Posted: February 24th, 2010 | Author: Leah Vis | Filed under: New Life Bible College
Favor of God Ministries and our New Life Bible College is centered around the Great Commission. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20). We are passionate about the lost meeting Jesus.
One of our goals is that the New Life Bible College would be training church and community leaders who will spread the gospel and make disciples throughout Uganda. But ultimately, we don’t want it to stop there. As we teach about the Great Commission, our students are very excited to be the vessels that go into the ends of the earth.
Jesus’ second coming won’t become a reality until every tribe and tongue have had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Favor of God and the New Life Bible College are encouraging and training Ugandans to be a part of that exciting present and future. Many countries in the yet unreached 10/40 window are African countries. Ugandan Christians are very well-equipped and suited for outreach to their African neighbors. The New Life Bible College is encouraging Ugandan leaders to seek God to see if they are called to Uganda, neighboring African countries, or beyond. We are confident that God wants to use the people of Uganda for his kingdom in new and surprising ways.
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Posted: January 21st, 2010 | Author: Leah Vis | Filed under: Uncategorized
Favor of God’s New Life Bible College began with the strong conviction that God wants to raise up leaders in every country and community. Many people in northern Uganda have never heard of the name of Jesus and still do not know His saving power. They don’t know hope, and they are in bondage to what their surroundings offer them – despair, witch doctors, fear, anger, and poverty.
Who should reach out to these people? Who is the most powerful witness when preaching to a people who have suffered so greatly? Obviously, God can use anyone and anything. He can use someone from 5,000 miles away or he can use a tree or rock to declare his message. But, we also believe that God wants to use the Ugandan people to reach their own people.
They speak the same language, for the most part. The people being reached have no prejudice, good or bad, because of a different country origin or a different color of skin. They share the same history. They have a collective understanding of fears, anger, and hindrances to forgiveness. Ugandan Christians have personal stories of deliverance and present hope and joy that are powerful among their people!
New Life Bible College began in 2005 and since has sent out hundreds of leaders believing that northern Uganda can be changed by the power of the gospel. And we continue on as we have seen that transformation occurring and have a steadfast hope for more.
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Posted: January 14th, 2010 | Author: Leah Vis | Filed under: New Life Bible College
Favor of God’s New Life Bible College has the vision and desire to train Ugandans to minister to and lead their own people and also to train Ugandans who are called to go into unreached areas. It is the only Bible and Christian Leadership College in northern Uganda. Currently, in order for northern Ugandan students to get an equal education, they have to travel six hours by bus to colleges in the South.
NLBC offers a one-year certificate and a two-year diploma school for pastors, church leaders, and laymen. It focuses on the following Biblical training: doctrine, homiletics, worship, family living, evangelism, pastoral care, church growth, prayer, Christian leadership, practical application of the Word, and vocational skills for bi-vocational ministry. The main New Life Bible College is located in Gulu with two other satellite campuses throughout northern Uganda.
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Posted: January 12th, 2010 | Author: Leah Vis | Filed under: New Life Bible College
The recent violence and war in northern Uganda has had a devastating effect on education in that region. Beginning in 1986, the LRA brutalized villages for twenty-two years. Many children who reached school age and hoped to begin their education were instead forced into the protection of IDP camps. Camp conditions were horrible and provided no opportunity for education. The ravages of the war forced many other children to abandon their education and when the war was finally over, a whole generation of young adults lacked very basic academic skills. These statistics illustrate the scale of the problem: in 1998, Gulu district enrolled 93,679 pupils in Universal Primary Education, but only 38,762 students remained in school.
Poverty has also had a devastating effect on education. Few people have a primary education and still fewer have advanced to secondary levels. Out of the 91.6% of the people who live in rural areas, only 29.6% of the female population is literate, and almost 40% of the total population has never been to school.
This lack of education has immensely affected the churches in the north. Most leaders and pastors have had no formal academic or spiritual training. Many gave their lives to Jesus and soon were leading churches but had very little knowledge of the Bible. The New Life Bible College has provided many of these pastors with the educational and spiritual training they lacked. Read these testimonies from New Life Bible College students:
“I was not really saved until I joined the college. Finally my eyes could really see the truth. My heart hurts to see that a lot of leaders are not leading but destroying lives of God’s children.”
“I experienced a great change in my life when I went back after the first training session. My congregation asked me what had happened to me because the way I spoke was totally different. Before my relationship with my wife was bad, but I was able to confess to my wife that I was wrong and ask for forgiveness.”
“I thought I was saved until the pastoral theology was taught about character and integrity. I had my pastor books since 2002 that I did not return, but I was able to return all the books and even paid debts that I’ve never been able to pay and asked for forgiveness. Before I never gave my time to my wife or my children. I could not enjoy my home. But now, after just the first training, my family enjoys my fatherhood. I am excited to complete all of the courses.”
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Posted: May 21st, 2009 | Author: Leah Vis | Filed under: Joseph Kony, Spiritual Renewal, Stories, War
One thing is indisputable: the war in northern Uganda is one of the
most tragic and horrific events in the world’s history. The LRA is not
currently located in Uganda, but they are very active in the
neighboring countries of D.R. Congo and southern Sudan. The LRA must
be stopped.
But, what will be the final solution? Should the governments of the
world intervene? Should Uganda, Congo, and Sudan bring down the
hammer? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. While the LRA is a
very evil entity, it is also comprised of thousands of involuntary
soldiers – many of them women and children.
The war of the LRA is a demonic one. Joseph Kony admits to receiving
his orders and power from evil spirits. It has been rumored that LRA
soldiers have suddenly disappeared as UPDF soldiers go in to attack.
When my husband visited Uganda last August, he asked a lady on the bus
about Joseph Kony. Her response was that the evil spirits have left
him, so he no longer has power. Whether or not that is true, in Uganda
it is common knowledge that this is a spiritual war.
When Favor of God began, the war was in full force in northern Uganda.
Favor of God started in order to bring hope and stop the evil. God’s
initial command to us was to “Turn the light on.” As we have been
obedient, we have witnessed northern Uganda change before our eyes.
There is still much to be done, but the region is changing
dramatically as the gospel goes out.
Favor of God is active in fighting this war. Sometimes our battles are
direct as we go into villages overrun by demons, pray for deliverance,
and lead people to Jesus. Sometimes it is indirect as we simply spread
the gospel, discipleship, and Biblical training in as many places as
possible. Sometimes it is focused on hope as we provide education,
business training, and a family for orphans. We believe this is how
the war will end. We will drive out the darkness with the strength of
the Light! And, take heart, for it is already working!
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Favor of God Ministries and our New Life Bible College is centered around the Great Commission. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20). We are passionate about the lost meeting Jesus.
