Pastor Julius Mukwana was installed as the organizing pastor of Nakaale Presbyterian Church under the RCEA on March 3, 2024! Stating it so simply grossly understates the gravity of the event.
The OPC’s work in Karamoja began in 2000 with renovating housing for missionaries to inhabit. The following year, more missionaries arrived. Evangelism began in the village, at the borehole, along the roadside, under the trees – anywhere with people! The clinic was later opened in a few containers and strung up tarps, serving the physical as well as spiritual needs of the Karimojong. In the years hence, the church grew with fits and starts, exciting potential and hopes dashed. Slowly by slowly the Lord added to His ranks in Nakaale. The church was still inordinately linked to the mission more tightly than to other churches. How and who to connect it with became a pressing question as the OPC faced a dearth of missionary evangelists willing to serve in Karamoja. In the Lord’s perfect timing, the mission hired Julius as a chaplain for our clinic in Karamoja in 2020, just before the COVID lockdowns. His work was to coordinate with the pastors regarding the spiritual care of staff and patients, including ongoing evangelism on site and prayer with patients. Concurrently, the RCEA, a reformed presbyterian denomination for East Africa, began to take shape. The RCEA grew to include MTW and OPC missionaries and East African pastors that we had known over the years all seeking a God-centered, Bible-believing, presbyterian denomination in East Africa. When James Folkerts left the field in May 2023 with no other evangelist in the pipe line, Julius was willing to stand up and serve the church and its ministry. Although already ordained in another denomination, the RCEA cautiously and wisely required him to pass through a rigorous process in order to transfer it. He submitted humbly and spent many hours answering theological questions, meeting with various members of the RCEA, and studying for the in-person exam. To God’s glory, he passed in February! This past weekend the church welcomed three representatives from the RCEA, two of whom had never before reached the region, to be involved in the installment service – and various celebrations! Even the parties are a sign of the church’s growth as they pooled resources and people, shared laughter and coordinated singers, and rejoiced together!
The week preceding the installation there were two diaconal trainings taught by David Nakhla for our ministry team and the local church’s Mercy Committee. It was held in the “Ministry House”, the building formerly used for the preschool, KEO. It stands on land across the road from the rest of the mission. The ministry team is responsible for maintaining the grounds and building. It is where they meet to sort out the work for the week, hold midweek Bible studies, and, as I discovered, where they store their grain. It was well attended by the core group of committed believers. They were even ready with relevant questions about current situations. The training gave depth and breadth to how to handle the visible and tangible as well as invisible and intangible needs that are ever present around us. The trainings are another sign of growth. The church is handling its own diaconal needs, maturing year by year in seeking God’s direction, and gaining confidence in their faith. The missionaries who remain are honored to learn, live and serve alongside our siblings in the faith in Karamoja.
The believers in Nakaale were never alone. Here the Lord is reminding them of this truth as He joins them more closely with the visible body of His church. As we pray for the budding leadership to be driven by God’s Spirit, protected from temptation, and hold fast to the faith, we also look toward the next steps in developing the church. Please pray for clarity regarding the membership of the church as well as training and ordination for elders and deacons. There is still a need for missionary evangelists to guide the church and give living examples of humble leadership.
May we share one Spirit, one love, one aim – Christ glorified!