Uganda has come out of its spiritual dark ages recently, having survived an extremely evil dictator in Idi Amin, a 20-year civil war, and the posting of the highest AIDS percentage of the entire continent of Africa. Presently Uganda is experiencing a phenomenal spiritual awakening, with almost half the population professing to be Christians – impressive, when you take into account it was considered a Muslim nation just a few years ago. The present leader is pro-Christian, his wife is a dedicated believer, the civil war has ended, and the AIDS numbers have dropped to some of the lowest in all of Africa.

Open Bible missionary Ron Wilson, working with ICM (International Cooperating Ministries), has overseen the construction of thirteen new church buildings in Uganda. Two more are presently under construction and five more are approved for start up. With widespread poverty, people are drawn to the beautiful new church buildings out of curiosity. It is then common for the curious to make public confessions of faith in Jesus Christ in the services they visit. During this window of opportunity, Uganda needs our support.
Because of the AIDS epidemic, 51 percent of Uganda’s present population is under 12 years of age. Several million of these children are orphaned. Christians have taken on the task of caring for the orphans and widows in their communities, but they need partners in the States to assist them. James says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble”
(1:27, NKJ).

Open Bible is one such partner, having built three orphanages. This has been an encouragement to the Ugandan churches, but many more orphanages are needed. For merely $10,000, a beautiful building can be constructed that could serve as a home for orphans and widows, and as an effective evangelism tool to the unsaved in Uganda as well.
Our sister churches in Uganda are producing good fruit. They are presently starting one new church per month by sending out church planting teams and buying lots in targeted neighborhoods. If funds were available they could start scores of churches.

Since so many of the pastors are new Christians themselves, there is a great need for leadership training and Bibles. Many of the pastors’ Bibles are worn out. Many others don’t even own a Bible. Bibles are also in short supply for Christians in general.

Having made two trips to Uganda, one in 2004 and the second this past June, it has been extremely fulfilling to partner alongside the Open Bible brothers and sisters. The churches are experiencing days like we read about in the book of Acts. The gospel is received well throughout the nation. Uganda is experiencing a move of the Holy Spirit that is bringing transformation nationwide. It was one of the countries featured in the Transformation videos filmed by George Otis, Jr.

As stewards, it is important to invest in what God is doing around the world. Uganda is like an apple orchard in which the apples are ripe for the picking and continuously falling from the trees. This is the season to work with the Holy Spirit in gathering in the harvest.

As in every culture, the people who have grown up in Uganda can relate to their own people better than those who do not know the language or culture. They can best preach the gospel to their own people. Due to this fact, the greatest need in Uganda is not missionaries, but finances to reap the harvest that is taking place.

Open Bible International Ministries Director Paul Canfield and Ron Wilson addressed the issues of financial accountability and organization during a trip to Uganda in 2004. God has blessed Open Bible with wise and knowledgeable leadership in Field Director Samuel Egessa. Samuel built on the counsel and teaching of Paul and Ron and has done an excellent job of furthering the kingdom of God through Open Bible while exercising good stewardship.

Vic and Toni Reichenbach are senior pastors at Casper Open Bible Church in Casper, Wyoming. Vic and Ron Wilson, missionary-at-large, visited Uganda in June 2005.