Carrying the Message of Hope
“Freedom is something we must steward wisely.”
Milton takes some time to talk with Pastor Simon, an active partner with Yenet Ministries. He shares with us how he is being intentional in sharing the hope of Jesus in a refugee settlement in northern Uganda.
In Pagirinya Refugee Settlement in Northern Uganda, Pastor Simon carries a message of hope: Jesus Christ has set us free. He reminds everyone that Uganda is a country where there is remarkable freedom to worship. Unlike many places where sharing the gospel is restricted or dangerous, Uganda’s openness allows believers to preach in schools, prisons, markets, and refugee settlements without fear.
Pastor Simon cautions, however, that freedom is something we must steward wisely. Too often, the hardships of refugee life - poverty, trauma, and uncertainty - distract believers from using this freedom to share the Good News. “Most of the time, we are not good stewards of the freedom we have,” he admits.
At the same time, God has opened an extraordinary door. Refugees from Muslim backgrounds, who could not be reached with the gospel in their home countries, now live side by side with Christians in Uganda. They attend the same schools, walk through the same markets, and share the same spaces. This is a divine opportunity to show them the love of Christ.
Pastor Simon urges us to pray for pastors serving in these camps. “We have the freedom now to tell others about Jesus,” he says. “We must use it before it’s gone.”
Please pray that many in the settlements - including those from Muslim backgrounds - will hear the gospel and experience the true freedom that only Jesus offers.