Longing for Family UGANDA | Mark J.H. Klassen
“We have had many friends in ministry over the years, both locally and globally,” said Robert Mponye, who leads Lifehouse Community Church and the King’s Kid School in Uganda. “But those friendships never developed into family relationships. Not until now.” For more than twenty years, Robert and his wife, Esther, have been caring for vulnerable children and inviting them into their own family. The ministry of King’s Kid School in Mityana, Uganda had a humble beginning when they received an orphan girl into their small house and cared for her like she was one of their own. Five years later, the couple started the school, where today more than one hundred children are full-time residents and almost four hundred attend daily classes (to read this story, go to multiply.net/god-sent-grace). Under the leadership of the Mponyes, this ministry experienced significant growth and came to include a network of churches, Bible school, vocational school, children’s choir, medical clinic, evangelistic outreaches, agricultural projects and more. However, all the while, Robert’s vision was not just local, but global. “I am passionate about the kingdom of God,” said Robert, “and that kingdom crosses boundaries and oceans. It is much bigger than Uganda.” Robert knew that their small network of churches in Uganda needed partners in ministry that could give them a broader focus, a taste of God’s universal kingdom on earth. “I was looking for likeminded people across the oceans that we could work together with for the expansion of God’s kingdom.” In 2018, Robert was introduced to Doug Hiebert, Multiply’s Regional Team Leader for Sub-Saharan Africa. Doug visited Robert in Uganda and the two leaders immediately made a strong connection. “Robert already had some partnerships with isolated leaders and a couple of small churches,” said Doug Hiebert. “But they hadn’t built strong bonds. I sensed that Robert was longing for family.” 10 | witness
For Robert, the connection with Doug immediately felt like a friendship and the hope to build a partnership with Multiply was born in his heart. “When we talked about working together, Doug emphasized the family aspect of relationships,” said Robert. “I immediately wanted to be a part of that.” Healthy partnership, for both Robert and Doug, meant walking together in transparency and trust. “It feels like we have known each other for many years,” said Robert of his friendship with Doug. “When we talk, I share with him how I really feel, and I expect the same from him. We’ve learned to believe in each other, to trust each other.”
“I am passionate about the kingdom of God, and that kingdom crosses boundaries and oceans. It is much bigger than Uganda.” Doug added. “We have very open and honest conversations about ministry, about faith, about everything. We have become close friends, which is truly a blessing, because good relationship is at the heart of partnership.” Robert also added keen insight into the importance of spiritual maturity in healthy partnerships. “We were looking for people who honoured God,” he said plainly, “people who understood the value of both the horizontal and vertical relationship. Because we didn’t just want to do our own thing. It wasn’t about our vision, or their vision, but about seeking God’s vision together.” From the very beginning, Doug was impressed with this aspect of Robert’s character and spiritual depth. “Here was a humble servant leader who was not interested in building his own kingdom,” said Doug, “but he was actively seeking the good of others, giving leadership away and enabling others to grow.”
