February 1999

Report on the Ministry Trip to Uganda - January/February 1999

Peter writes:

"A prophetic word given the day before I left said that this would be "one of the biggest and hardest you have ever undertaken; there will be great resistance...and many problems." God surely doesn't lie, and it was exactly as the word said. Sadly, false accusations had been made which were inadequately investigated and badly handled, resulting in a most unhappy atmosphere throughout their first week. However, the programme went ahead as planned and much was accomplished, including two days lecturing at the All Nations Christian Care Bible School in Lira and two days of seminars and revival meetings with the Power of Jesus Around the World Leaders and Pastors. During the last day of the latter there was a very powerful and violent exorcism of a young mother. The following day, clothed and in her right mind, she was at the church meeting testifying to the miraculous and marvellous deliverance she had received through the power of the name of Jesus Christ.

We continued from there to a gathering at which the New Life Pentecostal Churches in Uganda were formally entrusted to me for oversight. They are an indigenous group of churches who, like many others in this context, have begun but do not really know how to continue. My role is to encourage, advise and resource where possible. At present, the main focus for that centres around being with the leaders and imparting as much as there is time for, both by teaching and preaching and also by prayer and the laying on of hands. Following on from there I visit personally as many local churches in their own situations as possible.

Sunday 7 February was spent with a new church planted recently in Lira. Disillusioned with the typically numerically large but spiritual stagnant programme-based design church structure, two men have left their key leadership roles in an established church and launched out to develop a genuine cell church. Now being well into the third year of transition to the cell church structure in my own church here in UK I am able to input significantly from first-hand experience. This was a most valuable and profitable day.

The majority of the remainder of the time was given over to the Leaders Seminars and Crusade in Kibimba. This was co-ordinated by the International Christian Women's Foundation in Uganda, a fledgling organisation dedicated to promoting the ministry of women in the church. This is no mean task in the Ugandan culture, and I have committed myself to supporting and encouraging the founder and director, Janet Bua. We gathered together the pastors and church leaders from all around the area for five days of intensive seminar teaching. The response in terms of attendance and attention was remarkable, and certainly a new spirit of togetherness was birthed in that place.

The Crusade was very successful, with many responding to the invitation for salvation and also for healing subsequently. On the final Sunday Janet asked anyone to raise their hand who had received salvation during the Crusade and at least a third of a packed church responded. There was much opposition, particularly from the Muslim community, but we felt that at all times we conducted ourselves in a manner worthy of Jesus and He was most certainly honoured and glorified. Kibimba will never be the same again.

I returned this time with George Purkweri who has translated for me for the past four years. This is his first time outside of Uganda and he is getting used to the very different conditions and culture. In May of this year Milton Ogwal, the man who originally invited me to Uganda back in 1994 will be staying with me here, and attending the Pioneer "Event For History Makers" at Norfolk County Showground. We are looking forward to a great time together and hope to complete raising the remaining £2000 for the next stage of getting suitable transport to continue and develop the work out there in Uganda. It surely is harvest time there and we need to be making the most of it while it is the season.

Thanks a lot for reading this. If you want to see any of this trip I have a 30 minute video containing some of the highlights which can be borrowed free of charge, or bought if prefered."