Dear Friends,
This week, we unite in prayer for Dr. Emmanuel Mukeshimana in Uganda.
Located in East-Central Africa just north of Lake Victoria, Uganda is part of the African Great Lakes region, which also includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda. After nearly seven decades of colonization, Uganda gained independence from the UK in 1962. Of the country’s nearly 43 million people, 84% are Christians (39% Catholic, 32% Anglican, 13% other Protestant) and 14% are Muslims. Following six years of guerilla warfare, the current president rose to power in 1986 and has retained control ever since. No longer under threat by the Lord’s Resistance Army, Uganda experiences relative peace today, though corruption, unemployment, and poverty levels remain high.
Originally from Rwanda, Emmanuel recently completed his PhD in Theology at Uganda Christian University. In his dissertation, Emmanuel constructed a Christian model for poverty alleviation in Rwanda based on Christ’s mission to the poor in Luke’s Gospel. Emmanuel received scholarships from both ScholarLeaders and Langham Partnership for his doctoral research.
Currently, Emmanuel teaches fulltime at Uganda Christian University. He also leads Square Ministries Africa, a Christian ministry that seeks to disrupt generational poverty in East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and South Sudan) through education and spiritual formation, job training and microfinance loans, medical services, and pandemic relief work. Emmanuel and his wife Nyiraburanga Emilienne have five children between the ages of thirteen and two: Davis, Annabella, Daniel, Ariella, and Adriella.
Emmanuel shares the following message:
I thank God so much for opening a door for me to be part of the ScholarLeaders International community over the years.
Prayer Requests
Thank God for enabling me to finish my PhD studies in Theology just before COVID-19 lockdowns were introduced globally. I graduated at the end of February and schools closed in March.
Thank God for the provision, safety, and good health for the family during these trying times.
Pray for the COVID-19 pandemic to disappear, for effective vaccines and medications, and for life to come back to normal. Let us pray, believing that God has his own way to end the pandemic.
Pray for schools to reopen worldwide, so that our children can go back to school. Pray so that those of us who are teaching can go back to our jobs.
Pray for Square Ministries Africa, a non-profit organization I am spearheading. We are working in East Africa, so pray that we will be able to touch many people in this region.
Thank God for our semi-virtual training in August of 250 Ugandan pastors on the theology of work. Pray that these pastors will be able to impact the churches they are leading.
Pray that God would continue to provide for Square Ministries Africa, so our ministry can expand. You can learn more details at www.squareministriesafrica.org.
May God bless you all for your endless prayers and support,
Emmanuel Mukeshimana