A story of Small beginnings

A simple idea has grown into an unbelievable number such as this.

 The story of how the JOAC Kids` Church started may sound like a fairytale if not well perceived. It is so weird but true. One Sunday morning as everyone was preparing to go to Church, about 4km away from the JOAC Home, an idea just popped out of Auntie Jen, then a volunteer with JOAC. “Why don’t we have church here today” she said. Uncle David quickly replied, “Yes, we should have church here”. News quickly spread to the kids in the house, they excitedly embraced the news, some anxious of how church will be like at home. Without any wastage of time, they carried the few chairs in the living room out into the JOAC mango tree. A couple of boys grabbed pencils and papers, and they wrote something like “Welcome to Church” on the JOAC gate. Auntie Esther drove off to Nsikye to pick up the women she reaches out to for fellowship at JOAC. She found most of them already gone to their respective churches, the few that were around got into the car and in no minute were seated right under the JOAC Mango tree. The kids and most congregants were grinning their teeth, some probably thinking, “This is another joke”. But hey……the worship that was enjoyed that day was incredible. The JOAC kids led the entire program with one of them being the days` preacher and comically being called the “The Pastor of the day”. It was hard of an experience for all of them to lead worship, lead the program, and preach in the front of people, it was a time to break away the shyness, unexpressive hearts in them. Auntie Jen was the main preacher of the day; she shared a remarkable sermon that blessed everyone. This day is still memorable to the JOAC community for it fulfilled the scripture “where two or three are gathered, God is in their midst”. Indeed God was in our midst and he ministered to us a lot, the Kids testified of the goodness of the Lord in their lives.

Today the JOAC Kids` Church membership has grown into the unbelievable. It is hard to comprehend how what started as a family fellowship has grown into a big congregation that renders all the JOAC chairs insufficient. Last Sunday the number was so big that some stood up throughout the service as others sat on the ground. 

"The chairs are not enough so we can sit utilize the ground"

 Rehearsals for Sunday service have become an enthusiastic experience for the JOAC kids and members from the community, especially the college students. They come to JOAC, spend about three hours rehearsing worship, and dance, some even forget that it is time for dinner back at their College. Receiving visitors at Sunday has become a common scenario, with visitors sometimes coming from as far as Kampala and Bushenyi. Two weeks back we had the wife to the Nyamitanga village chairperson come to fellowship with us and shared with us the word of God. It was such a blessing to also hear her testimony of how God healed her from diabetes and high blood pressure through her constant prayer and fasting.

Last Sunday we were privileged to host Moses a Christian student leader from a High School in Bushenyi. He was also the day`s preacher, his youthful message excited the Kids and the youths in the congregation and blessed many lives. 

Moses (a Christian student Leader preaching) at the service

Another visitor was a local businessman who came to the Kids` church after hearing the morning worship at the JOAC compound. He and his younger brother had always gone to congregate at a church in Mbarara town which is quite a distance from their home. Last Sunday God directly led them to the JOAC kids’ church and they vowed to congregate with us every Sunday. The businessman also pledged 20 plastic chairs for the JOAC Kids` church. Another lady who visited from Kampala confessed of how she had lost all her money and business to a fake witch Doctor. She got convicted by the Holy Spirit to give her life Christ. Early the next morning she was at the JOAC house, asking to be led to Christ. Uncle David and Auntie Esther led her to Christ.

We don’t want to underestimate the good things that are happening here, we call them miracles instigated by only God, please join us in thanking, praising, and celebrating his power and grace.

By Joseph Ochwo

Joseph graduates, Sunday streams hope

Joseph and David after arriving for the graduation ceremony

Joseph (our volunteer in the communication department) graduated from Uganda Christian University with an Honors degree in Mass Communication on Saturday. Uncle David was one of the people together with Joseph`s family that attended his graduation ceremony in Kabale. It was an amazing and inspirational moment when the kids came to learn that Uncle Joseph had graduated from university. Most of them vowed to work very hard in their education to attain a university degree as they looked at Joseph`s graduation photos. Ruth the girl that just resumed her studies and was leading Sunday service, wished she was the one that had just graduated. “I wish I was the one that had just completed my studies like Uncle Joseph” she said.

 Sunday streams hope

In God there is a place to hide, a shelter that is a stream of hope to the hopeless, down-trodden, weak, and poor. Last Sunday`s worship at joy of a child was just that-it brought hope to the congregation. Worship was fantastic, led by the kids and Uncle David. There were three visitors one of whom came from Kampala and was the days` preacher. Harriet shared from Roman 8:28 (Everything happens for good to them that love God…………………..). There is nothing that triggers hope when we are in love and fellowship with God. For when anything happens in our lives, we look at it as an opportunity for God to manifest his glory in our lives and the lives of others. Sometimes when we go through tough situations, we tend to curse, regret, complain, and forget about God. But God requires us to know that he is with us in all situations, and he still knows us as his children. There is hope in Christ and thus we need to thank him for whatever situation that we are going through. The JOAC church members from around the community are bonding to the church than never before. They are slowly holding onto the grip of the church`s activities. For instance, the girls from the Nyamitanga Business and Secretarial Institute have got themselves involved in the Sunday worship. They last Sunday came for worship rehearsals, and are also very excited for next Sunday`s rehearsals, these always take place on Saturdays prior to Sunday worship. Natukunda Lillian the lady we talked about in the last blog, also attended church last Sunday with her two children. However, her situation has worsened, she got kicked out of the house she was previously staying in, and is now braving the cold in one of her village`s dilapidated church building. JOAC conducted a charity drive after Sunday service, asking church members to contribute anything they could towards her welfare. Their contribution was very little but significant. Some gave money, and others gave clothes. Remember most of our church members don’t really have enough for themselves but they were able to share the little they have. JOAC has become a stream of hope and love to Lillian and her kids. We are praying that our church continues to demonstrate love and give hope to the hopeless and hurting world.