Merry Christmas

It's Christmas Eve morning here in Phoenix and as I ponder the great gift of Jesus I am so thankful for God coming to us through His Son to restore all the world to Him. May everyone experience this gift of grace of God coming to us. 


I am also very grateful for all of the support and encouragement I have received for this mission to Uganda. All of the funds to cover the travel costs have been provided, my immunizations are almost complete and now I am preparing spiritually for whatever God has in store during this trip. 


I am still seeking financial support to meet local needs for this ministry in Uganda, as well as some incidental costs along the way. Would you prayerfully consider how you might partner with us for this mission? Take a look at the "Contribute" page for ways that you can help.


Here is a poster about the conference Pastor Bill and I will be a part of. 

Please pray for us, that God would empower us with His Holy Spirit to bring a word of faith and encouragement for all who will be attending. May we all know that God first chose us and He accepts us. Pray that we are healthy and strong, for favor in our travel and for our families while we are away.


May everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Oasis of Life

Oasis of Life is the orphanage founded by Pastor Henry Nsubuga in Uganda, Africa. This is the orphanage Pastor Bill and I will be visiting while we are there in January, as well as preaching, teaching and ministering at a pastors conference Pastor Henry's church is hosting. I want to take just a moment in this post to share with you the beautiful children at Oasis of Life to give you a glimpse into what this upcoming trip will be about. You may also visit their website to learn more about this mission.

I am getting more excited as each day draws closer to heading out on this trip.

Peaceful Reality

With each day that goes by, each task that gets checked off and each thought of what is coming; the reality of this trip sinks in a little deeper. However, there is no fear nor anxiousness for this coming reality but rather increasing peace and reassurance that comes from God.


In just the last week some friends of ours lost a friend who died in a car accident while on a mission trip to Uganda. For a brief moment this did bring some thoughts of doubt or fear, but then just as quickly a sense of peace comes from the Lord. We grieve the loss with our friends but also remain strong in the Lord as He reassures us that this is the time He has set for the fulfillment of a dream He planted in my heart more than eight years ago.


"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10


God is always faithful and continues to prepare the way!

Fear or Faith

Several years ago someone told me that fear is just false evidence appearing real. Fear could be thought of as the enemies counterfeit of faith. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that Faith is assurance in things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. We have this assurance through Jesus Christ and when we place that trust in Him we can hold on to what we know is true based on the Word.


During these weeks I've struggled at times by allowing false evidence or false thinking to be set before me, believing that it may be real. But when I take that evidence and compare it to God's word the light exposes it for what it really is. When we think too long on these things we can tend to make them become very real and allow doubt to settle in. However, when we have a promise, a word or a God given dream; we have the assurance that He will bring about the things that are hoped for. In the midst of this week I have never felt more sure that this is the time for this mission.


I have been very blessed these last couple of weeks by such encouragement in following this dream of going to Africa; along with pledges of financial support that have brought me a quarter of the way to my goal.


Thank you to all who have been the voice of Jesus through your words of encouragement.

Lost Disciplines Found

I had an opportunity last week to go on a 48 hour silent retreat in solitude, two spiritual disciplines that seem to becoming lost in our Christian lives. Though this was a required activity for seminary, I was eager to get it started because I usually find refreshment in solitude, though it can be hard to find in our busy lives.

A family in our church offered their cabin to me for this time away with the Lord. It was fairly remote, six miles off the nearest paved road, in the mountains south of Prescott, AZ.

Once I arrived at the cabin on Wednesday, it was almost dark and I had to rush to get things opened up and turned on while I could still see. It took awhile to dial down and begin to concentrate on God. As I began seeking God's presence, I felt that I needed to read certain scriptures and pray certain prayers. But after a while I just wasn't feeling like I was connecting with God and decided to just go to bed.

On Thursday morning I began to pray and read while enjoying my coffee on the deck of this beautiful cabin. Again I was feeling like I needed to approach God in a certain way in order to have "that encounter". Then I felt Him say, "Why are you striving so hard, I am here, I am always with you. I don't want you to DO anything, I just want you to BE, be with Me. It's OK to rest." Then I felt pressed to read Matthew 11:28-29, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

I replied, "OK Lord, I hear you, I can rest." I then stood up with my coffee to gaze out at the wonderful view from the deck when I heard some twigs cracking to the left of the cabin and then 3 deer came walking by and stopped right in front of me and grazed for about 15 minutes before moving on. I began to thank the Lord for He knows what it is that I like. Then I heard a turkey and sure enough about 12-15 turkey proceeding in from my right and stopped right in front of me to feed for another 15 minutes. God was blessing me and bringing rest to my soul in watching His creation. 

"Be still and know that I am God" was the verse coming to mind as my time at the cabin continued. I picked up my bible to read this verse in Psalm 46:10 "Cease striving and know that I am God." is how it reads in my translation. This prompted me to read some other translations of this verse and some of them can read as "Let go" or "Relax and know that I am God."

I asked the Lord, "What am I striving for?" He then proceeded to show me three areas where I've been striving and not trusting in Him. This brought about a release of control in these areas to God, my Father who has good gifts for His children.

God continued the theme of cease striving in a couple of different ways during my 48 hours, but He also continued restoring my soul and pouring out His love and grace upon me. God also encouraged me in things related to seminary, as well as bringing another confirmation about the mission to Uganda. He made it clear that I just needed to trust in Him for all the plans, resources and provision for this trip. Since returning home God has been opening doors that have allowed me to check a couple items off the list, as well has some financial donations towards fulfilling the dream of this mission trip.

What I've discovered in these lost disciplines of solitude and silence is true rest, the kind that can restore your soul; as well as being able to hear so clearly from the Lord, as the distractions of the world are removed. God is always with us, he never leaves us nor forsakes us and all we have to do to experience his presence is to stop and be quiet long enough to recognize that He is there.

No Boundaries

What a blessing brother's in Christ are to each of us; One such brother brought an encouraging word and a confirmation to the timing of this mission to Uganda is the one I am supposed to be going on. 


Last night while we were sharing a meal of tacos (homemade of course by his lovely wife), conversation began to center on this mission trip. Before you know it God is having me share more of my ministry history than I thought was necessary, but God had a reason for it. As I was coming to a point of wrapping up this tour of my history my friend said, "Don't you see it, you are absolutely supposed to be on this mission trip for this exact purpose."


Part of the what I was sharing with this friend is how God really unlocked the gift of prayer and intercession He had deposited in me long ago and the key He used to help unlock it was Pastor Bill Goodwin. From following a prompting of the Holy Spirit to show up at the youth service Pastor Bill was leading to just sit in his office to pray during the service, to the development of a prayer ministry with in the youth ministry, to leading prayer ministry in the larger church, to where I am following this pastoral call today. Its like, what unlocked the journey back then has come full circle, and know another unlocking is about to take place. After years of not serving with Pastor Bill in ministry together, he has asked me to serve in this role of prayer again for a new area of his ministry. Its back at the beginning but at a different level; a perpetual motion that takes place which launches us from one phase of life/ministry into the next.


Some have asked, "Why go to Africa? There is so much here that needs to be done." This is true, and my first longing for mission is right here at home and feel I have been serving in that copacity. However, in Gods kingdom there are no boundaries in the sense of state lines, country borders and continents. Gods kingdom is Gods kingdom it covers the entire universe, His people are His people regardless of where they may happen to be geographically. 


While I and the others going on this trip, will be serving the children and adults by lending a helping hand while loving them with the love of Christ; God will also be ministering to us and unlocking new doors in this life of ministry.


There is a sense that what God is about to unlock on this trip will eliminate boundaries. The boundaries of distance, thought, perceptions, finance, religion, language... For "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2Corinthians 3:17

A Dream Becoming Reality

Since having a dream about ministering in Africa back in 2003, I've known that someday God would bring it to fruition. I have had opportunities to go to Africa several times over the years, but never felt it was the right time, nor did God confirm it like He has this time.

In July I received an invitation from Pastor Bill Goodwin to go on a mission with him and a team to Uganda Africa from January 15th - 25th, 2012. As Bill was sharing with me about this trip the Spirit within me leapt! As I prayed about it I sensed that God was saying now is the time.

This trip to Uganda will involve working with Oasis of Life Orphanage ministering to the children and doing service projects. Pastor Bill will also be speaking at a pastors conference through Living Word Temple that will provide training and encouragement to local pastors. The team will also be providing prayer ministry and support during these conference times. The evening sessions for this conference will be open to the general public to come hear about Jesus and how He can heal.

I am very excited for this opportunity, especially with my specific role being centered around prayer. As I continue to pray and listen God is making it clear that now is the time for this dream to become reality.

Would you consider how you can partner with me in this mission? First and for most I need prayer support for the preparation, the time away on this mission and the return trip home. Then would you also prayerfully consider making a financial contribution for this mission. You can make a secure contribution using this site Chip In by just clicking the "Chip In" button.

Thank you for your prayers and support. Check back here for updates and more information as it becomes available.

Blessings & Peace,

T.L. Landgraf