“AWANA has been a tremendous blessing to our community and to our children. Parents testify that their children can now recite scripture verses and they now pray before eating and before going to bed. Our children know the Lord now than before. The community we serve in is known for breeding thieves and bad boys, but the impact of AWANA is being felt on the community as it influences children to behave godly, our children are influencing the entire children in the community”, reports Pastor Johnson, Revival Tabernacle Ministries, Kabale, Uganda.
Pastor Johnson tells many stories of the children roaming the streets of Kabale early in the morning looking for food in the rubbish bins and living a life without hope. As he went to the Internet cafe one morning he was struck by the sadness and hopelessness of these children. Forty percent of his church is made up of children. The children in the picture above only allowed the picture after Pastor Johnson committed to help them. Many people make promises to help but few follow through. AWANA provides a beginning and the church as it is able helps the children as God puts them in Johnson's path. As the AWANA leaders minister to these children their lives begin to change and step by step God opens doors.
The boys above came from the street and joined AWANA and are now in church. John sat for Primary Leaving Examination and is joining S.1 next year. Bruce has been in and out of school because of being on street and having no one to take care of him. He is supposed to be in Primary 4. Plans are being made to put both of them in the House of Hope home beginning this year for orphans or abandoned children. One child at a time God is placing children in our path. Who knows these young boys may grow up to be strong disciples of Jesus impacting the future of their community.