Vision

To grow stronger as a congregation by learning how to be part of the Universal Church.

To participate in the establishment of strong local congregations in eastern Uganda.

Time in Uganda

What's New - Updated November 21, 2010

It has been almost a year since this What's New section has been updated and now, there is exciting news from MTI in Mbale to report: One of the students we support has graduated with her Basic Certificate. In addition, she is the salutatorian of the class. Congratulations to Jackline for her perseverance and her achievements. And she has already started on coursework leading to an Advanced Certificate.

There is a bit more about MTI and a new picture from last year's class in the updated MTI Graduation Ceremonies posting.

FInally, the Mbale Mission Team has a great (fairly) new website. It is accessible through the "Links" section right-hand side bar. Or you can get there by clicking here.

Background

Sam started it all. After coming back from visits to his home town - Tororo, Uganda, East Africa - with stories and pictures of a young church trying to find itself, we decided to accompany him on his trip in 2006. Our congregation had sent offerings to help with the construction of the church building and we - just two of us - wanted to see the work first hand.

During the months leading up to the trip, we heard from the congregation about their needs... they wanted "education." And that seemed a tall order.

But at the 2005 National Missionary Convention in Atlanta, we learned that there was a Church of Christ mission in Mbale, just under 30 miles from Tororo. Further, the Mbale Mission Team had established the Messiah Theological Institute (MTI) for the specific purpose of training church leaders.


From then on, our goal was to try and establish a connection between the church and the mission and to find out how the church leaders could enter into to the training program at MTI. And to see if we could all follow the pattern described in Ephesians 4:11-13 ...

It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Projects Completed

Our connection with the church in Tororo has been heavily focused on the issue of support for training of six of the congregation's leaders. Progress in this effort is described in the monthly update posts in this blog.

In addition, we have been involved with the Tororo congregation in a variety of support efforts. Posts with details are available for the highlighted projects. Lists below are in "Blog post" order - the item connected to the newest completed project is first. Scroll through the posts to find the descriptions...

Work with the Tororo Miracle Center Church of Christ
Offering for famine relief in northeastern Uganda
Roof for the church building
Purchase of a bull for one of the congregation members
Bibles in English and Lugandan

Kachumbala Famine Relief

Onalaska, Wisconsin -- Mbale, Uganda -- Tororo, Uganda -- Kachumbala, Uganda. Churches, connected by an offering that "is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." After hearing about the recent famine in northeastern Uganda and that the church in Kachumbala was being affected, the congregation in Onalaska raised an offering for relief. Funds were sent to the Mbale MIssion Team, who had advised us that the needs were real and funds for the purchase of food would be much appreciated. Pastor Israel from the Tororo Miracle Center Church of Christ collected the funds at Mbale and arranged for the purchase, transport and distribution of the food. He wrote the following in a note describing the distribution:

I am full of joy in my heart, because of what took place at Kachumbala church. People were happy because of the donations given to them at that time...I saw happy hearts rejoicing and praising God...Thank the church for revealing Christ to our people at Kachumbala. Out of these, three people gave their lives to Christ that day. And the pastor of that church is much encouraged to serve the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:12 lived out in Africa.

Here are the pictures that Pastor Israel sent:


Global Hunger Index
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Roof for Tororo

As the church leaders were attending classes at Mbale over the last two years, we were accumulating funds to help with a roof for the church building. In celebration of the church's certification as a Church of Christ in Uganda, one aspect of the leadership training program, we presented the church with a check during our 200 visit. The church added their contribution and set out to acquire the materials and arrange for a carpenters.

The result - a marvelous tin roof!


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No Bull

During the 2008 visit, we learned that one of the congregation members who runs a dairy farm north of Tororo was in need of a bull to take the place of one that had died some time earlier. Our congregation once again demonstrated their generosity and we were able to send funds for the purchase. After careful shopping around, a new bull was purchased and became a part of the farm's herd.

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Bibles

BIbles are fundamental, something every member of the church should have. On our first day in Uganda in April, 2006, we visited the the Bible House, the office of the Ugandan Bible Society in Kampala, to pick up two cartons of English Bibles and a handful of Lugandan Bibles.

We carried the Bibles with us to Tororo and presented them to Pastor Israel to distribute as needed.

We thought they'd last for a while, being given to new members as the church grew. We found out before we left that all 50 Bibles were distributed within days of their delivery! So we repeated the process in 2008 and plan to do so again during our visit in January of 2010.
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