Posted: January 11th, 2010 | Author: darlene | Filed under: New Life Bible College, Stories
God rescues the weak from the fields of travail and prepares them to rescue, lead, and cultivate his kingdom. Armstrong Oryen grew up in such a field, an area called Pabo, during Uganda’s twenty-two year war led by the LRA’s Joseph Kony. His family was forced into an internally displaced persons camp (IDP) where they lived under harsh and desperate conditions. During those years, he survived on very little food and water, witnessed horrific atrocities against his family and friends, and watched the fiber of his entire culture disintegrate.
In the midst of this tragedy, God rescued Armstrong and he has triumphed in God’s grace. Armstrong accepted Jesus into his life, and as a young adult became a believer. Not only did he become a believer, but he became a voice for Christ as he started and pastored a small church in his community. When Favor of God Ministries first met Armstrong, Favor’s staff recognized his love for Christ, his exceptional leadership abilities, and his passion to advance the kingdom. Armstrong envisioned having a powerful ministry where he could grow and shepherd his flock and transform entire communities. Because he lacked Biblical training, discipleship, and a Bible, Armstrong struggled to fulfill his God-given purpose.
This is a picture of a New Life Bible College class in session.
A beautiful relationship formed when Armstrong attended one of Favor of God’s first Portable Bile Schools (PBS) in Pabo’s IDP Camp in 2005. He received general education as well as study in leadership development. He also received field training where he learned to identify and develop leaders within the Pabo IDP camp. He graduated from the PBS stronger and more knowledgeable in his Christian faith. It was a natural progression for Armstrong to become a candidate for the New Life Bible College.
Armstrong’s story continues in triumph. He graduated as an exemplary student from the New Life Bible College. He now helps pastor and oversee ten healthy and steadily growing churches in Pabo. In addition, Pastor Armstrong supports and encourages over 100 other pastors and churches in the National Fellowship of Born-Again Churches (NFBAC). He also organizes pastor training seminars and workshops.
Rescued from the field of the enemy, Armstrong, with the help of God and the visionaries of Favor of God’s New Life Bible College, is now a harvester of God’s kingdom.
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Posted: December 17th, 2009 | Author: darlene | Filed under: Favor of God Primary School, House of Hope Child Stories, House of Hope Children's Home, Uncategorized
I continue to be amazed at Favor of God’s blessings. The seed to build a Primary school was planted in 2006 and came to fruition in 2008. It was born out of our desire to educate children from our House of Hope Children’s Home, like Emmanuel Odonko, in a spiritually rich and academically sound environment. The best way to accomplish this goal was to have a school in close proximity to the House of Hope, have a class size of less than thirty students, hire highly qualified Christian teachers, and finally, serve a hot lunch to Emmanuel and his classmates every day. Through vigilance and prayer, Favor has accomplished all of this and more.
This vision that began for Emmanuel and the other children of the House of Hope quickly expanded into a campaign for the children of the surrounding Gulu community. The primary school, currently on rented grounds, now educates over 275 students. It is the only school in Gulu to serve lunch and the students consistently score exceptionally high on the government academic tests. No wonder there is a long waiting list to get into the school.
Favor’s vision continues with the recent purchase of ten acres. We have plans to build new facilities for our Primary School, our Bible College, as well as new separate housing facilities for the children of the House of Hope. These dreams have and will be made possible through the generosity of supporters who share the vision of bringing hope and healing to Gulu.
What a beautiful story thus far for Emmanuel and his House of Hope brothers and sisters. Their journey has taken them from spiritual bondage, into a safe-haven of spiritual and physical nourishment. And they are now developing in an environment of academic excellence. God has lifted them up, bathed them in His spirit, educated them in His name, and they are now planters of a new Kingdom . Their lives will inspire and cultivate hope and healing for themselves and generations to follow them.
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Posted: December 10th, 2009 | Author: darlene | Filed under: Uncategorized
How can I capture the spirit of what God is doing in this place called Gulu, Uganda? I am led to remember the heart of a child – its transparency and its ability to hope, dream and love. I conjure up images of the children of Gulu, who over the last twenty years have had the virtue of their childhood slowly stripped away by unimaginable forces of the enemy. I have been told of children with hollowed eyes, blank, and vacant – stripped of the gift of God’s love. But through His mercy, the story of at least the thirty-three orphans of the House of Hope has not ended in tragedy. The images that are shared here with you are those of rescued, renewed, and restored souls – proof that all of these children belong to God, and he has not forgotten them. I have great hope that their lives, along with all the children of this region, will one day thrive in the abundance of child-like love.
When I spoke to Cori Sinclair, her words carried this same spirit of hope and renewal. She and her husband Jeremy lived and worked with the children from July, 2008 to July, 2009. There is now an indelible tender spot in the couple’s heart for the children of the House of Hope. Cori and Jeremy witnessed how the children thrived in this safe haven and were blessed by the children’s vibrant and varied personalities. They laughed and played with them, helped them work on hard lessons, and worshipped with them. Finally, they cried with them when they had to return home to the U.S.
Back in Stockton, CA, the couple wanted to give something worthwhile to the children they now loved as their own. How fitting for Cori and Jeremy to think of gifts that would cover the most tender part of the children – their feet. The couple quickly spread the word for the need . Jeremy’s mother went right to work purchasing rubber slip-on shoes which are ideal for slipping off when the children enter the house, and back on as they leave. God’s provision for the children was fully realized when Ugandan couple, Godfrey and Judith, who are part of Favor of God’s faithful staff, visited the Sinclair’s in October and offered to take the shoes back to Gulu.
In Gulu, Godfrey and Judith were greeted with excited smiles and thankful hearts as the children began opening their gifts. For at least the next few months, the children of the House of Hope, with their renewed souls, will also have new soles to protect the bottoms of their feet.
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