Update from James and Gorret

Greetings to you from us here in Busia, Uganda. I trust this finds you in good health and doing well. I have the pleasure to report to you about the CFC-CCM activities especially through the lockdown. The lockdown affected all sectors of the ministry. Some new members have been selected to come on board to ensure the ministry activities continue even through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Please find below an explanation of each sector of CFC-CCM activities:

Recent Events

Leadership Trainings

These have been hard and expensive. Gatherings were strictly prohibited and only 20 people were allowed to meet for a major reason. For example, we had trainings on how to combat Covid-19. as churches were instructed to have their leaders trained on how to manage Covid-19.

Training of leaders would help churches to grow and develop. However, under lockdown it was difficult and expensive. This had an adverse effect on the church. Many churches lost or had their followers slackening in the faith. Urban areas where most people have smart phones would conduct trainings and meetings on social media.

The cells could not work well as expected due to poor management and the effect of the pandemic such as deaths in homes and subsequent burial ceremonies. There is a great work required to reorganize churches and have the leaders inducted in many things especially after the lockdown. Attendance of believers was affected and some shifted from where they were staying to other areas due to many factors such as; debts they had, famine/hunger, loss of many dear ones, family financial standing during the lockdown among others. 

Church Planting

This could not be conducted as one of the Covid-19 measures was; ‘stay at home’. During the first phase of lockdown people tried to observe the Covid rules and there was minimal spread of Coronavirus. However, in the second phase of the lockdown, there was a lot of politics involved and people relaxed. The pandemic spread widely, many people fell sick and there were many burials in each village. Each day at least one or two people would be buried. This sector was greatly affected.

There is a need to conduct door to door evangelism to win back the weakened and lost souls. The strategy is to induct leaders on follow-up, soul winning and management of the respective churches where they are located. Every church has to avail leaders for training and draw a programme for follow-up, soul winning and management of respective churches. 

Hope Womens Group (HWG) Empowerment/Loan Programme

This was also greatly affected and it was risky. One would borrow, and then fall sick or die before repayment. Businesses were hard to manage due to very high prices in transport and long distances. Boda boda riders were at a very high risk. They would be waylaid and either killed or their motorbikes taken. This is a disaster that has affected the loan programme. One member lost a new motorcycle less than a week after getting the bike.

Some members have shifted to other places just because they could not pay back the loan. Some used their money in treatment or feeding the family. They then got stuck regarding how to pay back the loan hence fleeing to other areas.

There are still some members who are vigilant and we are moving on with them.

HIV/AIDS Intervention

Similar problems that affected HWG have also affected this sector. These people were doing small businesses but with the effect of the pandemic many used up the money on treatment and feeding either themselves or their beloved ones. 

Some were greatly affected but some are still strong and are going on slowly with the programme, using it to boost their businesses.

Education Support

This sector was adversely effected in that schools and institutions would open and then close after a short period of say two or three weeks. Payments would be made but then after two or three weeks, schools would close. This was done three times. 

We have tried to conduct home based schooling/learning but with many challenges. Attendance of learners has been poor, disorganization due to sickness and deaths of people, suppression from enemies, and lack of stationary and instructional materials.

This report has been delayed by this sector because we were skeptical that the president would soon address the nation and perhaps institute another lockdown since the third phase of Covid was already threatening to cause it. However, it has been confirmed that there will not be any more lockdowns due to the threat of omicron virus. The government has communicated that there will not be another lockdown and that schools will open on 10th January 2022. However, there is every likelihood that many students will not go back to school. They are frustrated, feel ashamed and have lost morale.

Pangani School (UGA02b)

The former school that was being run at Pangani (not supported by BHW) has closed down and will not continue due to poor management and misappropriation/mishandling of property. We have tried to rectify the buildings and  structures that were blown down by wind on our new school site. Unfortunately, wind has continued to blow off the roof leaving desks out in the open and at the risk of some wild and hostile people.

However, we are going to open amidst many challenges. Termites are still a menace. The plan is to put up a permanent two classroom block for a start. We shall continue with the classes we began with at the new location. The name of the school is Little Angels Nursery and Primary School. We shall have baby, middle and top classes for kindergarten and Primary one to Primary four.

Farming God’s Way (Principles of Farming)

Some people have tried to follow the principles of farming and their produce is good. A real challenge has been changes in climatic conditions. Plantations such as bananas are doing well as are other crops such as beans, maize etc. 

Tree Planting

Long droughts have continued to cause failure of the trees planted in Kween. However, in Busia the exercise has continued and is successful. We have encouraged people to plant fruit trees and trees for furniture. 

New Members on Board

There have been some new faces added on to the board of CCM-CFC. They include;
Nyakato Ruth – Skills training
Mangeni Solomon – Management and leadership training
Resty Nasirumbi – Loan programme
Reinhard Bonnkey -  Administration

Ideas for the Future

Due to the likelihood that many students will not go back to school, in addition to paying tuition fees, CCM would like to offer some hands-on upskilling and training to the school drop-outs or those who are likely not to report back to school.

Skills that can be offered include: tailoring, hairdressing and cosmetology. 

Some of the drop-outs may also require support to enable them to find jobs (foreign labour service) mostly in Asia and Arab countries.

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Yours in His Love,
James Bwire & Gorret Mayende