When we walk in faith, we agree with heaven. at’s because faith is the language that spiritual realities understand. Faith also works in us to produce patience and perseverance, which build our character and make us mature Christians. is testimony draws men to the light of God within us, and opens a door to reshape mindsets and to impact our communities and cities.
Faith is acting on God’s word. Apart from a lifestyle of faith, no amount of religion can please God. God commands the believer not to lean on his own understanding but to esteem His word and voice above mere intellectual reasonings. Take a look at Abraham’s life, God called him out of his people and homeland to a land not known to him, and he obeyed. God also named him a father of many nations before he ever had a son of his own. Despite his old age and the bareness of his wife’s womb, he trusted God and received this promise.
It is awesome to note that there is always a word for every situation we face! (Mathew 4:4). When experiencing situations that contradict the will of God, always look to the Word and stand firm in it. e bible describes this way of living as fighting the good fight of faith!
e articles in this month’ s edition of the Hope Herald are inspirational. Under the Events Section, you get to learn about what is happening at Abundant Life Faith Centre and how to be a part of the action. Plus, we invite you to boost your courage by feeding on the testimonies of God’s doings in the lives of everyday people like you in the Testimonies Section.
e Hope Herald is one of the mission operations of ALFC designed to build you up for victorious living, and to transform you into a Hope Champion for your city and culture. Sign up for your monthly copy of the Hope Herald on our website: www.abundantlifefaithcentre.org. While there, visit the Events page for the latest opportunities to take your faith in God’s love to the next level. Plus, you can join us for one of our weekly services: Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:00pm, and Sunday, 10:00am – 1:00pm. Until our next edition, keep walking by faith – the reality of your hope for a better tomorrow is closer than it looks.
Greater Love
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). These words from Jesus Christ remove all confusion about what love is and how it is measured. Something being greater means it has different degrees or levels. In short, the nature of God’s love is the same, but there are different degrees in which it can be expressed to others, the highest being one’s willingness and readiness to sacrifice their life for another.
To know God is to know His love, and to have faith in God is to have faith in His love. “…God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16). Aside from the knowledge and practice of God’s love, the walk of faith is unfruitful. We know this from Galatians 5:6: “…in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
What is also awesome about Jesus’ measure of greater love is its connection to friendship. The sacrifice that greater love produces is not directed at anyone. It is directed at a friend. Who is a friend? “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:15)
A friend is one who can be entrusted with something very precious and of great value. That thing, in the case of the church, is revelation – the message we take from hearing the voice of God. Think about it for a moment. The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of mankind. It is the only way men can find and share in the righteousness of God (Romans 1:16-17). That makes the gospel priceless. Who would Jesus entrust this priceless truth with? It had to be his friends – men that are not driven by a sense of duty but by the deep bond of relationship.
What lies at the heart of a relationship that has a deep bond? It is honour. The Webster Dictionary of 1828 has 14 variants in its definition of honour including this one: “The esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation”. This definition triggers many questions. How much worth do we see in each other when we relate as saints? When we see a sinner, do we see the price God paid to restore that person to His image and likeness? It takes eyes that see the priceless value of the gospel for us to truly experience repair of the things that are broken in our lives, families, and cities. That is why Greater Love is one of the 5Gs of the Hopecell Network. Our cities and communities are hungry for authentic relationships – relationships of honour. When you identify with the Hopecell Network, you are committing to being a vessel of honour; you are ready and willing to render service above self from a position of deep relational bonds with your friends.
Joseph Enyimu
Mission Week
4th – 9th November, 2nd- 7th December
Here is an opportunity to be a blessing to those the Spirit of God has placed in your heart. Practice God’s principles of visiting those in prisons, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, and above all, sharing the gift of salvation. For more to partner with ALFC, visit: www.abundantlifefaithcentre.org/partner-membership
Anniversary Sunday
3rd November| 10:00am- 4:00pm
Nothing stands unless anchored in a secure foundation. We at ALFC, acknowledge our strength in the Lord, who has sustained and kept us standing for 35 years. Join us in a time of jubilation, worship and prayer under the theme “Divine Depth” as we tell of the countless encounters of His preservation, protection, power, and salvation.
Youth Fellowship
16th November, 21st December | 10:00am- 4:00pm
Youth fellowship is more than just a date slotted on the calendar. This is a platform where the word of God is shared to fuel dreams and visions. Faith is stirred up as the key to unlocking potential for a brighter future for our teenagers and young adults.
Faith in Action: Restoring Our Communities
Faith is not merely a belief; it's a powerful catalyst for action. God calls us to be "repairers of the breach" (Isaiah 58:6-7), actively working to heal the world. Jesus, the ultimate healer, demonstrated His power during His time on Earth. As His disciples, we are called to imitate His compassionate restoration by supporting the oppressed, tending to the injured, and fostering peace.
The path to community restoration begins with us, ordinary individuals who are willing to stand in the gap. It requires a collective effort driven by faith rather than relying on a single exceptional person. Imagine dedicating your life to God, praying fervently, and joining with others to build a "holy priesthood" within your community. Together, we can cultivate a global army of faith. This army won't be one of physical war but a powerful force for restoration.
God's restorative power is evident in the Babylonian captivity and the second temple's establishment, achieved through ordinary leaders like Nehemiah and Ezra, who played crucial roles in rebuilding Jerusalem and revitalizing Israel. We are called to actively participate in God's restorative plan. The Bible encourages us to do good works, as we are God's handiwork created in Christ Jesus. God's boundless power can be embodied in us as we transform our communities and nations via prayer, obedience, and gospel sharing.
Hope BALINDA
REQUEST FOR PRAYER
Do you have anything troubling you, and would you like for someone to stand with you in prayer? Our prayer team is readily available to pray with you about anything relating to your freedom in Christ. Jesus said, “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father, which is in heaven” (Mathew 18:19). Reach out today by phone at 0394−507090 on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or by email at prayer@abundantlifefaithcentre.org.
Kira, Nakawa | Wycliffe acknowledges the hand of the Lord in his life through the power of giving. Early this year, he and his wife decided to stand with the women’s ministry financially on their prayer breakfast event. A few weeks after that, a person who owed him money for over five years called him. It was quite an amount of money, and all discussions they held before were futile. This person made promises that he didn’t fulfill. But this time it was different, and he was willing to settle this amount, and he did! Glory to God. Another event in the ministry came along, and he settled to support it with a certain amount, but while in a church service, he heard the Lord say, “The stakes are high.” In obedience to this voice, he opted to increase his seed towards the event. The day he settled this in his heart, a client with whom they had failed to reconcile accounts called him. She was willing to review the accounts again; that day, they reached an agreement, and Wycliffe was paid immediately!! That week he had an invoice with a huge amount to clear. The contactors knew that it would take a miracle to clear that invoice; nonetheless, they kept reminding him to pay before the week’s end. To their amazement, he paid to zero before the agreed date! The Lord be praised.
Seguku, Makindye Ssabagabo | In 2010, Joanita’s father died; he left his house to their mother and daughters. They rented the house out. One day they had news that someone had died in the house and the body was still in the house. This caused fear, and they all fled the house, abandoning it for many years. In 2022, someone called them to return to their home; it had become a shelter for monkeys and other animals. They gathered the courage and restored their place to a home; today they enjoy fellowship as a family in their home.
Joanita’s sister invited her to come visit her in Canada. She was excited to go; however, she was concerned about her visa application. She wasn’t willing to fake anything. She believed God for a smooth process and wanted to simply visit as a VIP and enjoy the amenities, game parks, and beauty of the country. She was granted the visa and enjoyed a good life. While away, a thief entered her home in Uganda, the attendant had left to go to work, and the children were alone at home. The thief hid in the house, then stole a laptop and ran away. Joanita thanks God for protecting and preserving her children’s lives.
The Power of God’s Presence
I once read a story about a group of drunken friends in Brazil, who went to pick up another friend. Worried about their drunkenness and holding her daughter’s hand, who was already seated in the car, her mother said, ‘My daughter, go with God, and may He protect you.’ She responded, ‘Only if He (God) travels in the trunk, because inside here is already full.’ Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident and their car was damaged beyond recognition and with no survivor. Surprisingly, the trunk was intact! Also, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs with no egg smashed! Yes, God was inside the trunk!
This story gives us the moral lesson that, where the presence of God is, there is safety and a covering. The devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. What kind of presence are you yarning for, and what kind of company are you keeping? Know who you are in Christ Jesus; your identity is in God and not in the kind of fame we try to look for to fit in. You are the apple of God’s eye; God’s love defines you.
PRAYER OF SALVATION
Are you ready for a relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior? It begins with a simple prayer in faith. Here is one you can repeat out loud enough to hear yourself:
Dear God, I accept your forgiveness of my sin. I believe with my heart that you raised Jesus from the dead for my benefit, and I now declare Him to be my Savior and Lord. Amen!
If you just prayed the above prayer, welcome to the kingdom of light! We have free materials to help you get started on your journey to an abundant life –a better and brighter future. Simply contact us by email: prayer@abundantlifefaithcentre.org or phone: 0394507090 during working hours (9:00am to 5:00pm)
