Chris serves as Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Y*mbe in a region where 98% of the community is Muslim. He has been threatened, shot at, told to get out of town and despite the constant persecution,
Chris has remained when no one thought he would. The fellowship he pastors is a beacon of light on a hilltop that cannot be hidden in a dark area where Islam seems to reign. But God is greater and in a town with the most opposition to the Gospel, young men are being raised up to lead. Pastor Chris was able to bring William and Fred to the School of Ministry this summer to set aside time to be further equipped in the scriptures. Last week as classes came to an end, William wrote a letter to us stating, “I want to share with you my heart felt appreciation for the opportunity to learn the bible book by book, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Our people have been struggling to understand the will of God and His promises for mankind, not interpreting the Word of God in reality. Now the truth has been revealed to us through you. Therefore, extend my greetings and thanksgiving to all of the members of churches in the USA and Promise Child who have sent you.”
John serves as Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Kubala, which began in fall of 2013.When he stepped out to plant the church several hours away, it began in a small rented storefront with wooden
benches. Now three years later, the church has grown and God has faithfully provided land and a building of their very own for the growing fellowship. John has a vision to see young men from his church raised up. He wants to send them out two by two. Pastor John would like to have an assistant pastor to serve with him in Kubala and then others that he can send out as a pastor and assistant pastor to start another church in a new area. This year, his vision began to take shape as he brought Philip who is farely new to his fellowship and has a desire to be raised up in the ministry.
We always have a plan for our time in-country, but often times we are forced to adjust when unexpected circumstances arise. That was the case in August when war in South Sudan broke out
and thousands fled the country into Northern Uganda. In the past, when we have seen news reports of refugees fleeing, war raging and people who have lost homes, crops and all sense of hope….it seems like it was afar off. But, when BidiBidi Refugee Camp was opened within minutes from where we were working we were face to face with “those people” and it became real. Their names are Esther, Josphine, Alfred, Alice and hundreds more and we could not turn a blind eye. Matthew 25:37-40 says, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
We were stunned at the conditions and the sheer magnitude of human suffering. Within days the number of refugees went from 4,000 to 10,000 to now over 15,000 Sudanese that now call BidiBidi Refugee Camp their home. The task seemed enormous and although the UN and Unicef were attempting to meet basic needs, there were large numbers of women and children that were without.
The needs were so massive that our assessment team was left shocked and almost paralyzed with a feeling of helplessness in the face of such overwhelming suffering during the first few days. How do you minister to women who saw their husbands killed by rebels, children who saw their homes destroyed, those who fled from war with only the clothes on their backs, pregnant women living in the open with only a tarp to shelter them at night, naked children everywhere and the sick who have no idea where to turn? Our ministry team of pastors, Promise Child workers, builders and the “white girl” found our footing, gained vision and realized that while we were waiting for a formal partnership approval there was still much work to be done. We determined that even if we could not reach the masses, we would go tent to tent, family to family and minister to each individual that we crossed paths with. Promise Child Sudan Relief provided funds to purchase additional food for malnourished children, special care packages for pregnant mothers, cooking pans and water jugs for many families and large amounts of clothing for naked children that we were able to distrubute. Our team shared the Gospel with dozens of families. We were able to meet physical needs, but more importantly we were able to encourage and pray for the brokenhearted who are desperate to hear that God is our refuge.
I (Heather) spent the majority of my days in August in the refugee camp crying with women who lost their children, praying for wives who don’t know if their husbands are dead or alive, telling bible
stories of great miracles to children who crave love and sharing the hope that comes only from a relationship with Christ. Bond was able to join for outreach on weekends or when he was not teaching. Thank you for those who prayed for us during some of the most difficult days of ministry in the midst of this crisis. It was your prayers that sustained us on days when there seemed like no way! Please continue to pray for our team of nationals in Midigo and Y*umbe who are setting up two locations to have weekly church services within the camp. Pray as the team continues to meet the physical needs that change on a daily basis. Pray for wisdom to know how to best minister to each person they come into contact with. Pray for favor with the government as the application for formal partnership is submitted in order to be able to work in the camp on a larger scale in the future. Pray for peace in South Sudan and for the 500,000+ refugees that have crossed the border into Uganda.
With Love From Uganda,
