The Power of Partnerships – Final Post: Trip #9
Friday, June 3rd
(start by watching the video above. Click on the man I know affectionately as 2nd Dennis).
This last post marks the end of a four-year partnership that could change the face of the church in northern Uganda and beyond for years ahead. I’m currently sitting in a park in Hudson by myself. I wrote the posts over the years by myself, but everything that was accomplished by anyone along the way was the result of a series of partnerships. I want to acknowledge the key players in this process.
First, there is the St. Croix Valley LEAD Team churches from Somerset, New Richmond, Baldwin, River Falls and Hudson. This successful cohort (37 strong) in Uganda is the direct result of partnerships built in the last 25 years, that has resulted not only in churches planted in the St. Croix Valley, but now in Uganda. It was these churches that financed the trips of pastors and elders to far away Uganda, the fruit of our latest Vision for the Valley gathering. May our partnership and effectiveness flourish for God’s ongoing work of reconciling the world to himself under King Jesus.
Training Leaders International (TLI) and Mike Evans in particular. It was TLI who put together a curriculum to truly alter the way leaders in Uganda are handling the Scripture. They provided teacher’s guides, trainee guides and facilitated the translation of materials for Acholi speakers.
They also met with us before each trip to ensure that we were understanding the curriculum and kept the main objectives at the forefront of our teaching. They sent along a representative on each trip to help carry the teaching load and provide coaching as we went through the process of teaching the nine courses.
Mike Evans, a former member of the St. Croix Valley LEAD Team went on the most of these trips and provided much valued support and friendship along the way.
Our relationship with Four Corners Ministry was key in all that took place. You may not remember, but this was the second round of teaching we did in Uganda. The first round was good, but midway through the cohort, we recognized three missing elements that would need to be in place if we were to begin a second one. They included
- Getting the right leaders to the training
- Obtaining a leader on the ground to oversee the entire enterprise
- Meetings of the cohort in between our three times a year course offerings.
Four Corners (a man named Kris Mobbs in particular) provided all three, including facilities to meet which were fine for us and really nice for the Ugandans. It was Kris who held things together and had a base already in place for us to build. We provided curriculum and teaching he was longing for, and he provided continuity and regional insight that was most valuable. We have gained a dear friend and a trusted partner.
This is the end of this excursion. God willing, Ugandan churches will be bearing fruit for generations because of these partnerships.
I close with a little biography. I’m not much of a dreamer, never have been. In my moments of dreaming I remember thinking if God allowed me to truly impact six family trees in my life, I would see that as I life well lived.
I asked Kris Mobbs how many people groups were represented in this seven-man cohort. The answer…six! God has granted me (and of course, all of you through these partnerships) the gift of impacting six different people groups, distinct languages during these four years. Way more than my puny vision!
“ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”
The Apostle Paul
Larry Szyman
Pastor for Missional Life