In 1997 Pastor Bill Phillips went with several others from our church for a two week mission in Uganda.  One of the team, Jeff Neil, visited the Luwero Presbyterian Church and ministered in a conference there.  Once he reported back about the church and its lack of facility to meet in (they were meeting outside, protected only by a roof to keep the sun – not the rain – off of them).  In 1998 God began to impress upon Pastor Bill that maybe our church should be involved in helping this church to secure a facility.  When Pastor Edward Kasaija from First Presbyterian Church in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, visited, Pastor Bill prayed with Edward on our church property, and sought God’s wisdom for taking the first fruits of our building fund to give to Luwero for building their church facility.  He then spoke to the church officers who quickly agreed that God would have our initial building fund take the first $15,000 to send to Luwero.  The congregation in Luwero worked hard at making their own bricks and doing much of the work necessary to construct their building, which they completed and dedicated in 2000 when Pastor Bill and another team returned!  Over the years since then our churches have exchanged regular emails, have prayed for one another, and encouraged one another.  Pastor Bob-Gad came to spend a month with us in 2002 and Pastor Bill and others from our church have returned another two times to lead Bible conferences.  Our church has also helped the women of Luwero to secure six sewing machines and sends regular support for the needs of the many orphans their church family has undertaken to care for.  We also have helped raise money for a major heart surgery one of the young men in the congregation.  We thank God for the many new friends we have made with our brothers and sisters in Christ so many miles away.  It is a unique and blessed relationship which the Lord has established.  We look forward to many more years of mutual encouragement and gospel ministry.

Luwero Presbyterian Church, Luwero Uganda

Pastor Bill with Elder Wilberforce and Pastor Bob-Gad

Luwero women involved in the sewing project

Tree planting at the dedication of the Luwero Church
Pastor Bill and Elder Rashid Luswa

Luwero Presbyterian Pastor Bob-Gad
with wife Joanna and son Moses