“ a human sacrifice would take place when a small group of people needed to obtain supernatural powers to be successful in areas such as business or politics” (BBC News website 28 Jan 2002).
This was what the Metropolitan Police were advised by an expert during the investigation into the torso of a young, African boy, named Adam, found in the Thames 10 years ago, and which has been in the news recently.
The idea of human sacrifice is unthinkable in modern Britain. In Uganda, where paganism was the main religion less than 100 years ago, it is still, unfortunately, more common. One of the Priests working at the Diocese here is sheltering a young girl who had been selected for sacrifice, and had fled to his home for safety. Maybe, if she had been taken to the shrine, rather than being killed the witch doctor would just have taken her to add to his 20 or so existing wives. Apparently, other children are not so lucky. Last year it is thought that in Uganda about 29 children were sacrificed for black magic and to use their body parts for healing. Worried parents resort to circumcising their children, or having their ears pierced so that their physical imperfections make them unacceptable for sacrifice.
For us as Christians human sacrifice is just an evil counterfeit of the only sacrifice that ever made a difference to anyone and brings God’s supernatural power. – that of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago.
During this Easter season we are reminded of the death of Jesus. A perfect human sacrifice was required but for once only . As Peter wrote ‘For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.’ (1 Peter 1;18-19). And by His ‘one sacrifice He has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy’. (Hebrews 10:14).
Let us be thank God that we have access to His power through Jesus Christ.
We are both well, and looking forward to the end of the rainy season, which seemed to have started the day we arrived last August. The term has ended at the Vocational Training Centre and Irene has been busy introducing a basic computer skills course and ‘examining’ her 3 students. Malcolm has been touring the Diocese visiting all 37 Parishes to check what financial records they keep. On May 2nd to 4th he is visiting Kisiizi hospital run by a neighbouring Diocese to find out what help\they need.
Its been a sad time at Potter’s Village as a baby died. Moses was 9 months old and had been weak and blind since birth. On the day he was diagnosed with a hole in heart he died. When he was taken to his village to be buried with his mother there was a difficult time as his grandparents wanted the Christian Burial to include pagan rites. Many people who claim to be Christians also hold onto the traditional customs, which sometimes makes the witness of the church confusing to non-believers.
In your prayers please:
- give thanks that Malcolm had enjoyable, and safe journeys to visit the various parishes in March and April, and ask for wisdom for preparing a manual and training course for Treasurers later this year
- pray for guidance as we visit Kisiizi Hospital to find out how we can help them, whilst continuing to work in Kisoro
- seek God’s will for a specialist computer teacher and syllabus to continue the basic computer skills course
- pray for the babies at Potters Village, that they will be protected from illness, and that a full-time nurse will be appointed to help care for them
- pray for the church here, that it will be able to proclaim clearly the good news of Easter, and many will accept Christ and give up their old ways
To read our weekly blog search for ‘Malcolm and Irene Crawford’ or go to:
http://malcolmandirenecrawford.blogspot.com/
We are both well, and looking forward to the end of the rainy season, which seemed to have started the day we arrived last August. The term has ended at the Vocational Training Centre and Irene has been busy introducing a basic computer skills course and ‘examining’ her 3 students. Malcolm has been touring the Diocese visiting all 37 Parishes to check what financial records they keep. On May 2nd to 4th he is visiting Kisiizi hospital run by a neighbouring Diocese to find out what help\they need.
Its been a sad time at Potter’s Village as a baby died. Moses was 9 months old and had been weak and blind since birth. On the day he was diagnosed with a hole in heart he died. When he was taken to his village to be buried with his mother there was a difficult time as his grandparents wanted the Christian Burial to include pagan rites. Many people who claim to be Christians also hold onto the traditional customs, which sometimes makes the witness of the church confusing to non-believers.
In your prayers please:
- give thanks that Malcolm had enjoyable, and safe journeys to visit the various parishes in March and April, and ask for wisdom for preparing a manual and training course for Treasurers later this year
- pray for guidance as we visit Kisiizi Hospital to find out how we can help them, whilst continuing to work in Kisoro
- seek God’s will for a specialist computer teacher and syllabus to continue the basic computer skills course
- pray for the babies at Potters Village, that they will be protected from illness, and that a full-time nurse will be appointed to help care for them
- pray for the church here, that it will be able to proclaim clearly the good news of Easter, and many will accept Christ and give up their old ways
To read our weekly blog search for ‘Malcolm and Irene Crawford’ or go to:
http://malcolmandirenecrawford.blogspot.com/
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