Not in my most creative imagination did I ever think that I would run a ministry that would work in Uganda, Africa. Ministry – yes. But Africa – no way! “My” vision was to gain experience, work hard and start a ministry that would teach the Bible in the US and be comfortable. Many times, I have been confronted with comments such as: “There is so much need in this country, why Uganda? The answer is simple but complex: God. Yes, that’s the Sunday School answer. However, let me explain.
For many years I traveled to many countries making great ministry connections around the world. When the Lord orchestrates a connection between His warriors, it is instant, real, and indescribable. The Holy Spirit makes it clear that this is a relationship that is ordained and must be nurtured.
In 2012, I met Pastor David Musoke from a village called Seeta Nazigo in Uganda. Pastor David was pastoring a church and administrating a school. When I met him, he was holding church in a building with only partial walls and without a roof. What impressed me was his heart for the Lord and getting people to know Him.
Pastor David, at the time, was mentoring 40 other pastors from different villages. He would ride a motorcycle over rough dirt roads every week to share what he studied from the Word of God that week. The reason he would do this was because the pastors did not have their own Bible.
Upon returning home from this connection, the Holy Spirit continued to replay the interaction, and I realized that something had to be done. In 2011, justBible Ministries was formed with the mission to teach the Word of God and help those in need. Through this ministry funds were raised to install a roof on the Zion Community Center in Seeta Nazigo. In 2014, the first Symposium was held in the Center with a roof. The book of Joshua was taught to 200 attendees who received workbooks as a resource to take back and teach in their home villages. During this first Symposium 50 Luganda Bibles were handed out.
Okay Lord, I did that. Being exhausted from the preparation, planning the logistics, fundraising, travel, and teaching three days straight my mindset was to check that off the list and move on to something else. But no, the requests came in for these Symposiums to be an annual event and the Holy Spirit would not release me from the burning desire to hold another Symposium. So, in 2015 I set out to do “one more” Symposium. Again, the preparation, planning, funds, and travel … but the Lord provided and made it all happen. With the exception of the “lockdown” years, these Symposiums have occurred every year. Check out what the Lord has done:
8 Symposiums
7 Books of the Bible taught
~4,500 Workbooks provided
~800 Bibles provided
The Lord wasn’t done. We held 3 independent Bible Study Techniques workshops with selected pastors in Uganda and Kenya. The intent of these workshops was to train pastors to understand how to study the Bible and know how the workbooks are structured so they can be efficient and accurate in teaching the Word of God. The result of these workshops is Partner Symposiums being held in 8 countries in 3 languages throughout East Africa! Check out our map to see locations where Partner Symposiums have been held.
In conjunction with the Symposiums, the Lord has provided the resources to continue the construction on the Community Center. The roof is complete, the walls are complete, windows and doors are installed, the building is completely plastered, and the floor is concreted.
The Lord was not done yet! In addition to the Symposium, last year (2024) over 200 children attended a Children’s Symposium. This was supported by a team of 4 of us who conducted both Symposiums.
The Lord is not done yet! This year (2025) in July, we will hold the 9th International Symposium at Zion Community Center at Seeta Nazigo, Uganda. In attendance will be ~400 adults and 250 children. A team of 6 people from the US will support the teaching of the book of Colossians. Pastors will travel from Kenya, Ethiopia, Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, and many parts of Uganda to attend the International Symposium.
Only the Lord knows the exponential impact of 400 people from 8 different countries resourced with a workbook of the book of Colossians which teaches the supremacy of Christ will have for His kingdom.
None of this was planned. There wasn’t any “5-year plan” that put justBible Ministries in this position. There have been many periods of frustration, angst, and weariness during this adventure. Over the years, I asked many questions. How can I sustain this? Where will the funding come from? Can I manage all the logistics? To copy a conjunction Paul uses: But God… The Lord sustained (and grew), the Lord provided every year (through great donors), the Lord coordinated Ugandan partners to manage all the in-country logistics. There was/is no option but to move forward.
Why Uganda? Because the Lord wants East Africa discipled per His command!
What’s next? Only the Lord knows.
The Lord has made all of this happen, but only because of people like you who are passionate for the Word to spread and for disciples to be developed. Join the Lord’s work with me as we discover; What’s next.