Favor of God Newsletter

A good summary of all their activities:

2008 Ministry Highlights

We want to share with you a summary of some of the amazing things God accomplished in 2008 through FOG.

House of Hope Children’s Home – The staffing at HOH has increased so that the 33 children are now being cared for by three mamas, two aunties, and two supervisors.  - Another exciting improvement is the opening of our FOG Primary School. As a result the children receive a higher level of education while also growing in a loving Christian environment.  - In order to transport the children to and from school and church, FOG purchased a fire engine red truck.  - A visiting team purchased materials and built a jungle gym in the HOH yard.  - The children also participate in outreach events. During one such hospital ministry, 17 people gave their lives to Christ.  - With the vision of building a children’s village with single-family sized homes, a boarding school, and training facilities, 10 acres of land were purchased.

Primary School – The Favor of God Christian Primary school experienced an enrollment of 276 children in 2008! It serves the children of House of Hope and of FOG staff. Also many children from the community of Gulu are welcomed to be taught in a warm, loving, and Biblically based environment.  - In a country where the average teacher-student ratio is about 100 to 1, FOG has a commitment to have no more than 40 children to every 2 teachers. The children are doing exceptionally well, and the school is in the process of increasing from 1st through 6th grade to Nursery through 8th grade.

Trauma Counseling – The trauma counseling department of FOG was able to reach out to 6,077 people providing healing and restoration from the atrocities both witnessed and committed during the war. Participants are encouraged to seek and receive forgiveness while having an opportunity to hear how Jesus can completely restore their lives. 941 people made confessions of faith during the 2-week of counseling sessions, with countless more sure to make that decision in the future.

Portable Bible Schools – The Portable Bible School (PBS) Program at FOG experienced huge success in 2008. We were blessed to take the Word of God into Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps, where many have never heard of the name of Jesus. A total of 14,147 people were contacted out of which 8,134 accepted Jesus as the Lord and Savior of their lives.  - Over 3,000 adults graduated from the 3 week, 8 hour a day Bible training program and received a new Bible in their own language. A total of 3,123 Bibles were distributed in 2008, with a need for many more in 2009!

Medical Outreach – Working hand in hand with local leaders, FOG’s medical staff and several visiting teams from the U.S. were able to provide vaccinations, medicine, education, and care to thousands of impoverished men, women, and children throughout northern Uganda.

Prayer Teams – Prayer is the heartbeat of all that occurs within Favor of God Ministries. As always, our morning worship and devotion time is open to the community. However, in 2008 a House of Prayer was also established in the town of Gulu. You can find up to 300 people from all different denominations, churches, and organizations united in prayer during the daily lunch time worship. This powerful weapon is changing the community!

New Life Bible College - Being the only Bible College in Northern Uganda, NLBC offers a one year certificate and two year diploma in Christian Ministry. We are looking forward to expanding its capacity to provide this training for more people. In 2008 NLBC provided solid, inexpensive biblical training for 99 pastors and leaders in the Gulu, Lira, and Kitgum districts.

Prison Ministry – FOG staff and visiting teams have been providing weekly Bible study and evangelism to both the men’s and women’s prisons in northern Uganda. This ministry is seeing lives transformed, hearts healed, and spiritual lives strengthened. It is touching the prisoners as well as those imprisoning them.

Radio Ministry – FOG teaches weekly on a radio station in northern Uganda. This is reaching all of the northern districts of Uganda and into southern Sudan with the hope and message of Christ.

Small Business Development – FOG has been laying the groundwork for the development of self-sustainable industries. This will provide tangibly for the ministry. But it will also provide a teaching and business outreach opportunity to bless individuals in the community affected by the decades of high unemployment and the ravages of war.

HIV Prevention and Awareness – HIV/AIDS affects almost every family and every aspect in Uganda. Therefore, each FOG ministry is involved in the fight against AIDS whether it is in prayer, medical outreach, education, or counseling.