On November 27-28, 2020, our Ugandan cooperatives hosted a Bible conference for young people from local churches. The conference focused on the Great Commission and the calling of Jesus to be his disciples. A year prior, a team from Kenya, Uganda, and the US came together to put on a similar conference for 70 local youth (read our blog on Exodus youth Bible conference here). This year’s conference was smaller both due to covid, and because our cooperatives chose to focus on some stand-outs from the previous year’s conference. They wanted to find those students truly hungry for God’s Word. Among them were our cooperatives’ teenage children. Much prayer and collaboration took place prior to the event, and at its arrival, we all got to witness God at work through the teachings of his Word and through the examples of his people living it out. Less than a week after the conference, each of the cooperatives shared some of their highlights from the weekend. We wanted to share them with you.
“I was very impacted by the freedom that the youth, including our own children, demonstrated during worship. Many participants noted how welcomed and comfortable they felt among us, and that they had formed bonds with us such that they do not want to let these relationships go. Also, all of our children participated in the preparations for this conference. It was reflective of the importance of working together; such values are vital in the kingdom of God. We as parents need to encourage them and to teach our kids why they should act like this and keep these values.” - Lawrence Ssemakula
“Many youth gave testimonies about the ways they were touched by the teachings, how the teachings were answers to prayers, that the teachings were different than the ways they had heard the Bible taught before. It was so enlightening to them. Our team worked well together in unity throughout the weekend. I saw great advancement in our ministry by how we were very much united and everyone was dedicated and committed in our services. The weather was great. Before the conference there were daily downpours. We prayed for good weather during the conference and God answered that prayer. On Tuesday it had stormed so hard the whole day that trees were broken down and plants destroyed. But throughout the weekend there was only a small drizzle and the weather didn’t affect the conference at all. One of the pastors in attendance said it was enough just to see and be present for the conference. He experienced peace from the time he was with us, that it was healing for his soul.” - Peter Kimbugwe
“The discussion groups were on point with the discussions. The topics didn’t divert to the topics the youth were trying to talk about before arriving. The youth stayed on topic with the lessons of the teachers. The youth were more interested in the content of the teachings than they were in the food.” - Francis Lubega
“The discussion around the fire was a very fun and beneficial time. The discussion groups were quite small and put everyone in a position where they had to talk. The questions helped the participants to further understand and think about the content that was shared by the speakers. They were even able to remember things from the previous conference. The pastors were very attentive, engaged, and receptive; they commented how they wanted to bring all of their youth from their churches. We had no reports of sickness throughout the conference, not any illness including covid. We are so thankful the Lord kept us all well and energetic throughout the weekend.” - Josephine Ssemakula
“Youth were testifying how they could feel the presence of God amidst us when they arrived. The discussion around the fire was new to these youth, sitting around it and discussing God’s Word. They liked it. Hearing them testify about God’s Word was touching. The friends of the youth were calling and telling them to record the lessons so they could share them when they got back. One of the pastors left after dropping his youth because he didn’t have plans to stay. But he got a phone call from a friend in attendance telling him he had to come back and stay for the whole conference. He was touched and encouraged especially by Quinn’s story, as he has a child with sickle cell and people have told him she won’t live many years. My own children were testifying to how they were so happy to be around other friends and encouraging each other.” - Annette Lubega
“The youth saw the environment was suitable for them to learn God’s Word in. They saw how peaceful and organized the environment was as opposed to the noisy towns they’re used to gathering in. They loved the hospitality and asked for more conferences.” - Peter Musaazi
We are beyond thankful to the Lord for being present with us throughout this conference, and we pray for future laborers to join us from this group of young people hungry for truth.
Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’ (Matt 9:37-38)
Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’ (Matt 16:24)
And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ (Matt 28:18-20)
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