New Church In Bwera Uganda
A new church is slowly taking shape in Bwera, Uganda, Under the leadership of Pastor Joachim Bwambale it has gone from being a dream, to a work in progress. It began with the purchase of 2.5 acres of land at a cost of 8,000,000 Uganda Shillings ($2200 US), of which $1855 was donated by private contributors and churches in the U.S. Thanks go out of Calvary Chapel Mid-Valley, Calvary Chapel Pico Rivera, Calvary Chapel Mason City, & Calvary Chapel Ojai, who were kind enough the chip in. The balance was covered by Calvary Chapel Bwera-Kasese, which raised 1,500,000 Uganda Shillings ($410 US).
The budget for the construction of the church is currently 56,2 million Uganda Shillings (about $15,000 US), but this is likely to increase, as inflation is hitting Uganda hard. Of this amount, 10 million Uganda Shillings (about $2,700 US) has been raised. This amount has been used to buy bricks and materials for the construction of the church, which you will see below.
Here’s a chronology of the adventure:
2010-Calvary Chapel Bwera Kasese Begins
Church Raises Funds to Purchase Land for New Church Building
Report from Pastor Bwambale on the land purchase:
We had been praying to our God to provide for us with church land so we can settle at one place and see what God can do again.
Finally we have been able to purchase inexpensive land near were I live. It is near our current church, which we rent, and also near the next village. It is a square in shape, 100 meters by 100 meters. It is near tap water and electricity. In the case of the direct road, we shall have to buy it.
I say it is inexpensive land because we had tried other places and found the price to be around 50 million shillings (about $13,400 US at today’s prices). Since Kasese lies in a tourist area that borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo, land is as valuable as gold. But we know that God can provide, no matter what the price, which in this case was 8 million shillings.
The Work Begins
Obtaining Red Clay For Church Walls
Trucking Clay To The Church Building Site
One Load Of Red Clay Unloaded Onto Church Site
Making Bricks
Pastor Bwambale Inspecting Newly-Made Bricks
8/4/2021: Building A Tower To Fire 25,000 Bricks. 40,000 Needed In Total. Total Cost = 1.5 Million UGX
8/5/2021: Success! Firing The Bricks Went As Planned
10/5/22: Building Inspection Fees Paid
10/5/22: Church Building Plans Approved
There’s Much More Work To Be Done. A 50 Foot Deep Pit Latrine Is Being Dug For The Benefit Of Everyone Who Is Helping To Construct The Church.
Some Of The Cost Is Being Covered By A Book Pastor Bwambale Has Recently Written. It Is Called Running The Good Race: The Cost Of Discipleship. He is also completing a second book: The Spiritual Gifts. Proceeds From All Book Sales Go Toward The Construction Of The New Church. If you’d like to help out by buying a copy of either book, please message me.
As we run that good race, let’s remember these words from the Apostle Paul:
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:3-6