Update from Uganda
Brother Tim Anz and Brother Simeon Adams traveled to Africa to strengthen the church in Uganda. Brother Emmanuel, who first met our community in 2019, now leads this small community near Kampala, Uganda, on the verdant banks of Lake Victoria.
Tim and Simeon flew into Entebbe, a city of 70,000. They then traveled by boat from the airport across Lake Victoria. The relatively smooth ride across the lake takes only 30 minutes plus an hour bus ride. Comparatively, the trip takes 3 hours to drive, on roads that more resemble a Texas creek bank than a highway. The community is located in a rural area where bananas, cacao, papaya, and other fruits thrive. Brother Emmanuel and brothers in the church hand-dug a well that gives their community and surrounding neighbors fresh water. He raises chickens and sells them in the local farmer’s market.
Brother Tim wrote, “Everywhere we have driven in this area, dozens of people have stopped and spoken with Brother Emmanuel. They recognize that he genuinely cares for them, and they love him for it. The local people are humble, kind and childlike.
“After a day of getting acquainted with this small group at Brother Emmanuel’s home, we ministered that there are two types of authority and that the only legitimate authority in the kingdom of God is love expressed through self-sacrifice.
“We felt to share this message because of underlying cultural realities that we see as obstacles to what God would do here. In Africa, ‘Might makes right.’ The concept of showing honor to the weaker vessel is nonexistent. Even on the roads, it is frighteningly obvious—children leap out of the way of adults, women defer to men, men scramble out of the way of motorcycles, motorcycles dodge cars, and cars plunge into the ditch to escape large trucks. Everyone in this hierarchy seems equally convinced they will be obliterated if they don’t act quickly enough.
“Uganda has a ‘jungle hierarchy’ mentality, spilling over into every area of people’s lives. While for many it is not openly so, it is part of the culture that these people worship big things—large rocks, bodies of water, mountains, etc.
“We spoke of the words of Jesus about ‘he who wishes to be the greatest being the servant of all.’ There was a deep spirit of conviction, and we have already seen changes in people.
“One of the brothers who participated is a longtime friend of Brother Emmanuel named Robert. He was deeply impacted, and God began a work of transformation.
“After several days of teaching, answering questions, and conversing with these people, we had a Sunday service with 30-40 people in attendance. The worship was incredible! We shared about Christ’s kingdom needing to come on earth as it is in heaven. At the end of the service, Robert thanked us for speaking the truth and not suppressing it. He talked about how so many preachers get people riled up, but no lasting fruit comes of it. With great conviction, he said that he had received something from God that would stick with him for the rest of his life and that had given him direction.
“A couple of days later, we gathered for our most powerful meeting yet, where nearly everyone alternated between worship and weeping under conviction as God's word came forth. By the end, Robert, deeply moved by this conviction, requested baptism. The following day, we ministered about God’s design—how His plan restores us first to a right relationship with Him, then to one another, and finally to nature. Abel and Margaret, a couple whose lives had once been torn apart by violence and unfaithfulness, experienced a miraculous restoration of their marriage when Brother Asi visited this group earlier this year. They were also deeply convicted and requested entrance through baptism.
“Our last day was truly remarkable, centered around the baptism of Abel, Margaret, and Robert, each with a profound story of transformation. Their baptism was a powerful moment, marking their commitments to God and this community and to becoming the husband, wife, and parents God intended them to be.
“Robert has faithfully lived for God for over 30 years but realized that his previous baptism lacked the depth of understanding that he now holds. In this time of renewal, he expressed his dedication to step into a greater role within the church and to help to bear its burdens. The baptism ceremony, held at a European-owned house with an extravagant (by African standards) swimming pool, was filled with the tangible presence of God, and the theme of love-based authority was palpable throughout our visit.
“After the baptism, we gathered dripping wet to sing this song. The refrain simply says: ‘I’m going to follow Jesus and never stop.’
“We returned to our lodging and hosted a dinner for the entire community. Brother Simeon prepared a wonderful Indian meal that everyone enjoyed, followed by a joyous time of dancing the hora and fellowship. The group photo below captured the spirit of the day, just before we exchanged tearful goodbyes—a poignant close to a visit where we experienced healing, love, and the restoration of broken relationships.”
Please pray for the group in Uganda, that God will continue to empower them to make the exodus out of every cultural construct rooted in coercion rather than the self sacrificial love of Christ.
Also pray that the Lord will open the door for a godly family to go to Uganda for an extended period of time in order to put on display the authority of love in action.
We have dear wonderful brothers and sisters and Uganda, but there are many adversaries! They need our prayers and support.
