Bukewa village, Buhemba sub-county, Namayingo district September BFU conference.
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James Bita
Tue, Oct 1, 1:30 PM
Dad, Glory and honor be to our Good God for the great success he has given us in our BFU Bukewa September conference. We deeply thank all our donors and all the board members of NTFI/BFU ministries in America and other nations for their sacrificial efforts towards NTFI/BFU. God has used you to restore his local church in the remote, poorest villages of Uganda and around the world. May you be rewarded and blessed accordingly. After the great impact which came as a result of BFU conference which was held at Bukimbi village, the pastors and church leaders and all gospel ministers from the neighboring sub-counties pleaded with pastor Katandi, asking him to request NTFI/BFU leaders to come and train the pastors and church leaders in Buhemba sub-county more about the truth of God's word. We prayed for God's confirmation about it and then the conference was scheduled for 17th to 21st of September at Bukewa village. Local organizing team did a great job by mobilizing for food for the conference.
I began my journey to Namayingo on Monday 16th. Because it's along journey to Namayingo, I had to travel on Monday in order to be there in time for Tuesday 27th being our first day of the conference. I left home in Busaana (Kayunga) in the morning on a boda-boda [transport motor bike] with all my luggage including the Native Bibles to Kayunga taxi park, I took a taxi Van to Jinja [by the Nile],then another taxi to Namayingo town and then finally took a boda-boda to Bukimbi town, the location of pastor Katandi's home. I arrived at 7:30pm where I found number of pastors waiting to receive me in much joy and happiness. Everyone of us praised and thanked God for giving me his journey mercies and safety. We spent the night at Pr Katandi's house in a very good care of him and his wife. We ate and slept well.
Bibles arrive at Bita’s home in Lusenke Kyunga
Bishop Bita, loaded with Bibles, headed for conference
On Tuesday 27th, everyone was set for the Conference to begin. By 8am we were set , so we took boda-bodas [motor bikes] with Pr Katandi and a few others who slept in his house, to the conference venue in Bukewa village. We then opened our conference at 10am with prayer and the teaching went on successfully and the turn out was more than 100 participants.
Packed out
The second, day the number went up, the church house got so full that other people had to sit outside.
Overflow sitting outside——-better arrangements must be considered
Inside it became too hot during the afternoon sessions which made us to teach with much difficulty, yet others were seated outside around the church house and could not hear our voice. In the evening after the conference, we had an evaluation meeting. We saw a big need for moving the congregation outside under tents. We needed tents which can seat 300 people with its chairs and a P. A system to boost our voices in order for everyone to hear our voices loud and clear. The local organizing team did not have enough money to handle both needs. They had done their best to raise money for food and other needed stuffs including hiring the P. A. system because our voice could no longer reach everyone due to the growing congregation so they asked me to stand with them financially if possible. We are so thankful for the funds American N.T.F.I. donors sent because we were able to get three tents and the chairs. After settling outside under the tents, our remaining days till the last day went on smoothly. Elder Moses came all the way from Bukungu (Kamuli district) Pastor Ochwo also joined us from Bugiri district. A team of women leaders came all the way from Sigulu Irland and good number of people came from other neighboring sub-counties. Myself and pastor Katandi were the teachers .
On our 4th day, we had a workshop. All men in one group separated from women and women likewise. We had a wonderful moment speaking to them about Godly family affairs, Christian wives and husband relationships, etc. All our teachings were received with eagerness for the knowledge of the truth of God's word. Many questions were asked and we handled all based on scripture. All pastors, church leaders, and other members of the churches within these sub-counties [especially the top organizing pastors who have been taking part in our conferences during the time we have ministered them] were all testifying that God has delivered them from the false prophets who have been invading their community/local churches with false prophetic movements/ministries and all kinds of occult Christianity. Many of the pastors and local churches were being manipulated and robbed until N.T.F.I./ BFU came with the truth and now the eyes of many have been opened and they can't be manipulated again. True unity and love as fellow ministers of Christ without denominational barriers has become their way to go.
Tents and sound system arrive to accommodate 300 attendees
Every member is equally valued and encouraged in the Lord. We prayed for the sick in accordance with the New Testament church doctrine after thoroughly teaching and answering questions about laying on hands and anointing with oil. “Anointing oil” has become real Business to many false pastors and prosperity preachers. The same applied to “foot washing”. We took them into a keen search and clear understanding of the scriptures and answered all their questions, then did the foot washing as a sign of much love for them and an example of humility as a minister of God among his people.
Praying for the sick according to the New Testament
Foot washing
We handled the topic on how Christian men ought to treat their wives like queens with respect and much love. Likewise the Christian wives giving honor to their husbands. This session was so wonderful and important.
Teaching——-Exalting your wife
I then took a good moment of explaining about how we receive the funding for Native language Bibles and told them who our principle donors are for this mission trip and the Bibles. They were so touched when I shared with them the story of my spiritual Father the man whose love and concern for the poor became the reason for this great success of BFU, where he came from (The testimony of sister Dorothy)his mom. I shared my testimony as well. I saw number of women sheading tears and they asked me to allow them to pray for BFU team and all other members of NTFI/BFU before doing the Bible drive/distribution. We then did the Bible distribution, genuine reception list was followed and everyone was filled with joy, asking God to bless our donors the more and more provision towards Bibles for Uganda. In my special meeting with the village pastors team, I shared with them about challenging situations which their brethren at Lusenke church are going through. Asking them to pray for the church. They felt so concerned and offered a moment of prayers. They also had a suggestion that if possible, some pastors should travel with me back to Lusenke so that the following day they may attend the Sunday service and encourage the church.
Preparation for Bible distribution
“ Bibles for Uganda
Teaching congregants about how our work is funded
Due to lack of enough transport funds, I traveled safely with pastor Katandi and two others. We set off from Bukewa soon after closing the conference at 2:00pm. One of the pastors, who have boda-boda [motor bike] offered to take us directly to Bugiri caring the many gifts offered to us as love offering, eggs, oranges, dry cassava, lemon fruits, etc. We traveled safely though we traveled very late, we arrived home safely, at 1:00am. The following morning we had a wonderful Sunday morning service, pastor Katandi shared with us the word of God and we all shared with them the testimony about our successful Bukewa conference. After our service, we hosted a team of 10 pastors from different churches within Busaana. They too came to encourage their fellow leaders of Lusenke church.
Katandi teaching on the last day of the conference
At conclusion of the conference———-New native language Bibles
Regina, Elder Federesi, and others prepared and served everyone lunch. So it was such a blessing and wonderful eating together with all my church members including the beautiful elderly Christians and the many visitors. Special thanks to you Dad and my mom Lynette for your great effort towards NTFI/BFU for making all this possible. May God reward you and continue to open more doors for you. Son, Bishop/Pastor Bita James Oloo (Jimmy )
