Not by Sight

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NASB)

I guess this is kind of a continuation of last week’s blog as I’m sort of on this faith kick.

Biblical faith.

“I want great faith!” you may say. Then, fortunately and unfortunately, you’ll need to have a great vacuum in your life to develop it. Why? Because faith often exists in the absence of the thing you hope for; otherwise it is not faith.

If you have faith that God is with you, you do not see Him.

If you have faith God will lead you through a wilderness, you do not feel Him.

If you have faith that God can alter your circumstances, your circumstances haven’t changed yet. Consider this verse: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NASB).

Here, Paul holds “faith” and “sight” in polar opposites. Faith itself is spiritual sight, so the kind of sight Paul speaks of here is not spiritual sight but natural sight. It’s the kind natural sight that has all at its disposal and in order, and needs to wait and want for nothing. True faith exists in the absence of natural sight. How can you ever hope to see something super-natural if your sight is only natural?

Why is this important to understand? Because God wants to give us a sincere faith that does not always need quick results or conditions in order to exist, but believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Otherwise, our lives and “faith” will cave in when difficult trials or long journeys come.

When I was walking through my four-year wilderness of spiritual burnout, anxiety disorder and depression in 2001-2005, I begged and pleaded and prayed and asked God repeatedly to fix me, but my wound remained. Somehow, by God’s power, my faith was preserved. As I came near the end of my long journey, the Lord spoke to me what he said to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29, NIV). Then I realized that he had given me a powerful faith: the kind that can exist in the absence of sight, and I was thankful.

God told the Israelites to shout, and then the walls of Jericho would fall down. Sometimes, however, we say, “Lord, make the walls fall down and then I’ll shout!” But God asks us to take the steps of faith first, and then we see with the natural eyes second.

Consider Paul and Silas in prison. The Bible says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25, NIV). The next verse says, “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose” (Acts 16:26, NIV).

Let me ask you a question. When were Paul and Silas out of the prison, before or after the prison doors flew open? I want to suggest to you that because these brothers “walked by faith and not by sight,” the prison was out of them before they were out of the prison.

Maybe you’re in the midst of a long and frustrating trial. I want to encourage you that through faith in the finished work of Christ, the trial can be out of you before you’re out of the trial!

The great evangelist Smith Wigglesworth once said, “I’m not moved by what I feel. I’m not moved by what I see. I’m moved by what I believe.” This is the mark of sincere and mature faith. It is not moved by feeling or circumstance, but operates independent of sight.

In whatever place God has you today, may God give you the grace today to walk by faith and not by sight.

Order Derek’s new book, Discipleship by Grace, today at www.amanirecords.com!

UNTANGLING FAITH

Derek Joseph Levendusky

I’ve been thinking lately about true faith. There’s a lot of confusing teaching out there about what faith is, and quite honestly, I think most of it ends up tangling people up into knots. Any teaching on faith that causes you to focus on self is misguided teaching. I’ve been among those who tried to improve my faith, and ended up nearly going mad with the introspection and tinkering with my soul! I’ve almost felt like I was on an internal witch hunt to find out what was wrong with me, and I never could find enough witches, or at least the right one.

First of all, faith has an object, and as New Testament believers, our object is Christ. Jesus is the source of true faith (it comes from Him), and the object of our faith (the one we are trusting in). So much teaching encourages faith in yourself, or even more subtly, faith in faith.

It’s all legalism and religious nonsense!

We have to look away from self, and look to Christ. Consider this verse:

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

You don’t have to change yourself! All you must do is be sure you’re looking at the right thing. This verse says that true faith brings us to a place of “beholding the glory of the Lord.” It’s all about what you’re eyes are on! We must continue to behold Christ in His Word, and we will be changed.

Do you see that phrase “this comes from the Lord”? That’s the essence of true faith. It doesn’t make us look inward for change, but look outward to saving grace only found in the atoning work of Christ. Reject any teaching that makes you look inward.

The Bible says of Abraham, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith” (Galatians 3:6). Abraham did not look inward for his salvation. He looked to something outside of himself—to God, and not himself. The result? God counted him as righteous, even though he wasn’t in reality, because Abraham trusted in grace and not his works!

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Interestingly enough, the word “this” in this verse is plural, encompassing the grace, the salvation, and the faith. They all come from God!

Look away from yourself, your strength, your wisdom, your discipline, your ability, your zeal, your religious efforts, and your own spirituality. Despair in the lack you find within yourself, and look away to the only One who can save you: Jesus Christ the One who was crucified.

Order Derek’s new book, Discipleship by Grace, today at www.amanirecords.com.

HOW TO MAKE THE CROSS MEANINGLESS

Derek Joseph Levendusky

“I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” (Galatians 2:21, NLT)

For years, I tried to earn God’s love by my performance. The problem is, when you do that, you are basically saying, “The cross wasn’t enough for me. I need to add to the cross by my performance!” By trusting in your ability to keep the rules to earn your position with God, you make the cross meaningless. And see, the thing is, God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). He will not share His glory with another! When you are trusting in your performance and not God’s grace given through the cross, you are unwittingly trying to steal God’s glory!

Ouch.

Yesterday, I posted this quote by Tim Keller on my Facebook: “Morality and religion can keep you just as far from God as immorality and irreligion.”

Ouch again.

When we trust in our own works, we fail to see the amazing love given to us through the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We cannot see it because we think that we can save ourselves, therefore making the cross a confusing and meaningless act. But when you realize you can’t save yourself, you fall down at Jesus’ feet and say, “Have mercy on me, a sinner!” Then He raises you up in grace.

I like the way Seattle pastor and author Mark Driscoll puts it: “People suck, and God saves us from ourselves.”

I’m trying to unclog the pipe in our hearts that keeps true worship from flowing freely! As long as you trust in your own righteousness, your heart will be far from God, and you will never understand the power of the cross or the love of God.

Please don’t make the cross meaningless.

Order Derek’s new book, Discipleship by Grace, at www.amanirecords.com.

Here’s an excerpt from my new book, Discipleship by Grace. This is from the “Foreword” by my one-time pastor and accomplished author, Michael Cavanaugh:

“So you see, our love for Him comes as a result of His loving us first” (1 John 4:19 TLB). No biblical truth has affected me more then the simple reality that our love for God originates in our realizing that He loved us first. It is impossible for us to love God with out first receiving His love. If I try to love God with out first accepting the fact that He loves me completely just as I am and will never love me more then he does at this very moment, I become like a loveless child trying to win the favor of preoccupied parents through good behavior. Is there anything sadder then a child that has no confidence that it is loved? A child who sees its whole existence as an effort to win approval, to find a place of complete acceptance, a child who lives with the constant anxiety that there is no one in this whole world who loves them completely and with out reservation no matter how they compare to others.

I remember as a seven-year-old sitting in my second grade class as the teacher promised a gold star to the child who sat up the straightest. I tried to be the quietest and the straightest in my class as the teacher walked up and down the aisles of the classroom judging us. The teacher did this many times in class but I never received the star. I was never approved, I never won the competition, and my sincerest efforts were not enough. Many Christians feel exactly like this with God. They are trying to win His approval, to be good enough, to bring a smile to His face through their best efforts at worship, evangelism or giving but some how they are never really sure the have done enough.  They never feel like they have received the gold star, or the smile of His approval and as a result they live their life in a perpetual state of anxiety because even if they are acceptable to Him today what if they slip up tomorrow? There is no confidence, no peace, no assurance that they are loved completely and forever.  The best that they can ever hope for is a temporary performance based peace like the actor who receives a standing ovation at the end of a performance only to realize that the next show is coming and no one cares how good he acted yesterday. They only value him for what he does today.

This kind of life is not the Good News that Christ died to bring us. The Good News is that God loves you completely and that at this very moment His interest in you is passionate and personal. That even though He is aware of every weakness, frailty and even future failure in your life that He cherishes His relationship with you. That the greatest love of any parent for a child is only a pale shadow of the love God has for you. That the fire of the most intense romance ever found on earth is only a dying spark next to the passion God has for you. That the kindness of the most merciful king on the planet fades before the depth of compassion God has for you. That the deepest sense of camaraderie that two soldiers ever shared on a battlefield doesn’t even compare to God’s loyalty to you. You are free to love God because He has first loved you.

Order your copy of Discipleship by Grace today from www.amanirecords.com!

THE POPE WHIPPED HIMSELF? Derek Joseph Levendusky

Last week, the News Observer reported: “Pope John Paul II whipped himself with a belt, even on vacation, and slept on the floor as acts of penitence and to bring him closer to Christian perfection…”

I don’t know what your response to this was, but mine was sadness. When I see someone trying to earn something that Christ has already given, I feel sorrow that God’s grace is being ignored. When Jesus died on the cross, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). He did not say, “It is half-finished” or “It might be finished”! The work for our redemption is finished. Every obstacle to keep us from knowing God and growing in God has been removed through the cross! We don’t have to earn something God has already given.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8, NASB)

You can’t earn a gift. You can only receive a gift! The problem is, when we trust in our works or performance to earn our place with God, what we are basically saying is, “The cross wasn’t enough for me!” When you try to earn God’s approval through your performance instead of through the cross, it’s called “legalism.” Legalists unwittingly are trying through their performance to steal glory from God by trusting in their own work instead of God’s work!

As a young monk, the reformer Martin Luther was known to have whipped himself, and among other things, to have lain naked in the snow as an act of penitence. He nearly drove himself mad. Later in life, he wrote of this time, “Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that He was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners.”

Soon after, Martin Luther found grace, or I should say, grace found him! He wrote, “At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, ‘In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.”’ There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith.” When he saw the way of grace, His soul was delivered from the snare of legalism! He concluded, “And I extolled my sweetest word with a love as great as the hatred with which I had before hated the word ‘righteousness of God.’”

Paul warned against legalism, and specifically asceticism, which is the mistreatment of the body for the sake of perfecting the soul. Listen to this verse:

”Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (Colossians 3:23, NIV)

In other words, mistreating your body for religious purposes does not bring you closer to God or give you any more victory over your tendency to sin. There’s only one thing that brings you closer to God—faith in the cross of Christ! Rest in the grace of God today, and worship the One who paid the whole price for your redemption and mine.

Order Discipleship by Grace, Derek’s new book, today at www.amanirecords.com.

UNHAPPY MILLIONAIRES

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36)

I recently read about Abd-al-Rahman III, a wealthy Spanish head-of-state from A.D. 912-961, who wrote about the folly of loving temporal things before his death:

“I have now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace…Riches and honor, powers and pleasures have waited on my call; nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot. They amount to fourteen. O man! place not thy confidence in this present world.”

Fourteen days? Here’s man who had everything our culture runs after, and found only two happy weeks in fifty years!

Likewise, I recently read separate stories about lottery winners. One man, who once confided in his brother that he wished he had never won the lottery, ended up disappearing nine months ago. They just found his body buried under a concrete slab behind his killer’s house. The second story was about a woman who won the lottery, and on the night she celebrated her victory, was hit by a car and died. Listen to the story Jesus told:

16And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18″Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ‘

20″But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21″This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

When we recorded the Jealous One album in San Clemente, California in 2007, we met a billionaire at the same studio we were recording in. Our producer knew him personally, and told us how he’d once been a happy-go-lucky, down-to-earth guy, but when he came into his riches, became a paranoid, anxious man who drove around in an armor-plated BMW.

Only Christ will truly satisfy us and bring us true contentment in this world! Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). How many people are striving and straining for riches, possessions, positions, and power, and do not realize that in this world, they can only obtain fourteen days of happiness.

Order Discipleship by Grace , Derek’s new book, today at www.amanirecords.com!

LOUD AND CLEAR

“Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:7-8)

After a long season of sowing and sweating, a lot seems to be coming together for me this year. We’re getting ready to launch my new Worship With Your Life broadcast in March; my best album yet, Worship With My Life, will be out in a few weeks; I’ll be publishing my first book for worship leaders in April, and I just published probably my most important book to date, Discipleship by Grace.

The UPS truck pulled in the driveway, and we knew it was here. The first load of my new book, Discipleship by Grace, had arrived! As I held a copy in my hand, I thought not only of the months and months of writing, revising, editing, and designing that went into it, but the years of studying the Word, and the season of terrible darkness that preceded my grace conversion. I had paid a heavy price to have this book in my hand.

“I’m proud of you,” my wife Heidi said to me.

“Honestly,” I told her, “I’m happy for the people this book will bless. Finally, with the new album and the new book, I have the clearest trumpet call I’ve ever had to champion the message of God’s grace.”

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (NASB). When Paul went to Corinth, he was blasted a clear, singular note that called all hearers to center their faith on one thing: God’s grace made available through the redeeming sacrifice of Christ.

I’ll always be interested in worship and world evangelism, the pillars of our ministry since we started in 1998, but the foundation is grace. There’s nothing I’m more passionate about than helping people understand the power, freedom, and joy of God’s grace. Everything else flows from it—worship, world evangelism, prayer, giving, creativity, understanding your calling, etc.

I have the sense that God has put a trumpet in my hand, and through our books, albums, and new broadcast, I’m about to blast a clear, singular note: “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” Please pray for me as I move to the top of a high mountain and blow this trumpet!

Mucho grace,

Derek Joseph

Order your copy of Derek’s new album or book today at: www.amanirecords.com

GET UP ON A HIGH MOUNTAIN

Wow! Did 2009 go by fast for anyone else? Seems like just yesterday I was welcoming ’09 and suddenly, 2010 shows up! Somebody better teach 2010 some manners. He’s like the guy that shows up for dinner while your wife is measuring the flour for the bread!

I’m stoked about 2010. As I spent time in fasting and prayer for the new year, the Lord led me to this passage in Isaiah:

O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” (Isaiah 40:9, NKJV)

For years, we’ve been faithful to go where God has opened the door, and minister with all our hearts to those God puts before us. Our journeys have led us all over the world, and I’m thankful for the cool stuff we’ve seen God do. I used to be so worried about how “big” we were (or weren’t) until the Lord spoke to my heart, “Stop trying to change the world, and start changing your world!” I stopped worrying about who I was not affecting or what doors had not opened, and just focused on who I was able to impact. One night, my world is my concert audience in some town or city; another night, it’s the Joshua Revolution conference or the YFC Excel Conference; one day it’s the United States, another day, it’s Uganda; one morning, it’s my local church, another morning, it’s another church I’m ministering at. One moment, it’s my own children; another moment, it’s the guy at the grocery store. The call on all of our lives is to impact the “worlds” that God has put us in.

All that said, I believe this year that God is expanding my world. The command in Isaiah 40:9 to “get up into the high mountain” just struck me so powerfully. I sensed it was a direct command from the Lord for us to develop some new things that have been on my heart for the ministry.

I know God has entrusted me with a deep revelation of His grace, and that my generation needs to hear it. God wants me to be bold in declaring this message through music and teaching. That’s why we’re putting out a new album this year, Worship With My Life. I think this album is the best thing we’ve ever done, and will bless a lot of churches and believers. I’m also publishing two books: Discipleship by Grace (for believers of all shapes and sizes) and Him Who Honors Me (for worship leaders).

But the newest thing on my heart to “get up into the high mountain” is to develop a monthly program called “Worship With Your Life.” Starting in March (by God’s grace), we’ll be launching a monthly video podcast and a weekly audio podcast. I’ll be teaching the truths of God’s grace in a fresh and relevant way through music, video skits, and inspiring preaching. You’ll be able to see and hear these podcasts on www.isaiahsix.com along with other sites like youtube, Facebook, MySpace, and I-Tunes. My prayer is that we’ll get 10,000 subscribers! If you’re blessed, tell your friends and help us get the word out!

Thanks so much for your prayers and support for this ministry. I pray you’re blessed by the fruit of our work in Christ in the days to come.

Much grace,

Derek Joseph Levendusky Isaiah Six

UGANDA WATER PROJECT 5K We are excited to announce that next April 24, 2010, we’ll be hosting our first Ugandan Water Project 5K in Rochester, NY! If you’ve ever dreamed of running in a 5K, now’s the time to start training! More info will be available soon on www.isaiahsix.com. There have been many fees in setting up the race and our early funds are depleted. Right now we need $355 to officially sanction the race. This will get us one step closer to making this race a great success and blessing the nation of Uganda. We’re trusting the Lord to speak to his people to help fund this worthy cause. Perhaps you can give an offering today? Make a tax-deductible donation online at www.isaiahsix.com or send an offering to: Isaiah Six Ministries, P.O. Box 10A, Lima, NY 14414

NEW BOOK I’m stoked to let you know that my new book, Discipleship By Grace, will be available by November! This is the most important and powerful book I’ve ever written, as it’s a trumpet call to all believer to return to the gospel of God’s grace. I share my story in the book about walking through the wilderness, and then teach the truths of grace that transform the believer by the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe this book will change thousands of lives. Keep your eyes peeled…it will be available soon on www.isaiahsix.com!

Much grace,

Derek Joseph Levendusky

FORGIVENESS Just as on my last two journeys to Uganda, I continued to minister the message of grace and the Father heart of God to the Ugandans on this trip, but this time I especially sensed that the Lord wanted me to consistently teach on forgiveness. I was so moved the first time I spoke on it in Kawanda, that for the only time I can remember in my life, I wept during the entire delivery of the sermon. The people were deeply moved. One young Ugandan named Jared said to me afterward, “My brother, what you have spoken has set me free from unforgiveness.” When I asked him more about what the Lord had done, he told me, “My father was murdered over a property dispute, and I have hated the man who killed him, but today I am free.” Later on, I blessed Jared with two collared shirts from my suitcase. He was so excited that he embraced me and would not let go.

In Jinja, I also preached on forgiveness in a church called Elim Pentecostal. After the first service, the pastor was soliciting responses from the people, and one man came forward and testified that he was only visiting the church on that day and was not a Christian. When I taught on forgiveness, a long time bondage broke in his life as he had hated a certain man that wronged him. When grace came to forgive him during my message, his heart could see Christ’s saving grace for his own heart, and without anyone leading him in a sinner’s prayer, this man received Christ right on the spot. The pastor told me, “This is a sign to all of us that your words are sent from God.”

PREACH THE WORD Part of the ordination certificate on my wall charges me: “Preach the Word.” As I have been faithful to do this, I have seen profound results. When we speak of signs and wonders, these follow the preaching of God’s Word. We did not go to Uganda with any self-inflated views, promoting ourselves, or some strange doctrines. We did not obsess over the fantastic, but brought the simple truths of grace and the message of the cross. These truths have been taught from the days of Christ until now by His followers. They are simple and they are life-changing to those who believe. We believe that God confirmed His Word through the simple signs and wonders mentioned, and that God’s people in Uganda will never be the same. Our departure was accompanied with many tears by the Ugandans, and we believe that God will send us to them again.

As taking an international trip like this is a major step of faith as a ministry financially, we are still receiving donations to help carry our ministry through this season as we get into our fall schedule. If you wish to make a tax-deductible gift, you can donate online right here using PayPal or send a check to: P.O. Box 10A, Lima, NY 14485.

Thank you for your prayers and support! May God give you double in return of all you’ve given Him.

Much grace,

Derek Joseph Levendusky

“I have seen many Americans come to Uganda over the last twenty years, but I have never seen anyone have the impact that Derek and Isaiah Six are having. The way they conduct themselves in ministry is bearing great fruit here. Many come and confuse us with their words and bring warring between pastors and churches, but you bring a message that is transforming us and bringing us together. Further, you not only bring the Word but are supplying clean water tanks that are blessing churches and communities all over Uganda. We are so thankful for you.

The messages Derek has shared are different than anything you ever hear in a youth conference in Uganda. Most of the time, you hear messages that tell youth what sinners they are, how useless they are, and only give them rules to obey, but Derek and his team are teaching us that if you stay close to Jesus [and His grace] then you will be transformed and be able to become all that God wants you to become.”

Obviously, I am blessed by these words, not because they commend me or my team, but because they show you the hunger for the message of the grace of God.

FATHERLESS NATION I continue to be amazed by the orphan spirit on this nation. There is a young man here named Daniel (once had a Muslim name) that has an amazing testimony. He received Christ as a teen in a Muslim family and though all was against him, he did not deny Christ. I have allowed him to accompany us to several outings, and he is already calling me “Daddy” as his Muslim father abandoned him. This is just one example of a fatherless nation who have lost their fathers because they have been disowned (because of Islam), abandoned (because of poverty), rejected, slaughtered (by Idi Amin or the LRA), or whose parents have died of AIDS or other diseases. Pray for them, that God would reveal Himself as Father and through His church would rise fathers and mothers in the faith.

KAYUNGA GIRL IS GOING TO HAVE SURGERY! Last blog, I told you about “Scovia” in rural Kayunga…a young girl who has been suffering for two years because she broke her leg and back, and her shin bone has been protruding six inches out of her lower leg. She can’t afford treatment, or even the transportation to get to the hospital 3 hours away in Kampala. We have made some progress, as we met with a doctor in Kampala, and showed him the pictures of the girl’s leg. He’s agreed to help her get on the right track. Our team has taken up an offering from our own pockets, and we’ve raised the money for the girl to travel to Kampala, and get her to this doctor. He will examine her condition and get her connected with the right surgeon. Thanks for all your prayers and emails! Some of you directed us to the very people we are now working with! Keep Scovia in prayer, that the surgery will go well.

Youth conference ends tomorrow then off to Jinja for a trip on the Nile and village ministry in churches and some villages where we’ve put water tanks…then home!!!

Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support!

– Derek Joseph Levendusky

“SLUMDOGS” Our outreach to the slum orphans began with a bang. No sooner had we gotten out of the vehicle than a thief stole our first aid kit out of the van and took off running. Collins, who works with the street children and was hosting us, chased after him into the slums. When he caught him, a mob formed to kill the thief as they began beating him right in front of us. Collins talked them out it, and instead called the police, who took him away. The outreach was very moving as we shared music, spoke God’s Word to them, and fed them two meals. We were overcome with compassion and sorrow as we interacted with these poor children. Thankfully, we also got to see the orphanage inside the slums that rescues some of these children from the streets. The children clung to us as if we were their fathers and mothers.

HELP SCOVIA As we were praying for people at a rural conference in Kayunga, a mother approached us, begging for help for her daughter Scovia. She lifted up her dress and showed us her lower legs, revealing a bone sticking six inches out of her leg. All the wounds were scarred over, as the injury had happened two years ago, and the mother wasn’t able to afford any medical treatment. The sores that remain around the exiting bone are too grotesque to describe, but suffice it to say, we all fear for the little girl’s life. We were outraged that she was not able to receive any medical attention, so we told her broken-hearted mother that we would let our friends in America know about this to see if we can raise support for her treatment. We’re also looking around for solutions in Uganda. Please pray that this poor little girl can live through the agony and infections long enough to get treatment. What if she was your little girl?

EYES OPEN TO THE GOSPEL As everyone that knows me understands, my personal life mission is to “help people experience the grace of God through His Word and His presence.” Coming to Uganda, it is my passion to impart the word of grace to believers and unbelievers in this fatherless nation. Many are testifying of coming to a saving knowledge of Christ, and many believers are receiving a revelation of God’s grace. The response to the Word has been enormous! In Kayunga, they begged us to return again next year and bring the word to them again. We are just thankful that “the word is being received with gladness.”

I’m also personally blessed by the team’s growth on this trip as their eyes are being opened to God’s heart for the nations. We’re here with a team of 9. Up next is the national youth conference and then ministry in Jinja, the source of the Nile. Thanks for your love, prayers, and support! If you still wish to make a donation to support our work in Uganda, you can donate online at www.isaiahsix.com or send your gift to: Isaiah Six, P.O. Box 10A, Lima, NY 14414.

I’ll blog again soon!

Derek Joseph Levendusky

When my roommate Ryan Morris and I got to our room, we read Psalm 2, which says, “Ask of Me and I will give the nations as your inheritance; the ends of the earth as your possession.” Then we prayed for the Islamic world and also for those we’ll be ministering to in Uganda. Isn’t that an amazing verse? When you ask God to bless you, he sends you to the nations to reap a harvest!

Every time I’m in foreign nations for Christ, I hear His small still voice say, “Derek, I’m glad you’re here.” Please join us in praying for “the ends of the earth for our possession.”

One of the joys I get to have on this trip is to be leading a team of 9, several of whom have never been on an airplane, let alone a short-term mission! This is such a great environment to mentor other and just watch God work in their lives as they see the suffering in the world, and watch God move through us in the nations.

Again, I thank you for your support and prayers! I’ll send an update from Uganda!

All for Jesus,

– Derek Joseph Levendusky

Here we go again! I’m writing this the day before I leave for Uganda (again) as part of a team of nine. We’ll be ministering at the national youth conference in Kampala for the second year in a row, ministering at a pastors’ conference, working with street orphans, and visiting tank sites for the Ugandan Water Project. —–DONATE———–OVER————HERE———–>>>>>>

I know the title of this newsletter is odd. What do I mean by “Visiting Jesus in Uganda”? In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells a story about Judgment Day, when He says He will separate people like sheep and goats. The sheep are those that love and serve the poor, sick, and naked. The goats are those who do not love or serve them. Jesus said He will say to all of them, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”

Jesus likens your treatment of the poorest and weakest among us as your treatment of Him. Therefore, as we serve the weak, the poor, and the forgotten in Uganda, we’re going to visit Jesus.

I remember when I was a full-time missionary to Tanzania in East Africa right out of high school in 1989-1990, I met a man named Reverend Kunda. This man was an evangelist, traveling from village to village in rural areas of this poor country preaching the gospel. Whenever I’d see Kunda, he’d finish our interactions by saying, “People are waiting for me. I must go!”

What he meant by this was that people were “waiting” in the places he was going to preach the gospel to hear the life-transforming message he was going to share. My brothers and sisters, I believe people are waiting for us in Uganda even now.

We are still receiving donations for our journey and for our ministry as we go. This is my second trip this year to Uganda. To do this, I have to raise $8000. I want to thank all those of you that have given already, and ask all those who read this to consider giving a tax-deductible gift to help send us to Uganda. You can donate through PayPal online on this site: (See the “———>>>”  symbol above)  or send a check to:

Isaiah Six Ministries P.O. Box 10A Lima, NY 14485

Thanks for your prayers and support! You can keep up with updates from Uganda right here!

I must go now. People are waiting. I’ll tell Jesus you said hi.

All for Christ Jesus,

Derek Joseph Levendusky director, Isaiah Six Ministries

I had an amazing trip to Uganda in May! I want to thank all of you who supported me and prayed for me. Here’s some highlights:

1. Crusade in Kawanda: We were part of a 4-day crusade in Kawanda. Jesse Sprinkle and I shared music, and I preached the gospel every night. We saw over 100 make commitments to Christ, and 15 were added to the host church on the Sunday morning following the crusade. I’m always blessed when I see fruit that remains.

2. Leaders’ Conference in Kayunga: We had an amazing time of teaching and impartation in a rural area. Over 200 leaders attended, and adding villagers who stopped by (it was outside) we had close to 500 attend! The leaders’ hearts burned when they heard the message of grace. One leader testified, “I was struggling so much with condemnation and feelings of inferiority, but the message of God’s grace has encouraged me to do the work of God with all my heart!”

3. Water Tank Sites: I visited half a dozen sites where water tanks are either in or will go in. This simple effort is having a profound impact on these communities. As a matter of fact, one of the reasons the Leaders’ Conference was so successful was that they heard, “The men who brought us the water tanks are coming to encourage us in the Word of God!”

4. Street orphans in Kampala: I was greatly disturbed and moved when we saw a community of street orphans and their pathetic dwelling of banana tree leaves and the shade of a concrete wall. One of the main highlights of my trip was when I preached to them on a garbage heap, telling them about Father God’s love, “You are not an orphan!”

We look forward to returning in August, when we’ll minister at the National Youth Conference, in local churches, and again visit villages where we’ll be putting in water tanks. I’ll need your financial support again as I continue to serve the Lord in the beautiful nation of Uganda. You can donate online or send in a gift by mail. All gifts are tax-deductible.

Thanks for your constant love and encouragement and for partnering in the work of the Lord with us!

Derek Joseph Isaiah Six Ministries

I am thrilled to let you know that I’ll be going to Uganda twice this year!

My trip last August was a life-changing one. I’ve been to many places in the world, but I’ve never sensed the spirit of adoption for a people the way I did in Uganda. I personally feel a calling to continue to meet the natural and spiritual needs of this nation, and we’ve dedicated our ministry to this end. The Ugandan Water Project continues to have incredible momentum, as we’ve now placed tanks in 15 villages! This year, I’ll also be to investigating the possibility of building an orphanage for teenage girls. In the midst of all this, Heidi and I continue to work on adopting Susan, the Ugandan girl that stole our hearts.

Uganda Journey #1: May 11-21: I’ll be going to Uganda with a small team in May to minister at two pastors’ conferences (one urban and one rural), an evangelistic crusade, and visit several village tank sites, where I’ll be able to use the gift of the tanks as a platform to speak to the villagers about the living water, from which all can drink and never thirst again! “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of our God.” (Psalm 46:4)

Uganda Journey #2: August 16-31: I’ll be leading a larger team to minister at the national youth conference and continue to visit village tank sites, where we’ll do evangelism and strengthen churches.

I need your support to help make this trip a reality! I’ll need to raise a total of $8000 this year to go. Please prayerfully consider partnering with me. Anyone that gives will

receive a free copy of my new African-flavored CD Three Worlds. Thank you for support! I can’t wait to share stories of God’s work through your generosity!

All gifts are tax-deductible, and can be made using the paypal link in the side bar of this blog page, or by mail: Derek to Uganda 2009, Isaiah Six Ministries, P.O. Box 10A, Lima, NY 14485

All for Jesus,

Derek Joseph Levendusky Isaiah Six