Following their visit to Uganda earlier this year, Bishop Richard and Deborah are seeking support to help fund the vital work of Archbishop Janani Luwum Theological College in northern Uganda. Many of the diocese will know and remember the CMS mission partners Simon and Sarah Cawdell who are leading ministerial training and community development initiatives at the college.
"We have just over 40 students at the moment, at Diploma and Certificate level, and last April we sent out 26 students to four dioceses in the northern region of Uganda for ordination and over 40 lay readers were licensed in December 2024," said Sarah Cawdell, Principal of the college in Gulu. The college runs three-year training programmes for ordained ministers and lay readers, with students combining academic study with practical parish experience.
The college is now expanding beyond traditional theological training to address urgent community needs, with Sarah Cawdell noting they are "seeking to expand our academic offering to equip other Christian ministers in skills for education, better agricultural methods, skills in running small businesses, counselling and pastoral care and social work." The project includes constructing three new classrooms and developing a coffee plantation that will provide sustainable income for the Ugandan Diocese while supporting local farmers with certified seedlings. "Being able to use casual labour in the field has transformed the lives of the local community and enabled them to build resilience," Sarah adds, highlighting how the agricultural work provides crucial employment in the area. Bishop Richard and Deborah's fundraising efforts are seeking to help build these vital facilities and programmes that serve both the church and wider community in northern Uganda.
Deborah adds: “We are very blessed to have more than we need here in the UK - we take for granted that education and school buildings mean furniture and equipment are available to all. It would be wonderful to offer something back to this community where sharing our financial donations will make such a difference to people.”
If you are able to give a little to support this mission project, you can make a donation: https://givealittle.co/c/jluk2025