Sisters church extends helping hand to Ugandan village

Sisters Community Church is reaching out to a village in northeastern Uganda. The unique ministry is attempting to bring health to a devastated population.

The target of the church's outreach is a Ugandan village composed of a tribe of farmers who have been displaced over the last 200 years by a very aggressive and warlike tribe that has been constantly expanding its territories.

"We decided to partner with a church on the ground and offer an outreach to the people that way. We didn't want to look like a bunch of white people that were coming over there from America to evangelize them," said Paul Rawlins, pastor of outward ministries for Sisters Community Church.

"What we have done that is a little different from what most churches have done is to invest in a region on a long-term basis. We have done the demographics and adopted a village ... and found a local church with a local pastor. Then, what we have done is invested our time, energy and resources into him so that that region sees the local church as being the conduit or reason that things are happening in the community," said Rawlins.

Rawlins has set a goal of making the Ugandan church self-sufficient, so that the tribesmen won't have to worry about the American church changing direction and leaving the village high and dry.

Rawlins explained that the tribe used to live in the most fertile location in Uganda and that they have been farmers for centuries. However, another tribe that lived in the area was very warlike and kept raiding the area. Over the last 200 years the tribe has migrated further and further away from the fertile plain and now is living high on mountain slopes.

The soil is not as fertile, and when the rains come the crops often wash away down the slopes.

"The biggest challenge that the people face is safe drinking water. We have made water a priority and are drilling wells and helping with protecting the water supplies. Water born diseases are a real problem there, and we are really trying to help with the problem," said Rawlins.

Like much of central Africa the population has been decimated by diseases like malaria and HIV.

"We are also organizing medical care for the people. Disease is a major problem, and we are working with clinics to provide medical care," said Rawlins.

It is the philosophy of the ministry that rather than just providing supplies, infrastructure must also be created. The ministry's work follows the old adage: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

The involvement from the church goes far beyond just sending money and hoping that the Ugandan church and pastor follow the correct path. "Every year a group from the (community) church goes over there to meet the children that we support. I would guess that at least a quarter of the church has traveled there by now," said Rawlins.

Part of the project is the development of a 10-acre parcel of land that will become a hub of life and social focus for the area. The parcel will contain a church, an orphanage, a school, a clinic and staff housing when it is completed. The construction phase is well underway, and the participants on both sides of the Atlantic are looking forward to its completion.

"We have just finished the school that has 525 children in it that we sponsor. We are doing that through an organization that is local called African Renewal Ministries," said Rawlins.

"Not everyone that helps with the project are members of our church. There are many others that have gotten on board and are helping," said Rawlins.

Sisters Community Church will host a community "good stuff" sale as a fund-raiser on September 7-8. To donate or for information call 549-9273. To participate in the Uganda project, contact Pastor Rawlins at Sisters Community Church, 549-1201.