Pastor Scott's Message

I’m back from Uganda and I can’t wait to share it with you. This Sunday, March 31st, Faith and I will share our journey through pictures. Come to the Family Life Center during the Adult Bible Class. Here are some highlights.

We traveled with Christ Community International, headed by Dr. Kent and Katie Killian. The group of 19 also included the Bergantz’s (Eric, Tanya and Sara) from Concordia, the Gordon’s (Rob, Beth, Megan and Jacob) from Pathfinder, the Spangler’s (John, Erica and Ellie) from Webster, the McGue’s (Lisa and Abby) from Concordia, and Sarah Bradfield. It is the biggest group they’ve brought in the last eight years. We truly were a little congregation set on helping the Lord’s mission.

It took about 30 hours from St. Louis to our hotel in Jinga, Uganda. The country is green and beautiful. I truly felt more connected to God’s creation. On that Saturday, we traveled by rented bus an hour and a half to the village of Kawate to Christ Community Lutheran School. Though it was not a school day, over one hundred kids bombarded us with smiles and hugs. We were treated like royalty. The school has almost 200 students, preschool through 7th grade. One little two year old, Sunyo Innocent, grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go. The same thing happened every day I came back. I later found out that he didn’t have a father. The next day was special. We worshipped under the trees with the Kawete congregation. The Lutheran Bishop over Uganda led services in the local language but I got to baptize 6 children and 1 adult convert from Islam. I also preached and the Bishop translated. We could feel God moving. Afterwards, we witnessed the graduation ceremony for the 7th graders. We presented them with Bibles in the local language and a female goat. They sang and danced in celebration.

So much happened the rest of the week. I got to teach Pastoral Theology at the Lutheran Seminary. The seminary is only three years old with 45 students. A church in Texas is funding the construction which is on going, but they have almost no money. It only costs $2,000 per student per year to cover expenses. I was grateful to help with the teaching load. It enabled the two full-time professors to do responsibilities like run the school. Our group completed many projects at the elementary school. We made chalk board dividers for the preschool, a gorgeous mural of Eagles wings in one of the classrooms, a 9 square game for the kids, nesting boxes for chickens, and hand washing stations. We also presented care packages from sponsors and interviewed 30 new students for sponsorship. Dr. Killian and nurse Beth spent every day in the clinic seeing locals. Leaving Uganda my heart was filled. I received so much more than I gave. I’d love for you to experience the same. God is moving in Africa and we get to be a part of it. See you Sunday!