Standing in the Gap: Reflections of Seeing the Local Church at Work in Uganda

Known as the Pearl of Africa for a good reason, Uganda’s a beautiful and magnetic country where the people are joyful, resilient – and naturally better dancers than I’ll ever hope to be!

I was there to see the impact of Compassion’s ministry, and the effect on children in the programme and their communities. Uganda has high levels of poverty, especially in the north. Compassion has been partnering with churches in Uganda since 1980, and today over 150,000 children are in the programme run by more than 500 local church partners across the country.

Walking to Wassawa's home

One of the things I love most about Compassion’s sponsorship model is that it’s based in the local church and centred on Christ; equipping churches in very low-income communities to walk alongside children in their faith journey. As we were welcomed into churches and communities in Uganda, I saw this time and time again. We heard how the local church, empowered with support from Compassion, stands in the gap for vulnerable children. 

One of the families I met was Mama Rebecca’s. When the local church first met Rebecca 10 years ago, Wassawa and his twin sister Achen were 2 years old.  Achen seemed healthy and met all her milestones, but Wassawa still couldn’t walk. Rebecca knew something wasn’t right. But she couldn’t afford to take him to the doctor. This is where Compassion and the local church were able to stand in the gap. 

After meeting Rebecca, both children began the sponsorship programme, and Wassawa started receiving medical treatment. Praise God this happened; he was diagnosed with a brain tumour that was still treatable. Today Wassawa’s a bright teenager who has made a full recovery, and has no problem keeping up with his sister! 

His Mama remains full of joy and gratitude for this answer to prayer. It was amazing to witness how God has moved in this family. 

Lou and Wassawa and his sister

Compassion’s sponsorship model is unique: it is a child-centred programme, and every child only has one sponsor.

It was such a privilege to meet Prossy, the child I sponsor, in her remote northern village. It’s so remote that I was the first mzungu (non-Ugandan) to ever visit her church! It’s hard to put into words the joyful energy in the community as I made my way to the church to meet her family. Men, women and children were all singing, clapping and dancing to celebrate my arrival. It was an extraordinary experience to meet the girl I’d been praying for and writing letters to, who called me Mama Louise in her letters back, whose photo had been on my fridge for two years. Now she was standing in front of me!

Lou and Prossy's family

Compassion’s dream is for every child to be known, loved and protected, and it filled me with hope that this is true for Prossy and every child I met in the programme.

Prossy is known and loved not only by her Grandmother and siblings, but also by her church and her Compassion case workers. They made medical care available when she needed it and encourage her love of dancing. Now, Prossy’s flourishing in school and wants to be a doctor. There isn’t a secondary school in her village, so Compassion is finding a school nearby so she can continue studying. Becoming educated helps protect her against struggles that families in poverty face, including child marriage.

Prossy can look forward with hope to a different future now.

I’m so grateful for the time I spent with Prossy; hearing her dreams, praying for her, seeing her home, school and church, and walking her roads. I’m blessed to play a part in her on-going story, and grateful she plays a part in mine.

God is doing great things in Uganda, and I’m filled with hope of how the local church will continue to support families like Prossy’s and Wassawa’s to flourish. 

Home visit to Wassawa's home, with his family

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