Jim Rowh's Blog

Sunday, July 20, 2025

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!

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

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

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Bondservant of Jesus

Dear beloved: pics; Angeline with Emmanuel JamesRowh Lupere; Graduates of Living Water Bible School

Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among you, which is yours in Christ Jesus, v6 who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God as something to be grasped, v7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bondservant.

Beloved, a bondservant was someone in Biblical times who was given freedom but did not take advantage of the freedom, instead choosing to stay with the master. Many times in his letters, the Apostle Paul called himself a bondservant of Jesus Christ. In the above Scripture, Paul also likens Jesus to be a bondservant. He was obedient to the will of His Father in every way, even to the point of death on the cross. When you become a bondservant of Jesus, the normal freedoms and privileges that people strive for here in life lose their appeal. That is when you know you have picked up your cross and are carrying it daily, your main goal in life is to serve the Lord. Would you deny yourself freedom in order that the kingdom of God can gain? That is the question every believer should be asking himself. We invite you to partner with Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we take the soul saving message of the gospel to the people in Kenya. We are planning a crusade in Mulwanda village with one of our partner churches, the dates are December 12-14. Can you pray with us for this crusade and also make a donation? We have a budget of $3,000 for this 3 day crusade. This area is heavily populated with muslims and witchcraft, they need to hear the Good News! May God bless you as you pray.

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

Unity of the Body

Dear beloved: Pics; Kibera Crusade, Nairobi, Kenya; With Pygmy tribe in remote Burundi

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. v11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. v12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul", or "I am of Apollos", or "I am of Cephas", or "I am of Christ." v13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Beloved, a great hindrance to the promotion of the Gospel is all the divisions and denominations in the Body of Christ. In Kenya there are increasingly popular teachers who proclaim that somehow Apostle Paul does not speak for Christ, that his doctrinal messages don't carry any weight. Did God error in allowing half of the New Testament to be written by Apostle Paul? Was Paul in error when he said, "earnestly desire spiritual gifts?" (1 Cor. 14:1) Or was Apostle Peter in error when he said, "the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9). It seems this may have been a problem in Paul's day as well, as he cynically asks, "Is Christ divided?" We are to study the whole counsel of God, for it is all God breathed (inspired), and profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16). I encourage you to read the Bible believing it is the word of God, written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, for our blessing, benefit, healing, and salvation. God's desire is for you to be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work as a member of the Body of Christ. We invite you to partner with Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we preach the good news of the Gospel to the nations of Africa. May God bless you as you pray!

If you haven't checked out our new ministry video, please take time to do so. The scenery is stunning, the people are beautiful, and you will get a better understanding of what we are doing in Africa. Clik on this link to see the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mE-hpOwHV4

Keep Building

Dear beloved: Pics: Living Water Church of Makunda; Completed mud house construction

Nehemiah 4:13 Therefore I (Nehemiah) positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows v14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." v15 And it happened, when our enemies heard that their plan was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, every man to his work.

Beloved, the pictures above tell the part of the story of Living Water Church of Makunda. We are a group of people the Lord has brought together to build the wall in Makunda. Makunda is primarily a muslim village, set off from the main roads and in a world of its own. A place for grass to grow, for the cattle to graze. Since we began our church six years ago, we have made an impact. Teaching and preaching the gospel, of course, but also village building and transformation through works of service. We have built several mud houses for ailing widows and poor families, helped families get their children back in school, helped people get loved ones out of the hospital..The list goes on. We have a storehouse of sacks of maize for those who have no food. In addition to that, we are also called upon to pray for the sick, and preach at funerals, to the point now people of all religions and faiths come to us for help. That is the Body of Christ in action! You can be a part of this work if you kindly make a donation to Gather the Outcasts Ministry. Pray about a generous end of year donation, or monthly partnership, to keep the Lord's work going. Am posting a link to a new video on Youtube, cut and paste or clik on the link to watch the video of our projects. You are welcome to share video, do not post on public social media.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mE-hpOwHV4

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

Children Funday

Dear beloved: Pics: Children Funday playground; Funday full meal deal

Luke 11:11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? v12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? v13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask of Him?

Beloved, one of our greatest joys is hosting Children's Funday every other Saturday of each month. We are averaging 125-150 children each day, starting early in the morning to mid afternoon. We play football, volleyball, and other fun games, then we have a teaching time to tell them Bible stories and the good news of the Gospel. We finish the day with a good balanced meal so they can go home happy and satisfied. Many of these children are from muslim families, so this is a good evangelism outreach in addition to building goodwill in the village with our neighbors. Jesus said, "your heavenly Father wants to give you good gifts, all you need to do is ask." The Apostle Paul spoke not only of the gift of the Holy Spirit, but also of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:1 "pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy." Our heavenly Father is not a trickster; if you earnestly desire the good gifts that He has, you can trust that He will give you what He has promised. Jesus called the Holy Spirit "the promise of the Father." (Acts 1:4). We serve an amazing God, He wants to shower us with gifts to show His love for us. We invite you to partner with Gather the Outcasts Ministry as we spread the good news of the gospel to the young and old. Your donation, no matter how great or small will be used to further God's kingdom here in Africa. Pray about your part! Many Christians here in Kenya are praying for the USA elections, for God's will to be done and peace through the whole process. 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