Pastor Jessica of Bethania Community Church shares the joys and challenges of being a pastor in Uganda.
Before Jesus:
Because I became an orphan at 5 years old, I was not able to attend school. By age 9, I learned how to make pancakes to provide for myself and my younger sister. I started making a local drink out of sorghum called “kwete’”at age 15. I continued this until 2005 when I got saved and got married in the same year! What a blessing!
Being a Pastor in Uganda
Currently I have 8 children with my husband. I started serving on missions in the church I attended in 2010 and started pastoral ministry in 2015. It has now been 8 years of loving Jesus more and leading others into His kingdom.
I got an opportunity to be part of [Expand’s] pastoral support ministry in 2019, it’s been a wonderful journey full of love and compassion. I praise the Lord for the encouragement I have received. There are days I feel like I can’t take a step ahead but then the brothers and sisters show up with great love and support. The monthly financial support has helped me so much to manage transportation to the church.
Thank you for uplifting our spiritual growth in the disciple making movement trainings. We need more of it at our church. Thank you, for supporting me to attend the Bible school. At times we don’t have words to explain our grateful feelings we only shed tears.
In 2021, Expand provided a gift of money to start a restaurant which has helped me so much I can’t even express it. If I don’t thank God for you, I would be lying to myself.
Challenges and Prayer Requests
Our church is growing to the point where we are getting limited with land for expansion. We have so many children that can’t be in school. As a church, we are praying that God enables us to start a church school for this community. We currently have 3 teachers that fellowship from our church. Because I am the pastor, some people give me their children thinking I can afford to support them in school. However, I am challenged to fully take care of my biological children.
Please pray that we can expand our church land and that God willing we can start a school for our children.
Sponsor-a-Pastor Program
Pastor Jessica is part of Expand Uganda’s Sponsor-a-Pastor Program. She along with 29 other pastors and churches need a solid foundation for sustained, positive change, but we need your partnership to make it happen.
Would you prayerfully consider partnering in our Sponsor-a-Pastor Program?
(The information in this article was gathered and translated by: Naphtali Abamwikiriza. Edited for clarity.)
