By Lawrence Ssemakula
Ugandan cooperatives successfully host and facilitate Bible conference for 40 youth
I would like to appreciate the Lord so much for the love and kindness he shows us every time we call upon his name. Also reflecting on those moments when we are taken away by different circumstances and we forget that he is always ready to partner with us in meeting the needs of our times. He is so kind and full of faithfulness and so I will always testify of his faithfulness, amen.
Recently we hosted a 2-day youth Bible conference here on our campus in Uganda under the theme ‘Know the Lord’ derived from the book of Hosea 6:3, “Let us know, let us press to know the LORD: his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
The theme verse guided the speakers and all the facilitators of the conference to organize messages aimed at helping the young people recognize the need to know the Lord and demonstrate that knowledge in real practical experiences.
So far this is the third conference we’ve organized, and each time there has been a lot of change in many ways. This has helped us to receive bigger numbers applying to come because of the uniqueness of our events.
The G.O.D. team across continents works together to give youth a unique, biblically-infused experience from start to end.
We are so grateful to our brethren back in the US for the full support they extended to us just like it has always been working in partnership with each one of us. We have always felt the oneness and support in everything we do. Our confidence was boosted and we were so much encouraged to serve with you. It is so powerful to see that amidst the global pandemic that has ravaged many parts of the world, God has not been limited in any way but he has reached out to answer the prayers of his people. It is such a blessing that he used us all to serve during the conference.
As organizers, we have realized unique growth among us as a team, being able to listen and learn from each other. Even to acknowledge that we all have unique gifts we can use to ignite each other as we serve those whom the Lord has put in our midst. Some of the youth were wondering how we can work together with so much respect for each other. Some of them compared us to their churches and said that they hardly see people work in such a way. The unity and coordination they saw were very unique. We also noted that each time we continue to organize these events, our unity and cooperation have been tremendously strengthened. As the psalmist highlighted, “It’s very good and pleasant when brothers live together in unity” (Ps 133:1). We experienced that reality before and during the conference.
The kind of energy and strength we saw as the youth were worshipping and praising is such a great testimony. They experienced the presence of our Lord and they felt led to let go of any burdens and thoughts hence pouring it all before Jesus. I realized the kind of freedom they expressed in discussion groups being able to talk about God’s word freely and taking it to the dining tables while having meals as well as in their dormitories.
The times of worship were so lively the youth had to leave the tent for more space to dance and sing (top left). During each session the young people were awake and attentive, Bibles open, taking notes, hungry to know more of the Lord (top right). Fireside discussions allowed for candid conversations about the things that both entertain and concern young people (bottom left). Table fellowship was so satisfying as they ate delicious meals and talked about what they were learning together (bottom right ).
I recall some of them saying this like,
“We are always very much motivated when we are invited to come for Bible conferences here because you give priority to God’s word in every activity we engage in.”
"The group discussions and presentations of the outcomes are rare in church settings. The bonfire experience is so different because the conversations and questions that guide the discussion have a biblical connection.” This prompted them to get engaged freely addressing some of the sensitive topics that churches shy away from, like relationships, politics, social media, contemporary music, and all these in connection to the church.
"The hospitality that we experience ranging from accommodation and meals is so exceptional.”
G.O.D. cooperatives’ teenagers help facilitate aspects of the event while participating themselves
So when I remember these words from the youth, they help me to see how we have grown as a team here and also served together with our children of whom some were among the youth we invited. Together we demonstrated the love of God and people got to feel and see it; that’s a great blessing.
Lawrence’s daughter Genesis (on the right in top left photo) attends the conference and enjoys hanging out with new friends who also love God. Lawrence’s wife Josephine shares a Bible teaching during the conference (top right). Fellow cooperative and facilitator Annette Lubega sang in the worship band and taught during a session; her eldest children also participated in the conference (bottom left). Lawrence’s daughter Quinn (in the center, bottom left photo) participates in a small group discussion; she also gave personal testimony to the group on the first night.
G.O.D. Bible conferences meet very real needs of Ugandan youth, uplifting them with God’s word into the future
The hunger for God’s word that I saw in the youth reminds me that “the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few” (Matt 9:37). Our prayer to ask God to prepare more laborers should be our daily activity as we proactively take part in what the Lord is doing to equip more people to meet needs like the youth do have. So many young people in Uganda have been lured into participating in unproductive activities which have even ended up taking their lives. Many have innocently made wrong decisions and some have had a chance to make regrets while others have not.
I look upon Jesus with the hope that the theme we based our teachings on and all the other activities would continue to ring in their minds as they reflect and not give up seeking the knowledge of God, and also to constantly be reminded that such knowledge is always demonstrated and not just talked about. This again requires our intentional efforts and involvement to put in place more programs for youth empowerment, ongoing opportunities for youth to learn God’s word, and avenues to demonstrate it in ways they can realize themselves as young people. This in contrast to programs that we see in our world that are merely cultural, political, and religious which end up taking their dignity and identity, who they are as people created in the image of God.
G.O.D. cooperatives walking by faith for years demonstrate beautifully what’s been demonstrated for them
When I recall our story as a community here and how God met us through brother Gregg Garner and the team of young people he had led at that time in 2004, we were motivated and inspired by their knowledge of God’s word. In a short time, we saw with our eyes how they demonstrated God’s word with love and humility in ways we had never seen before. We were greatly impacted and what our eyes of faith saw then was a revelation from God that we realized later. We took big strides of faith to quench our thirst and hunger for God’s word. Over the years, the Lord has filled us with his goodness. It is my prayer that as we continue to organize these conferences, we will do so to help these young people see Jesus as the only Savior they need to work with and have their lives transformed. We need more transforming programs for our youth to empower them and help them see that while the world can be full of oppression and exploitation, Jesus has room for them to get uplifted.
As we think of how we can do it, the answers are all over the word of our Lord and he is the answer. More biblical literacy will bring all the transformation that Jesus desires to see in his followers and they will thrive.
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