UGANDAN MISSIONS TRIP: “Equipping To Serve” by Pastor Gregory Morris

from Faith On Every Corner - August 2020

Let the fog lift... by Karen Ruhl

Can you imagine receiving an invitation to conduct and facilitate a Pastors Conference for an estimated 300 pastors? I must admit, neither could I because I didn’t see it coming at all. But then that’s how our God works... isn’t it? Nonetheless, as a Pastor whose primary ministry gift is that of teaching, this assignment was embraced as a moment of destiny for which God had been preparing me. However, the only caveat to this invite was the fact that the location of the conference was 8000 miles away in Uganda. Amidst the ongoing prayer, planning, and preparation, vaccinations... I was tasked with setting the dates and duration of the conference, providing a theme, designing the flyer, and petitioning God for the content of each session as well as collaborating with the host pastor on the format of the morning and afternoon sessions. Woven throughout all of this was the realization that it was not an assignment to be carried out alone. So, I reached out to some phenomenal pastors and asked if they would consider and more importantly pray about becoming a part of the team. I was honored to be joined by Pastor David Cruz, the Senior Pastor of the dynamic Father’s Heart Church in Chicago, Illinois.

During our flight of 8000 miles and 16 hours, Pastor David and I conversed and talked about many things. At the top of the list was the realization that we were actually going to a continent and a country that neither of us had ever been to. We were going to minister to and fellowship with a part of the Body of Christ that we had not yet met in person. Our heart’s cry was to simply see an unprecedented move of God within the lives of 6 | MAGAZINE NAME FAITH ON EVERY CORNER the attending pastors and leaders that would far exceed anything that we could have ever foreseen.

As only God can, He came through in a large way!!! The “EQUIPPING TO SERVE” Pastors Conference held in Maliba, Kasese accommodated over 600 pastors and leaders with attendees from Uganda & Kenya. Hosted by the Full Gospel Churches of Uganda, our gracious host Pastor Neckson Muhindo, his wife Pastor Deborah, and the Overseer for that region, Julius Kisuchi, warmly received us in every sense of the word. From the moment we set foot in the conference’s venue, we could sense God’s presence. As a result of months of prayer and fasting on both sides of the Atlantic, the atmosphere was ripe and absolutely electric. We knew instantly that this would not be your typical conference. It was more like that of an “old fashioned” camp meeting revival. There was a hunger for God’s presence, something I hadn’t experienced to this degree in quite a while. And yes, all of this was happening within the context of the “Pastors Conference.”

After giving of ourselves via the Word of God, prophetic impartation, and praying for the various needs over a period of four days consisting of a pair of two hour morning sessions and a pair of afternoon sessions, Pastor David and I felt that we had accomplished the assignment for which we were sent. The last day was “sealed” as we were so humbled and honored to distribute bibles to the attending pastors courtesy of our respective churches, Freedom Church Ministries and Father’s Heart Church.

Our prayer and desire to return to the United States completely “emptied out” and had been answered as we brought nothing back with us but fond memories, kingdom connections, and newfound friendships. Well, it’s been ten months now since our Ugandan encounter and we can honestly say that the relationships established with these wonderful Ugandan and Kenyan brothers and sisters in the Lord continue to bless our lives. So, was it worth it? Yes, without question. Would we do it again? Absolutely!!