It’s no secret that churches around the world look and function differently depending on variables like culture, language, social norms, and resources! Churches in Uganda even differ between East and West Uganda.
Despite all of the differences, we worship the same Jesus who sacrificed His life on our behalf. If you have not been to church in Uganda, we’d love to tell you about it.
Much like churches in America, worship services vary from congregation to congregation. When you attend an Okoa-planted church service, you’re greeted with many smiling faces and welcoming salutations. In one such service we got to attend, the service began with two members sharing powerful testimonies of how God has been working in their lives lately. You could feel how grateful they were for the church and how Christ’s love had redeemed their lives. After the testimonies, announcements were made, which may include dates for future worship services, a youth event, a dinner for married couples, and more.
Next, you can expect lots of dancing, singing, and clapping as worship begins. Our worship teams differ, but there is always singing and dancing as we lift up our praise. You may even hear the sounds of the children’s service playing on drums or singing for all to hear. In our Okoa church plants, the service is usually a mix of English and Swahili, especially if there are visitors that day.
After worship and prayer, the sermon begins. Our pastors are graduates of a 2-year Okoa Bible School. Our hope is to raise up many leaders who will plant churches across East Africa, bringing many to Christ. To conclude the service, there is often a call to the altar, prayer, and tithing.
In America, it’s easy to take access to church resources and freedom to worship for granted. The reality is very different in most parts of the world, including Uganda.
Congregations and pastors typically face challenges, such as a lack of technology for music, old pulpits and furniture, lack of lighting and generators, and unstable flooring to list a few. One Ugandan pastor even shared with us that their technology was so old that it had become an electric shock risk to use. Yet his congregation continued to hold worship because as the pastor told us, “Where there is the flow of the spirit, there is the flow of music.”
Not only do they face physical and practical barriers but also persecution from others. Witchcraft is unfortunately a common practice in Uganda, and many people do not like the presence of Christianity or churches in their community.
With your help, we’re able to create more opportunities and resources for church plants, but it is always an uphill battle. However, we know through God’s radical love and redemption, we can bring a light in these communities where it’s needed the most.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
In America, it is easy to believe the lie that the church is the building, not the body. But our brothers and sisters in Uganda are a great example of living life as the body of Christ no matter the building.
The “church building” in Uganda sometimes looks like a roof on 4 poles. In more established churches, the congregation works together to add to the building over time. Some established church buildings might contain some walls, concrete floors, or even a worship stage! Recently, an Okoa church plant was hoping to raise 215 million shillings for a new floor—which is around $60,000 US dollars.
To start a brand new church, it only costs $3,500 US dollars, which includes pastor’s training, building materials, 35 bibles, and logistics of constructing the building. That is a small price to pay for generations of believers and churches planted in Africa.
Through Okoa’s disciple-making movement, 800 churches (and counting!) have been established. Your generosity as a faithful donor has helped make this possible, and we are forever grateful for you!
But we are not stopping here. We push forward to make the name of Jesus known far and wide, beyond Uganda’s borders and to the whole world. And to do this, we need your help. Invest in the Kingdom through establishing churches and raising up disciples with us, and help plant a church today.
