Empower Uganda President Pastor Joyce Ouko, along with her husband Rev. Julius Ouko, and Rev. Charles Opio, recently conducted a New Man, New Woman, New Life training at Intercessors’ International Church in Lugazi, a town in the Buikwe District of Central Uganda. Here is her report, edited for length and clarity.
Greetings from the Ugandan EIM team and the participants!
To our esteemed African colleagues led by Dr. Frank Toweheyo, the African Program Director together with the U.S partners, and our revered founder, Dr. Carrie Miles: we are very grateful for your endless prayers and thoughtfulness of strengthening and equipping the local church in different communities in Uganda. It has never been in vain. This is our encouragement to continue with this call.
The Lugazi training had been postponed a number of times because of their tight schedule and busy pastors and elders fellowship. For purposes of their influence and participation, we had to prayerfully wait. But we believe this was the right time.
Our team was warmly welcomed, received and accepted by Lugazi Pastors and Elders Fellowship (LUPEF), led by their Chairman, Bishop Nekemeya Mukisa.
The training was very successful in attendance and participation.
Forty-four people attended the training, many of them being elders, overseers, bishops, pastors, pastor’s wives, youth pastors and a few church leaders.
This training was the first of its kind to have a large number of elders, overseers and bishops attending. In Uganda, “elders,” because they have previously served as lead pastors, assume they know much compared to other leaders, so they rarely sit to be taught.
We truly believe that this training in Lugazi was in God’s timing, because all of them accepted to attend the training even when none of them knew EIM.
Rev. Charles with his dear wife Pr Grace were our contact persons, they played a very big role in bringing all these together, they are also part of the LUPEF committee.
Highlights of the impact of the training:
- It is the contemporary need for the church and family
- It brings transformation and revival
- It is God-sent message of reconciliation for church and family
- Surprise that man was present when the serpent tempted Eve
- Ideal, marriage is permanent
- Man’s traditions are replaced by the Ideal for marriage
- It should be taught yearly
- Man not cursed
Here is what some of the participants said about the training and its impact on them personally:
- It is a contemporary need for the church and family
Bishop Nekemeya Mukisa, Chairman of Lugazi Pastors and Elders Fellowship (LUPEF) emphasized to the participants that the teaching is what the church and family currently needs to get back to the bible truth. He stated that the training should be taught yearly. In fact, he did not stop there; he used his influence to instantly form a committee to ensure this teaching continues to be taught and practiced in their pastor’s forum each year.
- It brings transformation and revival
Elder Tom Wanyama, with his wife Edith and Pastor Joseph Sekyondwa with his wife Regina shared that the teaching is life transforming that causes revival in individuals, families and the local church. They noted that the training brings out the correct view of God as a loving Creator not the one who cursed his people Adam and Eve.
The idea that man (and woman) are not cursed was, as it often is, met with surprise and even, at first, a heavy argument. But after opening scripture, people acknowledged that the word of God is full of new revelation and so it requires one to study.
- The Empower teaching is God-sent for church and family reconciliation in relationships.
Elder Sam Okadi testified that the teaching came at the right time when the church and family needed it. He said the church in Uganda is under attack by false teachers, young people are being influenced by those teachings. They often end up not sticking to one husband or wife. Families are breaking highly even in the church. Couples are in separation even when they stay under the same roof.
One senior leader couple was seen sitting and sharing together with their spouse in this training. For many years, many counselors had tried to help them, but reconciliation had failed.
In this training, some of the couples reconciled after going through the teaching, and by the second day, they were relating in love. It was a wonder from people who knew how big the relational gap was. Glory is to God.
- The training changed people’s views about the temptation of Eve
This was a general surprise to all the participants that Adam was actually present when the serpent was tempting Eve according to Genesis 2:6.
- Man’s traditions are replaced by the ideal for marriage
Rev. Charles and Pr Rose are married and lead pastors in their church; Rev. Grace Kalisa is also married and a lead pastor. They all said this teaching restores the ideal relationship: first between man and woman with God, and second the relationship between man and woman. They said the teaching relieves us from the traditional weight imposed on the relationship between man and woman. Traditionally, the demand for dowry distorts a woman’s true identity by making her valueless, and as a result it makes a man feel incomplete. The teaching replaces the traditional beliefs and practices that do not honor God.
In conclusion, Empower International Ministries’ teachings are life transforming bringing revival in individuals, families and churches. It breaks the beliefs and practices of ungodly traditions and restores the correct view of God.
God bless all EIM partners.
