Manna Ministry

One-Year Report

Manna Ministry has been serving hurting people in Kampala, Uganda for a year now, and we have paused to take stock of what God is doing through this work. Douglas and our staff at Manna Ministry put in a lot of work to provide the raw material for this report. I hope it will give you a feel for Manna Ministry’s mission and encourage you as partners in this work.

We have completed work at three food distribution points, Soweto, Mengo-Kisenyi, and Katanga, and two more, Banda and another location, whose name roughly translates as "the place of pickpockets" started in August. We’ll give you a snapshot of each of the completed distribution points and its people and share some testimonies from recipients that we hope will communicate the human and eternal impact Manna is having.

When we began Manna Ministry one year ago, we had a vision from God and many questions. The two questions that troubled me most were:

"What will happen to the people we help through Manna when they have to leave the program? How will they provide for themselves?"

"Will the ones who made commitments to Christ continue in the faith or disappear?"

After one year we have the answer in part to these questions. Some have died of AIDS. And some have slipped back into their former existence. But there are several who have been helped and now have jobs and are able to care for themselves.

I met a lady who is now sewing for a living. One year ago she was bedridden, too weak to work. Through the food and HIV treatments she is providing for her family! One man is now carrying heavy objects on his back to make a living; one year ago he was too weak to work! Both of these people are very active in the church and in training to become leaders. These are only two examples; there are many more.

Manna Ministry is also opening doors for church planting. In Soweto one year ago, there were no viable churches. Today there are six (four started by Manna, two by Bible Way). In Katanga, a church planted through Manna has planted 3 more churches within six months. We just opened Manna in Banda. Forty-five to fifty people made commitments to Christ at the first food distribution. They have started a church, and 35 of those who were saved are registered to be baptized!

In August, Bible Way baptized 34, and the Kampala House Church Network about 70! That's more than 100 people who were baptized. At left, you can see the line of people waiting to be baptized at the end of August. This year, from January 2006 till now, in only eight months, almost 400 people have been baptized and the number of churches has grown from about 25 to more than 40.

I am so grateful to the Lord that he has let me be a part of something that He has used to save people's lives both physically and spiritually. You have had a big part in this. Through your prayers and gifts, the Lord is reaping a harvest and changing lives.

Thank you for your partnership. To God be the glory. If you have questions about Manna or its work or any of the testimonies included here, please use the contact page to let me know.

Jimmy