Hope Moves Forward: SWOH’s Response to COVID-19 and Global Events
We hope all of you are safe during this COVID-19 pandemic season. Many of our jobs and lives have transitioned in unexpected ways. Here at SWOH, know you all are in our hearts and prayers.
During this season, we have had time to reflect on what our approach should be this summer. Many of you are aware that our world is in a global pandemic. At the same time East Africa, including our Ugandan brothers and sisters, faces an unprecedented locust swarm in the billions, which will create food shortages for millions.
One cannot imagine what Pastor John, our colleague in Uganda, might be having to bear. A family man, he pastors Grace Community Church, the host church where we conduct conferences and outreaches with our missions program. He‘s a teacher at Wings of Hope Christian Primary School, with an average class size of around 100 students. He has already had to guide these communities through a significant drought and low resources last year. In spite of these challenges, he is committed to keep his faith, be with those in need, and provide hope through any efforts he can.
Pastor John’s approach is similar to that story of Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman. Jesus and his disciples take a mission trip to Samaria. Even though Jesus is physically exhausted from the journey, he still takes time to care for a Samaritan woman he meets randomly. Jesus cared for the people in front of Him.
With all these factors in mind, it reminds me that Sovereign Wings of Hope is in a unique position to do the same with our Ugandan brothers and sisters. By doing missions, we encourage others to keep up their faith in trying times. By working with the terminally ill, we are with families in the most critical time of life, when someone passes away. By maintaining a school for at-risk children and orphans, we provide meals and education to over 700 kids.
Therefore our plan this summer is to “keep on keeping on” as we prayerfully monitor what COVID-19 response will allow us to accomplish. We hope to continue our missions ministry this summer, continue to grow our school ministry and invest in our hospice ministry. We believe partnering with Ugandans in these ministries will empower Pastor John and others to keep their faith, be with the people, and provide hope.