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The Heart for Africa
support group no longer meets on a Sunday afternoon. Listen out for
other opportunities to pray together for the work of our friends in Africa.
If there is a written update from YEA produced,
the latest one will be posted here and earlier ones archived.
December 2011 Update
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Looking back over the past 12 months I feel we have been
building foundations and seeing steady growth. As we have
spent time working on our Strategic plan (still in process) I
think we have all sensed God guiding us into a greater and
stronger commitment to see Youth Ministry transformed in
East Africa. As this plan is realized we also pray that it will
transform the youth touched by it. As
you read from Collin and Prosper I hope you will see how
we are trying to have an impact both in urban and rural
areas, where very different needs can be found and very
different approaches to youth ministry need to be taught.
However, be it in the city or in the deep village, the key point
has to be for young people to meet with Jesus
and enjoy a real, transformational relationship with Him. In all our
planning and strategy this is our bottom line.
Seeing this happen is true discipleship.
It is wonderful, at a time when credit is crunching
hard, to be able to talk about growth, development
and new shoots. This year has been tough at times but I am
confident that YEA is moving forward.
As this is the last newsletter for 2011, I would like to thank each of
you for the part you have played in making all
this possible, but most of all to thank God who is in the middle of
everything and guiding us towards the goal,
His son, Jesus.
HAPPY
CHRISTMAS.........................................................Ian |
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Bringing together our work in the cities of East Africa:
For a long time we (Ian, Collin, Prosper,
Silver and Alex) have been making regular
trips to Bujumbura in Burundi, exploring ways how to
work with youth there, support the young church and start
something that will connect youth workers across the city and the
denominations.
3 years down the road there is now a strong, growing youth workers
network called DOMEKA, that brings over 200 youth workers
together from different churches in Bujumbura. They meet once
a month and have already organized a big youth conference.
Back in Kampala our local network is
now meeting regularly every last Wednesday of the month bringing
together youth pastors/workers from 10 churches across the city.
In October we hosted 3 founder leaders from NAYNET (in
Nairobi) here in Kampala and had a good time
discussing ways of engaging and partnering more together in youth
ministry in Nairobi as well as across the East
African cities.
In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, there is a network ready to
take off. I have been down there twice in the
past year. They are about to organize a meeting for youth
pastors/workers in key churches in Dar next
February.
We, along with NAYNET, have a vision to bring together the key leaders
from the 4 cities for an EACWYN meeting (East
African City Wide Youth Workers Network) in 2012, as well as support the
continued growth of the individual networks.
Collin. |
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Over the years YEA has expanded. We now offer service to
Youth Ministry in many areas of Uganda and
around the region. At the same time we have
ensured consolidation of existing work. As
this year winds up, it has been no different.
In terms of consolidating existing partnerships, much time and
energy this year has been focused on Masindi and Hoima districts.
Through our partners Henry and Nathan (Diocese Youth Workers)
we have offered a lot of training and participated in Youth
Conferences throughout these regions.
In December and January YEA will be doing more training there and
helping to facilitate a Youth Convention in Masindi.
All our other work across the country is moving forward and we
have potential new partners in Fort Portal, Bushenyi and Iganga.
Friendship with key people in Kampala, David Kabiswa, Amos Wekesa and
Leonard Mutesasira, are opening up exciting
new possibilities for the future.
May the good Lord see His work grow to even greater heights in the year
ahead through YEA.
Job 8:7
Prosper
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Like the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles
begins with 1 step. My thousandth mile was
recently achieved when I wrote the final exams
for my three year bachelors in NGO management
with Social Work at Cavendish University in
Kampala. I am now waiting for the exam results (which I am
believing God to be excellent!)
I can’t thank YEA enough for both the financial and
moral support that I have been blessed with.
Also the Walton family from Stockport (Emma
was on the CIST team) who made a great
contribution to this milestone in my life.
I do hope to be of use to YEA even more and I must
repeat, I am blessed to have been and still am a
part of YEA.
May you all have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. Josh 1: 8-9.
Eugene |
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