31 July 2016

Preaching the gospel for 10 years in Uganda


A band rehearsing Tukutendereza Yesu, (let us praise Jesus) and well-decorated tents spruced up Rest Gardens, Bweyogerere. It was the 10th anniversary of Words of Hope Ministries Uganda.


Ushers in blue and white shirts quickly rushed to receive, register and direct guests to their seats. Guests from Mbale, Ankole, Nebbi, Kigezi, Kinkiizi, Masindi Kitara dioceses in Uganda and more than eight bishops attended graced the event.


Genesis
In 1989, a retired pastor, Rev. Grover and his wife, Helena Wilcox got a call to come to Uganda. By then Canon Rev. Capt. Titus Baraka was the industrial area chaplain in Masamba Parish, Lugazi. In 1992, the Wilcoxes retired in Mukono to do missionary work in Uganda.


The couple asked Baraka to accompany them to US for their youngest son’s wedding in 1994. Then, the young chaplain made friends as they visited many churches. Five years later, the trio visited Dr Bill Brownson who was by then the president of Words of Hope in Grand Rapids.


Brownson, a renowned radio evangelist soon won their hearts. He was invited to speak at Uganda Christian University chapel where he got a vision to send three students for a Master’s in Western Theological Seminary, Michigan. The students today are Rev. Emilly Erema, Rev. Stephen Kaziimba and Baraka.


Target
Brownson introduced Baraka to Rev. Dave Bast; the new Words of Hope president who in turn asked him to share his life story and testimony on radio. After realising that radio reached to a wider audience, Baraka yearned to bring the same idea home.


July 1, 2006, Words of Hope Uganda was born. They began broadcasting in three languages; English, Luganda and Bari-Kuku(a South Sudan dialect) on Spirit FM. This covered Kayunga, Luweero, and Nakasongola. Radio helped many to, receive Christ and also know each other as they were scattered around the country.


Anniversary
Bishop of Mityana Stephen Samuel Kaziimba, during his sermon expressed his joy. “We are happy for ministries such as Words of Hope whose aim is to touch the heart of man with holistic gospel.” He however argued that preaching the gospel today requires new tools compared to those in the past and to minister relevantly, the church needs new tools of which the media is part.


The bishop urged religious leaders to look for the youth and bring them to church. Church leaders, he said, need to come out and preach this gospel in every corner if the new generation is to embrace its milestones.


“We should reach out to the youth wasting their lives in video halls and sports betting centres even if it means having a few minutes on the screens before a movie or football games,” he explained.
Interludes between speeches saw the Canaan Gents, a gospel vocal acapella band perform.


Achievements
Through the dioceses of the Church of Uganda, Words of Hope have now expanded to 14 dioceses in Uganda having started with three. “We are broadcast in Namirembe, Mityana, South Rwenzori, Kinkiizi, and Masindi Kitara among others,” Baraka boasts.


This ministry reaches out to everyone especially the marginalised groups such as the Batwa; areas that have suffered war, poverty, famine; those affected by harsh cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation in Sebei diocese.It is time other influential bodies gave it support.


Rev. Canon Capt. Baraka, the executive director of the ministry said, “The only thing we can fix to turn the hearts of people in Uganda and Africa as a whole is to preach the gospel using media. We must think big, start small and it will grow.” He called on churches to empower pastors to teach the word alongside life issues such as marriage and counselling with a biblical foundation.


“The media is taking many young people and the church can reach them through the radio programmes of such ministries,” he argued, adding that, so many were suffering and need solutions yet no one seems to care. “The media is doing a lot to entertain yet people have wounds and are hurting. If the church does not come out to help, no one will.”


Scarce airtime
The ministry whose mission is to proclaim the gospel to the people of Uganda and neighbouring countries has found challenges in getting airtime on some commercial radio stations.




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