still widely practiced throughout the continent. There are likely several thousand different languages/dialects spoken. In Tanzania alone are 23 “unreached” people groups. A common belief among Africans is that they are cursed from the days of Ham in the book of Genesis. I am not trying to make Africa out to be a terrible place, it is a beautiful place and it has beautiful people, there is a beauty and a simpleness here that will never be found in the West. But the soul of Africa is by and large still without transformation and it is here where my heart cries out, Oh God bring in your truth and spirit that we may all be set free!

As Simba was leaving my house he shook my hand and gave a big thanks to all for your prayers and for those who have sent support. He asked that we continue to pray for him and help him out as we can for the fight is far from over.

I also am grateful to you all for your interest, prayer and support for Simba Ulanga. He and I will continue to be in touch as the months go by. If you would like to continue supporting Simba and the ministry he is involved in you are welcome to use the account in the USA or Denmark. All funds will be passed on directly, no administrationcosts will be taken out.
Blessings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lyle Hall

Bank Information:
Payments within United States only:
Checks made out to “UZIMA” with a separate note designating it to Simba Ulanga.

If transferring funds electronically, please email uzimausa@ywamuzima.org specifying what the donation is for.

UZIMA
Attention: Gaylen Beardsley,
P.O. Box 1875, Silverdale, WA 98383-1875
Phone: +1-360-308-9756

Wire transfer: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. /
Washington State / East Bremerton Branch
Routing number 512006217
Account number 1482166871