Transition Resource Ministry (TRM) has the privilege of partnering with Pastors Discipleship Network (PDN) to see the inception, development, and operation of the first interim pastor ministry in East Africa.
This amazing work of God began 6 years ago when Richmond Wandera, founder and director of PDN (pdnafrica.org) saw the incredible opportunity that an interim pastor ministry could have in strengthening the church in Uganda.
Rick and Lucy Foster were invited to come to Uganda in 2018 on a Vision trip to explore the possibility. They spent a week listening to 3 different groups of pastors describe the current status of pastors and the church in Uganda.
These pastors characterized the Ugandan church as a mile-wide, but only an inch deep. People are open to the Gospel and trusting Christ, but 70% of Ugandan pastors have never had the opportunity to benefit from bible college training. Thus, many churches are not only biblically and theologically weak, but also lack the necessary structures to disciple believers, evangelize their communities, and sustain growth.
The Fosters have continued to go to Uganda each year to learn the culture and develop an interim pastor training program. Currently there are 50 individuals who have finished the 12-module course[i]. A Ugandan Leadership Team, under the auspices of PDN, has been selected to give direction and focus to the interim ministry.
The Interim Pastor Ministry in Uganda (IPM-Ug) is now able to serve churches in two ways.
- Assessment and Strategic Implementation.
Due to the lack of pastoral training, many churches are floundering to effectively reach their communities and disciple believers. IPM-Ug provides consulting services which leads a church’s leadership team through an assessment of their ministry[ii]. This assessment then produces specific training and a set of 90-day goals that the church is held accountable to implement.
- Interim Pastor Placement.
Many Ugandan pastors are on the verge of burnout. Most do not receive a salary from their church, so they live under constant financial pressure. The culture’s tribal perspective often creates a situation where the pastor does everything for the church and leadership development is absent. In addition, there is widespread mistrust of other pastors who might try and steal sheep. So, a pastor is fearful of not being at their church every Sunday. IPM provides a trusted, seasoned, and trained interim pastor so the permanent pastor can take a sabbatical break, be gone for an educational opportunity, or take care of their own health or the health of extended family.
By the grace of God PDN enjoys a trusted reputation in the Ugandan Christian community. Thus, the word is spreading of the help that is available to pastors and churches through IPM-Ug. Currently there is a waiting list of churches who are not only seeking consulting services, but who also desire to have an interim pastor placed in their church.
Click here to read a recent story of how IPM was able to dramatically help a local church and their pastors.
If you would like to make a donation for TRM’s ministry in Uganda click here to go to our PayPal site. The legal name of our non-profit is “The Challenge”, but the funds will go to TRM.
[i] The 12 training modules cover topics such as the theological and biblical foundations for interim ministry, the heart of an interim pastor, why churches struggle, healthy church characteristics, handling the leadership vacuum, restoring trust, conflict resolution.
[ii] The assessment IPM-Ug provides can focus on several key ministry areas for a church: intentional discipleship, biblical communication and Inductive Bible Study methods, leadership training, church administration (policies and procedures), children and youth ministry, church planting, worship ministry, media ministry, church documentation.