From Uganda

Bishop James with new believer

It has been a fruitful month of ministry in Uganda. First stop was Kabale, in the south, where I was part of the ministry team for a regional conference. Pastors and leaders gathered from a broad area of western and southern Uganda. It was so good to meet James Tumwijukye, Pentecostal Assemblies of God bishop in Kabale...and to hear the story of how God broke into this region in the 1980's through mighty miracles, and in the face of much persecution. God continues to move today. We met a young man who had recently been brought to the church for prayer after a suicide attempt. The rope scar was very visible around his neck. In the Sunday service before we returned to Kampala, he received Jesus Christ as Saviour. It was also a blessing to be in Masaka this past weekend to enjoy worship at Masaka Pentecostal Church and to witness the dedication of a new ministry facility. Pastor Sam Mukabi Zema has a powerful testimony of faith, perseverance, and of a God who brings life and fruitfulness out of what seems to be "nothing."


We saw God's hand in the three-week-long "School of Church Planting" which closed Friday evening. Twenty-one pastors and evangelists left Missions Transformation Centre better-equipped to take the good news of Jesus Christ to unreached areas. Seven language/cultural groups were represented among the students. Please pray for them as they work to implement what they have learned. Our days were PACKED with teaching, discussion, worship and prayer. It was good to share the teaching with a number of guest facilitators, as well as with MTC coordinators Rev. Simon Peter Emiau and Rev. Tim Kibirige. Here are some "snapshots" from our time together:

• Students made friends with people living in the area around MTC, and visited regularly. Several came to Christ, and have been connected with a local pastor and church.
• During an exposure trip, we visited a children's ministry centre. Students participated in group sessions ranging from Bible teaching to discussion of HIV/AIDS. It is one thing to be taught about the value of children's ministry. It is another thing to experience it "hands on!" Many left with a burden to develop effective children's ministry in their areas.
• Our youngest student (age 23) wanted to see the international airport during our exposure trip to Entebbe. He dreams of one day taking the gospel from Uganda to other nations. He saw the airport. He saw an aircraft take off. God made the dream more concrete!
• A senior army officer shared the story of how God is using Christian Ugandan soldiers to take the gospel wherever they are deployed. Some are present in areas that are closed to Christian workers. Where they are present, they are having an impact for Christ. Students were encouraged and challenged to hear about how God is working in hard places.
• One student was deeply touched by the need of the more than 6,000 tribes/ethnic groups around the world who lack a witness to Jesus Christ. He plans to mobilize the churches in his district to pray for specific unreached people groups. Their prayers will reach around the world!

As I prepare to travel home tomorrow evening, I feel deeply privileged to have a small part in raising up church planters and missionaries from this nation. Thank YOU for your prayers and support that make my involvement possible.

In class

Participating in children's ministry