Proclaiming Biblical Truth in Uganda

Greetings!

Thank you for supporting Carey International Pastoral Training (CIPT) as we seek to train spiritual leaders for the global church.

This week we look at the work CIPT is doing in Uganda, Africa with a report from our International Director, Dr. Tim Beavis:

One of the first things that strikes you when you arrive in the nation of Uganda is that references to God are everywhere, from “Divine Blessing Grocery Store” and “Jesus Saves Health Clinic” to “Glory to God Taxis.” Yet, despite the fact that there seem to be churches everywhere, there is a great famine of God’s Word in this land that has been so overrun with the so called “prosperity gospel.” It is because of this problem that Pastor Osinde and Pastor Daniel first reached out to Carey, pleading with us to come and train pastors and leaders in this nation known as the “Pearl of Africa.”

Despite having to delay a previously planned ministry trip to Uganda, Dr Tim Beavis was finally able to travel there in October, carrying with him 3 large suitcases each weighing 70lbs (32kg) and each stuffed full of Bibles that had been provided by some generous ministry partners. Two of these Bibles he was able to give away before ever arriving at the training center as the Lord unexpectedly gave him the opportunity to share Christ with a couple of people that he met during the long journey from Chicago to Entebbe. The remaining Bibles were distributed to pastors on the first day of training, a number of whom were particularly excited as this was the first time that they had held in their hands their own copy of the Scriptures!

More than 60 pastors and church leaders gathered each day, having travelled from all over the country of Uganda. Each day began with a lively time of worship in song (and dance) before moving into training sessions. During the first week Dr. Beavis taught our Foundations in Theology course and then the topic of Hermeneutics was the focus for week two. He was also invited to preach at three churches in different villages and to conduct a one-day Bible Conference on the Unfailing Hope of Christ and the Life of Holiness from the book of 1 Peter.

Many of the Pastors wrote notes of appreciation about the training that they received and were overwhelmed by the fact that we would travel such a distance to invest in them without asking anything in return. One Pastor was so convicted and encouraged that he wrote to say,

“I didn’t know that I was out of the way of truth, but Carey has brought me back to the way of God’s Word. Glory to God!”

Another contacted us a few weeks after the training to tell us,

“When I returned home from your teaching my church noticed a change in my preaching, how I now understand how to interpret the word of God in line with what it says, and my teaching is now more clear and understandable.”

Dr. Beavis will be returning to Uganda along with new team member Craig Thompson on January 2 (DV) to continue to equip these pastors and to proclaim the message of Faith Alone by Grace Alone, through Christ Alone as declared in Scripture Alone, for the Glory of God Alone!