Message From the Vicar

  • Dear reader, My name is Michael Mukhwana (Rev. Canon). A High school teacher by training and a minister of the gospel by calling. This call came much earlier in life, but I resisted it, until the year 1989, when I received Christ, and was later invited to join seminary and be equipped for ministry. I joined ministry through my home diocese of Mbale, but in 2007, the LORD repositioned me, when He opened a door in Kampala diocese. I am married to Peace Lukoosi Mukhwana (Mrs), and this year on 11th of August, we celebrated our 20th anniversary, to the glory of God. God has blessed us with two biological children, but we have had responsibility over a couple of children that God has brought into our lives, some of whom have already graduated. I joined SACB in February of 2019, from All Saints’ Cathedral Kampala, where I had served as Provost of the Cathedral; and so I have been here for over two and a half years.

I do welcome you to our website, and I deeply appreciate you for making time to explore more about our church. I hope that this information you find here will make you appreciate the variety of services at SACB, so you can choose to make this church your home within the city of Kampala.

St. Andrew’s Church Bukoto(SACB) would be described as a community church, because majority of our parishioners live within its close neighborhood of Bukoto, Kisasi, Ntinda and Naguru suburbs; and so people really know one another closely.

We subscribe to the Evangelical tradition, as members of the Church of Uganda, and we belong to Kampala diocese, and to worldwide Anglican Communion . SACB would also be described as one of the most dynamic and influential parishes within Kampala diocese; blessed with a modern, iconic sanctuary, for which we are very grateful to God for.

As a church, we exist to seek and know Christ, and to make Him known through preaching and teaching God’s Word, nurturing believers and mobilizing resources for the sustainability of the church and the community.

Our vision is: A Christ centered growing and self sustaining church caring for the community.

Our motto is: We are Fishers of men. This motto is premised on the prophecy our LORD Jesus Christ made over his band of disciples, a number of whom were fishermen; considered to be His first recruits in His ministry. St. Andrew’s , who originally was a follower of John the Baptist, is said to have followed the LORD, once John the Baptist identified Him (Jesus Christ) as the Lamb of God (John 1:37). Andrew, who was also a brother of Simon Peter, then went and found his brother Simon Peter, and informed him, that they had found the Messiah (John 1:41). This act set Andrew apart as the very first evangelist. Andrew did not stop at delivering this information to Simon Peter, he also brought him to Jesus (John 1:42). This background explains why Evangelism is a major and permanent feature of St. Andrew’s church Bukoto. As a faith community, we have a deep burden for lost souls, and subsequently the theme of salvation runs through our ministry, including the sermons, quite prominently.

WHAT IS SALVATION, AND WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE EXPECT AFTER BEING BORN AGAIN?

When a person makes that personal decision and invites Christ into their lives by faith, we say they have gotten saved or have been regenerated.  Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1-2, puts this in perspective, when he describes our spiritual condition before we meet Christ, and then states the reason why every human being needs Christ or salvation. He does so by explaining what our depraved human condition is like before we receive Christ, and the forgiveness he gives us. This scripture clearly states that before we received God’s mercy and forgiveness, we were dead in trespasses and sins in which we once walked a state in which we gratified the passions or craving of our flesh; and were by nature objects of God’s wrath. God in His mercy sent us a Saviour who died in our place, making it possible for all receive his finished work on the cross, to make peace with God; and once in Christ, you are a new creature.

HOW SACB HELPS CHRISTIANS BELIEVERS TO GROW IN CHRIST

There are various avenues through which believers are helped to grow in the LORD. These include:

  1. Sunday and mid –week service preaching and teachings
  2. Through their various organs: F.U, M.U, CWF, PALS, Youth and children ministries. Each of these church organs have planned activities, geared towards fostering Christian growth through discipleship.
  3.  The Navigators Bible study Discipleship program
  4. Monthly overnights provide opportunity for instruction in God’s Word and practical Christian living.
  5. The morning services (code named morning glory)
  6. Sharing of scripture messages on social media
  7. The believers’ fellowship
  8. The School of Prayer
  9. Missions & Revival teachings

BIBLE VERSES FOR ENCOURAGEMENT

  1. Proverbs 3:5,6: Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths. This scripture challenges us to fully submit our lives and plans to God, if we are to find direction for our lives and also prosper.
  2. In a world so full of pain and a multitude of disappointments, the following verses can be a great encouragement / anchor: Psalm 46:1; Psalm 121:1,2; and John 16:33
  3. Ephesians 3:20, is a reminder of who we are in Christ, and the level of authority that we carry as believers. It says, Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.
  4. The last will be John 3:16, which says: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Considering that our desire to be loved and accepted is one of our basic needs, this verse speaks to our deepest motivation to love and serve God.

BRIEF MESSAGE TO THE READER

It has been a great honour and privilege to serve God and the St. Andrew’s Church family; moreover it has been so rewarding and fulfilling seeing parishioners come to faith in Christ and grow in him in large numbers since we got here. In a modern city, such as ours, it is so easy to disappear in the crowd, and so this church has provided a place of belonging, where we connect to one another in the LORD, and remain accountable to one another, as we grow together in the LORD. It has become home for us, but is also a place where our faith has been nurtured, and our aspirations shaped. In view of this fact, I would like to thank all.

God’s faithful children that have consistently worshipped with us, whether virtually or physically; but have also continued to give to support the LORD’S work. Your efforts in the LORD have never been and will never be in vain (1Corinthians 15:58)!

It is possible that even as a believer, you have found yourself in some hard place, with nowhere to turn. The Word of God in many places reminds us that every affliction has an expiry date. Apostle Peter once wrote to the believers in exile, that were undergoing persecution, and he stated thus, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” (1Peter 5:10). So whatever undesirable situation you might be battling will come to pass. I implore us to pursue holiness, and serve the LORD unreservedly, even as the days of the LORD’S return draw near. May God bless you saints.

PRAYER

I thank you LORD from whom all blessings flow, for preserving and turning us into such a great family of believers here at St. Andrew’s Church Bukoto. LORD we thank you, because in your mercy, you have also delivered us from the grip of sin, and you have given us a new identity in Christ; and that we now can call you Abba Father! LORD may you therefore make our calling sure, as you draw us closer to yourself every other day of our lives. Hold us firmly together as St. Andrew’s family, and make us a fruitful people that bring glory and honour to your name. May you therefore establish us in righteousness, as we seek your face, and grow in the knowledge of your truth. May you multiply our influence as fishers of men, that we would draw a large following for your Kingdom; and we ask this in the Most precious name, Jesus Christ our LORD and Saviour. Amen.

BENEDICTION

The LORD bless you and keep you

The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Be among you and remain with you always. Amen