Sam Oyirwoth is a coordinator of ‘Christianity Explored East Africa’ (CEEA). He is very committed to a discipleship training ministry, and the CE leadership training programme.
From 2005 – 2009 he served as mission and evangelism coordinator for St Stephens Church of Uganda (COU) in Kampala. He is a member of Bishop Henry Orombi‘s ministry team. Sam has been leading the work of Christianity Explored in East Africa training pastors, church leaders and lay readers for the past 7 years.
Since the program started 10 years ago 1 million people in Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Sudan have looked to Jesus in Mark’s Gospel using the CE material. As with all gospel growth it is a story of God at work in and through his people.
The CE leadership training team tend to work in more difficult areas of East Africa, for example the north of Uganda, where the team are working at present. This is an area where until recently the mention of it would automatically ring a bell for war and a part of the world that has been left behind. The torture, mutilations, killings, abductions, sexual abuse, and internal displacement into protected camps has characterised the humanitarian crisis in this part of the country.
Today the children who were born during the time of war are now young adults in these communities. The life they know is that of violence and relief. Many have dropped out of school and are now parents – teen mothers. More than 61% of the population in general live in absolute poverty, with many unable to afford the basic necessities of life. Today a majority of the people have gone back to their home villages. It is in this situation where few church workers have had a formal theological training. This is a very critical need for the church in many parts of East Africa. It is into this situation the CE East African team and Sam Oyirwoth bring support for translation into the local language, and provide support through the CEEA leadership training programme.
