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Madisonville District Church Uganda Partnership

How to Partner with a Ugandan Church

What is the Theology of the Partnership?

We are indeed bridge-builders. This entire model is based on relationships developing at every level: person to person, church to church, district to district, conference to conference into One Church in Christ.

      We all are the United Methodist Church body of Christ as described in Romans 12:5.  The Ugandan Christians have said many times that they want to feel a part of the bigger church, helping to bring about the kingdom of God.

      When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a cup of water at the well (John 4), all barriers of gender, race, and nationality were broken down –just by a cup of water. We strive for mutual ministry, encouraging each other and mutually sharing the spiritual gifts of  the Ugandan church and the churches of Kentucky.

      Jesus told us in Acts 1 to go to “the uttermost parts of the earth”. For us, this is Uganda; for them, this is the United States. We can minister to each other.

Why Uganda?

It is one of the poorest countries in the world.  HIV/AIDS, war and oppressive government have taken their toll over the last decades.  But, life is improving slowly. The United Methodist Church is growing rapidly and seeking to minister to all aspects of their people’s lives. It is a new church, having been in existence for less than 20 years. The Kentucky conference has a history of partnership there.

What is your commitment?

    Regular communication. It is vital that partners grow to know one another as persons, not as the American “money machine” and the  Ugandan “mission project”. This is best accomplished by personal contact. Some of the Uganda pastors have access to email and cell phones, at least on occasion; however, they need to go to an internet café or other computer site and pay for their time. This may very well mean that they cannot answer back as quickly as we would like.  This can lead to frustration on our part but we must remember that this is the life that they lead every day. It’s not easy to live there—it’s more frustrating than we can imagine.

    Regular prayer.  This is the most important thing you can do for each other. Lift up your Ugandan partner in worship services and meetings of your church. Put the name of your partner church and its pastor on your congregation’s prayer list. Ask the Ugandans to pray for your specific concerns. The African church has much to teach us about the power of prayer and dependence on God.

    Exchange information.  Letters, newsletters, and websites are all ways of getting to know each other. Photographs of you, your family, your congregation, and your ministries will be treasured in Uganda; pictures will be posted in a public place of honor.  At the present time, use P.O. Box 12554, Kampala, Uganda, East Africa as the address, marking clearly who the letters are intended for.

    Visits. Nothing can take the place of visits to see the work of God in Uganda and for them to see what God is doing in Kentucky. Encourage your congregation to participate in VIM teams; better yet, go yourself!  Consider bringing your Ugandan partner to Kentucky and having him or her be in fellowship with you and your church.

    Financial.  At the present time, NO Ugandan pastor receives salary for his or her work in the church. The demands on them are high given that most pastors are not trained in the Discipline or in the Bible. You are asked to forward $120/month to the KY conference treasurer quarterly to be sent to Uganda through GBGM. This amount will provide a small, but valuable source of income so that pastors can minister with less anxiety about their families. The knowledge that you care enough to do this will energize them. You are most likely an answer to earnest prayer. Clearly state what church your money is designated for.

    Accountability – assign a layperson in your congregation to be the Ugandan Ministry Leader and send the name of that person to the Coordinator of the East Africa Initiative (lgardella@kyumc.org)

    Uganda Sunday – plan an African Sunday, asking a speaker to come and speak of Uganda. Learn songs from Africa (available from Cokesbury), have an offering in the African style (ask coordinator), keep the focus on the partner church.

                                         Points to Keep in Mind

    As Americans, we want to get right to the point: “What do you want from me and how can I get it for you?” This is not the custom in Africa. It is important to understand that the personal relationship IS the partnership.  Take time, as often as you are able, to establish this relationship. 

    Africans are very respectful. Begin your communication with an introduction, as if you are meeting someone for the first time. Tell your partner who you are and why you are writing.  Inquire about their families and their health. Ask about their location, their church and its ministries. Invite them to respond in kind. Do not talk about money.

    Americans and Africans also have a different view of money. This is what we think they need most and what they think we are all about. Although you are asked to supply minimum financial support, the other areas of the partnership are even more important. Keep the following in mind:

§        As Americans, we are often  insulted if we are asked for money; they are not embarrassed to ask. It’s their way, don’t be offended. You probably will be asked for money over and above the pastoral support—just say “no”.  Don’t say that maybe you can in the future or that you’ll try. If you can’t give it or don’t want to, say “no”. 

§        Much of this attitude is a result of the dependence that has built up in mission areas as Westerners have provided all the money.  This dependency is unhealthy and is not desired by the African church; a stated goal of the Ugandan UMC is to become self-sustaining in ten years or less.

§        Africans, like much of the world, get their view of the US from television or what they hear. Many of them really do think money grows on trees here and

      relatively speaking, it does.  God has blessed us so that  

      we can give, but this is not our primary goal.        

The Ugandans have asked that we work through the leadership of the Ugandan church. This means that we allow them to make decisions about what church you will partner with, although every effort will be  made to honor any requests you may have.

All aspects of the East Africa Initiative in the Kentucky Annual Conference are under the direction of the East Africa Task Force. This document is adapted from the “Mozambique Initiative” of the Missouri Conference.

If you would like more information, contact:

Linda Gardella

Coordinator

lgardella@kyumc.org

jamesgar01@aol.com

859-384-0005

“A partnership is holding your brothers/sisters hand to help reach the finish line together”  Rev. Toko Manasseh, Uganda