Teaching Team
Suffering for Torah
Tags: acts for messiah
Shalom FFOZ family,
I need your fervent prayers and your words of encouragement for my "nephew-in-the-Lord," John Omongin of Tororo, Uganda.
John came from an unbelievably poor Karamajong family. When he was four years old his father died. His mother was poor and sickly and could not provide for her five children, so John was out on the streets, surviving as a street orphan, begging, cheating and stealing for ten years. He was a natural leader and picked up a small following of other street children who worked together to survive. At the age of fourteen, Emily Dwyer of Acts for Messiah convinced John and two of his followers to come in off the streets and learn the ways of the Master. In the last four years, John has grown to be a bright man of God, is attending school, playing music, learning Torah and living as a true disciple.
On Thursday morning, the boys at Acts for Messiah were studying the weekly parashah (Mishpatim). They were in Exodus 23 where we read the mitzvah of returning a stray animal:
If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. (Exodus 23:4)
Not long after that, John had gone down the road a short way to pick some mangos. He saw a cow that had broken loose from the stake it was tied to, so John proceeded to follow the Torah teaching, and return the cow to the stake. A stranger with a big club saw him with the cow and assumed he was steeling it. He began beating John.
In Tororo, Uganda, it is common for crowds to quickly form and beat a suspected thief to death. The police do not get involved. This was to be John’s fate. People came running from every direction to join in the murder.
A young lady named Patience, whom is also lame in one foot, lives in that area and went out to see what was happening. She recognized John and sent word back to the Acts for Messiah house. Another of the Acts for Messiah boys, 19 year old Tawula, hurried to the scene by bicycle. The crowd was already wild and out of control. Tawula threw himself into the mob, shouting at the man with the club, “This is my brother! This is my brother!” Somehow Tawula was able to extricate John from the crowd. Emily and the others arrived shortly.
John was badly beaten. They rushed him to the hospital, but no doctor was available. John remains hospitalized with severe wounds to the head, neck, arms and back. Thank God today John is up and able to speak.
I will update you on this blog as we receive more information.
This situation is so heartbreaking. Please pray for John, for a speedy recovery, and please post your words of encouragement for him here. We will make sure John is able to receive all your posts.
Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed … For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. (1 Peter 3:13–17)
D. Thomas Lancaster
Shevat 25, 5768
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Visitor Feedback:
Daniel,
This is truly heartbreaking, but Baruch Hashem that he survived and is recovering.
Readers can see a picture of John and read more about it on the Acts for Messiah website: www.actsformessiah.org/children.php?child=john.
Shabbat shalom
Seth | February 1, 2008 1:15 PM
This is a very sobering story, but also inspiring. He is an awesome testimony for our Messiah. May we also have such a fervor to uphold the Instructions of HaShem. May John recieve refuah sh'leimah. [Complete Healing]
Shabbat Shalom.
Michael M | February 1, 2008 3:15 PM
As the mother of a boy John's age, my heart breaks for his suffering.
Perhaps the real story will get out and people will become curious about Torah and the Master.
I'm praying for John's healing and for great good to come from this situation.
MJ
MJ Belko | February 2, 2008 10:20 AM
Daniel;
Profound, insightful, terrifying.
This type of suffering should produce a new willingness and resolve to walk the path of Yeshua Rabbeinu.
שבוע טוב
SDG
S.D. Gerlitz | February 3, 2008 12:41 AM
Dear John,
The following scripture sprang to mind:
20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? [b]But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. [/b](1 Peter Ch. 2)
Hashem saw what happened and you will surely be rewarded for the fulfilling of the mitzvah.
My prayers are with you,
Daniel K
Daniel K | February 3, 2008 6:21 AM
"...as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments..." 2Corinthians 6
John, may Hashem bring a speedy and quick recovery to your body and soul. The grace of the Messiah Yeshua be with you in your service and dedication to the Kingdom.
Blessings,
Brian R.
Brian R. | February 3, 2008 5:26 PM
Dear John,
Most of us do not know the type of trials that you have endured. HaShem has you on His mind.
"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation". Psalm 24:3-5
I believe this is you John...
Be well and strengthend brother.
Michael
Michael K. | February 4, 2008 7:29 AM
John, my thoughts and heartfelt pray goes out to you. Please remain steadfast in HaShem and know that HE never puts more on us than we can bear! You are indeed a very brave young man and you will be blest for your trials. Again, I will pass this on to fellow believers and you will be in all our prays! In love, Debi
Debi H | February 4, 2008 7:39 AM
Hi John,
May HaShem keep you and watch over you at all times and may you have speedy recovery through His grace and mercy. You are in my daily prayers, John. Adon Yeshua will always be by your side guiding you to do the Torah perfectly for the glory be to our Father in heaven.
Baruch HaShem!
Thomas Ho from Singapore
Thomas Ho | February 4, 2008 11:11 AM
John,
Bless the Heavenly Father and Messiah in all things. They live, they are faithful, and they are true. Fight to clear your thoughts, and make them free of worry, doubt, anguish, and fear; for these are things that are not given to you from the Heavenly Father. Be sure to continually give the Heavenly Father all that is within you, through Messiah, and be sure to be obedient and faithful to them and their instructions always. Stay Encouraged, Stay Focused, Stay Assured. The prayers of God’s people all over the world are with you brother. And the Heavenly Father and Messiah loves you more than we can even begin to understand. Shalom Brother.
Your Brother in Messiah,
~Danny
Danny Fluker Jr. | February 4, 2008 11:35 AM
Dear Brother John,
What happened to you is truly heartbreaking; my heart goes out to you. May the Lord grant you a quick recovery, and comfort you; may you be greatly strengthened in Him. As He enables you to continue to walk in His love and grace I pray this trial of yours will bring about much good and much glory to His Name.
May the following scriptures minister the Lord's grace and peace to you:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement),
Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction)..." 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 (Amplified Bible)
"Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
Even as it is written, "For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter."
Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors [a]and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things [b]impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39
The Apostle Paul also said, "For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him." And in another place, "we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and [a]for us and [b]conferred on us!"
"Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness. Giving Thanks unto the Father, who hath made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." Colossians 1:11-13
May you stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. "always striving for you earnestly in his prayers, [pleading] that you may [as persons of ripe character and clear conviction] stand firm and mature [in spiritual growth], convinced and fully assured in [a]everything willed by God. Col 4:12
With love and prayers,
wanda
Wanda | February 4, 2008 11:43 AM
John,
I want you to know that I am proud of you for doing what is right. G-d will bless and honor you in your walk with Him. You are a brother to me in Messiah and when one member of our family suffers, we all suffer. I know that I teach my daughter to walk in righteousness. I will tell your story to her and all that I speak to so your act of righteousness will never be forgotten.
Blessings to you in Messiah.
Jeanne Smith
Jeanne Smith | February 4, 2008 12:07 PM
John,
I hope you realize what a great thing it was that you did. A stranger, like me, is so proud of you it brings me to tears of joy. Not long ago you may have joined in with the crowd, today you will not. I will keep you in my prayers for the rest of my life and knowing that you are a part of our family in Yeshua brings me much joy. Be strong in the Lord, He will provide all things. God be with you always John.
-Jay
JAY | February 4, 2008 12:39 PM
Hi John,
You are so very brave, our hearts break for your suffering, both physical and emotional, but pray that God will speak to you clearly in the midst of your recovery and that you will know that you are a true and brave son of the King. May God continue to hold you in the palm of His hand forever and ever,
Simon and Rachel
Simon and Rachel | February 4, 2008 2:17 PM
John,
Grace,peace and healing in the Lord. There is little that I can add but to tell you that I am praying for you and your recovery. We may be closer to the fifth seal of Revelation then then we realize. May we meet in heaven some day and talk of this day in your life and how it gloified our Father.
Dan
Dan Bezon | February 4, 2008 7:25 PM
Note from Emily Dwyer of Acts for Messiah:
John is improving, but still struggles with pain, tiredness, and is eating little because of stomach pain. He is up walking and talking, improving slowly.
D. Thomas Lancaster | February 7, 2008 6:37 PM
Baruch HaShem, this is good news Daniel!
Sounds like John will recover, thank you for the update...
michael k | February 7, 2008 8:31 PM
John,
I will pray to the Father for help. I admire your faith in God and His word.
In Him,
Nick
Nick | February 7, 2008 11:11 PM
G-d heres the cry of His people and feels their pain To Live for Torah is to to LIVE!!! Be of good courage and be a example of not being defeated. My sy Temple Beth Shalom here in Louisville will pray daily. Shalom Rabbi Doni
Rabbi Doni | February 12, 2008 6:44 AM