One of the unexpected and good outcomes of the recent leadership summit with the leaders of the Rwandan Baptist Churches (UEBR) and its international partners held in Entebbe, Uganda, was meeting Rev. Dr. Michael Okwakol, the president of the Baptist Union of Uganda (BUU).

As our national host, Rev. Okwakol took the vital logistical planning by the horn, so to speak, and arranged for everything that the group needed while in Entebbe – lodging, food, transportation and countless other intangibles. This new encounter with the BUU reached a highlight when Dr. Okwakol extended an invitation to Dr. Lee Spitzer, senior regional pastor and executive minister of ABCNJ, to preach at the Agape Baptist Church in Kampala where Dr. Okwakol also serves as pastor. Dr. Spitzer preached a stirring sermon on Stewardship, the topic given to him by Dr. Okwakol. Dr. Okwakol was asked to lead a Bible study for the whole group at the beginning of the meetings. It was a prophetic message, truly led by the Spirit. Dr. Okwakol was never alerted by anyone as to the purpose of the meetings, but the scripture text he chose and the message he brought forth from it went right to the heart of the struggle that brought us to that part of the world and set the right tone for the rest of the meetings.

The outcome of the visit in Uganda continues to evolve. Dr. Okwakol (pictured with his family, Eleazar and Elmo) is in the United States during the month of April visiting his daughters in North Carolina. Dr. Spitzer took the opportunity to invite him to the “Fanning the Flame” conference in Green Lake, WI later in April where he can be introduced to the larger ABC family. After the conference, Dr. Okwakol will come to New Jersey and join us for three events:

1. A meeting with the Rwanda Task Force on April 26.

2. Rev. Okwakol will preach at the Alpha Baptist Church in Willingboro where Rev. Danny Scotton is pastor on Sunday morning, April 27. Alpha Baptist Church funded the entire trip of Dr. Spitzer, Rev. Familiaran and the 7 members of the UEBR executive committee.

3. He will also address the Greater Delaware Valley Association of ABCNJ during their Annual Meeting dinner on April 27, 2008 at the Central Baptist Church in Woodbury.