IMFC now has three men planting churches and training leaders in Kampala, Uganda: Deo, Benon and Vincent. Vincent has worked with us from the beginning but in June he moved from working in the office grading Bible Way books to the field enrolling people into Bible Way and planting house churches. He has caught on quick, loves the work and is doing a great job. Here is Vincent telling his story in his own words. By the way, the beautiful lady with Vincent in the photo above is Joan, his wife.

I have graded Bible Way books since 2004. All I was relating to was the statistics and answers on the test, never seeing the faces of the real people in the slums of Kampala whose lives where being changed by these books. I used to hear the testimonies of changed lives through these books but not seeing them I really felt I was missing something. I wanted to see thee change that happened through these materials because it was through these materials that I, too, came to faith in Jesus and experienced change!

In June, I moved out of the office and joined the church planters in the slums of Kampala and had the opportunity to see these changed lives. Through the house church and the Bible Way discipleship program, I have  seen quality Christians emerge! Some have transitioned into leadership for the house churches. Now as I talk, I have 300 plus people doing Bible Way in Angola slum and I have also planted 13 house churches there since August! During this time I have seen witchdoctors come to faith in Jesus and drunkards sobering up with the Gospel. This is what I wanted to see the whole time I graded books! Now my joy every day is to see the evangelized, discipled and trained believers planting more house churches! The gem is the changed lives for Jesus. Thank you all for your prayers and support.

Vincent

Results have just started showing up in Mid-Western Uganda after our mission trip there. Three more house churches have been planted in Masindi and there are more Bible Way enrollments. Training is still continuing for the leaders with S.O.T. Projection for October is five more house churches to be planted.

Typical house church meeting.

In the slum Bwaise 3 of Kampala, Uganda, the tenth House church has been launched today. Ten people showed up and all enrolled in Bible way.

Deo

Jimmy,
Allow me to let you know that, last Thursday I worked with Vincent and we were able to plant and schedule 4 house churches to start in the slum Angola of Kampala. We visited several manna recipients of food and 1 girl gave her life to Christ as a result of our ministry in Angola!

In the Bwaise 3 area slum of Kampala where I am working, 9 House churches are already started. Over 150 people have enrolled in Bible Way. Training for the new leaders in the new area of work will start this week on Thursday at 11 am. Pray with us for all things to go as planned. The rains and the floods are our main challenges but otherwise work here in Bwaise 3 is growing and people are receiving Jesus Christ. Yesterday at 5 pm, I was at the house church where 15 women and 3 men gave their lives to Christ. With evangelism that is door to door, SOT and Bible Way, the house church is the way to go!

Carpenter House Church-First Meeting In August

With love and regards!
Deo

Deo, Joseph and Douglas traveled to Mid-Western and West Nile regions of Uganda last week to see the work that has sprung up from the work in Kampala. Another post is needed to share how the gospel travels from one place to another. I will save that for later. Amazing how God just keeps opening doors.

Finally we are back to Kampala for our normal schedules after our trip to Mid-Western and West Nile areas of Uganda. I personally was blessed and God opened my eyes for wider vision of reaching Uganda, Africa and the world at large!

Arua Leaders for IMFC's Work

We were able to reach West Nile and specifically Arua. I shared Christ and His grace to all mankind in the prison there and 192 people gave their lives to Christ. I did leadership training with Robert and Alfred. They were fired up for Jesus Christ and reaching their region for Christ. Did you know that there only 12 kilometers from Arua to Congo? I was also able to share the gospel in the bar with a gentleman who accepted the message at the Airstrip and as I was coming out of the Airstrip I shared the gospel with an Army officer who was muslim and he remained with the message of Christ.

Seven were baptized in Masindi

We headed for Masindi and when we reached at Karuma bridge we gave a lift to a Policeman called Peter. I shared with him the gospel and he gave his life to Christ. He opened for us a wide door to reach the Uganda Police with Gospel of Christ. Another open door! We came to Masindi and Baptized 7 people. I trained 4 men in Masindi to lead house churches and S.O.T. and cast the vision of reaching their region. We modeled for them how to start new house churches. The names of these men are Kenneth, Steven, Moses and Jeremiah.

We left for Kibale or Mid-Western Uganda and found Moses doing an incredible job in church planting movement. He has 6 house churches going! All involved are enrolled in Bible Way. We did training for the leaders and all are excited to reach their villages for Jesus.

We then came to Nakasongola prison and shared the gospel there. 23 men got saved and enrolled in Bible way.

I wish you were with us to witness what God is doing in Arua, Masindi, Kibale, Nakasongola and along the way as we traveled to reach these places. God was at work and He is still at work in people’s lives. This generation is for the World Changers in the name of Jesus Christ. Your prayers and support made this trip a success !!

Deo

We At IMFC Say “YES”!

So far in 2011 over thirty-seven churches have been started in the slums of Kampala, Uganda, on the military barracks in Naksongola and in out-laying villages in Mid-Western Uganda! More than seven hundred people gather in these new groups that have come into existence since January, 2011 to pray and study the scriptures. More than 90% of the people in them are brand new believers less than six months old in the Christian faith. Some of these groups will have as few as six or eight. Some will exceed forty! The average is about twenty to twenty-five.

Are they effective? Very effective if the goal is raise up followers of Jesus Christ whose lives are changed and whose existence bears witness for Jesus Christ. If the goal is to establish an institute complete with buildings, full-time paid staff, rituals and forms, not very effective. Check out this video to hear from the IMFC staff who work with these churches on their effectiveness in the communities where they exist.

These are simple gatherings of people who have devoted their lives to Jesus Christ. Most of the men in these groups are former drunks and drug users. Many of the women are former prostitutes. The majority are HIV positive. These people are no strangers to religion. Many have been Muslim, Catholic, Protestant. Spirituality is not foreign to them. Most have sought the help of witchdoctors at some point in time, and some of them have even been witchdoctors relying on the dark powers of the Devil. All of them are desperately poor living on less than two dollars a day with many living on less than one. They are neglected. BUT, they are loved by Jesus Christ. They are sought by him. They are accepted by him. They are empowered and changed by him! Are they perfect? No. But they belong to Christ.

These gatherings are simple, sustainable and duplicatable for the people who live in the slums. They are not dependent on the rich churches of the West to send money. They require no seminary graduate to lead them. They are built on the Scriptures. The Bible is central and the final authority. The Bible study revolves around three simple questions: What does the Bible Say, What do I need to Obey from this Scripture and What do I need to Tell someone else.

In these churches there are no business meetings. No trips to the mountains. No pizza blast. No Christmas plays. No Upward Sports. No Sunday School. No committees. No bank accounts. No sound system. No website. No staff. No facilities. No debt.

What do they have? The love, presence and power of Jesus Christ. The Bible. A desire to study the word of God together. A vision. A vision to reach their communities for Christ by starting new churches. And leadership training lead by the IMFC church planter.

I love to meet and worship with the people in these simple churches. I have pastored churches since 1976 in the states of Alabama, Texas and Georgia. I have attended and graduated Seminary. I have attended seminars on leadership, worship, discipleship and church growth. But these simple people worshipping the Lord in a very simple way have taught me more about Church than I have learned from all my experiences and training in the US. I am humbled by them and I realize that they have riches that I do not have.

I ask you to pray for IMFC. Pray that we can further this work throughout Uganda and beyond. And pray for these simple churches and the people in these churches in the slums of Kampala and beyond. And if you can, come to Kampala to share the gospel and help us start more. January and February of 2012 would be a great time for you to come. How about it?

108 baptized! 11 churches started! That’s the headlines from our trip to Kampala during the month of June. God blessed. The volunteers teams were awesome. The fruit will last forever!

I want to thank you for your prayers. God heard and answered in a big way. Men came to Christ. Many men. Many drunkards. Many Muslims. One was a Muslim witchdoctor whose wife had a dream the night before that he would meet some Muzungus (whites) who would share the gospel with him. We watched him as he was baptized publicly and burned all of his witchcraft paraphernalia! He closed down his witchcraft office and open a church in his home!

In another amazing God moment, over 28 people were saved from one of the bars in Kimombasa. When we first shared the gospel with these men they were absolutely drunk. But later that night they started calling wanting us to come back. We did. Not once nor twice, but three times and each time the bar was filled with people coming to hear the gospel. Even at the last baptism, they brought people who were ready to receive Christ and be baptized. I have not been a part of anything quite like this before. God just opened heaven and touched men. We had many, many women praying to receive Jesus but the men were incredible. Deo says over 24 from this bar have already worked through the first book of Bible Way as they now grow in their faith.

I have a lot of pictures and video that I will be adding soon. Stay tuned.

From Kampala to Masindi to Kisiita. It really is amazing how the gospel moves from one person to another person to another person to reach areas not in your plans! We had no plans beyond Kampala when we begin work in Uganda six years ago. But God had other plans.

Here is a letter I got from Joseph last week that explains this expansion. I think you will enjoy reading it and please pray for the IMFC team, Kenneth and Moses. By the way, in the picture above you see from left to right, Kenneth, Joseph, Moses, Deo. Douglas is behind the camera!

Almost 3 years ago, Douglas and I made the first trip to Masindi (about three hours from Kampala) to visit our friend and son in the Lord, Kenneth. Kenneth had been a prisoner in Luzira prison and had prayed to receive Christ through our work in the prison. One of Kenneth’s prayer requests then was to reach Midwestern Uganda with the gospel through Bible Way. With the limited resources IMFC had we did not know how and when this would happen. But Kenneth did not let this stop him. After getting out of prison, he moved to his home town of Masindi and has though been faithfully sharing Christ and discipling many in Masindi Prison and town.

This Monday Douglas, Deo and I made another trip. This time four hours west of Kampala to Kisiita in Kibale District to join Kenneth in following up with one of his disciples, Moses, who had prayed to receive Christ while a prisoner in Masindi Prison. What an exciting moment it was seeing what God alone can do – transforming lives.

As we met and talked to Moses, Moses acknowledges this of Kenneth; “Kenneth coordinated Bible Way activities in Masindi Prison. He nurtured me; guided me spiritually and his great participation has made me who I am today. I’m born again!”

Kenneth was full of excitement that the Lord had answered his prayers about multiplying work and disciples beyond Masindi in Midwestern Uganda.

So, what’s happening in Kibale District now and what are our plans?
• We have modeled for Moses the aspects of being a multiplying disciple, finding a person of peace, Church planting, and identifying and training Leaders.
• One Church has already been planted and shall be meeting each week.
• Twenty-five Who is Jesus books have already been given out to the residents of Kisiita.
• Fifty-five more Bible Way, Who is Jesus, books have been left with Moses to enroll more students.
• Moses shall be leading the work. He shall collect the Bible Way books, put them in the taxis and send them to Kampala. After grading, we shall put them in the taxi to be returned to Moses in Kisiita in Kibale District.
• For Accountability purposes, Kenneth will regularly visit Moses to give him support. The IMFC Team from Kampala shall visit and support Moses at least once every three months. We shall also ask Moses to join us in Kampala for further on-the-job training as God provides.

Moses’ Prayer Requests:
• To find Godly marriage partner and be joined in Holy Matrimony before the end of this year 2011.
• God’s wisdom and ability as he leads the work in Kibale District.
• Many people to be reached and Disciples for Christ to be made in Kibale District.
• Churches to be planted.
• Bible Way to flourish in Kibale District.

Jimmy, I know we want to reach our generation for Christ. Moses’ District of Kibale gives an open opportunity to do that in Midwestern Uganda. I believe now is the time. I believe our work is not yet finished. More disciples have to be made. Moses is one example of those that Christ alone is making through IMFC.

Thank you for praying with us and for all the gifts and financial support that is making this possible.

God Bless you
Joseph.

Here is a picture of the first meeting of what we pray will become the first church plant for IMFC in Midwestern Uganda. Note: all men.

Again, pray for this work.

Update From Deo at Kimombasa, Kampala, Uganda
Nineteen people attended the training today from 2pm to 4pm. Three men attended who are regular attendees; one of them was Ivan who has decided to start another house church next week at 5pm in Kazo that is three kilometers from Kimombasa. Regardless of all the challenges, Ivan has not given up!

What were Ivan’s challenges? His Muslim landlord ran him off because of his faith!

Ivan lives in Kimombasa, Kampala, Uganda. Ivan came to faith to Jesus Christ in January of this year, caught the vision of IMFC and immediately opened his place to host a church. I had the privilege to attend the first meeting of this church with a few volunteers who had shared the gospel with Ivan. In the picture above, Ivan is in the blue shirt sitting in the background. Deo is speaking to the group.

But a few weeks after starting the church, Ivan begin to be persecuted by his Muslim landlord and neighbors. Their attacks against him were so fierce that he fled the city and no one knew where he was for over two months. Finally, Deo found Ivan back in Kimombasa and has been working with him to get him resettled and back underway with the vision.

There are many, many Muslims in Kimombasa and Sabina. In fact, more here than any other place in Kampala. While there is no persecution directed towards any volunteer or IMFC staff member who enters these places to share Christ, there is for the people who live there, come to faith in Jesus Christ and attempt to live out their faith!

It is a joy to hear that Ivan has been attending leadership training and is ready plant another church. Continue to pray for Ivan and the other believers in the slums Kimombasa and Sabina of Kampala.

Thank you!

Thank you for your gifts, prayers and partnership in Kampala, Uganda. Through them IMFC had a great first quarter for 2011, even if we lost more than three weeks of work due to the national elections!

Here is a sample of what happened in the first quarter 2011:

30,000 pounds of beans, rice and posho were delivered to the slums of Kampala, Uganda to help the most desperate in Kimombasa, Sebina, Naguru and Natete.

1692 have prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and have been enrolled into Bible Way starting work in book one, Who Is Jesus.

96 people traveled to Lake Victoria to be baptized. (18 more have been baptized in April)

461 Bibles have been given to those who earned them by completing at least 3 books of Bible Way and successfully passing the exams.

13 churches have been started: 6 in Kimombasa, 5 in Sebina and 2 in the military barracks in Nakasongola.

By far, this is IMFC’s best 1st quarter to date in Kampala, Uganda.

Joseph writes, “Thank you all for the sacrifices you make that has made it possible for the above results. There is not enough ways to say thank you. But on behalf of our people in Uganda and on my own behalf, please receive our BIG THANKYOU.

To God be the glory!

I just received this update from Deo on the work in Kimombasa, Kampala, Uganda. Since many of you are praying for Deo and the work, I wanted you to see what God is doing. Keep praying.

Dear Jimmy,
Yes the people in the slums of Kampala, Uganda have been scrambling for food but now the focus for these people has changed to the scramble for Bible Way materials.

Right now where am working in Kimombasa in Kampala Manna beneficiaries are on fire for Jesus Christ and Bible way. Manna Ministry is a great platform for the gospel to reach the people of Kampala, Uganda. In the house churches here in Kimombasa I am witnessing people’s lives being changed with our Bible studies and Bible Way materials. People being changed are sex workers, Muslims, drunkards, witch doctors, pipe smokers and drug addicts . Jesus is at work without any shadow of a doubt. This is the reason God called IMFC into existence in Kampala, Uganda.

Pray for the sex workers to get other businesses. Your prayers and support working alongside us has brought great results in the Kingdom of God.

I hereby invite more partners who here the call of the Great Commission and a call from God to come and participate in these wide open doors for evangelism and church planting movement in Kimombasa, Kampala, Uganda. I can’t wait to work with you all.

Since first of February, four house churches are going on, sixty are enrolled in Bible Way and twenty-seven exams have been returned for grading and more to return this Saturday. Training new leaders starts next week at 2PM on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

We flood Kimombasa with door to door evangelism and Baptism is on for this Sunday. Pray for the turn up to be big. God has led in all what is happening in Kimombasa ! Let us serve Him !

Yours in service,
Deo Bamanya