New Life Bible College: Why Educate?

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 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.”