During our Nakigunju December 2017 conference. I received a report from one of our village pastors.
Pastor Omolo told BFU village missionary team that there is a church building in Buwanga village, Bugobi sub-county in Namutumba district (the only Pentecostal church in that community) which has been closed down by their bishop for some unknown reasons and it's on sale by the Bishop who owns the property. This bishop had some miss-understanding with the pastor and had to evict him from the property. When the village pastors from other places where N.T.F.I/BFU ministry has held conferences heard about this incident, they felt concerned and asked pastor Omolo who was one of our Nakigunju December conference organizing team to inform BFU village missionary team about the matter.
Although the many village churches have their denominational heads/leaders, bishops who sit at the headquarters, these big boss bishops do not care about the situation of the poor village churches. This is always because these Village churches are too poor to raise money for the big offerings which a bishop requires for his attention.
NTFI/BFU ministry has shown great love and concern to the poor village churches,ministries and communities over the years through their operations. And as a result, great impact has been made in the poor village churches and in the lives of pastors and gospel ministers all over the places where BFU operations have been. And great trust, fellowship and love has been created between BFU village missionary team and the village churches and pastors. Because through our operations like the pastors/leaders conference, native language bible distribution, children emergency medical relief fund program, food relief program among others, it's evident that the BFU team has played the role of true spiritual leaders, true bishop and overseers. I, bishop Bita am now being considered a village bishop to all the village churches regardless of their differences in denominations.
That is why pastor Omolo was asked to present the issue to my team and ask for our intervention in the situation of Buwanga church in terms of helping to restore the church in that place instead of the property being sold to another for business.
While we were still in the conference, I felt moved in my spirit and concerned, and immediately sent one of my team members (pastor Katandi) together with pastor Omolo on a boda-boda [motor bike] to Buwanga village to find out more about the situation. They were able to meet the Bishop Basule [owner] and one of his overseers who told them that it's true he is selling the church plot and its house because he bought it in his name as his own property and now that things didn't work out according to his plans, he is ready to to sell to anyone who is ready to give him the amount of money he wants.
I later went to meet the Bishop myself and looked at the church house and plot myself being accompanied by pastor Katandi. We also toured the village as well and found out that there are many people in the community but the level of true Christianity is still too low. Not only in this community, but even in the nearby villages, this closed church being the only church in the village yet the village is being dominated by the witch doctors.
Bishop Bita and Pastor Kitandi
Inside the Church house
Thanks be to God for my dad Danny McDowell, the NTFI/chairman board of directors, because when I went back to Entebbe and shared with him about it, he was moved as well in his heart and told me that he will try his best to look for the funds to purchase that property and so I should go ahead to negotiate with the Bishop [owner].
Praise be to God for his provision because he was able to provide for my dad and he was able to send me that money in parts and I went and made the payment of the property to bishop Basule in the presence of over five witnesses including his overseers and his wife and a written agreement was signed with the L. C. 1stamp and signed which confirms the legal transfer of ownership of the property.
Seller counting the money--------600 dollars U.S./2,000,000 Uganda Schillings
Pastor Kitandi re-counts
County Commissioner signs transfer papers
Buyer, Seller and witnesses-----Buyer, Bishop Bita in long sleeved white shirt
Last week we managed to renovate the church house as it had not been cared for more than six months without being used and was beginning to get spoiled and also the man who used to be the pastor, when he was evicted by the Bishop [owner], he destroyed the latrine, urinal shelter and took all the seats. We have been able to buy twenty benches, dig a new pit latrine and laying it's floor.
Restoring THE pit latrine-----NO OUT HOUSE-------NO CHURCH!!!
Dedication
Ready to recieve fifty worshipers
We still plan and ask God for more provision in order to finish the construction of the latrine and rent some rooms in Bugobi Village town for accommodation while we carry on with the gospel ministry in that community.
We hope to open the church house and begin with serious evangelism as we carry on the church weekly fellowships and Sunday services as well with serious sound doctrine teaching of the New Testament church as soon as possible.
This is now the Church of Jesus Christ in Buwanga village, Bugobi sub-county in Namutumba district, Uganda.
Special thanks to all members,donors and praying friends of NTFI/BFU may our good lord continue to bless and reward you for all your efforts and support.
Bishop Bita James Oloo. East Africa Coordinator, N.T.F.I/B.F.U
Buwanga village. Bugobi District
Step 2------ evangelize the village
On behalf of NTFI/BFU village missionary team,
I am privileged once again to present to you this report on our recent mission to Bugobi, Buwanga village to evangelism and opening of another branch of the church of Jesus Christ, this time in Buwanga village.
During the beginning of this year, we received a sad report about the shutting down of Buwanga church. We were much moved. And through prayers, we were guided by the Lord to take the responsibility of restoring the Church of Jesus Christ in Buwanga. After the only Pentecostal church which was found in this community got closed down by their bishop/overseer and as a result of some spiritual failures the church property was put up for sale, as you saw in my previous photos and written reports concerning this project.
After purchasing this Church property, doing some renovation and putting things in order, we started planning for a full week of evangelism and official opening of the the church.
BFU missionary team has been preparing and when I shared with some of my fellow evangelist friends, pastor Sagala who is one of my long time friend in the gospel work ask to join our team in evangelizing this community.
Prior to our mission, we received information about bad weather from the village, it was raining heavily over there and the village roads leading to Buwanga, were impassible using boda-boda[motor bike] So we had to hire a taxi van to take us right up to the venue/church.
On 21st of May, we started our journey safely from Kampala. Pr Ssagala and a team of evangelists from his church who were able to raise their transport fee, joined me and Joshua in Kampala, we purchased food and other stuffs for the mission and started the journey at 2pm. From Kampala to Bugiri it was not too bad, there was rain in most of the areas.
Setting off from Kampala taxi station
But when we joined village highway from Bugiri leading to Buwanga village,the road was so bad. Rain was too much and the usual route was impassible even with a van. So we had to use an alternative long route which was also very slippery and we spent many hours on the way.
At 1:00 am we arrived in Buwanga, at sister Nalule's home. Nalule and her family were members of Buwanga church in the past, prior to the problems. So she begged us with great joy to reside in her house, they waited for us all day and when we arrived some were already asleep. We were so exhausted and sleepy. After prayer of thanks for the journey together, we took tea and went to sleep.
Chairman of the Pastors committee officially opens the service
On Tuesday 22nd in the morning , I held a meeting with the whole team and we drew a work plan/program of the week. We divided all work between ourselves. Then after setting things in order for the day, organized ourselves and began to move around the village doing to door evangelism.
The first day was very fruitful and some village people gave their lives to Christ Jesus. Some pastors and Christians from the neighboring communities joined our team in the afternoon. Pastor Katandi and, Ochwo and Robert joined us as well.
On Wednesday 23rd pastors, leaders and believers from other communities joined us again in the morning. The team became big, so we went out for evangelism again and we had a good yield again. More village people gave their lives to Christ.
After lunch we invited the new converts and our team and those ministers who had joined us from the neighboring community churches for Bible class at the church house. We could begin at 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Great moments we had in teaching New Testament Christianity in order to make the church begin on a true and firm foundation of God's word. I also had several meetings with the pastors as I talked to them on the key aspects of biblical leadership.
County Chairman welcomes guests
Pastor Okurut Robert of the district of Bukedea teaching New Testament Christianity
Lunch time on the Church grounds
On Thursday, we did the same and the number was even bigger and even more people again got saved. We also decided to have an overnight prayer meeting on Thursday night. We had about 200people that night and had great moment in prayers, praising, thanksgiving and worship to God.
On Friday morning, pastor Sagala traveled back home with his team. The road was a little better because it didn't rain on Thursday, so they had a better journey back to Kampala.
The total number of new converts was 48 and most of them were adults. Then on our first service we numbered 30 adults and 20 youths and children.
Praise and worship-----African style
Long time friend and member of the N.T.F.I. evangelistic team,Pastor Okurut Robert praying for the sick.
After the service, all of us traveled safely back home. We agreed that pastor Katandi will be taking care of Buwanga church as we make more plans.
Our special thanks goes to my dad Danny McDowell, chairman NTFI/BFU board of directors for every support,encouragement and guidance towards this work. May the good lord continue to bless you and your family and everything you do.
