The trip has several components of ministry. We hope to serve the children who have been orphaned and those in the surrounding communities as well as leave something of lasting value. The way we hope we will serve is by showing the love of God in whatever way we can. The thing of lasting value we most hope to leave is the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
We are planning to provide a health clinic and health education in each church where families are providing care to orphaned children. We are planning to put on a two-day Vacation Bible School for all the children in each church during the health clinic hours. The curriculum for the VBS is based on several Bible characters. The focus will be on God’s love and His desire for us to be people of honesty and truth. The story of Daniel will serve as the model for why and how God’s desire for us is to trust Him even when things are difficult.
We also plan a program each morning for the church leadership team and a adult training program each afternoon for the foster parents and adults in each church. The morning sessions will address such topics as listening skills, children’s developmental stages, creating a vision for all children that is based on the eternal perspective of God’s love and plan for each child and ways to encourage children to find God’s plan for them. The afternoon sessions will address stages of parenting skills, and strategies for effective discipline based on scriptural principles.
Each Sunday the APU team will worship with a church in which we will be ministering. We will have the opportunity to lead in song, prayer, read scripture and speak a word of encouragement.
Project Goals:
1. To provide friendship and demonstrate Christ’s love to the children and staff of each church involved with FARE Ministries.
2. To provide service in various projects of lasting value for the orphans and to teach the leadership team and the orphan children who help the satisfaction of a job well done.
3. To assist FARE Ministries in the children’s outreach program particularly in their Muslim neighborhoods.
4. To assist Prossy Taabu in the women’s support program.
5. To increase the understanding of the role of short-term missionaries and churches in the USA in supporting career missionaries and overseas mission projects.
6. To bring that understanding home to our support team at APU and across the USA.
7. To cause each member of the team (both at home and in Uganda) to ask whether they are serving Christ to their full potential.
8. To serve with the servant’s heart, ministering to the needs of the others in whatever way we can
9. To bring and demonstrate the message of God’s love and salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection.