“Antioch is a church that wants to be defined by what we are for,
not what we are against.”  ~ Bend Bulletin, 2/24/07

(See a portion of the Bend Bulletin article online)

In recent weeks, members of Antioch have been gathering to discuss the AIDS crisis in Africa, and ways that we can partner in making a difference. During this process we found a ministry that shares our heart and passion not just for preventing disease, but for changing lives. This past week, Antioch had the pleasure of hosting Ugandan Pastor Fred Sekyewa. 

Pastor Fred is the Executive Director of Africa Renewal Ministries. He grew up in the Ugandan bush, and his village was the first in Uganda to be affected by AIDS.  When AIDS first started to appear, they called the disease “Slim” because the victims became so emaciated.  Pastor Fred has already lost a sister to AIDS, and two more members of his family have the disease.  Out of all of his childhood friends and schoolmates, he counts only a few who are still alive.  He says that it is only by the grace of God that he is alive today.

When he was in Bible College, he came to the realization that his calling was to go back home and serve in the disease ravaged community where he grew up.  Together with his wife Rebekah and their four children, he has realized that dream.  Their family has dedicated their lives to serving the orphaned and impoverished children in Uganda through Africa Renewal Ministries.

Africa Renewal Ministries is an organization dedicated to reaching the lost and hurting of Uganda. They establish partnerships between sponsor churches and local Ugandan villages.  Through those partnerships, they are able to develop schools, orphanages, and medical clinics.  They also provide child sponsorship programs where a church can actually sponsor the children in their partner village, and see their progress over time.  When he was speaking at the connecting lunch on Sunday, Pastor Fred compared sending aid to Africa as being a “drop in the bucket that never seems to fill.”  But when so many resources are poured into one “bucket” (the partner village), real change can happen!

Pastor Fred shared this vision with Antioch during the main service Sunday morning, as well as the connecting lunch and Doxa group.  He also had the opportunity to share his vision with the local community through a feature article in the Bend Bulletin.

Of course, it couldn’t be all work and no play.  Prior to his arrival in Bend, Pastor Fred had never seen snow!    He thoroughly enjoyed the new experience, and even went tubing on Sunday afternoon. 

It is so exciting to be a part of what God is doing in Africa.  Antioch is now working with Africa Renewal Ministries to partner with a Ugandan village.  We are hoping to send a “vision team” over to Uganda this year.  The people of Antioch have a heart for helping the hurting, the lost, and the orphans, and this partnership opens a new door full of opportunities