Mission Call to Uganda

The United Methodist Church Board of Global Ministries embraces the four goals of making disciples, building up the church, alleviating suffering, and promoting justice, freedom and peace.

In Acts 1:8b Paul quotes the words of Jesus: “ You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” As author John Nuessle states in his book Faithful Witnesses: United Methodist Theology of Mission, the personal call to “go” is a journey throughout a lifetime. Yet it is not a vacation from our daily living, but a vocation as a servant of Christ. Mission is being on a journey of faith, going from here to there each day. The root meaning of “jour” is “day”. The questions for all of us as Christians are: “How do we spend our time each day? How do we choose to engage in God's movement and be in God's time for that particular day?”

For the Ugandan Team, God is calling us to get up from our familiar pews and go, to follow Christ into a new place, to behold new peoples and new ideas, and to broaden our concepts of what it means to be in mission.

After centuries of struggle and years of war and chaos, in 1997, the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church adopted an ongoing initiative on Children and Poverty in Africa. They outlined the need to help rebuild the African countries by standing in solidarity with the poor, the oppressed, the outcast, and the abandoned. Specifically targeted were traumatized children of war, child soldiers, and HIV orphans. They called the church to be a “prophetic presence”, a sign of hope, to actively give testimony to the unity of Christ by helping our brothers and sisters in Africa. The appeal went out for donations to fund materials and labor to rebuild churches, schools, hospitals and seminaries. And it was especially noted that in the midst of the destruction they had experienced, the people of Africa were not defeated; in the midst of their pain and anguish, the Spirit of Christ was bringing them healing. Truly, nothing can extinguish the joy that lives in the hearts of God's people!

The Ugandan Team has chosen to “go” in response to God's call to share, to interact, to engage in the compassionate work of our Lord Jesus, to minister and to be ministered unto through the people of Kumi. Praise God.


Check out the interesting info below:

Check out the Children of Africa Study Links.

Also read the info on the Bishops' appeals to Provide relief and reconciliation to thousands of children and families who have suffered and lost so much from war across the continent; and rebuild United Methodist churches and restore ministries, with special attention to the physical, social and spiritual well-being of the children.

Here's the important stuff: How you can help bring hope for the children of Africa. Read these great suggestions.