Such a lot has happened within Nehemiah Rebuilding Ministry (NRM) since we last caught up with everyone.
It’s now July 2021. The whole world has changed since COVID-19 broke out in early 2020 and this has dictated most of what is, or is not happening with NRM.
Our man-on-the-ground in Africa, Ps Henry Logoro, finally left Juba, South Sudan in 2016 and has joined his family in Kampala, Uganda. A lot of the activity since then has been in camps and amongst urban refugees in the suburbs of Kampala. God opened the doors to go into the refugee camps in the Adjumani District in Northern Uganda as well as Kiryandongo and Bidi Bidi. Some of this has been in partnership with other churches and ministries which means valuable resources, financial and human, have been shared. Many training programmes have been provided for church leaders, men, women and youth.
When possible practical gifts have been distributed including soccer uniforms, vegetable seeds and much appreciated sanitary items for women.
Some highlights from the next few years include Ps Henry being installed as inaugural Senior Pastor in a new church in Ntinda, a suburb in Kampala called the Sudanese Community Church. This is a vibrant church ministering to people from Sudanese and South Sudanese backgrounds and across tribal boundaries. This is part of the response to counter the issue of tribalism and factionalism.
Kampala, like the rest of the world, has experienced several lock-downs which leads to challenges in meeting the needs of church members. Small prayer groups have formed and home visits are frequent when they are allowed. NRM in Australia has been able to send small amounts of money so basic food items can be purchased and given to many local widows who are left with no support because they have had to close down their small roadside businesses.
A very successful Prayer and Fasting Conference was held in a Kampala University in January 2020. This was supported by NRM and other ministry partners. Participants from Sudanese and South Sudanese backgrounds gathered for a week of non-stop prayer, fasting and teaching. It was a powerful time and has had far reaching positive effects.
Another, albeit smaller conference was held early in 2021 and since then many local churches have gathered in small groups to fast and pray. Young people are being released to many different locations as a result of this training. Workers are being mobilised…
Ps Henry was seriously injured in a terrible traffic accident in 2019. Sadly, people were killed bur mercifully, Ps Henry survived. We are all so grateful to God for his protection. Ps Henry still suffers from the effects of this accident and he is currently awaiting dental treatment. Clare, Ps Henry’s wife, bravely cared for him and their four young children during this difficult time. She is also kept busy with Women’s and Worship ministry within the church and wider community, including taking part in a teaching tour in South Sudan in 2020.
The children are continuing with their education as a result of funds raised in Australia and the family were recently able to move into another house closer to the church.
We are so grateful to God that his plans are not hampered by COVID and for the determination and sacrificial service of his faithful servants.