In October 1988 I came to London to study medicine. Prior to studying medicine I was a veterinary nurse in North Yorkshire and it was while there that I had a strong inner urge to study to become a doctor. Within weeks of arriving in London I committed my life to Christ. This was by invitation and relationship with a Ugandan couple. During my final year at medical school I had a 8 week opportunity to do a medical elective. I worked 2-3 jobs over 2-3 years as well as attending medical school and raised enough money to travel to Uganda in January 1993. This was a remarkable trip and the fulfilment of a dream and legacy. The many years of God's leading seemed to crystallise on this trip.

After experiencing real African life, I returned to the UK in March of 1993. I subsequently qualified as a doctor in the summer and over the next few years whilst working as a doctor I also pastored churches, lead house groups and continued in evangelistic work. While co-pastoring a Kensington Temple Satellite church in 1998 I received the vision for a missionary work in Uganda and Africa. Birthed during a conversation with a fellow pastor, it was as clear as day, immediate and specific in its implementation: To believe God for spiritual revival and social reform; this was to be worked towards through four points that included:

• 1. Establish longer term workers
• 2. Send out short term missions teams
• 3. Empower local churches, ministries and leaders
• 4. Partner in community development projects

I felt that 21st century missions could not only be social or spiritual but that it should rather of necessity care for the whole person and reach the whole community. Over the next two years the vision grew and a team developed that was to form a home prayer meeting. In September 2000 we travelled to Uganda to 'spy' out the land. On travelling north to Gulu we met with the family of Mama Lucy Oryem and coincidentally came to realise how God had been leading and bringing His purposes to pass. It was at this time that we heard of the vision that Mama Lucy had concerning the work of God on her land. Mama Lucy donated 5 acres of land adjacent to her home and situated right in the heart of the former spiritual awakening that had occurred in the 1970's. We prayed on the land and realised clearly that this vision was bigger than any individual and been birthed in the heart of God. These events were to see the establishment of the East African Missionary Society.

Northern Uganda has endured a violent civil war that has spanned more than two decades. The Lord's Resistance Army has waged war against the Ugandan government and forcibly and violently recruited the local Northern Uganda populace into their fighting ranks, of which children formed the majority, numbering in the tens of thousands since the commencement of hostilities. Since 1988, the region has experienced large scale destabilization and devastation of a society as a result of the conflict. The LRA have terrorized the civilian population, looting, killing and pillaging in search of recruits and supplies. In response to the atrocities, a government policy was instituted (1996) that sought to isolate the rebel soldiers. This led to the formation of large protected villages and involved moving people from their homes into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. By 2004, it was estimated that over 80% of the region - 1.7 million people, were residing in camps without access to basic resources. In addition, inhabitants faced starvation, HIV/AIDS, lack of education and trauma, erosion of traditional culture as demonstrated by drinking, unprotected sex, high prevalence of teen mothers and early marriage.

Other socio-economic indicators identify Gulu district has having the highest HIV infection rates (31%) and fertility rates (71%) in Uganda, with the percentage of illiterate female spouses standing at 82% and male spouses at 50% (2003 figures). The region as a whole lacks sufficient infra-structural capacity in terms of health, education and other public services including access to clean water, roads and electricity both within the established city centre and the rural areas. Now that peace is returning to the region and people are leaving the camps, the challenge is to foster independence and self reliant, participatory community development. Due to the conflict, a large portion of the Acholi society has become dependent upon foreign aid. Many children, as a result of the war, have not been able to attend school, and where there are facilities to attend, they are either overcrowded or too expensive. The lack of investment in infra-structure such as schools, vocational institutes, prisons, clinic and hospitals has meant that many people have suffered pain, incarceration and loss of personal development due to the lack of capacity building in these fundamental areas.

OUR AIMS

The work of The East African Missionary Society seeks to address the need for innovative solutions to the challenges of re-settlement and provide qualified health workers, livelihood programs as well as access to skills development and education necessary to foster sustainable development. A key aim of our development initiatives is the restoration of community and societal well being that is both sustainable and reproducible as embodied in some of our key outcomes:

EDUCATION

HEALTH

AGRICULTURE

To create a culture of self sufficiency and self help, our programmes seek to encourage problem solving and drive motivation of stakeholders to find solutions to rural poverty in its variety of forms. Whilst we aim to empower local solutions driven by local people with some capital investment initially, our ultimate goal is to foster long term economic independence and emancipation from reliance upon relief aid through educational, agricultural, social re- habilitation and health initiatives. Our programmes aim to equip people with the tools to grow and effect lasting change for their families and future generations. The importance of faith is a vital component in promoting change and growth. Uganda is a God fearing nation and acknowledges the importance of spiritual life. Indeed for many, a personal knowledge of God has given them the strength and courage to weather the tragedy and suffering of the last two decades. Our work in Uganda places a primacy upon spirituality, and it is the motivation for our development projects. God's concern for the disenfranchised, poor and voiceless is documented both in the Old and New Testament and so any spiritual endeavour needs to incorporate the heart of God in uplifting the social condition of a community.

TRAIN

TRAIN, the title for the spiritual arm of the ministry includes the preaching of the gospel, ministry of healing, discipleship and leadership development. Training and equipping is fundamental to ownership and long term change to ensure sustainable growth and forms a fundamental part of the vision.

TRANSFORM

The transformation of a person's life is the social aim of our ministry and is embodied in TRANSFORM, the development aspect of our ministry. This includes educational, societal, relational and financial change. Development of the whole person is necessary to fulfil God given purpose. To transform a person's life we need to see change in their circumstances and environment as well as within themselves. Community development is central to building esteem, skills, confidence and personal progress.