Bible Teaching

Olson Girls Short-term Mission Trip to Uganda

Posted on July 7, 2019 by jdegreef

Hello everybody!

My name is Laura and I recently travelled to Uganda with my sister, Erin.

Laura with Young Child

We both had the chance to travel and witness the inner workings of Christian Model Ministries.

While in Uganda, Erin and I toured the various ministries that Christian Model Ministry (CMM) was involved with. This included prisons, churches, children AIDs centers, and youth hubs. We had the opportunity to not only witness these programs, but to also be involved with them.

Erin with School Children

The Saturday program we were able to visit was very inspiring. This program was for children afflicted by AIDS. It helped to treat the children, while providing financial support for their education and even extra help with academics. They also hosted the children every Saturday, teaching the children songs, Bible stories and games. We had the opportunity to help teach them and then serve the kids lunch. We then had time to play with the kids and just have lots of fun with them! It was so great getting to know the kids!

Laura With Children

We had the opportunity to travel to western Uganda to be apart of an international Christian convention. While we were there, we assisted with the children’s program. I, Laura, had the chance to teach a class of twelve children under six years old. It was a fun challenge to teach children that did not speak any English. The children were so welcoming and eager to listen to all that we had to share. This was definitely one of my favourite days of the entire trip.

Erin PReaching

During the convention, we attended the youth oriented portion. We were very excited to hear about the journeys and adventures of the main speaker and some of the youth. However, the youth part of the convention attracted many children, even though there was no program planned for them. We were asked to help entertain the children, and this was definitely a huge highlight.

I, Erin, had worked at a children’s camp the previous summer and so I had I learned many silly campfire songs. I got to teach the 100+ kids a couple silly songs and even how to play “Simon Says.” The language barrier appeared to be nothing as we thrived together, singing our hearts out.

Chilling in the City

We also had the pleasure of spending time with Dan’s wonderful family. We spent time playing soccer, frisbee, basketball, and cuddling their baby, Timothy. Every meal provided an opportunity to converse and gain a deeper understanding of the local culture. The Muwanguzi family became our Ugandan family. We sure miss them all!

Cooking in Uganda

Travelling with Richard

Overall, our favourite part of this trip with meeting all the people. We adored our time getting to know the people from CMM and the many others we were lucky to meet.

Uganda was a beautiful country, definitely including the safari we went on, and we will definitely miss it.

We are so excited to continue to pray for and support CMM, and see how the organization grows and positively influences the community.

Categories: Bible Teaching, Crusades and Evangelism, Mission Trip | 2 Comments

24 Students Graduate Bible Course in Bweyogerere Uganda

Posted on December 7, 2015 by jdegreef

Greetings Supporters and Friends, here is one of Dan’s updates on his recent OT class in Bwegogerere:

***

This is the Old Testament class that we ran at the “God’s Center of Blessings” Church  at Bweyogerere. 24 students from seven different churches graduated the OT course.

OT Bible Graduating Class of 2015

OT Bible Graduating Class of 2015

The occasion was so colourful and filled of excitement and Joy!

Joyful students receiving their certificates.

Joyful students receiving their certificates.

The handing out of the certificates was done in the Church during a service and we had a meal together afterwards with invited guests to cerebrate the achieved victory.

Joyful Graduation Celebration - a Great Victory Praise the Lord!

Joyful Graduation Celebration – a Great Victory Praise the Lord!

We left them with lots of Bible study assignments through which we will keep following up until March next year when we will be starting the new 2016 Classes.

We will be graduating the NT class at Mukono this coming Sunday December 6th.

Some of the students requested for this extra time to complete their assignments well. So we have been  working with this class of 9 students until December 6th when they will graduate.

We, the teaching team, are so thankful to the Lord for such an opportunity to be part of what the Lord is doing in the lives of these students.

Great foundations have been laid in Biblical knowledge for life and mission in Uganda.

Graduation Ceremony Photos

Graduation Ceremony Photos

God bless, and thank you everyone for your encouragement and support.

Muwanguzi Dan

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C-TBS 2014 Bible Teaching Class Update

Posted on December 15, 2014 by jdegreef

This is an update from Dan Muwanguzi on the Church based Training in Biblical Studies course Dan taught in Uganda in 2014.

*****

The Graduation for both schools did take place on the 16th November. We joined the occasion and we were all at the “God’s Centre of Blessings Church” at Bweyogere. It was part of the Church service and
the Graduation was the theme of that whole service which had more than 300 people who attended. And after the service, the Church leadership had organised for the graduates, teachers and all invited guests a very good Ugandan meal that we ate together.

Graduates of the 2014 C-TBS run by Dan and the CMM Team.

Graduates of the 2014 C-TBS run by Dan and the CMM Team.

We graduated thirty-four students in total and this graduation has been the largest in number since we started running such courses or and even ever since i started getting involved in the SBS/C-TBS in 1992. One of the reasons being that this time, we were able to run two schools concurrently.

The students have lots of encouraging testimonies to give. And other than the ones we heard on their graduation, I have every now and then received very many encouraging testimonies from the individual
students regarding this course.

Florence and her husband Wanaswa. Florence has been one of this year's Bible students and she is among those who performed very well.

Florence and her husband Wanaswa. Florence has been one of this year’s Bible students and she is
among those who performed very well.

A few days ago, I did meet with Pastor Steven Mugwanya at “Gods Center of Blessings” where most students were from and he also gave me very positive and encouraging feedback about how the students were performing in ministry in relation to before the Bible teaching. Pastor Steven has given each of the students a chance to teach in the Church . I have been receiving calls  from other churches where these students (Graduates) are ministering and they are all encouraging.

Dan presenting and handing out certificates at the graduation ceremony.

Dan presenting and handing out certificates at the graduation ceremony.

“SELF DISCOVERY” The inductive approach includes or involves a lot of self discovery. And we have a saying in this course: “One student – you, one book – the Bible, and one teacher – The Holly Spirit”. This makes this course unique more especially in the African setting where we are not a reading culture. This is also a course which does not end at the graduation but if you want, the graduation makes the real start. What I mean is that at the end of the course, the students are now able to continue their studies and research using the same approach.

Two happy recent graduates from the 2014 C-TBS cohort.

Two happy recent graduates from the 2014 C-TBS cohort.

Next year, we will again be running two classes, one at the same location as this year and the second one at Mukono Deliverance Church. We will be running the Old Testament class at Bweyogerere God’s Center of Blessings Church and the New Testament at Mukono Deliverance Church.

And though it looks a bit far but we will appreciate prayers from all our friends during the preparations for both schools. We put the dates to the first weekend of March as that is when most parents have taken back their children to school and can now settle for such studies.

Categories: Bible Teaching | 1 Comment

Summer 2014 Bible Teaching (C-TBS) in Uganda

Posted on July 4, 2014 by jdegreef

The need for more solid Biblical training in Uganda is paramount to Church discipleship, especially among the leaders of the Uganda Church. The C-TBS (church-based training in Biblical studies) is a program run by Dan and CMM to combat this big need.

Dan Muwanguzi has been very busy the Spring and Summer of 2014, teaching two classes for his inductive Bible teaching. Unlike in the Past years where we have run only one Bible class per year,  the Lord has put it on CMM’s hearts to run two classes now and in the coming years. Reason is the same. The need for training is “BIG”. This to some extent has been noted by the Pastors and Church leaders nation wide.

Training Church leaders is so key and should be given a priority so the CMM Team prays and believes God for a stronger Church which can make a stronger impact on the nation. The Bible is the “Word of God” and has a key role to play in the long term change and development of Uganda, East Africa, and the whole world at large.

The C-TBS class in Uganda summer 2014.

God’s Center of Blessings Bweyogerere C-TBS Class in Uganda summer 2014.

This year – CMM is running two concurrent C-TBS’s in two different locations. And all together training over forty leaders from seven different churches.

From Dan Muwanguzi –

We have a class going on at the “Gods Center of blessings'” Church at Bweyogerere. This class has 29 students. We started this class Mid March and will be ending in November.

The second class is at the”Matugga Search Light of God” Church, which started late March and will end End of November too. This class has 12 students.

Both classes are going on well.

C-TBS The Search light of God Matugga class - with Dan in the centre back row.

God’s Center of Blessings Bweyogerere C-TBS class – with Dan in the centre back row.

We have already received very encouraging personal reports from the students. Recently in some of our class discussion sessions, two of the students mentioned that they have felt an urge to go and put things right with their relatives “Parents” whom they had cut off communication for so many years. Others have mentioned that the class or school disciplines have helped them improve on their respective jobs as well. And the majority as usual are talking about this training as an eye opener in regards to studying and understanding the word of God. And so many other testimonies that we have received.

The Search Light of God Church in Matugga, just north of Kampala, where we spoke one Sunday and help two days of dental outreaches for the local population.

The Search Light of God Church in Matugga, just north of Kampala, where we spoke one Sunday and help two days of dental outreaches for the local population.

Biblical studies is “Spiritual warfare”. We therefore request all our friends, supporters, and co-workers around the world to keep praying with us and for our students as we continue in this crucial ministry.

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Providence Team Visits Uganda – Part 2, Visiting and Supporting Local Churches

Posted on May 25, 2014 by jdegreef

The Christian Church in Uganda is large, which is great, but often pastors lack strong Biblical training to guide and support their large congregations.

When the Providence Church Team visited Uganda and CMM, went traveled to remote villages and churches where CMM ministers, whether through supporting local children’s school fees or with Dan Muwanguzi and team providing solid, inductive style, Biblical training.

Here we are visiting with a Pastor and church leaders in Kampala where Dan recently took them through a 6 month Bible training program.

Here we are visiting with a Pastor and church leaders in Kampala where Dan recently took them through a 6 month Bible training program.

Getting ready to speak at a small church in Moroto, Karamojja region, Northern Uganda.

Getting ready to speak at a small church in Moroto, Karamojja region, Northern Uganda.

In most of the churches, half the congregation were small children. This made for a lively worship service for sure!

We handed out Discipleship books, written by John Banks, to rural pastors and church leaders. These books were jammed packed full of scripture, and nicely organized.

We handed out Discipleship books, written by David Banks, to rural pastors and church leaders. These books were jammed packed full of scripture, and nicely organized.

I brought some copies of this book back to Canada and have the electronic version, if anyone wants it, email me at james.degreef@deiyo.com.

A well used Bible in Northern Uganda. The Sunday School Teachers were asking us to bring teaching materials and children's Bibles when we returned - which we will.

A well used Bible in Northern Uganda. The Sunday School Teachers were asking us to bring teaching materials and children’s Bibles when we returned – which we will.

A church in Matugga, just north of Kampala, where we spoke one Sunday and help two days of dental outreaches for the local population.

A church in Matugga, just north of Kampala, where we spoke one Sunday and help two days of dental outreaches for the local population.

Saying a big good-bye to a church in Kotido, Karamojja region, Northern Uganda. The pastor is on the left, and many children attend this church. Some of these children go to school under the CMM child school sponsorship program.

Saying a big good-bye to a church in Kotido, Karamojja region, Northern Uganda. The pastor is on the left, and many children attend this church. Some of these children go to school under the CMM child school sponsorship program.

It was very encouraging to see the pastors lead their congregations, and they have such vision and passion for their work and their people. It was an honour to visit them and to hopefully work with them and support them in the coming years.

 

Categories: Bible Teaching, Crusades and Evangelism, General Update | Leave a comment

Providence Team Visits Uganda – Part 1

Posted on April 2, 2014 by jdegreef

Providence Community Church in Oak Bay Canada, sent five adventurers to Uganda for 20 days, to visit Dan and the CMM Team, and to witness firsthand the needs in Uganda, the CMM team at work, and to support, encourage, and participate.

Right from the start, in the planning and preparations, and throughout the trip, God was present, showing his favour and providence in this short-term mission.

The CMM Team were very hospitable, and we felt loved and part of the CMM family right away. Now that we are back in Canada, we dearly miss our Ugandan brothers and sisters.

The CMM Team were very hospitable, and we felt loved and part of the CMM family right away. Now that we are back in Canada, we dearly miss our Ugandan brothers and sisters.

We left Canada on Wednesday February 13th, flew to Holland on the 14th, and then got into Entebe Uganda on Friday the 15th. So basically two days of travel to get from Victoria Canada to Kampala Uganda. Dan’s family and the CMM team were very kind and gracious in meeting and caring for us. Miriam, Dan’s wife, and Florence, a CMM Team Leader, were great hosts and cooks for us.

Interestingly, although I ate a lot of good food in Uganda, I did end up losing 4 lbs.

The first Sunday, Dan split the Providence Team into two, and we went and preached at two rural churches on the outside of Kampala, and also taught Sunday school.

Chris Regelus was a big hit with the children at the Gombe Church just outside of Kampala. He was a crazy Mzungu, shared a Bible story, and had fun interacting with the children.

Chris Regelus was a big hit with the children at the Gombe Church just outside of Kampala. He was a crazy Mzungu, shared a Bible story, and had fun interacting with the children.

Christian Model Ministries conducts crusades and outreaches in Uganda, and one strategy that has proven very effective is to hire a couple Christian dentists to provide free dental care for rural Ugandans. This draws a big crowd, who wait for their dental visit, and they also get to hear the Gospel message and interact with Christians for prayer and counseling.

The CMM team planned two mini Dental outreaches for us to participate in, one in Gombe on the Monday and Tuesday, and one in Matugga on the Wednesday and Thursday. We were amazed out how tough the Ugandans were, getting rotten teeth pulled and other various treatments.

Kurt Hafso is getting ready to administer pain killer to a dentistry patient.

Kurt Hafso is getting ready to administer pain killer to a dentistry patient.

The dentist tools were a bit more crude than what we are used too, but they worked and hopefully we helped relieve much pain people were suffering with. The patients were very thankful for this gift to them.

The dentist tools were a bit more crude than what we are used too, but they worked and hopefully we helped relieve much pain people were suffering with. The patients were very thankful for this gift to them.

Four days of ministry, preaching, counseling, prayer, and giving clothing gifts, complimented the dental ministry.

Much clothes, shoes, tooth brushes and toothpaste, toys, and other supplies was donated to our team to bring to Uganda by the Compassionate Resource Warehouse in Victoria BC. This was an amazing gift to the Ugandans. Thank you CRW!

We’ll be posting more on our Uganda Visit over the coming weeks.

Thank you.

Cordially,
James DeGreef (blog poster)
One of Dan’s Canadian Friends

Categories: Bible Teaching, Crusades and Evangelism, Ugandan Children | 1 Comment

CMM Outreach Crusade to Butaleja – Finishing 2013 Preaching God’s Word

Posted on January 25, 2014 by jdegreef

This is the report regarding the Butaleja year-end Mega mission.

The whole CMM team of nine people went together with other members from local churches but mostly from the Searchlight of God Church in Kampala. We were all together a team of about 42 people.

We all stayed in one three bedroom house, sharing one bathroom and toilet. The team does all the cooking for ourselves, fetching water, keeping house and place clean, on top of the mission programs during the four days 27th Dec-1st Jan 2014. It was all fun.

The CMM Butelaja Outreach Team and supporting people from Searchlight of God and other local churches.

The CMM Butelaja Outreach Team and supporting people from Searchlight of God and other local churches.

Our goal was to minister to the Butaleja church and community, but also to provide an opportunity (create a platform) for individuals from local churches to participate and test out being a missionary.

Activities involved include:

  1. Open air Gospel meetings every afternoon.
  2. Visiting prisons.
  3. Visiting hospitals or the sick.
  4. Ministering to community children.
  5. Running leadership seminars for church leaders.
  6. Praying with the Butalejja community into the New Year’s Eve.
  7. Giving out some clothing to the needy.
  8. Showing the Jesus’s film and other films.
  9. Playing soccer and netball with the community.
  10. Visiting and encouraging some local churches.
  11. Baptizing those who give their lives to Jesus.
  12. Praying for and counseling individuals who come to crusades.

All the mentioned activities went on well, and were very successful.

This time, we also did open up a brand new church under the name of “Christian Model Fellowship Butaleja”. One school provided a big hall as they saw this church as an answer to persevering prayer. The chairman, and the board of directors of that school mentioned that church needs to be at the very centre of their school programs and all Christian children in that school plus other members will be part of the fellowship. This was a huge blessing from God!

Speaking to the gathered crowd in Butaleja.

Speaking to the gathered crowd in Butaleja.

During these four days in Butaleja, more than 130 people gave their lives to Christ. The team prayed and counseled many individuals who came with different prayer items. We baptized 27 people. We visited 5 different churches to encourage and followup on those who have been converted during previous crusades to Buteleja.

We baptized new believers in a local river in Butaleja.

We baptized new believers in a local river in Butaleja.

The inmates in the prison were so excited receiving us. They lead in praise and worship and one of us shared the Word of God. Others shared some testimonies then afterwards, and we share some “snarks” – sodas and chapatis. One Muslim inmate gave his life to Christ. We also prayed and counseled one to one with each of the inmates.

Ministry at a prison in Butaleja.

Ministry at a prison in Butaleja.

Soccer and Netball – it was the CMM team verses the Butaleja community team and in both games, the CMM team lost to the community team !!! Our goal here is to mix with the community for fun and socializing.

Soccer in Butaleja.

Soccer in Butaleja.

We had a leadership seminar, and the highlight on this was that we CMM had invited friends of mine, missionary from the UK David Banks. His emphasis in ministry in Uganda is Discipleship training. David had written a very good discipleship manual. Very simplified with with excellent Discipleship content. On that occasion, more than seventy Discipleship books were distributed freely to each (One book per church). The church leaders were so much encouraged.

Teaching God's word and Biblical principals to leaders.

Teaching God’s word and Biblical principals to leaders.

The New Years event was also an exciting and encouraging event. Many gave their lives to Christ that evening, many many people turned up for the overnight prayers that were led by the CMM team throughout the whole night. Some people traveled on foot a very far distance to come and attend. Places like bars and other disco places in town had to close as the majority of the community people preferred prayers and cerebrating with us on the Butaleja community outreach.

Ministering to the children in Butaleja.

Ministering to the children in Butaleja.

The whole team left on the 1st Jan 2014 to return home with a lot of excitement and gratefulness to the Lord Jesus Christ for what has happened in the four days we stayed in Butaleja.

We would like to thank everyone that stood with us in prayers and finances.

May the Lord richly bless you much more.

God Bless;

Dan Muwanguzi

Categories: Bible Teaching, Crusades and Evangelism, Ugandan Children | 1 Comment

The Significance of Biblical Studies in Uganda

Posted on October 1, 2013 by jdegreef
The percentage of Christianity in Uganda compared to other religions is 84%. Islam is 12% and the others are 4%. When we go with statistics, then Uganda would close to look like heaven !! with such large number of Christians. But Uganda is not heaven. This points to the crucial need to strengthen the foundations of the Church in Uganda and Africa at large with a stronger Biblical foundation. Even more so, given the fact that the Church has a key role to play in a society and nation at large. Whatever happens in a society may also reflect the strength or weakness of the Church.

A good number of our church leaders (ministers) have had no formal or Biblical training at all. They will only teach their favorite Bible passages repeatedly throughout the year, or listen to a preacher on the TV and try to copy their messages and style of preaching.

But we also have church ministers who cannot speak the English language so they can never join say 97% of our few Bible colleges in Uganda. Some ministers have large families, full-time work above their ministry duties, and otherwise cannot move away from their churches to attend a full-time Bible training course. Also, good Bible training and going to a Bible College is just well beyond most Ugandan ministers’ financial means.

Our answer to this is our training program called the C-TBS (Church based Training in Biblical Studies) has been designed to help all Ugandan Church leaders as described above. C-TBS is a Mobile Bible training course. We teach principles in Bible study based on the “Inductive Approach”.

We take the training to the community and invite as many church ministers from different churches to come and attend the course. We do this on a voluntarily basis. This means that we transport the teachers to the location where the students are.

The Bible has a big role to play in our Society / Nation today. It contains the principles that if taught and applied will bring a change, a transformation, and blessing within the nation of Uganda and more broadly Africa.

We therefor call upon all our friends to join us in this venture, an opportunity to serve God by strengthening the foundations of the Church through Biblical studies.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support.

Sincerely,

Muwanguzi Dan.
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Dan Muwanguzi’s Teaching the Bible in Mukono

Posted on April 10, 2013 by jdegreef

Update on the Church Based Training in Biblical Studies (C-TBS) – in Mukono DC Church

We do have a very impressive class of 19 people all together. This includes the senior Pastor of that Church and key leaders of different ministries. They come from 3 different churches but mostly from Mukono DC.

This church is involved in many different types of Ministries and outreaches in the Mukono community and the nearby areas. The church is so much committed to studying the word and prayer. Deliverance church is one of the Churches in Uganda that has for a long time maintained a very good reputation, building their ministry on team work, Godliness and with a strong emphasis on the “Word of God”.

The Church Based Training Bible School in Mukono.

The Church Based Training Bible School in Mukono.

Our role as C-TBS is to be part of what the Lord is doing in Mukono and the nearby areas as we influence those key ministry leaders through the Bible training course.

We do have a very good and enthusiastic bunch of participants. They are faster in learning the Bible study principles.

We are also learning a lot from them as we conduct this course.

We are also learning a lot from the students as we conduct this course.

The Pastor, “FRED SSALI” has been so supportive and has encouraged us a lot with his praises for this course.We thank the Lord that he has given us the leaders in his church to be in our class this year and we look forward to more excitement, learning and hearing from the Lord as we continue.

Since we started, Andrew Kiwanuka and my self have been the main facilitators, Andrew is the Director for the SBS in YWAM Uganda and we always work together in both programs. The assistant Pastor Peter Sekatawa is a former SBS Student. He was one of our students some time back, now he is the assistant pastor in the DC church and an overseer of other sister churches. Peter is a very good Bible teacher and he is part of our current teaching team in this school.

Teaching one evening to the church.

Teaching one evening to the church.

We are so grateful to the Lord for the prayers, encouragement and financial help that enables us to keep this and other Christian Model Ministry programs running smoothly.

PS -> Here's a picture of Princess. She's growing really fast.

PS -> Here’s a picture of Princess. She’s growing really fast.

God Bless you, Dan Muwanguzi

Posted by James DeGreef,

One of Dan’s Canadian Friends

Categories: Bible Teaching, Dan's Family | 1 Comment

Dan Muwanguzi’s Teaching at YWAM Soroti

Posted on March 27, 2013 by jdegreef

From Dan Muwanguzi to this website’s readers,

I hope that you have a good, blessed, and relaxed Easter.

I was invited to lecture at YWAM Soroti, Eastern Uganda, where I was the “Base Coordinator” in the year 1997. I taught for a week on the Subject of Rejection, Acceptance, and the Cross. Since I left YWAM, this has been the subject I get invited to teach in the Discipleship Training School (DTS) and it has always been good to see the hand of God moving in the classes I teach on this topic.

Discipleship Training School class with Dan Muwanguzi

Discipleship Training School class with Dan Muwanguzi

This time, having been away from the YWAM base for a long time turned the trip into an adventure. First of all, the journey from Kampala to Soroti had to take 10 hours, which is twice as much as it used to. This time one of the roads we took was very dusty and bumpy and twice, i had to sit for over an hour to wait for the bus to fill up before we got going. I finally got to Soroti YWAM Base with a lot of dust picked along the long drive but with a lot of excitement to be back to “My base” and to be part of what the Lord is doing in the present DTS.

DTS Teaching Classroom at YWAM

DTS Teaching Classroom at YWAM

The teaching went on very well.

REJECTION -> many of us in Africa have gone through lots of “Rejection” experiences in the past.

I grew up in a very poor family and having dropped out school in year nine brought lots of problems to me that I almost considered death as an option. The Lord had to teach me a lot to get out of the past and pursue the future in Christ.

Each student had a testimony to give, There was healing, forgiving and receiving forgiveness, to parents, teachers, authority figures etc and it was an encouraging week.

God Bless you, Dan Muwanguzi

Categories: Bible Teaching, General Update | 1 Comment

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