Radio Antioch

Cliff Pash in Kakira, Uganda

   This Mission Update is Radio Antioch Podcast Episode 18.

   My Friend Dr. Cliff Pash of Advancing the Kingdom Ministries spoke at our Radio Antioch Live! meeting on February 20th about the mission projects they are running in Uganda. We work with Dr. Pash when we are in Uganda and have been part of several of their projects. In this video, Dr. Pash brings an update on the work in Uganda, along with some insights on ministering to the predominately Muslim people in the region.

Credits

Hundreds of villagers waiting to be tested during
one of the three days of the Health Mission

A three-day Medical Mission was a major part of our recent trip to Uganda. Our friends Cliff and Julie Pash run a mission base in Nawansega, Uganda. Over the last three years, we have partnered with them to raise funds for construction, as well as teaching and ministering in the villages each time we are there. A few months ago, the neighbor who owns the property next door to the mission base passed away unexpectedly. It soon came to light that he had died of an advanced case of syphilis. This moved Dr. Pash to action. How could you stand by and watch your neighbor die of a treatable disease and do nothing about it?

While the “Born Agains” (What the locals call the evangelical Christians) teach marriage is between one man and one wife, many of the Muslims and those of other African religions have multiple wives. If one adult in these marriages practices sexual impurity or marital unfaithfulness, diseases can spread to multiple adults within the family.

Janet, Julie Pash with Ugandan officials who came to
speak on the first day of testing.

The first problem to solve in our new plan to combat this disease was finances. Local officials were all too thrilled to give us help. Unfortunately, not all of the supplies were available from the government. We needed to raise money to purchase the testing kits and the medicine to treat any cases of syphilis we found. When the Pashes emailed their supporters  about the need, they immediately responded with donations that covered the treatment kits and other expenses. Antioch Tabernacle Ministries provided money from our missionary offerings to pay for the medicine to treat those found to have syphilis.

The next task was to mobilize the people in the four villages surrounding the mission base to come to be tested. At first, a number of local Muslim officials refused to help, not wanting to do anything that lends any credibility to the Christians. But others put their differences with us aside and joined the work. The Lord gave us favor with the RDC, ( the regional governor), who came to the event to speak and demanded all of the officials to mobilize their villages. The regional arm of the Ugandan health ministry sent us a team of 5 workers who worked tirelessly along side us for three days. They also provided AIDS testing supplies, so that we could also test the villagers for HIV.

For three days, large crowds of villages came to the mission base to be tested. Volunteers from the team would take the names of the villagers. A nurse would then draw blood samples. While people were waiting, team members gave talks on preventing Aids, syphilis and other sexually-transmitted diseases by practicing purity and faithfulness.  When the test results were completed, villagers were called into a private room one at a time and told the results.

Taking the blood samples

Teaching Purity and Faithfulness

On the third day of testing, we also had a special program for mothers with infant children. The local moms were treated to tea and a type of local homemade donut. Team members talked with them about health issues and prayed over the children. Each mom then got to pick an outfit for their baby from clothes sent from a church in Iowa.

Janet talking with a local Mom

New clothes for the babies

When it was all over, we had tested over 530 people over the three day period.  When the test results came in,we identified 38 new cases of HIV, and 76 villagers with syphilis.  Those with syphilis are being treated at the mission base with one shot a week over a four week period. Those positive for HIV were connected with a Ugandan government program to receive aid and supplies.

Being part of this effort was heartbreaking, frustrating, but also satisfying. It was a great way to show the love of Christ to the villages.

Sometimes we have to do more than just preach the gospel. Sometimes you have to demonstrate the gospel with what you do.

Credits

Dave speaking in the Source Village square

Hello Friends,

Jan and I have now returned to the US, after spending the last few weeks in Uganda. As always, the trip was challenging, encouraging, heartbreaking and at times just plain insane. Thanks to all of you who enable us to go by supporting this ministry with prayer and finances.

Sometimes I am asked what it is like ministering in the villages of rural Uganda. I guess the first answer is that it is never the same. Each time is a little different. We began this trip with ministry in two of the villages where Antioch Tabernacle Ministries has partnered with local Bishop Nicholas Ongamo to build churches. After raising the money to build churches in these villages, we also visit and minister  whenever we can to support the growing local churches there. Each of these churches has a Pastor and regular Sunday services. Neither Source or Wandago village has electricity or running water, so whenever we are in the area we like to take a team from Nicholas’ church in Kakira, along with a generator, music and sound equipment, and have outdoor events. We often have a worship team of 6-7, along with keyboard and drums.

Gather around for the big event!

When we begin out time of praise and worship, a lot of villagers gather around. First, there are the children, often hundreds of them. Those that are among the “Born Agains” (The local name for Christians) will be up front dancing, shouting and worshiping. Back further away will be a ring of the village women, often with small children. Usually the outer ring of the crowd will be the village men who are interested, but watching from afar. And yet it is from these outer rings where people come forward for prayer and ministry. Early in our trip we did an outdoor crusade in both Source and Wandago villages.

Wandago Village Outdoor Crusade, with the Wandago
church in the background. The worship team is dressed in yellow.

The trail to Bunkenke Village

Sometime you find ministry where you least expect it. One afternoon when I was at the mission base in Nawansega province, some brothers were going out to Bunkenke village, which is about an hour and 15 minute walk away, via a trail through the fields, and invited me to come along. I said “sure” and left what I was doing to hurry up and catch up with those already on their way. When we get to this little village, a local home owner has spread out a tarp in the compound in front of his house, along with a small table and a few chairs. Soon a brother arrived on a bicycle with a large drum. (no generator, microphones or other toys this time!) Soon some of the local believers arived, and we began a time of singing and praising God, with nothing but voices and the drum. As villagers walked by, some would look on, others would walk over and join us. Soon there were close to 60 people.

After a while we finished our worship time. One brother raises his voice and says “we are thrilled to have with us today brother David from Chicago America, who will bring us the word of God!”  Gulp! Nobody told ME I was preaching….In fact, my bible was over an hour away in nawansega. But it seemed to be the most natural thing to speak about the Christ who has transformed my life, there under the open heaven in a simple village. Without, bible, notes, mic, speakers or anything else, we had church. Sometimes I think it would be great for the church in America to get back to the simple things. We had no fancy equipment, building, or anything else. Just worshiping believers and the presence of God. In each of these village crusades, we saw a number of salvations and supernatural healings, with people powerfully touched by the power and presence of God. But in that little village I remembered the simple truth and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and boy, did we have a celebration!

Preaching in Bunkenke

The Local Praise and Worhip department!