Africa report

This report is from Kalengule Kaoma, one of GCI’s mission developers in Africa.

GCI recently held its East Africa Leaders’ Conference in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. The countries represented were Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Zambia and Belgium. Joel Clevenger and Gary Schrimpf from GCI’s US-based Grace Missions also attended.

From Nairobi I traveled to Uganda for meetings with groups who are interested in joining GCI. From there I took a bus to the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Pastor Patrick Asaba met me at the bus station and we then attended a conference with 45 leaders from various denominations.

Following the conference, we met with three of them who are interested in affiliating with GCI. We later learned that there are also two church planters interested in planting GCI churches in the DRC. We wait to see what God will next do.

I then returned to Uganda (Kampala) where I met with Pastor Mark Oedo. His non-denominational ministry focuses on equipping rural church leaders to effectively preach the word of God and properly manage their churches. Many of these rural leaders have little or no theological and managerial training. Pastor Mark is eager to work with us. We traveled together by bus to Lira in northern Uganda where together we taught some church leaders.

We then traveled to Utoboi where we stayed at a “lodge.” Though it was rat and bed bug-infested, I was thankful for a place to rest my tired body. I was really glad when roosters announced the breaking of a beautiful morning. We participated in an early morning church service followed by leadership training.

We then returned to Lira for their church service attended by about 60 children and teens. Their songs, dance and jubilation in the presence of God brought tears of joy to my eyes. The service was held in the open in Pastor Joseph’s back yard. He is creative in ministering to children using music, drama and dance. Parents and older youth come to watch the children.

That evening, Pastor Mark and I took a midnight bus back to Kampala.The next day I proceeded to Kyotera in southern Uganda where three churches are interested in affiliating with us.

Later that week, I traveled to Masindi in western Uganda, where I visited Pastor Edward Kagoro and his family. When I returned to Kampala I visited two pastors who represent 20 churches located in Kampala and in surrounding rural areas.

These kinds of prospects are exciting. The potential for GCI in Africa continues to overwhelm me as I see God’s love and involvement in many lives.