Seeking Prayers

I write with sad (but not tragic) news today. One of our orphans in our orphanage village in Seeta, Uganda, Africa was bit by a stray dog this week. The dog was running through the village chasing a pig. When our child tried to divert attention and "shoo" the dog away, the dog turned and chased after the child. The child, not knowing better, ran away. The dog bit the child in the calf. The child was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Thankfully, the child will be just fine! There will be some painful healing in his future, but he is expected to fully heal (with the exception of some scarring). Please pray for this child and his recovery!

Many blessings!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Great news about our future school!

As many of you may know, we are planning to build a permanent school in the village this summer. The UKids mission team will be in Uganda to make this happen this summer, and they have been hard at work fundraising for the project.

In fact, they just completed a fundraising event, the Bowl-A-Thon, in which they raised $22,000! Praise God!!

We are challenging donors with buying a classroom for $7500 each. We have at least 5 of the 15 classrooms purchased. I am calling donors to help with this cause. Please help us provide a permanent school for our children.

We staff this school with all-Christian faculty so the we can make sure the education that our children are receiving is in line with our faith and our mission. We built our temporary school structure last year, and the results from that have been tremendous! We sent 17 children to the prestigious St. John’s this year after their entrance exams were so phenomenal! What smart children led by a brilliant staff!

Please consider donating to this cause! Every little bit counts! If you are part of a prayer group or church, see if you can challenge your fellow members to cover the cost of a classroom or two!

Please call on your community to help you with this cost! We appreciate all the help you can give.

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

I am back in the United States!

The flight touched down Friday, and I am officially back in the United States from my trip to Uganda. I am feeling much jet lag, but all in all, I am excited to be back. It had been so long since I had visited Uganda, almost 2 years! The three months I spent there was busy yet refreshing. The atmosphere and culture in Uganda is much different than here, and now that I have been back a few days, I realize how much I miss that. There, I am placed in front of enthusiastic audiences, people that are eager to learn about and speak to God! People that are overly eager to feel the Spirit! It is so much fun to speak to a Ugandan audience. This is part of the reason I encourage pastors here to visit Uganda and to speak there. It will truly change you in a great way.

I will be returning to Uganda around Easter for another trip. I am excited to return again so soon, but for now, I am enjoying the change of pace in the United States.

One thing that has been nice since I have been in the States, mostly because I took the weekend to recuperate, is the quiet. I feel like for the last three months, I have been working 24 hours a day! It was work that I love and that I feel passion for, so it was not burdensome, but it was hard, busy work nonetheless! In Uganda, the entire time I was there, I was always in touch with someone… My presence was always requested by someone. And if you think I am joking about 24 hour work day, there were some sermons that started around dinner time and lasted until sunrise the next morning! I am not joking!! Time flew as it was lively and fun and His presence was known, but the next days those hours of lost sleep catch up to me! I will make a point to fill you all in on everything that was accomplished and needs that were discovered while I was in Uganda. Keep posted!

Blessings,

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Transforming Uganda Website is up!

Hello,

The Transforming Uganda website is up and running. Check it out at www.theugandaexperience.com. This should have much needed information and documents for the mission trips in 2010 to Uganda, Africa. Please let me know what you think!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Mission Trip Updates

So everyone knows, we have a deadline coming up in about a month for the mission trip in July 2010. We will need participants to sign up prior to March 12, 2010. Please let us know if you need more information. I just wanted to give you all a heads up so you can decide if you want to go or not.

email: t.lucas@christianlifeministries.org

Snapshot:

What: Transforming Uganda 2010: Short Term Mission Trip
Where: Kampala, Uganda, East Africa
When: July 23-Aug 1
Why: To transform a nation
Who: YOU! :)

Because of Him,

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Please help me find a sponsor for Luke

Hello all,

You guys never let me down! I wanted to introduce an adorable, funny, smart little boy that is in our orphan village in Uganda, Africa, Luke. He doesn't have any sponsor. Can you all help me find a sponsor for Luke?

More about Luke:



Luke's mother brought him to our village. His father had died two years earlier of AIDS, and his mother, who also suffered from AIDS and extreme poverty, could no longer care for him. Luke shows to have a bright future ahead of him, and he has a smile that can warm anyone's heart. We are so blessed to have Luke in our village, and we need to find him a sponsor so we can continue to meet the needs of Luke and the other children in the village.

Please ask around and see if anyone is interested in picking up this sponsorship. He would make a great addition to any family, and he loves to write his sponsors and draw pretty pictures. Sponsoring a child is such a fulfilling act of kindness. Transforming the life of a child can help us transform the nation of Uganda.

Thank you for your consideration and your help! Please let me know if I can return the favor in any way!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

http//www.jackson-senyonga.org

Leaps and Bounds for HIV Prevention in Uganda

What wonderful news! Uganda is going to host a major HIV Clinic. There are hopes for a new vaccination to come out, which is exciting. Of course, my main wish for HIV is education of abstinence before marriage and generally safe and healthy choices, but for some, these preventative measures are not enough. There are abstinent wives who are affected by their husbands. There are innocent children who are infected as a result of being born to an HIV positive mother. A vaccination would sure help, and I am happy to know that measures are being taken to find such vaccinations and get them to the people of Uganda.

Finalizing Mission Trip Lists

We are in the process of finalizing our list of mission trip participants. If you are interested and haven't done so, please let us know!! Email us at info@christianlifeministries.org. We look forward to welcoming you to Uganda! :)

I pray that each of you have a safe and happy weekend! I can't believe January is almost over!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Feel Good Story about Deaf in Uganda

Take a moment and read this short article, “Education Unleashed Potential for Deaf.” http://allafrica.com/stories/200911020799.html

Stories like this are inspirational for me. I have all of my senses, and it is sometimes a struggle for me to not create my own boundaries. I see success stories like this, and it reminds me that I can do anything I want if I try! I hope this serves as a little pick me up to all of you out there who need that reminder that God has given you able body, mind, and soul to achieve almost anything!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga,
Christian Life Ministries

I have a dream...

In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr Day:

I have a dream that one day the nation of Uganda will rise up as a nation headed by moral and Christian beings!

I have a dream that one day all people of Uganda will be rid of intolerance, corruption, hunger, and preventable disease.

I have a dream that Uganda will be transformed into an oasis of prosperity and self-reliance.

I have a dream that the people of Uganda will hold the Bible as the foundation for their faith and believe that it is infallible and wholly inspired by God.

I have a dream that the people of Uganda will find salvation as the free gift of God, offered to men and women by Grace and received in personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day all people of Uganda will be filled with hope and love for Christ, and that this hope and love will empower them for Christian service.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that every orphan and widow will have a home, that every person in Uganda will be cared for and shown the gentle hand of God.

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I return each time with!

And this will be the day – the day when all of God’s children will be able to care for themselves and others in Christian service.


Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Improvements in Cancer Awareness in Uganda

Uganda just saw a fundraising event completely devoted to cancer prevention, awareness, and cure. This is refreshing because cancer deaths are a serious problem in Uganda. To put it in perspective, about 75% of cancer cases in the U.S. are cured, whereas in Uganda, cancer is a death sentence for 80% of all people who get it. Uganda also has the world’s highest death rate for children with cancer. It is great to see that there have been so much done so far to help this condition improve, from the Mulago Cancer Center to fundraising groups like Bless a Child. Please pray for this positive change to continue.

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Photos of the New Years Eve National Celebration on Flickr!

I have posted photos from the huge New Years Eve National Celebration on my Flickr! Check it out by following this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackson-senyonga/.

The event went down without a hitch. In fact, we had even more people than expected, with an estimated 80-100 THOUSAND PEOPLE in attendance. We were so honored to be allowed to host it at the President's airport, Kololo Airstrip. It was such a great event. Close to 100,000 people prayed passionately for millions of other people. Thousands of souls were harvested, and all eyes were turned to God.

The theme of the night was "All will be Recovered," encouraging all who had lost something.

We had preaching, great music and dance, fervent prayer, and fireworks! It was a night not to be forgotten by the people of Uganda!

We were so happy to have our friends there with us, the Sargents, and their beautiful dance team. Thanks gang!

All His blessings,

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Pneumonia kills 27,000 Ugandan Children Each Year!

I heard a statistic about children and pneumonia, and when I went to confirm, I found this article. http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/699805

It is so horrible to think of children dying. Pneumonia is a serious disease; actually, it is the world’s leading killer of children, taking 1.8 million children per year. But, in Uganda, it is exceptionally bad because there is a lack of treatment for suffering children. Many pneumonia deaths could be prevented if children were taken to get their medications and treatments. In Uganda, less than 20% of infected children receive antibiotics, which costs less that $1 each child. Please pray with me that (1) Uganda parents will understand the risk and take their children to seek medical care and (2) there will be plentiful supply of antibiotics at an affordable rate for poverty stricken families to get relief. Thank you for your prayers, and thank you for helping us help Ugandans. God bless!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Photos from Christmas Party on Flickr!

I posted the photos from the childrens’ Christmas party at the orphan village in Uganda on Flickr! It was such a great time. They sure do love soda, which we were so happy to be able to provide thanks to generous donations towards the gifts and Christmas party! Eve and I had such a good time. It is the little moments that remind us why we do what we do and that encourage us for the years to come! Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU to everyone that helped us make this possible! It means so much to the children, some of which have never received a Christmas gift before… It is a great opportunity to explain the meaning of Christmas to the children, all of whom were so in tuned and excited to hear the story whether for the first time or for the fiftieth!




Eve has many photos in there! I may be biased, but I do think she is so beautiful on film! :) :D



To see the photos, visit my Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackson-senyonga/.

Happy Viewing!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Uganda Update #3 -- A Must Read! -- Friday through Wednesday Night of Week 1

Friday Nights’ Church Service

The Friday after I arrived in Uganda, the Friday before Christmas, I attended a church gathering. Over 10,000 people were in attendance! Praise Him! The service ended up lasting from 7pm to 6am!

When I walked in, I unintentionally interrupted the services. Members of the choir stopped and ran down to greet me. People from all around gathered to give hugs and hellos. I would have to say that even though I have experienced so many amazing things while at Christian Life Church, this moment will remain in my mind as one of the most memorable for me. In an odd way, this moment made me feel more humbled than ever!

It was a night (and morning) of intense worship and celebration. We had a top national gospel artist in house to make the evening strong and powerful. I talked, preached, shared stories, and prayed for people. We prayed and prayed and prayed! I preached and preached and preached. I could really see what I was missing while away. How powerful it was to see thousands of people worshipping and praying in a house of God. If I had to count the hugs, I would have to say that I got at least 2009 hugs for the year 2009, and I can only imagine what will happen in 2010! I was overwhelmed by god’s love and what He’s doing in our church. I was humbled and reminded of what God is doing on the ground and how to strengthen Him and move forward!



Tuesday Night w/ the Evangelism Team

Tuesday night, I met with a group of energetic evangelism team members and church planters. I expressed how proud I was to see how much they had done in my absence and my confidence in their capability to start so many new works. We set forth a continued plan of soul searching. We are invigorated and ready to turn so many more hearts to God.



Work with TOP Radio

I have spent quite a few hours this trip strengthening mass communication efforts via our radio station, TOP Radio. We are working for better reach and more conversion. I would love to invite some of our missions team to help this aspect of our ministry while in Uganda. Any takers?



Wednesday Night Service

I am just flabbergasted at how many new and interesting people I have met while here. Tonight was no different. I taught evening classes, spoke at the services, and taught some more.



I will write more about the Christmas celebrations when I get time. I have to prepare for the New Years Eve Celebration!! I am so excited for this!! HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE! I LOOK FORWARD TO PRAYING FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!

Uganda Update #2 – Meeting with the CL staff

After getting in and taking a little while to recoop, Eve and I got together with the Christian Life staff at our house in Uganda. It was an event of celebratory moods and a very good dinner! We spent the hours sharing stories and the staff brought me up to speed. It was a refreshing time of fellowship, complete with fun and excitement. Uganda is such a unique place in terms of the people there and the attitudes they share.

Please remember that we will be having a huge New Years Eve Celebration and prayer. Please send in your prayer requests as soon as you can so I can add them to my list. Estimated attendance is in the tens of thousands! What a wonderful event to get that many desperate intercessors praying at one time!! Praise Him!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Uganda Update #1 - Off the Plane

Hello All!

I’m sure you are all waiting for updates from my time so far in Uganda. I haven’t had much time to write it all out because from the time I landed, it has been “go – go – go!”

When I got to the airport, I was overcome by people! There was media, supporters, everyone and their dog there! I received a favor that I didn’t deserve… I was taken to the President’s VIP Lounge right after I got off the plane. This kept me from having to wait in line and from being attached by all of the people at the airport!! I was so thankful of this because, as you can imagine, I was exhausted from the flight to begin with!

I will definitely write more later when I get the chance. I have so much more to tell! God bless you all, and HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

From Uganda!

New Year’s Celebration

New Year’s Celebration

We are having a huge New Year's Celebration in Uganda on December 31st. We are expecting tens of thousands of people to turn out on this day. The president has allowed us to use the private airport, which is a huge honor!! We will definitely be bringing in the New Year in style.

We are having a huge prayer and taking prayer requests for new year promises, resolutions, plans, etc. It is a powerful thing to have so many passionate and desperate Ugandan intercessors praying for you. Please email me your prayer requests: pastor.senyonga@gmail.com. We will keep prayer requests anonymous because we only use first name (unless otherwise requested). Please get all prayer requests in by December 26th.

I look forward to being a part of your life in this way!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Christmas in Uganda

Christmas is the biggest church day in Uganda. During this time, even Muslim and witch doctors come to church. Therefore, it is a very evangelistic time. We are happy we can turn more hearts to God on this special holiday!! Please pray for evangelism and keep in mind that secular people in the U.S. may be attending your church service on Christmas as well! Use this opportunity to change lives in a powerful way!

Also...

If you haven’t already, please consider donating for our orphan Christmas. We are short quite a few gifts for the children. A $20 donation will allow us to buy a gift and throw a party for one special child! That is a low cost to make a child smile on Christmas, isn’t it? Please call or email us for ways to donate.

972-307-5433
info@christianlifeministries.org

Thank you for considering this donation.

Pastor Jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Back to Uganda for Christmas!

I am excited to be going back to Uganda for Christmas! I will be staying through the beginning of the year, too, to make sure things are going well for all of the parts of Christian Life Ministries and Christian Life Church. I will be working on Christian Life Church vision, media ministry, the continuation of raising leaders, evangelism, church planting, our new vocational campus, etc. I will have a lot to do in my short time there. Please pray that all goes well in my travels.

God bless,

Pastor jackson Senyonga
Christian Life Ministries