Uganda - Gulu Teaching Orthodox Mission Team

It was humbling to teach in a culture that was completely new for me. The mission was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I am inspired to be a better Christian and more importantly, a better human being. - 2018 Team Member

GULU, Uganda – The Pearl of Africa awaits you! Meet the clergy and faithful of Uganda and assist with various teaching ministries to clergy, adults and youth.

The 2021 Mission Team to Uganda has been invited by His Grace Silvester, Bishop of Gulu and Eastern Uganda to share the message that we are one, holy Orthodox Church to the faithful of Uganda. The Team has been asked to assist with two clergy retreats and two catechism seminars (in Gulu and Jinja). The Team will visit various sites including the St. Nicholas Spiritual Center in Kampala.

Orthodoxy in East Africa was founded by two charismatic African men searching for truth and ‘orthodoxia’ in the 1920’s. In 1946, the Orthodox Church of Uganda was received into canonical Orthodoxy with approximately 10,000 baptized members. Situated near the equator in East Africa, Uganda gained independence from Colonial rule in the early 1960’s. Within 10 years, Idi Amin gained power and he, and those who followed him, were responsible for the death of over half a million Ugandans. In the mid-1990’s the Church and the nation began healing from twenty years of civil war, famine, dictatorial rule and tribal killings.

Even though the country had suffered greatly, the Orthodox Church of Uganda is growing as it offers a witness to the triumphant love of Christ. Uganda is the first African country south of the Sahara where the Orthodox faith germinated among the indigenous Africans. Gradually, the faith was spread to many parts of the country and to surrounding nations. Currently the Orthodox faith in Uganda consists of two administrative structures which include the Holy Metropolis of Kampala and all Uganda headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga and the Holy Diocese of Gulu and Eastern Uganda headed by His Grace Bishop Silvester Kisitu. The headquarters of Orthodox Church in Uganda are located at Namungoona, a suburb of the capital city Kampala (6kms on Hoima road). The Church consists of 76 priests and 5 deacons. There are over 100 communities, 41 churches built with bricks, 17 medical clinics and one Holy Cross Orthodox Hospital. Under the leadership of the two hierarchs and dedicated clergy, the Church continues to mature and meet the growing needs of her people.

Volunteer to use your skills, talents, and time to build bonds between Orthodox communities in Africa and North America.

Dates:  May 24 - June 5, 2021 

Cost:  $1275.00 (+airfare)

Travel – Team Members must fly on the international travel itinerary OCMC will provide to and from the project destination. Team Members are responsible for all air travel: round trip from one of the NY area airports on May 24 to Kampala Uganda and return home on June 5. Airfares are not included in participant cost.

Fund raising – Each Team Member is responsible for the participant cost and airfares associated with this Team. Team Members are encouraged to invite others to participate in this effort through prayer and tax-deductible donations. Participant cost includes room and board, local transportation, orientation costs, ministry expenses, excursion and materials.

Share in a journey of faith… Orthodox Mission Team members are challenged to view the world with God's eyes and seek how He wants to use them to fulfill His plans. This cross-cultural experience, combined with outreach, offers participants a life-changing learning experience. This experience is about people, culture and missions. It is also about prayer, for you and others; it is about God, those you serve, and about yourself, as you serve Him.