2024 Uganda Mission Trip
This year I (Rev Jon Sermon, Chair of Trustees) was joined by Stu Precious who is a Elder at North Lowestoft United Reformed Church. It was Stu’s 1st visit to Africa and he was powerfully impacted by all we saw of God at work.
Here we are at the Equator on our way to the 1st ministry stop in Rakai District.
Over 17 days we:
- Drove over 1.800km, mostly on rough roads
- Visited 14 churches – preached or taught in most of them
- 7 schools and an orphanage
- Engaged in exuberant worship
- Saw God powerfully at work
- Saw desperate need, yet firm faith in the face of it
- Officiated at 2 graduations of student pastors completing training
- Had the privilege of praying with countless individuals. And playing with 100s of children!
Ruti church in Mbarara, where we taught a day seminar for church leaders
Among the joys of the trip, we saw one of the new graduates, a young lady called Edereza, leading worship in a tiny rural church. It is in a remote village called Kalagala on the banks of the River Nile. The village had no church until our partners planted there 3 years ago. It was dominated by ancestor worship and the Witch Doctor. Now there is a thriving church which meets in an unfinished single room house. The spiritual atmosphere has been transformed and the Witch Doctor has left!
Top: Worship at Kalagala.
Bottom: The Wanyange graduation, which includes Edereza
Amongst all the poverty and struggles we saw (including a school where the part finished new toilet block was hit by a falling tree, and the existing latrine has collapsed) perhaps the biggest need remains funding for the ongoing Pastor training programme.
With new churches being planted and many, including recent converts, beginning to sense a call of God to leadership, the need is growing. And that is on top of the huge history of untrained leaders simply because, without a course like ours, access to training would be almost impossible. There are theological colleges in Kampala and some other big cities, but cists are way beyond the reach of most people.
Yet funding to enable this vital work is diminishing. We know finances are often tight for individuals and families, but if enough folk would contribute a modest amount, the situation could be transformed.
So we have launched “Boost 100” an initiative to boost the funding for training. We seek 100 people (or organisations/local churches) to each commit to £10/month for 3 years. Contact me (pastorjonsermon@gmail.com) or Rachel Thomas (r111trust@gmail.com) for more info or to join.
Top: Bible teaching at Bugoye schools and orphanage
Bottom: Stu with children and glove puppet at Osborne School
We are always willing to discuss the possibility of others joining one of our trips for an incredible, eye opening experience. Do get in touch if you might want to be considered.
Blessings
Jon