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I used to be simply seven years previous when Idi Amin’s troopers arrested my father. He was a pastor in a small village in Luweero, Central Uganda and through that point, Christians have been seen as a risk to Amin’s regime. His authorities persecuted believers, arresting, torturing, and even killing those that stood agency of their religion. My father was one in all them. I keep in mind being afraid, watching our group dwell in fixed worry of navy brutality. The bush struggle tore households aside, left houses in ruins and took the lives of 1000’s of Ugandans. It was on this atmosphere, amidst chaos and oppression, that I first encountered Jesus.
Growing up, I used to be raised in a Christian household. Despite the hardships, my dad and mom faithfully taught me about God and at major college, via the Scripture Union, I gave my life to Christ. I used to be fifteen, the struggle had ended, however we have been nonetheless struggling. My dad and mom may barely afford to ship me to high school. It’s a actuality many kids in Uganda face — schooling is a luxurious, not a assure. I used to be lucky sufficient to finish secondary college however when it got here time for larger schooling, the doorways appeared closed. My household merely did not have the means to assist me any additional.
But, not for the primary time, God paved the best way for me, this time by offering a chance with Kiwoko Hospital, a Christian medical facility providing bursaries to younger individuals like me. In 1994, I enrolled of their nursing programme and later skilled as a pharmacist. Kiwoko was greater than only a hospital, it had a coronary heart for mission, and I quickly discovered myself preaching the gospel to sufferers and workers. On weekends we might exit to the close by villages sharing the excellent news.
But one thing troubled me. Though individuals have been initially giving their lives to Christ, there was no comply with as much as proceed their discipleship. The native church buildings have been overwhelmed, and most pastors lacked the coaching to information new believers. It was like planting seeds however by no means tending the backyard. I wished to assist, however I did not know what to do both.
In 2005, God opened one other door. I joined the Kampala Evangelical School of Theology (KEST), and it was there that every little thing modified. Sitting within the classroom, I realised that what our village pastors lacked wasn’t ardour — it was data. They had the guts to steer, however not the instruments. Even earlier than I graduated, I knew I needed to do one thing. So, I began the Kiwoko Bible Institute. The thought was easy: convey theological schooling to those that could not afford it. Pastors from surrounding villages may come and be skilled to evangelise, pray, and lead their congregations extra successfully.
The institute formally launched in 2008, and we started with a handful of scholars. Around the identical time, I used to be launched to Christianity Explored, a Bible examine programme that walks via the Gospel of Mark. It was precisely what our church buildings wanted — a useful resource that will assist new believers perceive the fundamentals of the religion. I began utilizing it in small teams and shortly, it unfold like wildfire.
The Kiwoko Bible Institute continued to develop however we confronted challenges. Our first drawback was discovering a location. By God’s grace, we had already established a major college in Goshen after adopting a boy we discovered close to loss of life. That one act of kindness led to us discovering many different kids and inside six months, we had 48 kids underneath our care. We constructed a faculty for them, and shortly, it turned a thriving group with over 300 college students!
The major college turned the right place for the Bible Institute to function, utilizing the varsity amenities throughout holidays. Pastors come for two-week intensive modules, the place they examine God’s Word, then return to their villages with coursework. I go to them personally all year long to see how they’re making use of what they’ve discovered of their weekly routines.
But the following hurdle got here rapidly: we would have liked books. Our pastors did not have entry to libraries or biblical assets. How may they examine and develop with out the appropriate supplies?
That’s after I heard about Langham Partnership. In 2008, I attended one in all their preaching conferences and it opened an entire new world for me. Last yr, Langham supplied books for our Bible Institute, which has been a game-changer. Now, our pastors can dive deeper into their research and a few even return to borrow books to complement their understanding additional.
Langham’s Books for Bible Colleges (BfBC) marketing campaign is crucial for leaders like me throughout Africa. It’s about extra than simply books. It’s about equipping pastors with the assets they should lead their congregations, preach faithfully, and disciple new believers. Without these supplies, many leaders are left to determine issues out on their very own, typically with out sound theology or biblical grounding. Through Langham’s assist, we have been capable of prepare over 500 leaders within the final 15 years, and the influence is spreading.
Christianity Explored has now been translated into six languages and thru these assets, we have reached hundreds of thousands. But there’s nonetheless a lot work to do. My imaginative and prescient is to see each pastor in Uganda skilled to deal with God’s Word with care and conviction. We’ve lately expanded our coaching to northern and japanese Uganda and even to refugees from South Sudan. The want is nice, however I consider God will present.
If you are studying this, I ask in your prayers and assist. Pray for the pastors we’re coaching, that they’d stay trustworthy of their calling. Pray for the growth of our programmes and for extra assets to equip our leaders. Pray for the Books for Bible Colleges marketing campaign and for these immediately contributing to our work on the Kiwoko Bible Institute and Goshen School. Together, we will make sure that the gospel continues to rework lives throughout Africa.
For extra details about the Books for Bible Colleges, go to: uk.langham.org
