THE LORD HAS DIRECTED ME - Bulletin 07-06-14

“THE LORD HAS DIRECTED ME”

I’m grieving.  Our brother-in-Christ, Otor Opiew, left on the bus for Tennessee yesterday, (July 5).  Otor is traveling ahead of his family so he can, Lord willing, find a job and a place to live.  Willow and their three children, Emmanuela, Aballa and Tedujowk, plan to join Otor in Tennessee next month.  We will indeed miss the Opiew family greatly!

Otor and Willow came to Minnesota twelve years ago from South Sudan (by way of Egypt).  However, as a church, we first met this family last year when they visited us Sunday morning, August 25, 2013.  At the time, Otor was taking a church of Christ Bible correspondence course from Tennessee.  In fact, last summer was the first time in Otor’s fifty plus years that he had ever heard the name “church of Christ.”  He was thrilled to know that there was a body of God’s people named after Jesus!  His biggest smiles seem to always come after he says the words, “church of Christ.” 

A church of Christ in Tennessee, who has a thriving mission work in South Sudan, has invited Otor and his family to come, live and worship with their 1000+ member congregation for a year. Their three-year plan for Otor is: equip him with more Bible training at the Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock,TX; after graduation, move the Opiew family back to South Sudan; and Lord willing, install Otor as a Bible teacher in their South Sudan preacher’s training school!  They have already graduated 80 students from this school and are in dire need of wise and godly teachers/preachers of the gospel of Christ.  As we know here in Rochester, they have uncovered a “gold mine” in Otor!

Otor is a long-time student of the Bible and a follower of God’s Spirit.  He and his three-year-old son, Tedujowk (pictured above), and I had many Tuesday morning Bible studies in their home over the last 10 months.  What an absolute thrill it has been to witness the faith of this godly man, listen to him pray and live out God’s word. Tedujowk’s name most fittingly means, “the Lord has directed me.” Although I already miss Otor, I definitely believe our sovereign God is “directing” this change of events in the Opiew family’s life.    Otor, Willow, Emmanuela, Aballa, and Tedujowk, we salute you!  To God be the glory!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!  Mr. Steve