CIMS/LEMA in Busia, Uganda
Covenant and Promise Foundation Module
It is such a joy to work with Fred Wejuli and the team at LEMA (Life Edifying Ministries Africa) in Busia, Uganda, as the course continues to make a huge difference to the ministries of the students involved. CIMS Director Phil Arbon led the “Covenants and Promise” module for the Foundation Students in July this year which you can read a full report about here.
Evangelism Module with Love Wales
Part of the harvest of the CIMS programme is leading people to salvation and discipleship and the recent visit by the Love Wales team led by Marilyn Harry taught and demonstrated the Evangelism module with effectiveness and anointing. It was a busy week as both the Foundation and Certificate Classes were involved in teaching, a leaders’ retreat, door-to-door evangelism, outreaches and evening film evangelism. The Love Wales team writes: “The Sunday afternoon saw the start of the Evangelism teaching to the Foundation Class. One hundred and twenty plus pastors and leaders gathered to be equipped to reach their communities with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. Whilst the Foundation teaching was running, teaching on Faith was delivered to the Certificate Level students in another building. It was a busy but wonderfully blessed time for both the team and, hopefully, the students too.”
Fred explains, “Classes ran from 10th-13th [September]. On the 14th and 16th we all left to do mission outreach where all Foundation Class students participated fully in door to door evangelism and the Crusade meetings. We also had the Leaders’ Retreat, attended by the area pastors and church elders. In door to door evangelism 249 people gave their lives to Christ and 498 people gave their lives to Christ on the Crusade meetings, and 221 people gave their lives to Christ in film shows on the life of Jesus. In the whole mission, 342 children gave their lives to Christ. Certificate Level started classes from 11th-13th at Church of God in East Africa and Foundation Level started classes at Covenant Christian Fellowship from 10th-18th September.” The Love Wales report summarises the week, “The students returned enthused and amazed at how the Lord worked through them. Once again the Lord blessed with many salvations and healings. The students were diligent in taking contact details in order that every one would be followed up and discipled. Thank you Lord.”
Once again we are indebted to the LEMA team for their diligence and care of the work of CIMS. We appreciated their hospitality of the team. Fred says, “we took care of them very well and I and my dear wife raised our local support to make sure we covered the cost of all their meals. Thank you so much for entrusting us to host these visitors in Busia.” It is also a day’s journey for LEMA to pick up teachers from the airport and another day to take them back and we appreciate the time they invest in all the work they do. Finally, the team spent some time distributing donations they had received before travelling and were blessed with gifts from the local churches.
There is another training programme for the Foundation Course taking place this month (November) with the Pastoral Care module being taught through video link by Phil and Callum. Looking after the flock is a key skill for church leaders and we are reminded of Psalm 78:72 which says of David that ‘he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skilful hands.’ Our hope is that the teaching bridges those two aspects of pastoral care – the shepherd’s heart and the skilful care.
LEMA Hope Centre
While in Uganda, Lea Shaw, one of the team who has been out with CIMS training many times, was at a church (pictured right) where most of the worshippers were street children who were sleeping and living on the streets. Lea has felt God wanted to open a door to some practical support for broken lives and this opportunity confirmed this. She has committed herself to raising support for 20 children to be supported and Comfort International will work with Lea to partner in this beautiful ministry of transforming lives and futures for street children. The project will be called LEMA Hope Centre and will be run on the ground by LEMA with a first step being to help the children get off the street at night with a safe place to sleep and eat.
CIMS in Burundi
Due to the internet difficulties in Burundi, it has been challenging to deliver the course over internet in the same way as in Uganda, so the course is taking longer to complete. However, we have been working hard with Gerard Rukerandanga and the team there to equip them to deliver the course themselves, and they will be joining together for the Pastoral Care module from the 13th-15th November. After this month’s Pastoral Care we have three modules left for Burundi: Healing & Reconciliation; Preaching & Teaching and Evangelism so hope to finish this cohort next year which will be the first graduation from Burundi. There will possibly be another module held in February and Callum will be visiting in May. We thank you for your continued prayer and financial support which makes the Comfort International Ministry School a reality and a blessing to hundreds of pastors in Burundi and Uganda!