Village Missions 2009
Compiled by Ps George Jabulani
Our Biblical Mandate: And they will rebuild the old wastes (ancient ruins), they will raise up the former desolations and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations (Isaiah 61:4)
For more than 20 years, “the Lord’s Resistance Army” (LRA) has been battling the Government of Uganda (GOU). The war has created not only a humanitarian disaster, but has left RUINS, Desolations, areas devastated for generations just as Prophet Isaiah would have described it.
Over 15 years of conflict, Northern Uganda's civilian population has been terrorized by LRA rebels, thousands abducted, especially children and many killed. The LRA also uses spiritual rituals as a weapon to psychologically enslave both abducted children and the targeted population with fear.
According the statistics available, the conflict resulted in the displacement of an estimated 1.7 million people. Forced into displacement camps (IDP camps), these people were unable to farm due to war and international food assistance was inadequate. Walking through any of the camps in Northern Uganda would reveal hopelessness, poverty, many sick people unable to access good medical care, poor living conditions in congested internally displaced persons camps
Ray of Hope
However, improved security has allowed internally displaced people return either near their homes or to their original homes since 2006, to re-establish their livelihoods. Beginning life in a former desolation is one of the greatest challenges that many people in Northern Uganda are facing. It’s at this moment that the word the Lord has spoken to us as Gulu Community church begins to define our assignment - And they will rebuild the old wastes (ancient ruins), they will raise up the former desolations and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations (Isaiah 61:4)
OUR ASSIGNMENT IN 2009
As part of our ministry programmes, we plan to reach 4different villages with the gospel yet with the strategy of helping people resettle, build church / worship shelters for many congregations that find it challenging to resettle (build a huts/ houses to stay in, latrine / bathroom facilities, plough their gardens for cultivation ) and have to raise up a worship shelter.
Because of this challenge many resort to have their Sunday worship under the shelter of a tree. The challenge with this is in case of rain or even when the tree sheds off its leaves due to seasonal changes. This was the case with KIDIKAL VILLAGE.
Mission to Kidikal Village
Kidikal is about 26KM away from Gulu town, and its one of the areas in Gulu that has been left desolate for over 10years. The inhabitants of this area have lived in different displacement camps such as BOBI, PALENGA, ST, Maurice. Others at some point moved to places like Karuma and Masindi.
On Thursday 26th March 2009, a team of 11 ministers of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ from Gulu Community Church arrived in KIDIKAL at 9:09am to embark on a mission that was designed to bring restoration of Hope to the hopeless, Joy to those depressed, forgi
veness to the sinner The team not only carried their bibles but also tools to help raise up a worship shelter for the Church of Jesus Christ in Kidikal. Our planned activities included person to person evangelism, Outdoor evangelist rallies, Jesus Film show in Acholi, and construction of a simple worship shelter.
On arrival the team was warmly welcomed by the Christians in the village and lead to the ‘FIVE STAR HOTEL’ to the right.
The Gospel was preached
On Saturday 28th March, The 22 Iron sheet worship shelter was roofed and the participants of the conference marched from sitting under the tree to the church for official opening and dedication. For Us this was like accomplishing the assignment to build God an ALTAR in the
VILLAGE of KIDKAL
For such a long time people have been involved in Witchcraft and here we have set an ALTAR for the Worship of the TRUE God. In man y of these villages where people are returning there are reported incidences of demonic attacks, and many cultural leaders are resorting to what they have called cultural cleansing. It’s time for the church to arise and take over the land for Christ. May God’s Kingdom come.
Official opening and dedication of church shelter
Other Accomplishments
JESUS FILM IN ACHOLI
We were able to show a Jesus Film on Friday night. Visuals especially this film that is in the local Acholi language does a lot in bringing the life, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many in the Villages do not know how to read or write so a visual of this Kind plays a major role in brining the bible story of Jesus live to an illiterate person.
DISTRIBUTION OF CLOTHES
Gulu community church Christians were encouraged to bring in their clothes and shoes that could benefit another person in KIDIKAL VILLAGE. The response was incredible. The these items on average benefited over 50 people.
Challenges faced by the people in KIDIKAL
No nearby school for children
As a solution to this problem we suggested to the church to recruit a nursery teacher and begin to use the church shelter as a classroom for kids who need education yet are young to walk long distances to a nearby school
No nearby medical center.
The nearby health center is about 4KMs way from this village
Agricultural inputs needed
The rainy and planting season has just began. People are getting to plough the gardens. After over 15year of not being cultivated, the soils of KIDIKAL VILLAGE like many other villages of GULU and Northern Uganda -are very FERTILE. This is the time to that this advantage and increase food production. Who know through this GULU and Northern Uganda could become the food basket of Uganda, Sudan and the Africa. The need is seeds. The other need would be equipment that would enable mechanized agriculture for large scale production.
Thanks To all the team members of Gulu Community church that physically participated in the mission, Our Local Authorities that gave us permission to carry out the mission. Those that supported us financially and BY KIND (clothes)
May God bless you,
Pastor George Jabulani
Gulu Community Church
