Scarves and T-shirts!

Hi friends!

We are planning our return to Uganda to spread the Gospel in word and deed. We will be doing a lot of ground work to further the recent school sponsorship program that we started this Fall. By the grace of God, we have 16 children in the village of Masese back in school!

We have BRAND NEW t-shirts available for pre-order that will fund the journey. Go ahead and get one for yourself, or anyone who loves Jesus and awesome t-shirts ;) Here's where to purchase the awesome new shirts: *CLICK HERE*

Another product we have available is a custom handmade scarf! These are a new trend that we are totally into. You can choose any color you'd like, then your choice of black or brown leather as an accent. Here's how to order the scarves: **CLICK HERE**

Here's a preview:

Preaching, Bibles, Videos, and Photography in June.

GREAT ORGANIZATIONS TO CHECK OUT.

McClain and I had a wonderful month of June here in Uganda. We were able to shoot hundreds of photo's (Brett's FB photos & Clain's FB photos) and we've released 11 of the 16 videos (LivingHisLove Vimeo & ServingHisChildren's YouTube) we've shot for 4 different gospel-centered organizations that are seeking the glory of Jesus Christ. God continued to open doors as we sought to love and encourage our Christian brothers and sisters by helping them articulate their vision for bringing the gospel to people through word and deed. By the grace and providence of God we were able to shoot 10 more videos than we had planned.

Here are links to each of the organizations.

Gaba Bible Institute

Christian College for Christian Community leaders and Pastors in Buloba, Uganda.

Serving His Children

Malnutrition Rehabilitation Center + Developmental org based in Jinja, Uganda.

Ekubo Ministries (Ekubo means "The Way" in Luganda)

Village Development/School/Gospel training org in Bugabo, Uganda.

Ekisa Ministries (Ekisa means "Grace" in Luganda)

Orphanage for the mentally and physically handicapped in Jinja, Uganda.

PREACHING AND BIBLE DISTRIBUTING IN MAFUBIRA, BUGABO, AND JINJA.

I (Brett) had the opportunity to preach and teach the gospel to pastors and church members. In Uganda, there are many who have been saved by Jesus but have not received any kind of formal (Bible College/Seminary) or informal (by a seasoned Pastor) training. It was my absolute joy to preach the gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and encourage them to share the gospel without reserve.

JUNE 7th-10th, 12th I was able to preach and distribute bibles at Faith Christian Center in the village of Mafubira, Uganda. A very good friend and brother named Holiness set up the conference, promoted, and translated for me as we both preached the Word. Over 50 people showed up from 1pm-5:30pm everyday to worship and study scripture together. All in all we believe there were 100+ people that attended at least one of the days. We spent the first few hours in prayer and worship, 1 to 1 1/2 hours preaching, then about 1 hour answering questions that the attendants posed. Pastor Nelson, one of the Pastors from FCC invited me back to preach that Sunday which I humbly accepted. In Mafubira alone we gave away 100 copies of the Biblical Doctrine of Salvation, 15 copies of the Biblical Doctrine of Jesus, and 200 bibles most to those who had never owned their own copy of God's Word.

JUNE 24th and 25th I was able to preach and distribute bibles in the village of Bugabo which is in the bush. George Magera, leader of Ekubo Ministries, set up the conference (we thought it would be one afternoon but it turned into a two day training conference), promoted, and provided a local pastor to translate. Friday the 24th I began preaching around 2pm and took them through the scriptures to show them that the whole Bible is about and points to Jesus. How "(Jesus) appeared at the culmination (climax) of the ages to put away sin and death by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 10:26). We walked through the Fall, the Atonement, the Promises, the Culmination and looked at how Jesus Christ fulfilled everything to the glory of His Father by the power of the Holy Spirit. After preaching for 2 hours (translation makes the sermon a BIT longer) the people in attendance were telling George that "we have to do this again and for much longer tomorrow." The next day we started at 11am and went through 3pm. I was honored to preach two more sermons "Jesus and The Two Lost Sons" out of Luke 15 and "Love Because you are Loved" out of Luke 6 and then answer questions in regards to the sermon text. There were about 20-30 people in attendance and we were able to distribute the 15 bibles that remained from Mafubira.

As an unexpected turn, we met 2 pastors from the Hoima District through our new friend Jonathan. Jonathan is a Missions Director at a church in West Salem Virginia that we met through Serving His Children, and we have already become good friends. His church puts on a Pastors conference two times a year in Hoima, Uganda. We were able to give around 20 bibles to his pastor friends to take and distribute to their church members who were lacking.

July 17th I was honored with the opportunity of preaching at the largest church in Jinja "Evangel Church." Evangel Church is a World Vision church plant that is lead by Pastor Zach, an ex-muslim that God has used to reach many muslims by the gospel of Jesus. While having lunch with Pastor Zach, McClain and I learned that multiple attempts have been made on his life by people of opposing faiths. But he has persevered and will not shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God and sharing the gospel of salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. I had the privilege of preaching at their 2nd service. I was very encouraged of how many people had gathered to praise the name of our Lord through song, give of their money, and receive preaching and teaching. The gathering was great and I was very blessed and encouraged after the sermon by many church members. They welcomed me back for the next time I'm in Jinja. It was great meeting passionate Christians in a different nation.

By the grace of God I am convinced that many have been strengthened in the gospel by grace through faith and the idea of a "works-based salvation" was destroyed in many peoples minds. All through the power of the Holy Spirit in the declaration of His Word. My hope is that their hearts were burning and their love of the God of the Bible grew as the Word was proclaimed and it all pointed to Jesus.

We had a very busy month of June to the glory of God and we greatly appreciate everyone's prayers and money that was given to send us to Uganda.

All for love, all for the gospel.

Grace and peace to you all,

LivingHisLove

Brett, McClain, and Candace

Failing Computers and God's Providence

Hello all,
It was my plan to update about the whole month of June, but as I started writing it became clear to me that I wasn't going to make it further than day 1 of our trip. Please forgive me. We will updating very soon about the month of June.

McClain and my last full day in America was Saturday May 28th. We spent that Saturday night gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Worship, Communion, and a "send-off" was the theme of the night with our new church-plant "Ekklesia Muskogee." As the night came to an end I got out our laptop and started it up to check a few things before we departed. We had saved for over a year to able to buy this computer so we can take it to Uganda in order to save the video and photography that we would capture. That Saturday night at 10:30pm, the day before leaving the country for 2 months, it crashed. Something went terribly wrong with the hard drive; we tried everything we knew but we had no way of fixing it ourselves. Without it we would not be able to save more than 1 or two videos and a few pictures. Naturally, I was beside myself. It seems these things (seemingly trip ruing things) always happen right before a trip you've been planning for a long time. "The deep breath before the plunge" turns into "the deep breath, in which you choke on a gallon of water, before the plunge." What's more, is that God is Sovereign. He allows, even ordains these things to happen. In the moment it seems that we're being attacked by the devil. I don't want to give him that much credit in this case. I believe it was God, our Sovereign creator God, showing McClain and I that no matter what bad seems to happen on this trip, it's actually good. It's a test. It's a display of His providence. That Saturday night when everything came crashing down, it's as if God was saying "How are you going to handle this?" or "Watch this, children. I wasn't lying when I spoke through Paul in Romans 8:28." or "I'm not sure if you understand how much of a loving Father I am." or maybe even "Watch me reveal to you that this trip is not about you, but about Me and my glory."

The night of and day following the "crash" turned into a beautiful display of God's providence and just how much He has changed the hearts of His children. One couple went home immediately and grabbed their laptop for us to take, another friend called and said he would buy a new computer for us to take to Uganda and return to him when we got back to the States. What's more is that we for some crazy reason we had a 5 hour layover in Dallas, on our way to Uganda. What seemed like a nuisance turned into an opportunity to make an appointment with the MacStore, get a taxi to downtown Dallas, get our computer fixed for free, and get back just in time to board our flight to London. As well as getting our computer fixed for $100 (the round trip taxi ride was pretty steep) we got an incredible discount on the Bibles that we brought to distribute to Pastor's and Church Members. What was supposed to cost us $112 per tub x4 ended up being a total of $149. This gave us great opportunities to put that money toward printing off of more discipleship materials and we were able to hire a mother for some work at the house in order that she could make some money to pay her sons school-fees.

It was amazing to see the followers of Christ band together and not allow anything to get in the way of ministering for the sake of the gospel. Thank you for your prayers and financial support of our ministry. More updates to come.


Love, hope, grace, and peace to you all from God the Father, through God the Son, by God the Holy Spirit.
May He receive glory through us forever and ever, amen.

Brett and McClain

Here is the second update video we shot on the progress of Robert's house. There is currently a team here in Uganda working to finish the house within the next two weeks! We will film a final video of Robert's house once it is completed!




The first leg of our trip (in Jinja) is finished, and we are on to the next. Currently, we are near the capitol city of Kampala, spending some time at Gaba Bible Institute in the village of Buloba. Check out their website to read more about the great work that is being done here! Our next update will include some details about what we've found here, photos, and some video if we can!

Tomorrow, we move on to Bugabo village where we will spend some time at Ekubo Ministries filming, taking photos, and getting to know the ministry!

Here are two other blogs of our friends that are here. Their latest posts will give you some more insight as to what is going on these days. www.bethanysblessings.blogspot.com AND www.ServingHisChildrenInUganda.blogspot.com

We have already had our share of sickness in the last few days. Nothing serious, just what is to be expected in the first weeks of living (temporarily or permanently) in the 3rd world! The words that you have prayed over us the last few days have been felt heavily and we are so thankful to you for lifting us up to the Father!

As you know, one of our tasks while in Uganda is to capture photos and videos for several Gospel centered organizations, primarily Serving His Children. Here is a quick SHC video we shot while in Mayuge (see last post):

Monday we had the privilege of visiting a wonderful ministry called Ekisa, which means "grace" in Luganda. Ekisa Ministries provides those living with disabilities a place of understanding that assists them in their physical, mental, and spiritual growth. Our time filming there was an adventure to say the least! We will post some photos soon!

Yesterday, Brett and I hopped on a boda (motorcycle taxi) and headed out to the village of Mafubira where STAO is located. He and I rode on one boda, while our two tubs of bibles were strapped to another. Most of you will remember that STAO is the children's home and church where we stayed for part of our visit last year! Brett is preaching the next few days there to a group of pastors and anyone else who shows up ;) In addition to preaching and worshipping together, we were able to give out many of the bibles that you helped us bring! The people were incredibly appreciative of the gift!! Yesterday went very well and I know each day will only be better... for His glory!!

That's all for now friends! I will try to upload a few photos and short videos in the next blog, but bear with me because the internet here is just awful! LOVE YOU ALL and THANK YOU for your prayer as we journey in Uganda!

All for love, all for the Gospel.

-Clain and Brett

We are here!

Our fist few days here in Uganda have been wonderful! When we arrived Tuesday morning, we made the long, cramped drive to Jinja where we settled into the Serving His Children volunteer house. Our house is just up the road from Renee's (the SHC compound) so we are just a short walk away. We were absolutely exhausted from only having about 6 hours of sleep in a few days because of all the traveling! Yesterday we slept very late, then eventually went into town to get food from the market, a phone to use while we're here, and a few other things for the house.

Today we woke up a bit earlier to go out to a village called Mayuge. Several of the children that have gone through SHC's program are from this area, including baby Robert. He was brought to Renee with an extremely rare skin disease called EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa). Click here if you'd like to read more about Robert's story. We went WAY out to his home to continue the work on a foundation for his and his families' new home! His condition requires a cleaner environment, and that is what the new house will provide. Serving His Children is sending a team out there this month to finish the construction! A beautiful thing about SHC is that it is not exclusive to malnutrition... they help in any area that is thrown their way!

We are dirty and we are tired, but we are so glad to be here and see what is going on! I will post some photos on the next blog, but if you are friends with us on facebook you can see some now! LOVE YOU ALL!! We'll blog again soon :)

-Clain and Brett

We've landed on the MOON! (London)

Thanks to all for your prayers, encouragements, and for helping us get everything read to go.
Here's a little video saying hey!

5 things to pray for

Here are 4 specific ways to pray for McClain, Candace, and myself (Brett) while we are in Uganda this summer.

“We seek to bring glory to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in all that we do.”

1. Pray that God’s glory would be revealed, according to the Holy Spirit at work within us, so that Jesus would increase and we would decrease forever and ever. Let it be so!

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. EPHESIANS 3:20-21


“We seek to fulfill the task and the ministry that we have been created and empowered to carry out.”

2. Pray that our heavenly Father God would make us to know His ways and the good works for which we have been created, so that we would be His hands and feet to the world in all of life. Let it be so!

4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
   teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   for you I wait all the day long. PSALM 25:4-5

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. EPHESIANS 2:10


“We seek to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to all because it is the only hope for life now, life after, and life forever.”

3. Pray that the minds of the perishing would be opened to see the light of the gospel of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, so that the blind would see His face and the enemies be made heirs. Let it be so!

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


“We are not going to Uganda to be safe, we are going to be faithful.
We plan, strive, and will work hard in the name of Jesus- and let the Lord do what seems good to Him. If we perish we perish. To live is Christ and to die is gain.”

4. Pray that God would give us the faith, strength, and grace to proclaim “To live is Christ and to die is gain!” In sickness, in health, in danger, and in peace. May our lives show the we prize Christ Jesus above all. May all see and come to believe that knowing Christ and making Him known is more precious than any comfort this world has to offer. Let it be so!

"Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." ESTHER 4:16

12And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him." 1 CHRONICLES 19:12-13
21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. PHILIPPIANS 1:21-24

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. PHILIPPIANS 3:8-11



"We are completely aware that we have an enemy and that he will be seeking to destroy our plans and to keep us from revealing God's glory. We will be fighting Him with prayer and our dependance on the Holy Spirit's leading. We know that we are fighting not against flesh and blood but an enemy far more powerful than mere men. Thanks be to Jesus for defeating Satan, death, and sin on the cross. May we live in the reality that God is our only hope of success in Uganda."

5. Pray that Satan's attacks would not keep us from bringing glory to our God! Pray for us to live in dwell in the gospel and God's sovereign grace and providence. That though things might not go how we planned, we know that for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose- God uses all things to work together for our good. Pray for Satan's attacks to be null and may we be guarded from the evil one. Let it be so!


"We greatly appreciate your prayers in these areas and in whatever way you feel lead. Pray for our safety, yes, but pray more earnestly for the gospel of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ to be on display. Thank you to all who gave financially to send us on this gospel mission to the country of Uganda. Senders and just as necessary as goers."

11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. ROMANS 10:11-17

You are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we are yours.

May love, hope, grace, and peace from God the Father abound to you all.

Sincerely,

Brett Baggett

Let the peoples praise you, O God!

THIS SUNDAY, Brett and I (McClain) are heading to Oklahoma City to fly to Uganda!! Candace will be along at the end of June to join us! We are so excited and have been anticipating and preparing for months now. Brett and I will be on this journey for 66 days, returning on August 2nd. The Father has shown us again and again that this is exactly where we should be and what we should be doing. He provided in abundance the funds that we needed for our own expenses AND to purchase bibles to take with us!

In a nutshell we will be doing the following in Uganda: Photography and videography for several Gospel centered organizations, preaching the Gospel to local pastors and leaders, distributing bibles, and implementing CHE Training in the village of Masese. For a bit more detailed description, check out the "Missions" link on our website! Brett and I WILL have access to the internet while we are in Uganda, just not the reliable kind :) We will be updating as often as we are able to let you know what is happening, how Father is moving, and in what areas we need specific prayers. Thank you all for supporting us as we journey into the good works that God created us, in Christ Jesus, to walk in.

We ask now for your prayers to surround us, this journey, and the people we will encounter. May they see Jesus Christ in a new light, or perhaps for the very first time!

This will be our prayer:

Psalm 67

1May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
Selah

2that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

6The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!