Dear friends,
On behalf of the Board Joy of a Child Uganda, we greet you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We wish to introduce to you the 5k race and also call for your contribution through participation. The aim of the race is to raise funds for the Joy of a Child ministry in Uganda. Your participation and contribution will provide food to a starving child in Uganda will educate a child, help save a generation from the ugly poverty and generally enhance a child`s spiritual, mental, physical, and social growth. Please register and read more about the 5k race by clicking here: http://joyofachild.net/5kevent.html
You can also have a look at what the Lord is doing at JOAC in the details below:
About Joy of a Child Ministry:
Joy of a child (JOAC) is a Christ driven ministry based in the south western Uganda town of Mbarara, with over 83,000 people. The ministry is reaching out to some of the world`s poorest children through the love of Christ, by providing a home, education, love and care of the heavenly father to the down trodden kids of this society. Most of who have been victims to poverty, disease, violence, guilt, rape, and societal neglect. JOAC strives to meet the holistic needs of these children; spiritually, socially, physically, and psychologically. Some other beneficiaries to this ministry are young girls who are currently involved (or recently left) commercially sexual exploitative situations that they have been forced to, by their own parents or the pressures of living.
Below is a description of some of the activities/departments that are involved in the JOAC ministry:
The Child Care Department
As mentioned in the above introduction, Joy of a Child is home to about 13 children living under one roof, 6 girls and 7 boys including Shiba who in spite of currently living with her Mum, is directly part of the home and comes in at anytime she wishes. The child care program does not only provide a bed, food, and shelter, but its paramount aim is to provide a constant flow of love and care to all the children in the house. This is instigated through the fatherly figure played by David and the motherly figure played by Esther. They are both figures that hold the kids’ behaviors, growth, and responsibilities accountable. They have over the time seen a connection of heart develop between them and the kids, giving them a security that they never had before. Through them, God is steadily blessing the kids with love, security, and care amidst the many challenges that come with parenting such a big number of kids. David and Esther thank God for the blessing that has come with the Uganda board, who have been their advisors, prayer partners, co-decision makers in the ministry and mostly in the challenging moments of ministry. They testify that such challenges have been learning opportunities to them.
The Education department
We thank God for education, for it is the backbone to not only society, but also a child`s development. Almost all the JOAC kids attend school, except for a few. And this has come as a blessing to give the kids a future and hope. Two are in their middle class of Kindergarten, Shiba is in Tertiary doing a tailoring course, and the rest are in Primary school. Their academic performance has been fair as some are academically sounder than the others. They are all in their third term of school which determines whether they will be promoted to the next class or be demoted. We thank you our partners for your constant prayer and support towards the kids` education, and please continue praying for their academic excellence.
Outreach program
The JOAC outreaches are conducted during the kids` holidays from school and also weekends when they are all available. Last holiday we held a gospel crusade with the kids in a nearby trading centre, and a number of people gave their lives to Christ. The kids have been ministering in different churches, conferences, and seminars through music, dance, and drama.
Extension program
JOAC has seen God change lives through its extension program. This involves the beneficiaries to the ministry who leave outside the JOAC home mostly the young women who are always reached out to on weekends by Esther or sometimes come to the JOAC home for counseling. Brian is also on the extension where his education and spiritual life is being supported and monitored.
The JOAC Church
The church is now about 3 months old and has seen a steady growth, with members from around the community. The church has impacted the community spiritually and also the lives of its members given the testimonies that come about every Sunday. There is generally something happening in the spiritual ream of this Muslim dominated community through the church. Below is a video of one of our earliest church Services:
God bless you,
The Board Joy of a Child Uganda
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