Jim Rowh's Blog: 2025

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Saul's Conversion

Dear beloved: Pics: Church Revival, Kampala, Uganda; Boys happy to see me, LW Children's Center, Kenya

Acts 9:3 As Saul journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. v4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? v15 And Saul said, " Who are you Lord?" The the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." v15 (to Ananias) "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel." v16 "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

Beloved, the bright light of Jesus blinded Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, where he was going to drag Christians out of their houses to bind them in prison in Jerusalem. The light was so bright it blinded Saul for three days, during which time the Lord Himself ministered to Saul, showing him what he must suffer for the sake of the the Lord's call upon his life. He was in the deep darkness of the valley of decision; he could stay where he was and deny the Lord, and possibly give up his sight for the rest of his life. Or he could acknowledge Jesus, repent of his sins, accept his call and go forward with the hope he would regain his sight. Life is full of difficult choices! The Lord has appointed for every person a time and place for them to go into the valley of decision, a decision that has consequences not only on earth, but also for all eternity. Jesus said in John 9:41, "If you were blind, you would have no sin, but since you claim you can see, your sin remains." Beloved, we want to take the message of hope to the lost of Kenya and East Africa, so that those who are blind may open their eyes and see. Can you help us? We need monthly partners, as well as one time gifts to see the gospel go forward. Pray about your part. May God bless you as you pray!

In Christ, Jim Gather the Outcasts, Box 92, Norton, Ks. 67654 501c3 Paypal@ www.paypal.me/gathertheoutcasts or www.gathertheoutcasts.com Email: pureprairie@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/jimrowh or www.jimrowh.blogspot.com

Word with Power

Dear beloved: pics: Mbeya, TZ Crusade; "From the rising of the sun, to its going down" Over Dublin, Ireland

1 Corinthians 2:1 And when I came to you brothers, I did not come to you proclaiming the testimony of God with lofty speach or wisdom. v2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. v3 And I was with you in weakness and fear and much trembling, v4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, v5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Beloved, the Apostle Paul proclaimed the Gospel to the Gentile nations not through eloquent speech or human wisdom, but through the power (dunamis) given to him by the Holy Spirit. In this way, it becomes evident that the good news of the Gospel carries with it the power of Almighty God The word of God proves itself by cutting people to their core, it causes them to weep, lament, shake, repent, then rejoice in their salvation. Their testimony becomes one of a transformed life. God also shows Himself in this way by proving that He can use anyone to carry the message of salvation in Jesus; it isn't the intellectually brilliant or the wordsmith that is the most successful, but the one who is most submitted and carries the anointing given to him by obedience. The good news also has the power to break chains of addictions, strongholds of destructive behavior, and set people on a firm foundation for a more successful and fulfilling life. All that and more is meant when Jesus said, "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed." Gather the Outcasts Ministry in Africa is intent on taking the hope of salvation to the lost generation, to see lives transformed. We invite you to partner with us on a monthly basis, or make a one time donation to help with expenses of the ministry. There is a saying here in Africa, "the gospel is expensive in Africa." It takes money to fuel the combine when the harvesters go to the field. Pray about your part in sending out workers into the Lord's harvest. May God bless you as you pray!

In Christ, Jim Gather the Outcasts, Box 92, Norton, Ks. 67654 501c3 Paypal@ www.paypal.me/gathertheoutcats or www.gathertheoutcasts.com Email: pureprairie@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/jimrowh www.jimrowh.blogspot.com

Seed Among Thorns

Dear beloved: pics, House building in Makunda village; Altar call, Sabatia, Kenya Crusade

Matthew 13:7 And other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. v22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. v23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."

Beloved, after living in Africa now for over ten years, it always amazes me when I come back to the USA for a short time. I am astounded by the riches of this country, the beautiful roads, bridges, airports, houses and infrastructure that makes life so comfortable and convenient for the people here. It is truly a land that has been blessed by God. The down side of all that material wealth, however, is the deceitfulness of riches that choke out the word, and keep it from bearing fruit in the lives of those who hear it. They receive the word but it gets choked and dies. According to George Barna research, only 6% of Americans have a Biblical worldview, and 40% actually believe in the Jehovah God of the Bible. Is it any wonder the nation is in decline? Jesus declared to the disciples, "It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And again, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Matt. 19:23-24). For emphasis He had to repeat it! The good news is this: some seed fell on good soil, and produced 100, 60, and 30 fold fruit. Let this be said of us! We invite you to partner with Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we take the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to the nations of Africa. Pray about your part!

Treasures in Heaven

Dear beloved: Mbeya Crusade, TZ; Tarime Crusade, TZ

Matthew 6:19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. V20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. v20 For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. v24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Beloved, probably the most powerful sermon ever preached was given by Jesus to the multitudes who followed him up on the mountain, recorded in Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7. Verse two in Chapter 5 tells us He wasn't even standing, he sat down to teach. It wasn't a long message, if you read it straight through, it only takes fifteen minutes or so. In the sermon, He touches on the subject of giving into the kingdom, and how to trust God for your daily needs as opposed to always being anxious. He finishes in verse 33 with these parting words, "But seek first His kindom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you". Many people are screaming about the stock market dip now, I can witness to that myself. Back about fifteen years ago, I grew tired of watching the market go up and down, and decided to cash in my 401k in for a couple crusades in Africa. My stock jumped at that time, pretty sure I received that 30, 60, 100 fold blessing! The Lord has a vault in heaven where He is storing up your treasure. We invite you to partner with Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we take the glorious message, Jesus saves, to the nations of Africa. May God bless you as you pray!

Lost Sheep

Dear beloved: Pics: Buseresere, TZ, Crusade; Little Preacher Man at Dar es Salaam

Matthew 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. v12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is straying? v13 And if it turns out he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. v14 Thus it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that even one of these little ones should perish.

Beloved, we take joy in taking care of the little ones the Lord has given us at Living Water Children's Home in Kenya. With twenty to thirty children in residence, it sometimes means late night trips to the doctor or hospital; getting all the necessary school supplies for about five separate schools; it means providing them a good, balanced diet with lots of homegrown organic food; and most of all it means providing for their spiritual nourishment, so as they grow older they will not depart from the way in which they were taught. We have a well trained staff that knows how to provide for the needs of the children, as well as a Social Worker on staff who makes home visits and case histories, so we can place children back in the village if the opportunity arises. One of the main projects we are focused on now is to build a Christian based primary school in Makunda village. There we plan to give the children, many of whom are of another faith, a good basic education, all steeped in a loving environment where the Gospel is shared and promoted. When completed, this school, alongside the Living Water Church and Children's Home, will be the anchor of an ever expanding Christian community in Makunda. Our church motto and vision is: "From Grass to Grace". Makunda, a place where the cattle once freely roamed, now a beacon of light to the surrounding villages and area of Kenya. We invite you to partner with Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we raise up the next generation of God fearing young people into the sheep fold. Pray about your part! God bless you.

Worries of the World

Dear beloved: Pics: Spring maize crop at Living Water; 12ft. deep Soak Pit construction at primary school

Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. v25 For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? v26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? v27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?

Beloved, in the Parable of the Sower, one of the greatest parables taught by our Lord Jesus, He spoke about the seed that is sown on thorny ground. The seed takes root and starts to produce a plant, but the thorns come up, overtake and choke out the good plant. He goes on to say, the thorny plants represent "the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of riches". Here is the USA we have a mental health crisis that is precipitated by the stress of trying to cope in the fast paced world of technology, making a living, and taking care of oneself and family in the midst of ever rising cost of living. The antidote for stress, depression, and worry is the Word of God and the Lord Jesus Himself. Daily prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with the saints will keep a person grounded in what really matters in this life. When we lose focus on that, the temporal and fleeting things of this earth become our focus and cause us to be anxious. "Be anxious for nothing, but in all things through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests know unto God." (Apostle Paul, Phil. 4:6). The good news of the Gospel isn't just for getting to heaven, it also gives us a guide for living. We invite you to partner with Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we take the good news to the nations of Africa, and in the USA through our radio broadcasts. Pray about your part! Thank you and God bless you as you pray!

In Christ, Jim Gather the Outcasts, Box 92, Norton, Ks. 67654 501c3 Paypal@ www.paypal.me/gathertheoutcasts or www.gathertheoutcasts.com Email: pureprprairie@hotmail.com www.facebook.com www.jimrowh.blogspot.com

Power of the Holy Spirit

Dear beloved: pics: Kisii County,Kenya; Mbeya, TZ Crusade

Acts 1:7 And Jesus said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed in His own authority; v8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." v9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Beloved, the last parting words Jesus gave to the disciples before He ascended to heaven was a message to embolden and encourage them for the battle ahead. He didn't tell them to take comfort or care, He told them you will receive power (dunamis, dynamite), so you can be effective witnesses to the world. The disciples only had to wait ten days, then the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them. The formerly weak and cowering disciples became bold to the point that first in Jerusalem, and then the world, the Gospel message was proclaimed. Do we need any less power today to carry the message of the Gospel to the nations? I don't think we need less, in fact if anything, we need as much or more. There is oppostion to the kingdom of God and the good news in every direction. If you step out today, you must know that the Holy Spirit is with you. When I reached Butembo in East Congo, in the midst of rebel uprisings, I was sure I had reached the remotest part of the earth; however, the Holy Spirit was with me every step of the way. We invite you to partner with Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we take the soul cleansing message of hope to a lost generation. Through the Living Water churches and crusades, the Children's Home, and the upcoming school, we are training and equipping soldiers for the battle. Pray about your part in supporting us. Thank you for your support and God bless you as you pray!

Holy Spirit Outpouring

Dear beloved: pics: Kibera, Nairobi Crusade; Ngozi, Burundi Crusade

John 16:13 " But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. v14 He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. v15 All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you. v16 A little while, and you will no longer behold Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me."

Beloved, in the spring of 2010, the Holy Spirit gave me a vivid dream showing that He was opening up the door to go preach in Africa. At that time I had never been to Africa, didn't know a single African person, and beyond that had no real desire to go there. But God.......... In the dream, I was standing on a platform in front of a crowd of African people, holding a white bag in my left hand, and my Bible in my right hand. On the front of the bag was written the words, "Revelation 22" (New heaven and new earth). The bag was filled with big ears of white maize, a sign of provision. On the platform behind me was a tall grain silo, filled to the top with more big ears of white maize, the source of the provison. Between me and the African crowd stood forty men with blue shirts and red hats, inmates from my local prison ministry who were appointed to be intercessors for the ministry in Africa. The scene in the picture above is a reinactment of that dream, as I stood on the platform preaching at Kamakunji Ground in Kibera, the largest slum in Africa. "Faithful is He who calls you, and He will see it come to pass." (1 Thess. 5:24). Beloved, step out in faith and bless the Lord with your offering today. Many in Africa have still not heard the good news of the gospel, the time is short as each day is one day closer to the return of Jesus. At Gather the Outcasts Ministry, our desire is to share the hope of salvation, then train and disciple those who are willing to receive. Pray about your part today, we would love to hear from you. May God bless you as you pray!

Fire of Pentecost

Dear beloved: pics: Children at Living Water Children Home; Ngozi, Burundi Crusade

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. v2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. v3 And there appeared to them tongues of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. v4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Beloved, the day of Pentecost was one of the most remarkable days ever on the earth, the day when the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father, was poured out on the disciples who were gathered together in Jerusalem. We commemorate and celebrate that day this Sunday, June 8, as the day the New Testament Church was lit on fire. The fire was prophesied by John the Baptist in Matthew 3:11, when he said, "the One Coming after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire". The fire was the same as the burning bush fire that Moses saw in the Midian desert; the fire that led the nation of Israel through the wilderness at night. It was the same fire that came upon Mt. Sanai as the Lord descended upon it, like the smoke of a furnace, and caused the whole mountain to quake violently. Without fire there is no ignition, no propulsion. Also the fires purifies and burns out the dross, leaving only the pure metal, or the pure heart to serve the Lord. When those who were gathered in that room in Jerusalem received the Holy Spirit and fire, they were then ready to go with power into all the nations of the earth. We invite you to partner with Gather the Outcasts Ministry in Africa as we take the good news of the Gospel to the lost and suffering world. If you can't go, you can send, the reward is the same. We have some specific needs: Our bimonthly Children's Funday requires $100 per session to reach the children of Makunda Village; also, I am trusting the Lord for $2,000 travel money to return to Kenya to continue the work. May God bless you as you pray!

For Fathers

Dear beloved: Living Water construction crew; Children Funday, twice a month feed and fun

Malachi 4:4 "Remember the law of My servant Moses, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all of Israel. v5 Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. v6 And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse."

Beloved, one of the works of the ministry that we strive to do in an excellent way is to care for the abandoned and orphaned children the Lord brings to us at Living Water Rescue Center. The trauma and brokenness of families in Kenya is evidenced by the fact that millions of children grow up in homes with no father, and some with neither parent. Many thousands more are left to cast about on the streets of Kenya, to make their way in survival mode with no regular food, shelter, clothing, or schooling. Our task at the Children's Home is to give these children a home they never had, good care and the love of our Heavenly Father who cares for their every need. There is a time coming in the future when Elijah will come to restore all the broken families and children to their rightful place, as the prophecy of Malachi will be fulfilled. Until then, we continue to operate with the love and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask you to pray about partnering with Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we care for these neglected children. Our bimonthly Funday is a great opportunity to minister to the village children, feed them a good meal and play football, send them home full of food and the knowledge of the Lord. This costs us about $100 per Funday, would you consider taking that on in support of the outreach? May God bless you as you pray, thank you for your prayers and support.

New Testament Church

Dear beloved: pics; Praise and worship at Living Water Church of Makunda; Fellowship dinner

Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. v42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostle's teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. v43 And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

Beloved, when the New Testament Church was born on the day of Pentecost, three thousand souls were ushered into the kingdom. What a glorious day it was, and a great example for us today. And in that same passage we are given the template for the local chuch fellowship. From that humble beginning, the apostles and disciples went forth with vigor and passion to take the good news of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Now there are an estimated one to two billion Christians on the earth in just about every nation, tribe, and tongue. However, the work of evangelism in far from being finished. When Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy, he told him, "preach the word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." (2 Timothy 4:2) That is the work of ministry for all those in the Body of Christ, that we take the good news to a lost and dying world. At Gather the Outcasts, we are embarking on our 16th year of teaching, preaching, and spreading the gospel in the nations of Africa. As you support and provide, we can go. Pray about your part in supporting this ministry. Thank you and God bless you as you pray.

Pressing On

Dear beloved:pics: Goma, DROC breaking the rebel's back; Praying for Governor and Senator, Butembo, DROC

Philippians 3:10 That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; v11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead. v12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. v13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, v14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Beloved, the Apostle Paul was always looking ahead, pressing on toward the upward call. That is a great teaching and example for us. It is so easy after living this life for a number of years, to get trapped in unforgiveness and bitterness to the point we let the enemy steal our joy. After that comes apathy and a falling away from the Body of Christ, and even possibly rejection. But Paul said he is forgetting what lies behind to focus on what lies ahead, the goal for the prize. His goal was to be like Jesus, to be conformed into His image, the fellowship of His sufferings, and attain to the resurrection of the dead. This is some heavy theology compared to the values and goals of many Christians today, whose main goal is comfort and convenience. Can you lay your life down on the altar, deny yourself, and let God use you for His glory? That is the great question for your life today. Keep seeking that upward call. We invite you to support Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we press on in Africa, taking the message of hope to a lost generation. We need monthly partners, as well as single donations are always welcome. Thank you for your support, may God bless you as you pray!

In Christ, Jim Gather the Outcasts, Box 92, Norton, Ks. 67654 501c3 Paypal@www.paypal.me/gathertheoutcasts or www.gathertheoutcasts.com Email: pureprairie@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/jimrowh www.jimrowh.blogspot.com

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