Transforming Mission: Connectivity

Crossing the Nile River in Uganda

If you are looking for a source to the Nile, you will soon discover that there are a multiplicity of sources. As the mighty river snakes from Egypt through Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda, it draws water from many tributaries. Follow the water, and you will be lead to sources flowing from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, and Eritrea. 

Great ideas, like great rivers, never have just one source. They are fed and strengthened by hundreds even thousands of people who share a common dream and passion.

As Canadian Baptist Ministries works in Africa with our partner churches, we also work in cooperation with various other stakeholders and like minded agencies. Together we are seeking to participate in God's great redemptive work to bring hope and transformation into the world.

Connectivity is the recognition that we are at our best when we work in collaboration with others. A big part of CBM's work in Africa, and around the world, involves networking with local and international partners.

Aura, Uganda

This past week, we participated in the "ECHO East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Conflict Situations", in Arua, Uganda. Aaron was able to share about fruitful practices of Intergal Mission in multi-faith contexts.  Along with contributing lessons from the Canadian Baptist's forty years of ministry among the Muslim communities of Kenya, it was wonderful to learn from others as they reflect on ministry success and failures. 

It was a joy to meet with leaders from dozens of other Christian organizations committed to holistic ministry.

Stella and Robert working with ECHO

Through Canadian Baptist Ministries' work with Canadian Food Grains Bank and our partner organizations, we are networking with organizations like ECHO that are seeking to reduce conflict, poverty, hunger and physical hardship by engaging rural communities more effectively to adapt their livelihoods and farming/agro-pastoralist systems.

ECHO is especially committed to increasing connectivity among local and international organizations serving in East Africa. 

Ambrose Toolit

Ambrose works in Karamoja, Uganda, seeking to promote human rights and conflict management. "Conflict is everywhere!" shared Ambrose. "It is not restricted to war zones. It is a cross cutting issue that we must respond to holistically." 

Through dialogue, peace initiatives, community-based reconciliation, and livelihood enhancement, the people of Karamoja are beginning to find a new way forward. Cattle rustling and the related violence is declining. But challenges continue to persist.

Among the successes that Ambrose has been a part of is the work of youth groups coming together to promote dialogue and mutual understanding. Everyone desires a future and well being. Together these peace ambassadors are using sport, music, and the arts to build bridges toward a better future.

One of the initiatives has been youth groups sewing traditional hats, like the red one Ambrose wears. Once a symbol of soldiers and raiding parties, the multicoloured hats are new symbol for peace and co-existance. 

A little more diversity in your diet?

Grasshoppers ready for frying!

Aaron with Romano Longole

Romano works with Kotido Peace Initiative, Uganda. It is a ministry of the Catholic Church of Uganda that is taking a traditional approach to reconciliation among pastoralist communities in Kotido District.

Serving among the six subclass of the Karimojone, Romano realized how high poverty among people had lead to conflict as a means to survival. "'What can we eat?' Is the question that lies behind the conflict there." 

In Karamoja, conflict centred on natural resources and cattle rustling. The shortage of pastoral land, access to water, and demand for beef had exasperated the violence between groups. Raiding had become socially accepted and even blessed by traditional religious leaders. 

After years of work, people are finally turning away from cattle raiding. But now they are desperate to find another source of food security many have turned to cutting down trees for charcoal. Romano realizes that this is a short sighted and disastrous move. Helping the people find a sustainable means for food security is the great challenge.

Please pray for the people of Karamoja, Uganda. And remember ambassadors for peace like Romano and Ambrose, who are committed to seeing transformation in their communities.

The ultimate source of mission is God in Christ. As new springs of hope and transformation begin to break through in Africa, we recognize that these are all the work of God in and through God's people. 

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is 

anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 

I Corinthians 3:17