We have really appreciated the relationship The Rock has with the university and after meeting with the former Vice Chancellor, the current Vice Chancellor and the retired Archbishop of the Anglican diocese who started the university we know we have a shared vision of making impactful disciples of Jesus. God is opening some doors to do several things. The university students at UCU often graduate and become Christian change-makers in the country. They minister to other organizations, they live out their faith in the workplace, many find themselves taking care of the orphans in their families and they need encouragement as they graduate and face the challenges of the culture.
As we have
prayed since our last trip for God to show us the next step, an opportunity to
purchase land within walking distance to the university has surfaced. The former archbishop showed us some land and
arranged for us to meet the owner. Dan,
Mark, Earl and I all feel the Lord is in this to create a gathering
place for believers to meet, study, get rest if the need a break as pastors
with their wives, and also continue getting training as organizations or
individuals in practical ways as disciples.
The core of the ministry will be teaching the paradigm shift of
believing truth instead of lies that hold us back in all aspects of life. We believe God wants us to open a guest house
and gathering place with a “kingdom view” on top of the highest mountain in
Mukono to renew, restore and refresh believers…It will be a miracle if it
happens but with God all things are possible.
In addition to the ministry to students, graduates and staff we were
asked to minister to another ministry in Northern Uganda.
On the April 26th
we left Mukono to travel to Northern Uganda where Cindy Cunningham (our friend
who recently had brain surgery) and her Ugandan friend Rose Aber started Village
of Hope just south of Gulu. The vision
was to provide a safe haven for the children abducted or made orphans by Joseph
Kony. Cindy, Rose, Janelle and Mike have
followed the Lord’s calling to help the children feel safe and loved in an
environment where they can heal. Cindy shared
with me, prior to me leaving for Uganda that the staff requested some
additional training to further the spiritual healing of the children. Since many of the children still struggle
with their identity because of the horrible things they have experienced we
shared how the BOLD (Believers Overcoming Lies of the Devil) teaching has
impacted the Rock university students.
The core of the teaching focuses on our identity in Christ as believers
in practical ways living life day by day.
Since there are 250 children at the village we offered to bring some of our Rock university graduates and students to help minister to the children. Emmanuel Babi and his wife Sarah (Care Medical Centre nurses) drove up with a few of the current students Michael, Gorret and David. John Mugowa another Rock graduate joined Mark and me as we drove up to advance the team and organize the schedule.
Upon arrival we found that the older kids were the ones most impacted by Kony. Most of the younger kids were impacted by Kony but differently since they were orphaned or abandoned but as babies or small children. Kony is now in Sudan or Congo. Gorret one of the students who traveled with us said Rose the director told her about a teenage boy who couldn't eat meat because Kony had forced him to kill his older brother by biting him to death.
All of us
agreed God had us there for a purpose and He was multiprocessing. Sarah and Gorret spent time one on one
sharing with the girls, Michael, John and David shared their testimonies and
encouraged the boys to stay pure and honor God in every decision they
make. David trained the head teacher on
some practical discipleship skills and spent one afternoon orchestrating AWANA
games for about 250 kids. We trained the staff, the teachers, the
house moms and the key youth leaders on how to help the children change their paradigm
from being victims to being children of God who are accepted, secure and
significant. Much time was spent clarifying doctrinal questions pertaining
to our salvation, eternal life with Jesus, our position in heaven,
sanctification in our day to day life and who we are now in the present as
believers.
Please join
us in prayer as we inquire of the Lord in the next steps. God is opening many new doors both with
Uganda Christian University, student leaders on campus in the Honors College
and in the field with other ministries and church leaders needing teaching
support and encouragement on the ground.Stepping out
on the water…once again!
