Located in eastern Uganda in a little village called Namuwombi stands the Village of Eden Church. In a typical week, the simple building functions not only as a place of worship on Sundays but as a center of ministry each day. Whether we are feeding babies and teaching new mothers about nutrition, sharing the Gospel with families and delivering sponsorship gifts, or worshiping the Lord with nearly 1800 children every Saturday, God’s house at the Village of Eden is full of opportunities to show Christ’s love.
The harsh climate resulting from life near the equator and constant use of the church building has caused significant wear and tear on the structure that was built eight years ago. Between leaks in parts of the roof, plaster falling off the inside walls, and a floor which was worn down from daily use, repairs were much needed. In November of 2019, a mission team from North Jacksonville Baptist Church, led by their Minister of Music, Tim Rigdon, traveled to the Village of Eden to serve at Esangalo, share the Gospel through hut-to-hut evangelism, and visit sponsor children. During the trip, team members saw some renovations to the church building that were in progress but had been put on pause. After returning home, Tim shared with his church about the need for continued repairs. They prayerfully decided to support the Village of Eden Church and cover the cost of the remaining renovations.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness
to all generations.”
Psalm 100:4-5
During this time of quarantine, their generous donation allowed the renovations to be completed. The leaky roof was repaired, brick was laid along the inner walls to protect the original plaster, and durable terrazzo flooring was installed throughout the sanctuary. While the pandemic means ministry looks different, and our church building is quieter and emptier than usual, we are looking forward to the day it is full of people serving, worshiping, and learning about the Lord once again.