Dan and I had the opportunity to serve in Pader, Uganda last month for about 10 days with Team Symphony. Pastor JJ is an incredible man who is doing incredible work in a town that has been victim of senseless war. Our entire squad is partnering with Pastor JJ’s church, Victory Outreach Ministry, by helping him raise money to build a church. please read about the town, Pastor JJ and his church and PLEASE consider partnering with this outreach. ~ Brandy
Rarely has anyone seen such pride for a plot of land as was seen on the face of Pastor JJ’s as he took Team Symphony to the sight of his new church. He pointed this way and that detailing where the church would start, where the pulpit would be. He showed them where he hoped to build his house on the church land, how close it was to his son Samuel’s school. He told them how in a few years, with the way the town was expanding, it would be the very center of town with main roads on all sides. He bragged on this piece of property the way proud mothers and fathers do on their children.
Really though it was just a regular plot of land. Like almost any other in Africa. But what you must realize is that Pastor JJ is a man of vision. He sees what can be, and better yet what will be. He has only been in Pader, Uganda for 3 years but has already built up a church that is almost the largest in the town. And we do not mean a church building. We are talking about a church. A group of people who come together to worship the Lord. A group of people who are a light to the community, who are joyful because they have a reason to be joyful. However as most can attest churches need a place to operate.
We come to you on behalf of Pastor JJ and his church. They are in need of about $10,000 to build their new church. They have been meeting in a borrowed building which in the next month will be taken away from them. If there is one thing we have learned for certain these past 7 months it is that there is so much need in this world. It is everywhere, it does not matter what corner of the world we go to.
But to be able identify a need for a group of people and even begin to have the means to meet that – this is a blessing in itself. Northern Uganda is an area that has experienced much darkness in the past 20 years. It is an area that has been plagued by wars and senseless death. Men our own age are haunted by the times that they were forced to serve in armies, that their fathers, mothers and sisters were killed, it is an area in recovery, and in need. What better to invest in than the church? We as Christians claim to know something that others do not. We claim to hold to a truth that is beyond us, and beyond this world. If ever darkness was in need of light it is surely here. If we are in Christ than it is our brothers and sisters in Uganda whom we are asking you to help.
We, the J Squad, have been given the opportunity to raise money for Victory Outreach Ministries in Pader, Uganda. They are in need of a church building. This is not a church building complete with bells and whistles and Sunday school rooms and gyms. This is a building, a one room building for God’s people to meet. A building for God’s people to come together and worship the lord. A group of people standing as a light to a community amongst much darkness.
Team Symphony had the opportunity to spend a month with Pastor JJ and according to the team they have rarely come across a man with such faith, with such blind obedience to the Lord. Pastor JJ moved his wife away from his and her family 3 years ago to start this church. His wife is the only one working to bring money for the family, she works at a NGO as a maid. The church can not afford to give Pastor JJ a salary. Any tithe or donation that the church is able to give goes to both paying for the church building/property and helping those who are in great need, and believe me there are plenty of these people.
Please help us help this man, this family, this church, and this community. There is a need to be met, please help us to meet it. We know many of you have already supported someone on this trip, but we have no one else to ask. We as a squad are coming together to raise money for this church. You who are reading this are our church, you are the people we stand with and so we ask you to help us. Please help us meet this need, this need which we are capable to meet. Even if we do not raise the complete $10,000, we can guarantee any amount will be a blessing to this church. Please seriously and prayerfully considering donating to a worthy cause, we only have until April, 24th 2010 to raise the money. PLEASE JOIN US!
(We’re trying to publish a video of Victory Outreach Ministries but are having a difficult time publishing it with the slow internet, we will post it as soon as possible)
To donate via the internet click HERE.
Please select “Support a World Race Project” under Choose Program.
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Please indicate “World Race Project Fund – 2010 Feb J Squad” in the memo section of the check.
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