New Life Bible College ~ 2nd Graduation Ceremony

Graduates marching in Gulu TownThe sound of the marching band grew louder and louder as approximately 500 family members, friends and FOGM staff rushed to welcome the graduates and faculty of New Life Bible College to the World Vision conference center. The conference center was decorated with colorful balloons and ribbon streamers and the audience, in their “Sunday best”, had been singing their praise to the LORD when the first sounds of the parade drifted in to the center.

About an hour earlier, the graduates and faculty had begun marching the few kilometers from Favor of God toward the center, dressed in full academic regalia and accompanied by a small marching band. What a day this was for them! After 21 years of war and all the social and academic disruption caused by that conflict, they were ready to receive the reward of their hard work and sacrifice. Less than 18 months ago, the residents of Gulu could not walk freely and openly and the ‘night commuters’ were still making their way to safety each evening. But now, with the peace talks well underway and the social order becoming more normal every day, it was time to celebrate! Strike up the band! Strut your stuff! Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!

New Life Bible College, which is one of the ministries of Favor of God Ministries, was launched in Gulu in November 2005, with 36 registered students. In 2006 twenty of those students graduated with a Certificate in Christian Ministry. This year, nineteen students graduated; three received a Certificate in Christian Ministry and, for the first time, NLBC awarded the two-year Diploma of Christian Ministry to sixteen students.

Additionally, three students were honored for excellence. They are: Angeyo Christine Okoya, Spirituality; Olara John, Academics; Oyera Martin Leko, Leadership.

The teachers that are currently teaching at NLBC were carefully selected. They don’t just give “head knowledge” but they also share their hearts and personal lives with the students, in order to fulfill one of the mottos of NLBC: “Transformation, not information.” Principal Onen Martin, and lead teacher, Madrama Peter are the mainstay of the faculty. They are assisted by several qualified pastors who come from around Uganda to teach and mentor new Church leaders.

The impact that the NLBC training is having on northern Uganda cannot be overstated. It has brought transformation and change to the personal lives of the students, as well as to their ministries. Before coming to NLBC, many of the students had been ministering for years but had never been trained and equipped to do so. But after learning Biblical principles of ministry and putting them into practice, they and their churches have been transformed!

Excited graduates pose for a group photoAnother impact of New Life Bible College training on the lives of the students is unity. With over sixteen denominations represented in the College, an environment of unity and appreciation for the diversity in the Body of Christ has developed. The students and faculty consider themselves one Body, one member and having one purpose, as described in Ephesians 4:11-13. This unity experienced at NLBC extends itself to the churches that the students are involved and, ultimately, to the whole Christian community in Gulu District as the students share the fire of Jesus’ love for His Bride!

We thank God that He is using NLBC to change lives and foster unity in the Church in northern Uganda! We also thank Him for the teachers and facilitators who have worked tirelessly to teach and impart wisdom and knowledge in the lives of our dear students…and for His Providence in providing partners and resources that enable us to do so. And, with our thanksgivings we also make our requests known to God…that He will provide the funds needed to construct a complete Bible training center…that He will give us the grace and resources to open satellite schools in other towns in northern Uganda, as well as in southern Sudan and eastern Congo. But most of all, as we celebrate another graduation, we thank Him for the graduates of New Life Bible College who will take the Gospel of God’s love to the hurting and broken of northern Uganda, Africa and around the world!

Vision for Extension of New Life Bible College:

Places to be reached and the respective Proposed Dates

Kitgum ( NorthernUganda) from 14th – 18th, January 2008
Lira (Northern Uganda) from 21st – 25th, January 2008
Adjumani ( Northwestern Uganda) from 23rd – 27th, June 2008
Southern Sudan from 10th – 14th, November 2008

EYES ON... HOUSE OF HOPE!

Favor of God's ~ House of Hope Children's Home

The Greek words meaning “hope” occur 85 times in the New Testament and have a meaning far beyond the secular usage of the word. Much more than wishful thinking, desire or even expectation, the believer’s hope lies in the One who is called ‘Faithful and True’… ‘The Hope of Israel’…The LORD Jesus Christ. House of Hope is His house, filled with His children, who are being raised for His glory and honor. Let’s pay them a visit and see who’s there and what’s going on.

Small beginnings…

This home for orphaned children was begun in March of 2006 with the admission of four children who were referred to FOGM by World Vision.
Since that small beginning, the House of Hope (HOH) family has grown to a capacity of 31 orphans and has moved to a large house and compound in the Senior Quarters district of Gulu. We believe that God will use these children as instruments of healing for our land as well as future leaders for this country. HOH is committed to being an agent of God’s provision for these children, in both the natural and the spiritual, so that they can become adults who are committed to King Jesus and His Kingdom.

House of Hope’s Facility and Staff...

The girls and boys sleeping quarters, with their triple-decker bunk beds are a hive of activity as the children prepare for school each morning. The older children help and encourage the younger ones to “hurry or we’ll be late!” But it’s the airy family room of House of Hope that welcomes children and visitors alike with colorful pictures and posters, all centering around a large painting of an African Jesus playing football with a group of children. This is the Jesus that the staff desires to share with the children…a Jesus who knows their joys and sorrows and will help them…a Jesus who is wonderful and awesome, yet fun and approachable…A Jesus that loves them just the way they are. The on-site staff of 6 “mamas” and 1 “elder brother” is committed to the children and to seeing those children come into a personal relationship with Jesus…a relationship that will change their lives and give them hope and a future.

The entire staff includes:

Norma Caddell, Director
Hope Onen, House of Hope Supervisor

Jennifer Adong, Assistant supervisor
Grace Akello, Children’s worker
Jackline Aloyojok, Children’s worker
Irene Auma, Children’s worker
Betty Adong, Children’s worker
Christine Laker, Children’s worker
Patrick Ojera, Children’s worker

Ceasar Olum, Security guard

Additionally, many of the FOGM staff who work in other ministries volunteer their free time to play and visit with, teach and just “be with” the children, giving them an extended family that loves and cares about them. Through the mentoring of both women and men staff members and through spiritual nurturing and training, House of Hope is working to see children loved, healed and given a stable family environment in which to develop their identities as children of God and come into their destinies in Christ.

The substance of things hoped for…

Jesus said that all who are involved in bringing His Kingdom to earth, in whatever capacity, share in the rewards together. (See John 4:34-38) God is raising up a generation in northern Uganda that will bring His Kingdom to this war-torn land. Thank you for standing with us in faith, so that we can realize things hoped for…at House of Hope.

Hope & A Future

Because we serve a BIG GOD, we have BIG DREAMS for House of Hope! We want to see a 10 acre Children’s Village with small, family style homes housing 8-10 children per home, with a widow serving as house-mother. 10 clusters of these homes would make up a village, giving 100 children a home, hope, and a future. As many as 10 villages would be built ministering to 1,000 children. Schools, vocational and recreational areas, clinics, and chapels would be part of the villages as well. Christian dads from the community, as well as mentors and leaders from Favor of God Ministries, would be involved in the children’s lives as surrogate fathers. Pray to the God of all hope, that these dreams will become a reality in the near future.

From the House of Hope Director….

House of servant leadership, such as I see in our office, I sense God’s “commanded blessings” (Ps. 133), flowing daily and how honored I feel to be serving with such a team.

Brochure

SITUATION IN NORTHERN UGANDA

During the 20 year war in Northern Uganda, the rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army, has abducted over 50,000 children to become child soldiers and over 1.6 million people have been displaced by this conflict and live in squalid conditions where mortality rates are high. To protect the people from death, the government placed them in refugee – type camps. The poverty is bleak and devastating; the suffering of the poor, heartbreaking. ‘I have never seen such a combination of spiritual, social, medical, academical and mental deprivation all the same place at the same time, as you see in the camps.’
[John 12:46] “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in darkness.” (NLT)
But in the midst of such spiritual darkness, we are seeing the might, the power, and the majesty of a living savior! The radiance of his love and the strength of his is beginning to encompass a broken land, drawing all men unto his heart, shining the light of the gospel and dispelling darkness, freeing and healing victimized children, proclaiming his truth which denies deception, and manifesting through willing servants expressions of how deep the father’s love really is.
Transforming one life at a time is beginning to transform the land

FIVE STRATEGIC AREAS OF IMPACT AND KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT

1. HOUSE OF PRAYER:

Establishing a house of prayer for all nations in northern Uganda in every household, village and city. Building and establishing strategic altars in every IDP camp praying for God’s kingdom purposes and unity in the body of Christ. To facilitate city-wide and overnight prayer events using church leaders and intercessors in the local churches to mobilize. To educate intercessors and believers in the school of prayer.

2. HOUSE OF HOPE.

A home for children orphaned by the war and HIV/AIDS. providing for them a wholesome family atmosphere as well as restoring and developing them spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically.
To provide funds for education and all basic needs.
To reach out to the community by organizing children’s conferences, Bible Clubs and a children’s choir.
Seeing children raised up to be in the spiritual leaders for bringing healing to their broken generation.

3. CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP TRAINING INITIATIVE

A full time Bible College with the certified syllabus of New Life Bible College, Uganda. Giving training and equipping to pastors, church leaders and believers from all local churches and surrounding IDP camps. To equip them with the living Word of God for effective Christian service.
Pastors’ retreats, conferences and leadership training classes are also facilitatedCLTI provides certification in the form of:
A certificate of Christian Ministry – 1 year
A diploma in Christian ministry – 2 years

4. TWO (2) – MONTH PORTABLE BIBLE SCHOOLS:

A Bible school designed for teaching, equipping and ministering in the rural areas.
Course cover:
Bible subjects – for equipping church leaders
Youth training and HIV/AIDS teaching
Children’s training
Medical outreaches
Crusades

5. TRAUMA COUNSELING

A bible – based tool taught throughout the urban and rural areas for using on healing of the memories and emotions in post war torn areas. It brings out a revelation of total forgiveness and the Father’s heart of love.

Other activities include:

• Bible distribution with bible study groups training
• Clothing and literature distribution
• Crusades and evangelism using door to door evangelism and the showing of the Jesus film.
• Prison ministry.
• Bible Studies to university campus and military.

Focus on…. Administration!

The Director's say on FOGM Administration

The administration team is the engine room of the whole ministry! God has given
great grace, skill and unity throughout our staff, which I praise Him for
immensely. In the atmosphere of servant leadership, such as I see in our office,
I sense God’s “commanded blessings” (Ps. 133), flowing daily and how honored I
feel to be serving with such a team.

~ Carole Vezey

While people enjoy hearing the exciting stories of decsions to follow Jesus…broken hearts being mended by Jesus’ love…kids being given a home…and all the front-line work that FOGM does, there is a team of support staff who, like Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ arms, provide the behind-the-scenes help that the front-line troops need in order to do their jobs. That team is headed by…

Francisco Onencan,
Administrator

Francisco came to FOGM after putting himself through university. This was no small feat since he had been a street kid for some years; constantly looking for food and a place to sleep that was safe and working at any odd jobs he could find. While on the streets of Gulu during the war years, Francisco was shot at several times and once robbers beat him and held a gun to his head. As they pulled the trigger he shouted, “Jesus!” and the gun failed to fire. That’s when he gave his life to the LORD.

Like the conductor of an orchestra, it is Francisco’s job as administrator to make sure the support services are working well together and providing what is needed by those in the front lines. But his greatest love is the prison ministry, which he also heads up. Every week he leads a team to the prison, bearing soap, or Bibles, or something that would make life easier for the prisoners. And he and his team preach the Gospel, pray and encourage the believers to follow Jesus, even in the difficult environment of prison.


David Oyite,
Media

David gives God all the credit for keeping him and his family safe throughout the war, but that doesn’t mean that there have been no difficulties in his life. He and his friends did face persecution in his secondary school for sharing the Gospel with fellow students. But, this only served to make him stronger in his faith and commitment to the LORD.

David has been called a “jack of all trades” and master of many! He does all the photos and graphics for FOGM brochures and newsletters, as well as works on informational videos and keeps the FOGM computers programmed and updated. David also works in the Bible distribution program, teaching Bible study methods on Tuesdays and Thursdays to those who have asked to be given a Bible.


Harriet Lamunu,
Accounting


Any morning you can hear Harriet praising her wonderful LORD and King. She started following Jesus when she was 12 years old and prayed her parents into the Kingdom about a year later. The LORD is truly Harriet’s joy and that is evident as she frequently leads praise and worship during our morning prayer time.
Although Harriet is Acholi, she has lived most of her life in Kampala; returning about 8 months ago to join the staff of FOGM as an accounts assistant. Through God’s faithfulness, she will continue her studies towards an accounting degree at Gulu University.

Charles Ejoku,
Ministry Assistant

As a young boy in Tororo, eastern Uganda, Charles’ education was sponsored by Carole Vezey, founder of FOGM. Charles did well in the advanced level courses he was taking in high school and when he finished, Carole invited him to work with Favor of God. He now works in the accounting department, but also helps out wherever he is needed.

Charles started following Jesus when he was 14 years old, through the ministry of Scripture Union and, in the future, he would like to minister to children and youth in a pastoral/shepherding role. He looks forward to continuing with further studies at college.


James Okema,
Maintenance

James has had several careers since becoming an adult: teacher, agriculturalist and pilot, to name a few. The upheavals in Uganda, not only those caused by the LRA but also in the years preceding the rebellion, have affected James and his family deeply. But the faithfulness and goodness of God has carried him through them all.

With an insatiable appetite to learn, James began studying at New Life Bible College and got to know about FOGM. After some time, he was asked to help with driving and to use the gifts God had given him to help in the ministry. His vision is to reach people with the Gospel through his work with Favor of God Ministries.


Fred Latim,
Driver

Through a youth plagued by fear and terror brought on by the civil war that was raging all around him, Fred was kept alive by God’s grace…even before he knew Who God was! As an adult, Fred found himself plagued by fear. But when he put his trust in Jesus and was born-again, the fear left him immediately.
Fred is a graduate of Glad Tidings Bible College in Kampala and pastors the Four Square Gospel Church in Gulu, when he isn’t transporting FOGM staff or children, fetching water or running necessary errands. But the vision and passion of his life is for the Body of Christ in Gulu to be united and to bring transformational revival to northern Uganda.
Based on Proverbs 37:4, Fred believes that God has put this desire in his heart and he believes that God will accomplish it.


Well, there you have it: the Aarons and Hurs of the FOGM family. And you can ask anyone, from Carole to the newest field worker and they’d say, “We couldn’t do it without them!” Thanks, guys, for a job well done!