Report from Ernie Bayton on this year’s conference including the Children’s Holiday Club and ICCU Library.
The 14th Annual Luwero Pastor and Church Leader’s Conference took place between 4th & 8th May 2026. The five-day residential event, hosted by Gabriel & Deborah Kijjambu, took as its theme ‘Life in Jesus’ Name’ (John 20:31). Two UK speakers attended the conference – my colleague Rev Stuart Smith and myself. Our ministry was supplemented each day by local speakers and guests from Tanzania and Kenya. Stuart and I took 10 sessions each throughout the week. Stuart spoke on ‘Healing Matters’ by developing a series on the healing miracles of Jesus recorded in Mark’s gospel. I developed a two-part series in 10 sessions on the latter part of John’s gospel – Part 1 ‘The Last Night’ (John 13-17) where, in six sessions, we studied the private ministry of Jesus as he poured his life into that of his disciples in the final few hours before his passion; Part 2 ‘The Climax of History’ (John 18-21) was a four session study covering the arrest, trials, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Approximately 600 delegates registered for the conference who, in addition to attending plenary sessions also attended workshops, etc. All delegates received a 72-page booklet outlining the teaching delivered by Stuart and me. Notes were published in English and Luganda. At the conference Bibles were distributed to delegates. In addition, copies of the Lugandan edition of ‘Knowing and Doing’ (Okumanya N’Okukola) by John McQuoid were distributed. Colleagues at our project at Luwero were involved in the translation work undertaken for OPAL (Overseas Publishing and Literature) Trust who published the book, originally in English, but with whom we partnered for printing and publishing the Ugandan version.
Children’s Club
In parallel with the conference a 5-day children’s club took place between 9.00 am and 2.00 pm each day catering for children in groups aged 3-5, 6-9 and 10+ years. The theme for the children’s club was ‘God’s blessings through faith and obedience’, a series centred upon the life of Abraham.
Approximately 500 children attended, many bussed by the school bus from villages around the Luwero project. Each day children participated in age-appropriate Bible stories, singing, crafts, sports, memory verses, quizzes, refreshment breaks, etc. On the final day of the week children gave a half-hour presentation at the Pastor’s Conference. Again, as in previous years, the children’s club was facilitated entirely by Ugandan pastors, youth workers and volunteers.
International Christian College, Uganda (ICCU)
Whilst the conference was in progress 32 delegates separately attended three modules for in-depth training and teaching throughout the week. The modules had previously been taught by Stuart or me but this year, as was also the case last year, the modules were taught by Ugandan pastors. It meant that, having taught and provided them with the necessary resources, the modules can now be facilitated by Ugandan leaders themselves, part of our long-term strategy.
Whilst ICCU is still in its infancy it is able to run other short courses throughout the year.
ICCU Library
Bible Colleges are only too well aware of the need for a library with a good supply of Bibles, evangelical commentaries, concordances, dictionaries and Christian books. OPAL Trust assisted ICCU by providing more than 1,000 books with which a library could be established. During the conference week an official opening ceremony for the library took place, complete with balloons, bunting, speeches, a ribbon cutting ceremony, a plaque which was unveiled and a celebratory cake. Another part of the vision for Luwero was being fulfilled.
Other issues
Apart from the week’s activities associated with the conference the project continues to develop. Currently the boys’ and girls’ dormitory blocks for the secondary school are almost complete; toilet facilities at various locations throughout the project have been upgraded; underground 40,000 litre water storage tanks constructed; a library, store and church caretaker’s accommodation with a leisure area above has been built as an extension to the church; and interlocking paviours are being made on site for paving the areas around the church and primary school. Eight pupils graduating from S6 at the secondary school during the last academic year have entered University for further education. Currently the school at Luwero is 8th in the county league table. Jerusalem Farm continues to develop with 43 acres of maize currently under cultivation. The farm has a new manager, resident on site. A new church has been established at the farm for local people.
Thank you to everyone who partnered with me and prayed for my most recent visit to Luwero. Your prayers have been wonderfully answered. To the Lord, and to him alone, be all the praise, honour and glory.