October's Focus: Amy in Uganda

One of my dearest friends from college is going to Uganda with her church this month, and we decided to make her and the country of Uganda in general our focus for the month of October.  While Amy is traveling with a team to do some specific tasks, I thought I would share with you some things about Uganda which I learned from the fantastic book Operation World (the new updated version is coming out later this month; if you don't have it, I highly recommend it).

Uganda is a central-African country long known as the 'Pearl of Africa'.  The capital city is Kampala and is the largest city in the country, with a population of over 1.2 million.  The economy is largely based on agriculture; Uganda boasts fertile soil and three annual growing season; the main export is coffee.  The economy was healthy in the 1960s, but warfare in the north and west and the ravages of AIDS and disease keep the majority of the population in deep poverty.  The average income per person is $330.  The official language is English, but there is a total of 46 languages spoken throughout the country; the literacy rate is sixty two percent.  The country gained its independence from Britain in 1962, and in Idi Amin seized power in 1971, brutalizing the country as the army pillaged and murdered.  During his reign, there was intense persecution of Christians; in 1979, Tanzanian and Ugandan exile troops deposed the regime after Amin invaded northwest Tanzania.

There is now freedom of religion in Uganda, and Christianity is the major religion.  There are also Muslims, those who practice traditional ethnic religions, non-religious individuals, and followers of the Baha'i and Hindu faiths as well.

Operation World listed three answers to prayer:

1) Uganda is the first country in the world with a massive AIDS problem to halve and even reduce the numbers of the afflicted from possibly 25% in 1992 to possibly 8-10% in 2000.  Both government and churches faced up to the terrible calamity and have successfully worked to achieve this reduction.

2) The East African Revival brought new life and fervency to the large Church of Uganda and other smaller denominations for 30 years after its beginnings in 1936.  Its characteristics were the centrality of Christ expressed in repentance, brokenness, and walking in the light.  Internal divisions and the awful years of persecution and suffering between 1967 and 1986 damped the fires of the revival.

3)  Renewed revival from 1986 onwards- widespread prayer movements, the amazing growth of the Pentecostal Assemblies and a revival moment in the Catholic Church in 1955 are manifestations of this.  Renewal in the latter has led to gospel preaching, healings, and the burning of fetishes.

Operation World also gives some specific challenges for which prayer is greatly needed, including healing from the devastation of past governments; unity and revival in the church, as well as the training of new workers; the AIDS issue; the refugees housed in camps throughout the country; and the remaining unreached people groups in Uganda, including the Muslims.  Please continue to pray for the people of Uganda and for Amy as she works to share the love of Christ with them.