In Uganda, the culture has a grip on the church, influencing her in sometimes negative ways. But that stronghold is being broken as a result of your support of our work there.
Last July, pastors in the city of Pallisa, Uganda, eagerly participated in our New Man, New Woman, New Life training (click to take a look at this resource) lead by Empower/Uganda leaders, Pastors Joyce and Julius Ouko, and Pastor Mike Kinyera. Empower/Uganda President, Joyce Ouko, reported that as a result of the training, many were convicted about their marriages.
They saw that their culture is at odds with the Bible and God’s plan for marriage.
In this area of Uganda, traditional marriage is more of a financial transaction between a clan and a bride’s family. The clan pays a bride price (often in livestock). So essentially they trade cows for a young woman. Because the clan helps pay for her, all the men in the clan have access to this bride, sexually. Women who are not legally wed in the church are particularly vulnerable to this culturally sanctioned predation. But many couples do not marry in the church or even marry at all because they cannot afford the expenses involved.
Our training challenged the participants to think about their relationships in a new way. “One man took it seriously and wedded his wife in November,” Joyce reports. “It is such an amazing testimony to the community there.”
Following this brave example, 10 pastors in Pallisa have committed to “wedding” their wives, sanctifying their marriage with a church ceremony.
Would you help them witness to the whole community about the importance of replacing traditional culture with the kind of mutual, caring relationship taught by Jesus and Paul? They anticipate that 400 people will attend. Empower has committed to paying for the wedding cake, which will cost 600,000 Uganda shillings, or $162 U.S.
If you would like to contribute to this joyous event, you can make a donation on our Facebook page or on our website.
Your donation can purchase:
- A bridal gown for $30 (so far, we have ten brides who need gowns)
- A photographer for the event for $55
- A trip to the salon for the bridal parties for $135
- Tent rental for $162
- Food for the guests for $650
- The marriage certificates for all ten couples for $275
- The church fee for all ten couples for $190
Any gift, large or small, will show our support for this community and their efforts to make their marriages biblical.