Uganda, East Africa For several years now we at Christian Bible Study Centre have had the vision to establish income generation projects as part of o

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Uganda, East Africa

For several years now we at Christian Bible Study Centre have had the vision to establish income generation projects as part of our ministry. We don’t want to fall into the trap of caring exclusively for people’s spiritual needs while neglecting practical needs. Thus we have established various teaching ministries to address some of those everyday needs from a biblical perspective to give the Gospel a well-rounded base in people’s lives.

Establishing a small business is tricky without capital; some might even say impossible. But I have continually challenged people with God’s promises to provide for us. So often we get distracted from the Word of God, looking to people and things rather than in the face of our Savior. Knowledge is necessary, both knowledge of the Bible and knowledge of simple economics. And with God, there is always a matter of timing too, because He prepares us so we can handle the blessings He has prepared for us.

All over Africa weigh stations are being put in along highways to stop the destruction of roads by overloaded trucks. It so happened that last year the government began building such a weigh station right in Nakazzi village where our church property is located. Finally in July, the weigh station opened for business with 60 employees. Aside from 3 tiny places where village ladies cooked over outdoor fires, there were no nearby services for the weigh station, and the needs quickly grew with the addition of men whose trucks had been impounded.

Pastor David Kasule was quick to see the opportunity, especially since one of our long-range visions has been to start a restaurant and coffee shop on our church land, not far from the weigh station. In July he rented a small room in a new building next to the weigh station, and wondered how to proceed from there. Just before the landlord let him take possession of the room, he noted that someone was selling pineapples along the highway. The fruit was in season and very plentiful. He thought to himself, “Hey! I can do that!” He took what pocket money he had, sent a man on a motorcycle to Luweero (a mile away) to buy pineapples from a local market. Within 2 days, he had tripled his money by selling the fruit!

The landlord gave him the room in mid-July and with his pineapple money, David bought paint, hired a painter and bought a lock for the door. We looked at what resources we had on hand and came up with things like cooking pots, some couches, some tables, an old refrigerator, a book shelf, a water filter, a cupboard… and we were in business! More pineapples were sold, foods were bought, I contributed fruits from my garden, and business began pouring in as Kate Kasule demonstrated her wonderful cooking skills. That was the beginning of a small restaurant we soon named Bread of Life. "Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11.

As Bread of Life has continued to grow and expand, we have looked at the opportunities around us. We saw the ladies on the highway missing business because they didn’t know how to be clean. We saw “get rich quick” people come and go when their plans didn’t work out. We listened to what the weigh station employees and truckers were saying. We quickly saw the opportunities to share the Gospel in example, action and words. The ladies across the street were quick to see how people went to a cleaner restaurant and they learned how to make their places more presentable. As one little shop ran out of something, they’d purchase it from their neighbors. If Bread of Life was out of cooked food, Kate would send them to a neighboring restaurant. For the most part, there has been little of the usual jealousy between community members.

We are spreading the word that we will be teaching classes on simple economics, starting small businesses, and self-reliance, and people are eagerly awaiting them. The Gospel must be versatile. We can reach and teach people with Gospel principles and share salvation with these people who might never darken the door of a church. As our business blossoms, people notice we are closed on Sundays and our menus invite people to come and worship with us at New Life Centre Church just up the hill. Local people have stated that New Life Centre Church is their church, and when we finish building our new church building, they will begin attending.

Bread of Life provides a haven for weary people. Two women spent much of two days hanging out there when their husbands’ trucks were impounded. The men said next time they pass through the area, they will bring Kate thank you gifts for her kindness to them. Another trucker stopped by, eating and resting for a couple of hours. He said he didn’t have to stop, but he did because he loves our place.

All this has come to pass in only 2 months, a business that started by selling pineapples, which “happened” to be in season! God opened the door of opportunity for us and pushed us through it. And we know it’s only the beginning of the fulfillment of the vision He gave us long ago. "I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." Isaiah 48:20.

We are serving people the true Bread of Life complete with Living Water…

MARGARET NELSON

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