Empower Uganda President Pr. Joyce Ouko and her husband Pr. Julius Ouko recently facilitated a New Man, New Woman, New Life training in Kiboga, a district in west central Uganda, in response to an invitation from pastors there. Here is her report.
We cannot stop acknowledging your endless support and prayers towards the redemption of the family and Church in Uganda. The positive challenge in our work is simply: “wherever we hold the training, it opens more doors for more training.”
Kiboga is mainly occupied by peasants who depend on farming. They would come for the training after first going to work in their gardens.
Earlier on, I went there to train pastors’ wives. I was sent there by my work place. While there, I mentioned Empower International Ministry and their training. The women requested the training, and immediately mobilized their husbands, the pastors.
He is the newly elected Chairman for Kiboga District Pastors Fellowship.
As a result, the Pastors Fellowship of Kiboga, and their chairman Pr. Enoth Buwanguzi, warmly welcomed us.
God has given Empower special grace that we are always invited and allowed to have trainings despite the people having never heard or known much about Empower International Ministry. Church leaders are always sensitive to doctrine they have never tested–but still doors open for us.
Thirty-eight men and women, most of them lead pastors, attended the three day training.
SOME OF THE IMPACTING STORIES
- One of the married women invited her husband, Gadafi Hakizimana, who had never stepped in church for prayers. Before the end of training, he openly decided to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. To us this made the entire training worthwhile. This soul reaped in the Kingdom of God was great gain, glory to God!
- Elder Kkeya David testified that before the training of EIM, he had been bothered by cultural pressure. His wife is the lead Pastor of God’s Will Church in Bukomero, where he is a member. Some people have tried to tell him it was not right for a woman to be in this leadership position. He was not sure of how to defend himself. After the EIM training, he said that he now has a biblical ground to defend himself and also help other African men. He echoed that both men and women are equal before God. He saw that if God decides to call a woman in a pastoral responsibility, like his wife Sarah, as a husband he has to give her the necessary support she needs to accomplish God’s purpose. This seriously contradicts the culture in Uganda, but because of our training, he chooses to believe in the ideal purpose of God for man and woman.
Special thanks to Empower President, Dr. Carrie Miles and the Empower American family, the African Program Coordinator, Rev. Frank Tweheyo, and the Ugandan team of Facilitators who always ensures the team travels and ministers safely.
