Today we have the first of two parts of a newsletter from Peter McLean's reflections on his recent visit to Uganda where he was engaged in Bible teaching in the local churches.
Greetings in Christ from Whitehill, Airdrie. I returned from eastern Uganda two weeks ago. As we approach All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints’ Day, I have had time to rest, recover and reflect on yet another amazing trip to Christ’s continent of Africa. This was my fourth visit to Africa in as many years - my second this year (DRC in February) and my second to Uganda (Easter 2022). This visit to Uganda did not have the same threat nor life-changing ‘call’ I experienced in DRC, but it had equal significance in terms of affirmation of my continued Bible teaching ministry to brothers and sisters in Africa for my remaining years. I hope I will be able to come and share in person at your church before I return to Uganda in seven months’ time. In this report, I provide an account of my time in Busia among churches, with some indication of what this means for my return [This will be covered in the next Day Share]. Before I do this, allow me to give a brief overview of the church and political situation in Uganda. This sets the context for the difficult ministry our brothers and sisters there currently face.
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God [Genesis 28:15, 20-21 NIV]
The Kingdom of Buganda has recorded history going back seven hundred years, to Kato Kinto (c.1300-1332). When Speke and Burton reached Lake Victoria and ‘found’ the source of the Nile in 1862, the locals were still practising idol worship, human sacrifice and cannibalism. Smith and Wilson established CMS missions by 1877. Seven years later, as the European powers at the Berlin Conference were dividing up Africa like pieces of cake, the Protectorate of Uganda was established and the first martyrs of the church in Uganda were chosen to die for Christ in 1885. After another seven years, the Church of Uganda was founded in 1893. Seventy years after this (exactly one hundred years after Smith & Burton), Uganda gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 (two years after the ‘year of Africa’ in 1960). There are three things the Ugandans are grateful for, which former French/Belgian ‘colonies’ do not have: the King James Bible, the English language, and HM Queen Elizabeth II, whom Ugandans retained as their Head of State under the Commonwealth throughout her happy and glorious seventy-year reign (1952-2022). The Ugandan national bird is the grey-crested crane, known for its gentleness and grace.
Many Ugandans recognise that the Queen personified these characteristics in her faithful life.
Although the people in eastern Uganda are Samia (Lake Victoria fishing people), like many other tribes they have been incorporated politically and historically into the nation of Uganda. Since independence, Uganda has had its fair share of trouble: Idi Amin (1971-79), Bush War (1980-86), Civil War (1986-94). President Yoweri Museveni is not democratically elected and his ‘succession’ soon will cause further division and violence. Like other sub-Saharan African nations, Uganda is attempting to stand up to the West and stand on its own feet. Uganda refuses to adopt the corrupted values of the West. It aims to provide for itself and its people oil, gas, electricity, roads etc.
It still seeks to establish a culture based (mainly) on the Bible and Christian teaching, however imperfect. It recognises that the West’s richness over the last four centuries comes from this and so it seeks the same thing. As I opened an Equity Bank account in Busia, the branch was hoachin’ with people opening accounts, as Leeds Building Society in East Kilbride once was forty years ago. As the West turns its back on Christ and yet seeks to deny poor nations the very benefits that we have enjoyed that made us so rich, Uganda sees this hypocrisy and wishes to pursue both spiritually and materially that to which we once aspired. Please pray that the church and nation will be able to do this.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
[Matthew 4:18-20 NIV]
If you want to contact Peter, here is his email
and his stewardship page
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