Witness Summer 2021 Contents Editorial: Becoming God’s Family................... 2 God Sent Grace.........................................................4 Global Bridge for a Global Family...................6
Becoming God’s Family
Let’s Ask the Kids....................................................8 Pass the Guampa...................................................10
Editorial by Vic Wiens
This Kind of Family............................................... 12 Fatherhood................................................................ 13 An Open Table.........................................................14
Staff Managing Editor..................Mark J.H. Klassen Layout & Design..........................Darcy Scholes Illustration & Design..................... Colton Floris Prayer Mobilization..........................Nikki White Story Research..................................Eric Geddes Media Director................................ Daniel Lichty
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When concluding our missionary service in Brazil back in 2007, my wife, Marty, and I reflected on the highlights of our twenty-five-year journey in that country. One of the memories we cherished most was seeing young adults come to faith in Jesus, grow as disciples, and then fall in love with their spouse to be, all in the context of a loving local church. Most of these couples had come from broken homes or dysfunctional families. Their new lives in Christ, new models of marriage, and new guidance from God’s Word were joyfully disrupting the cycle of family brokenness. God was building a new house and home with their lives, and we had hope that their children and grandchildren would continue to experience this abundant life. Today, we maintain contact via social media with many of these families and, as we consider our investment in discipleship, in premarital counseling, and in family friendships, we remember that our labor was not in vain. Family is a gift not to be taken lightly. The New Testament is filled with family language in reference to fellow believers. John writes, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). He refers to his readers as brothers, children, youth, and fathers. We are the family of God, adopted by the Father, embraced by the Son, and nurtured by the Holy Spirit.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1 Multiply is now walking with a new family of churches in Uganda called Lifehouse Community Church. Robert and Esther Mponye are shepherding this growing ministry that began twenty years ago when they adopted a newborn child who was literally thrown away. (See page 4 to read the full story, “God Sent Grace.”) As they realized there were many other abandoned children in their town of Mityana, God called them to become family to these children, offering protection, nurture, and instruction. When I stayed in their home, served in their
