By KT Reporter
Clergy and church leaders in Soroti City and District have been urged to begin preparing for their eventual departure by focusing on disciple-making, enhancing their congregations, and positively impacting their communities for Christ. The call came during a Training for Trainers (T4T) workshop on disciple-making, hosted by Preachers Mission Africa (PMA) with support from For His Glory Evangelistic Ministries at Soroti Main Baptist Church on Wednesday.
Apostle John Poda, East African Coordinator of For His Glory Ministries, emphasized that making disciples should be a priority for pastors and church leaders as they prepare for a smooth leadership transition. He encouraged a shift in mindset regarding disciple-making, suggesting that church leaders should actively involve members in ministry.
“We need to change the approach from ‘grow then go’ to ‘grow as you go,’” he stated. “When we welcome new believers into the church, we see them as newborns in faith. It’s crucial to train and nurture them as disciples, as true growth comes not just from hearing the Word but from living it.” Poda challenged clergy to reconsider relying solely on fervent prayers for more believers.
“Jesus sent His disciples out to make more disciples,” he pointed out, underscoring the importance of action over passive waiting. He warned that without filling congregations with the Holy Spirit, church leaders’ missions would remain unfulfilled. Instead of merely delivering feel-good messages, they must engage in the deeper, transformative work that discipleship requires.
“To foster a vibrant and growing church capable of transforming communities, we must prioritize building a community of disciples,” Poda said. He noted that while preaching and welcoming new members might seem straightforward, truly building a community demands time, courage, commitment, and sacrifice. Leaders should also be prepared for some believers to leave, as not everyone will choose to follow the path of discipleship.
“It’s not just about making church disciples; it’s about developing those disciples to go out and create more disciples, perpetuating this cycle. You can’t grow a church alone; it requires those willing to step up as true disciples,” Poda remarked. He highlighted the power of personal testimonies, stating that believers’ experiences can resonate more profoundly than scripture itself.
Clergy should empower members to share their testimonies beyond the church walls, reaching non-believers and fostering further discipleship. According to him, pastors and church leaders need to encourage both new and long-standing members to actively share their experiences with those outside the church, rather than focusing solely on internal gatherings.
Bishop Samuel Ongonda, representing the director of For His Glory Ministries in Africa, stressed the importance of consuming knowledge and then releasing it. He emphasized that disciples, after being nurtured, should actively go out and share what they’ve learned to attract more individuals into the faith.
The Bishop also cautioned pastors and church leaders to remain vigilant against individuals falsely claiming to perform miracles, warning against situations where people react to superficial acts rather than the work of the Holy Spirit. Ongonda advocated for church denominations to remain focused and united as one body of Christ, all working toward the Kingdom of God.
Bishop Everest Bizimungu, Uganda Coordinator for For His Glory Ministries, shared experiences on how his church has flourished through discipleship. He mentioned plans for a comprehensive training session upon returning to Soroti next year to equip more pastors and church leaders.
Delux Emmy Alomu, Vice President and Director of Operations and Communication at PMA, representing PMA President and CEO Nelson Oboli, highlighted that the training aligns perfectly with their mission of spreading the Word of God to unreached people across Africa. “Our mission is to actively involve the African Church in discipleship so that the Gospel reaches every corner of Africa. We do this through mobilization, training, empowerment, and providing resources to local churches, all aimed at fulfilling the Great Commission. Partnerships like these are essential for us to achieve our mission,” he stated.
Alomu praised For His Glory Ministries for partnering with PMA in training pastors and church leaders, while Oboli reaffirmed PMA’s dedication to supporting the development of ministers and ministries across Uganda and neighboring countries.
Rev. Girifasio Orono, Vice Chairperson of the Soroti Pastors and Elders Fellowship (SOPEF), expressed gratitude for the collaboration between PMA and For His Glory Ministries. He noted that the partnership has clarified misconceptions among some clergy who believe that God alone should make disciples, rather than taking responsibility themselves.
Pastor Simon Omeke of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) in Soroti and Rev. Roger Martin Ekaju of Soroti City Main Baptist Church also expressed appreciation for the team and requested further insights. Pastor Omeke highlighted that many preachers have been relying on God to bring more people into the church instead of actively making disciples themselves.
Founded in 2019, PMA is a non-denominational, non-profit mission organization committed to discipling and mentoring ministers and believers by partnering with churches across Africa. Its primary goal is to bring the hope of the Gospel to the last miles of Africa under the slogan: “Until all Africa shall be reached.”
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