Our ministry in Uganda was much different than in any place we have been so far. As a missionary, almost every church in Africa expects you to preach, lead worship, and give testimonies at the drop of a hat – but this was not true at The Church of the Resurrection. It was not that we were not asked to do anything, but the pastors preached on Sunday, there was a worship team, and The Church of the Resurrection actually invited us to become a part of their church and partner with them instead of leading the show. The youth (meaning anyone from teenage age to thirty-something who is unmarried) would gather at the church almost every day to fellowship, worship, learn from one another, and do door-to-door evangelism at the apartment flats across the street with us.
I still remember the first time I walked into The Church of the Resurrection. It is quaint and it reminded me of an old southern church. When we walked in the youth leaders were on the balcony above us worshipping and walking back and forth as they prayed out loud. I distinctly felt like I had walked into heaven in Africa. I soon found out that their character matched my first impression of them; they were passionate, in love with the Lord, and the Word was always on their lips. The youth made up 90% of the population of this Anglican church, and they were lead by a woman who has completely given her life to them and to the Lord whom they call “Mama”.
“Mama” and I
We were so blessed to befriend many youth leaders from this church. We shared lots of conversations, encouragement, evangelism, fun, and dancing (although they put us to shame in the dancing department!). Almost every day we went out to the flats together to do door-to-door evangelism, which could mean a variety of different things. Sometimes it looked like engaging a Muslim or Hindu in conversation about the Lord, sometimes it looked like asking the Lord to give us prophetic insight into people’s lives to pray for and encourage them, sometimes it looked like simply sitting on the floor with a woman who is crying because all her family had died and her
husband had left her.
Huge birds in front of the flats where we did door-to-door
These people became our good friends and it was hard to leave them. Although we don’t have many pictures of ministry from this month because it is awkward to take pictures while doing door-to-door, we do have pictures of the great friends we made. I pray that their passion and joy would never leave them, and that it would spread to those around them.
Youth at a sister church of Church of the Resurrection
My little girlfriends
With Agnes
With Crazy Malinga
With Alex
Saying goodbye to our wonderful friends!
