Methodist Church in Uganda - 3rd January

Robert Ssegonga took us back to Bugembe Methodist Church this morning for the Sunday service. Robert spent over 2 years in Northern Ireland working as a lay worker and now works as the circuit evangelist. His work includes helping to establish new congregations as well as a ministry in the local prison which we would visit later in the day.

Bugembe Church, which overlooks Lake Victoria, was full for the morning service. Interested young faces peered in at the open windows. The church was resounded to lively singing and dancing and I was invited by Superintendent minister Rev Amooti Bagambi to bring greetings from the Methodist Church in Britain and to preach.

After the service we visited Bugembe Prison which houses around 50 prisoners including 5 women with their 2 young children. Up to 40 men sleep on the floor in one dormitory. Members of the Church visit twice a week to lead bible studies and a weekly service in the small chapel. They have also brought sleeping mats, helped to install doors to the toilets in order to help restore a little dignity and privacy and brought meals for the prisoners on Christmas Day. We shared in worship together and again I was able to bring greetings from Methodists in Britain and reflected on the gospel lesson for the day.

3 years ago, Rev Margaret Nakaluuba, the only woman minister in the Methodist Church in Uganda and who currently has oversight of churches in the Iganga circuit, saw the need for an orphanage in her area. Throughout our travels in Uganda we have seen evidence of a large number of orphanages, a sad sign of the impact of HIV/AIDS and the relatively high maternal mortality rate in rural areas. However the Ugandan government is now actively discouraging the development of orphanages as the philosophy is that no African child should be seen as an orphan as all are members of an extended family and should be cared for by them.

The intention now is to develop a children’s centre with a focus on providing short-term care for children that have suffered abuse. Sexual abuse of children is now increasingly recognised and the intention is that the children’s centre would provide a safe place for children. A building has also been partly built with the intention of using it for a children’s health clinic.

Currently the centre is home for 32 children but is struggling from a significant lack of resources. Earlier this year, Dr Lisa Matthison, a child psychologist with dual Canadian-Scottish nationality had been praying about what she should next do with her life. She met a Ugandan minister who is currently working in Scotland who told her about the orphanage. She realised that this was something she was called to help with and a few weeks later she arrived in Uganda to offer her help. After 3 months she has realised that she may need to stay longer than the original year she had volunteered for. She is not a Methodist by background but has joined the church at Bugembe and has been warmly welcomed by the local community. With the help of the Church’s development workers she has started to lay some firm foundations in the organisation of the children’s centre and is now looking for a more reliable income to support this important work. She is pictured with two of the children at the centre, Daphine and Persis.

On returning to Jinja we were greeted by Rev Amooti Bagambi and his wife Jane. He had just finished watching Manchester United v Leeds United live on television. To our surprise we’d seen adverts for the game in small roadside café’s whilst we had been driving around the area. He like almost all the ministers I’d met supported Manchester United and so he was most upset that Leeds had just won the 3^rd round FA Cup match 1-0 and at Old Trafford too. I thanked him on behalf of Leeds fans everywhere for the powerful prayers of Ugandan Methodists!

All those leading and shaping the Methodist Church in Uganda have great confidence and faith that God is with them and doing great things through them. Their future plans include hoping to re-establish the 4 congregations in the north of Uganda that had to close because of the conflict there. In addition they intend to form a church community in the capital Kampala. I have no doubt that they will succeed.

Methodist Church in Uganda - 2nd January

In 1986 a small group from the Jinja area who had been meeting together for fellowship invited the Methodist Church in Kenya to help them establish a Methodist Church in their area. 24 years later there are now around 4000 members in 34 congregations spread across 3 circuits and supported by 5 ministers and a growing number of lay pastors. One of that original small fellowship group who made contact with the Kenyan Methodist Church is now Chairman and Superintendent minister of these rapidly growing Methodist churches, and it was Rev Amooti Bagambi who met us on Saturday morning and showed us some of the work of the Methodist Church in this part of Uganda.

We started the day at the Church offices were I had the privilege to hand over a new motorbike to Thomas Kibalya, one of the local preachers who is based in a rural area. Previously he had been making do with a bicycle but as the distances between congregations grew this was becoming more difficult for him, and the motorbike, provided with the help of funds from Irish Methodists, will help him to get around the rough rural roads far more effectively.

The young and growing Methodist Church in Uganda is part of the Synod of Nairobi and all its ministers have been trained in Kenya. However few of the many lay pastors, Sunday school teachers and church leaders have received significant training and we were shown the land in the small town of Kamuli that has just been acquired with the hope of building a lay training centre on it. Later in the day we were also shown another newly acquired plot of land that they hoped to build a guest house on, in the hope that it would provide much needed income to support the work of the Church.

A little further north from the town is the main church of the Kamuli circuit, and home to Rev David Ntogohoyya and his family. We were met by other members of the church including two local preachers who were helping to build the new Sunday school. This will not only be used by the large number of children who come on a Sunday, but also as a community centre during the week. They have also developed a library for community use and buildings for chickens and pigs which will help supplement the circuit income.

The church is built at the point in the road where the electricity supply stops and so people come from miles around to watch the television (English Premiership football is particularly popular) and charge mobile phones. It is also next to the local borehole which was dug with the help of money from the Methodist Church in Britain, and Jonathan and Matthew tried to help local children with the daily task of pumping water in to jerry-cans to take home for the family. They soon realised how hard their task is.

We were visiting on 2^nd January, and the day before, as in most churches around Uganda, a Watch-Night service had been held on New Year’s Eve which started at 10pm and finished at 5am. The congregation were then back again later that morning for a special New Year’s Day service. Their commitment to the Church is impressive.

We were next taken to the rural area around Butangala where we were enthusiastically welcomed by the local congregation who the local minister, Rev Richard Kyaira, said had been waiting 4 hours for us to arrive. If that were the case I’m not surprised they were so pleased to see us! There are 4 Methodist churches in this area and the hope is that it will develop in to a new mission circuit.

On the way back to Jinja we stopped at Mpumudde Methodist Church which is next to a primary school run by the Church. The large church was built 7 years ago, previously the congregation of around 70 adults and 80 children had worshiped in the school and before that in a rented building nearby. We were met by local pastor Nathaniel and Jonathan who works at the school, as well as by members of the Women’s Fellowship. Wall hangings in the church gave further witness to the significant support the Irish Methodist Church have given, and continue to give to their brothers and sisters in Uganda.

The school has 35 teachers, 28 paid by the local government and the remaining teachers paid for by the Church. The number of children at the school has rapidly increased to 1500 with a large influx of children who have fled with their families from the conflict on the northern border area with Sudan. We were told that these refugees had been welcomed and supported, although it was likely that now the situation in the north was more peaceful they may start to return. It means that whereas class sizes were at the Government maximum of 53 children per teacher, they had increased to over 100 children per class. Basic temporary buildings had been put up to cope with the numbers, but a new 2 storey block was also being built to give much needed extra classrooms.

Back in the Jinja circuit we were welcomed to Bugembe Methodist Church, the first to be built in the area and the home church of Superintendent Rev Amooti Bagambi and his family. We were entertained with singing and presented with African-style shirts and clothes. I brought the greetings of the Methodist Church in Britain and also told them how pleased we were to have travelled from the snow and ice of Leeds to join them on this warm January day in Uganda. They knew about Leeds because tomorrow Manchester United were to play Leeds United in the FA Cup and most people I’d met so far were keen Manchester United fans, including the Superintendent. I encouraged the congregation to pray for Leeds, because they’d need all the prayers they could get if they were to have a hope of winning, especially as they were to play at Old Trafford!

We finished the day back at our hotel where we met Alex Kyabawampi and Ezekiel Kisambira who have been employed as development officers by the Church. They have helped them to produce a strategic plan and put the administration and governance of this emerging Church on a sound footing. They’ve also helped to articulate the ambitious plans the Church have for new outreach, community projects and the aim of becoming first a new Synod within the Kenyan Methodist Church and ultimately an autonomous Methodist Church in Uganda.

Happy New Year from Uganda

Welcome to Uganda. This is the constant refrain we have heard since we arrived in this beautiful country a few days ago. Everyone we have met has been very welcoming and pleased to see us. I’ve come to Uganda to visit the developing Methodist Church here as well as to see the work of the MRDF partner organisation Volunteer Action and Development who are based in Kampala. Anne, Jonathan and Matthew have been able to travel with me.

We were fortunate enough to be in Kampala on New Year’s Eve. The many churches were full of people taking part in watch-night services including the National Stadium hosting an all-night prayer service that was broadcast live on national television. As the New Year began we watched from one of the many hills that Kampala is built on as fireworks lit up the sky.

The following morning we travelled further East to Jinja where the Methodist Church is based. It has not always been the case that European Christians have been so welcomed to Uganda, and along the Jinja Road we came across the Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine. Here marks the site of the torture and burning of 26 (but probably more) Christians on 3 June 1886.

The Bugandan King, Kabaka Mwanga, ordered the execution of a group of Protestant and Catholic men and woman as he was concerned by the influence of emerging Christian groups. They were marched to Namugongo, 12km from Kampala, were they were offered the opportunity to renounce their faith. They refused. Charles Lwanga, the leader of the Catholic contingent was hacked apart and burnt alive and later in the day the remaining martyrs were bound in reed mats and thrown on to a fire.

The event is now marked by a large modern Catholic cathedral and a Church of Uganda Church and memorial area nearby. Here it not only includes a depiction of the pyre but also the hut of the commander who led the burning, and he is said to have been later converted to Christianity himself and baptised as Daniel.

The town of Jinja, where we would be based for the next 3 days, sits on the shore of Lake Victoria. In 1858 John Hanning Speke was the first European to see this beautiful lake and when he returned between 1862-3 he settled on this area of Jinja as the Source of the Nile, although debate continues as to whether this really is the case. We took a small boat out on to the river and were taken to a small island where the lake meets the river, with an area of still water around which the rest of the water flows - this is said to be source of this great river. Whilst on the island we met a large group of Indians accompanied by armed Ugandan guards. They were carrying the Queen’s Commonwealth baton, which was travelling across the world prior to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October. It wasn’t something we expected to find at the heart of Africa, but then we were to be pleasantly surprised by a lot of things during our stay in Uganda.

Happy Christmas

After all the list writing, present buying, food preparation, television schedule reviewing and carol singing in Advent, Christmas has finally arrived.

On Wednesday I joined members of Chapel Allerton Methodist Church as we walked around the cold and snow covered streets near the church carol singing. This is an annual event and for me at least is the moment I feel that Christmas is finally upon us.

Yesterday I finished work at the surgery earlier enough to attend another traditional event in our church, a tea-time Christingle service which as always attracted a large number of parents and children. It is wonderful to see the church full with so much youthful hope and expectation.

And so to today, Christmas Day, a yearly reminder if we need it, of Immanuel, God is with us. How great is that!

We’ll now be spending a few days with family and friends and no doubt eating far too much than is good for us. And then next week the four of us travel to Uganda to visit an MRDF sponsored project and meet the local Methodist Church. It will be a New Year to remember.

Can I wish you all a joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Home for Christmas

Unless something totally unpredictable happens over the next few days, I am assuming this will be my last post on the Blog until the New Year. This has been my first weekend at home for several months, and it's been great.

On Saturday I made my first visit of this season to Old Deer Park (next to Kew Gardens) to watch London Welsh play rugby. They won, 30-24. Most years I buy a season ticket but I haven't done so this year as I'm rarely in London on Saturdays. I have to admit that in my absence (but, hopefully, not due to it) the team seems to be doing rather better than usual!

Then on Sunday I was the tenor section in Muswell Hill Methodist choir for their carol service. This year's service was particularly interesting as we concentrated simply on Matthew's version of the nativity story, with additional material from Trevor Dennis's excellent 'The Christmas Stories'.

I'm now looking forward to presiding at the midnight communion on Christmas Eve (with our minister, Andy Dart, preaching) and then playing the organ for the Christmas morning service. This will be followed by Christmas at home with our family and friends. Hence the title of this posting on the Blog, 'home for Christmas'. But if this had been a sermon rather than a Blog I might have explored how the title relates to John 1.

I wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas and look forward to an exciting new year. My travels start on January 4th - Ghana!

375 years of Methodism!

On Sunday December 13th I revisited the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District, this time going to the Cannock Chase Circuit for two anniversaries.

The morning service was at Brereton Methodist Church, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. The occasion was marked with a floral decoration on the communion table; a special anniversary hymn (written by Brereton's organist, Ted Harley); an unveiling/dedication of a new window between the porch and the sanctuary, which makes an amazing difference to the feel of the building; and the sharing of the 200th anniversary cake in the 'Free School' after the service. I was asked to cut the cake, while the children blew out the 20 candles - one for each decade.

After lunch at Briar Hill MHA we went to our second service of the day.

Brereton Methodist Church building is not large, so the main 200th anniversary celebration was held at St Augustine's Parish Church, Rugeley, where we were made very welcome. We were joined by people from around the Circuit, from other churches and from the wider community. I knew I had arrived at the right place when I saw the District Chair's limo (a Morris 1000) parked at the door of the Parish Church.

The evening service was at Cannock Wood (a lovely little chapel), which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. So it was a day of celebrations - 375 years of Methodism. I think it brings my anniversary total so far this year up to 2257 years of Methodism.

This was also my final Sunday away from home in 2009. Next Sunday I hope to be (one of, but maybe all of) the tenors in Muswell Hill Methodist Church's carol service choir.

A December Week

Tomorrow sees my final visit for this calendar year, when I travel to the Cannock Chase Circuit for two anniversaries. Brereton celebrates 200 years and Cannock Wood 175. This will bring my total years of Methodism celebrated to date to 2007! For the rest of this year I shall be at home in London for Christmas with friends and family. I'll be celebrating midnight communion at Muswell Hill - and I even get to play the organ there on Christmas Day!

In the past week there have been some interesting events. On Monday, along with several other Methodist representatives (and quite a lot from other churches and Christian organisations), I responded to an invitation from the Prime Minister to join him at No 10 for a reception 'to celebrate Christmas and the contribution of Christians'. This was an enjoyable, relaxed, event with excellent music from 'All the King's Men'.

On Tuesday I was at Methodist Church House for this year's Fresh Expressions Summit. This has become an annual event hosted by the President, bringing together members of the Fresh Expressions Team, Fresh Expressions practitioners and members of the Connexional Team to review progress and discuss current issues and challenges. I found this a very helpful occasion, with some good stories to hear.

Then on Thursday I went up to Liverpool for a carol concert celebrating 140 years of Action for Children. The concert was in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral - an amazing venue.

(The picture, right, shows the Cathedral's Crib scene.)

The concert was compered by Will Morrey, Action for Children's Faith Communities Adviser. Four local school choirs sang carols. We had a drama from a group of young people, 'ARTiculation buddies'. And I spoke for a few minutes in appreciation of the work of Action for Children over the past 140 years. This is something I was more than happy to do. Action for Children's work is hugely important and very often groundbreaking, whether it be in the provision of services or in its campaigning (like the current campaign on neglect).

Friday morning saw me travelling back to London in time to join other members of the Governance Support Cluster in the Connexional Team for their Christmas lunch.

A good week!