It has been an amazing few days here in Uganda. Between the SLAM leadership conference for our East African SLAM leadership team we had in Entebbe and the SLAM service camp we are facilitating on our GOD campus, God has been working so much. It has been such a gift to witness the word of God come to life in both of these venues.
At the SLAM leadership conference, I got to spend time with leaders from Uganda and Kenya that I’ve known for the past 3 years. These leaders, my brothers and sisters in Christ, have been working so hard all year round to facilitate times of Bible study with students across Kenya and Uganda. I loved getting to catch up with them, but most importantly I loved getting to see them be equipped by God’s word to keep doing the life-changing work they’ve been participating in faithfully for years now.
Our experiences so far have aligned so closely with our theme this summer: Nu Nation. During the leadership conference, we got a Bible study from Mr. Garner on Ephesians 2:14-16, which talks about how Jesus can help break down the cultural divides that keep us from having peace with one another. As we sat together, an audience full of people from 3 different nations (USA, Kenya, and Uganda), we felt those words ring true. God helped us dine together, dance in worship together, and enjoy each other’s company despite the differences we have in culture and life experience. Ephesians 2 helped us all see that we’re all made in God’s image, and because of that we are more alike than we are different.
That beautiful picture of unity gave us the momentum we needed going into running a SLAM service camp. On Monday evening, we received 80 students from all over Uganda. They’ve come to participate in a SLAM service camp: a week of service, Bible study, and worship. These students are taking a pause from work, school, and other obligations to focus on God, serve those in need, and be built up by his word. It’s the same as our SLAM service weeks in the US, aligning with one of our mottos as a ministry: what we do here is what we do there.
I’m so grateful for these students and their hunger for the Lord. It’s humbling to see so many young people with real, oppressive challenges in their lives trust in God for all of their needs. Through times of Bible study, they have been learning that God’s kingdom is for THEM, and there is justice when God reigns as king in our communities. Seeing them come alive as they are encouraged by the word has filled me with joy. There is so much hope for the students here in East Africa. As they continue to press into the Lord, I know they will be able to revolutionize their communities and bring lasting change through their obedience to the Lord. There is hope for the future of East Africa with these youth. As they are empowered by God’s Word, they will be able to change the world and make history.