Why Uganda?

1. The devastation of the Amin and Obote years with unrestrained terror, murder, tribal warfare, and corruption destroyed much of the economic and social fabric of the nation and hastened the spread of AIDS. Recovery will still take many more years.
2. The Church, though in part being revived and growing, needs prayer for: a) Loving unity in Christ. b) Continued renewal. While most of the population claims to be Christian, widespread polygamy, a culture of promiscuity, and paying mere lip-service to God, belies this. c) Training for a new generation of spiritual and godly leaders.
3. Major ministry challenges for the Ugandan Church: a) The AIDS disaster. Though the infection rate is falling, the devastation for families and communities is great. Maybe 3 million are living with the disease. There are nearly 2 million orphans of AIDS and war. b) Young people's ministry. Pray for effective youth programs in churches - not a priority in the past. c) Children in crisis. The large number of orphans and the increased levels of poverty deprive many of care, finance for education, and hope.

But there are many answers to prayer to celebrate!
1. Uganda is the first country in the world with a massive AIDS problem to halve and even reduce the numbers of afflicted from possibly 25% in 1992 to possibly 8-10% in 2000. Both government and churches faced up to the terrible calamity and have successfully worked to achieve this reduction.
2. East African revival brought new life and fervency to the large Church of Uganda and other smaller denominations for 30 years after its beginning in 1936. Internal divisions and the awful years of persecution and suffering between 1967 and 1986 damped the fires of revival.
3. Renewed revival from 1986 onwards - widespread prayer movements, the amazing growth of the Pentecostal Assemblies and a revival movement in the Catholic Church in 1995 are manifestations of this. Renewal in the latter has led to gospel preaching, healings and the burning of fetishes.