Vocational / Sustainability / Discipleship Program

Meet Pastor Shadrack Byakatonda

Your recurring monthly gift supports the education and training of all the pastors in this program, not just one individual. Get to know Pastor Shadrack's story, then explore the other pastors growing through RPI's Vocational / Sustainability / Discipleship Program.

Prayer Requests

Family Health and Strength: Pray for continued health, strength, and God's protection over Pastor Shadrack, his wife Edith, and their children.

Church Planting and Discipleship: Pray that God will guide Shadrack and his congregation as they share the gospel, discern His calling, and grow in their understanding of Scripture.

Poultry Farming and Family Provision: Pray for wisdom, perseverance, and provision in Shadrack's poultry-farming efforts and for the needs of his family.

Following His Journey

RPI continues to encourage and equip rural pastors through biblical discipleship, practical sustainability training, and ongoing relationships. New personal updates about Pastor Shadrack Byakatonda will be shared when verified.

Practical Training and Ongoing Discipleship

In September 2026, 20 RPI pastors and their wives completed entrepreneurship training in partnership with Ekisinga. The training provided practical instruction designed to help families develop sustainable sources of income while pastors continue faithfully serving their churches and communities.

The pastors also toured RPI's goat project as they prepare for future hands-on training. The project is one of the practical ways RPI is exploring opportunities that can help pastors and their families strengthen household sustainability.

Alongside vocational development, RPI continues providing discipleship, follow-up, encouragement, and practical training for graduate pastors as they apply what they have learned within their families, churches, and communities.

Chicken Farming: Practical Skills for Family Sustainability

RPI is exploring poultry raising as another practical opportunity to help rural pastors develop skills that can strengthen household provision while they continue serving their congregations. Raising chickens can provide vocational learning in animal care and small-scale farming alongside ongoing biblical discipleship.

This program-wide initiative illustrates the kinds of sustainable livelihood skills RPI hopes to make available; it does not indicate that every pastor has participated in this particular project.

RPI’s Goat Project: Practical Skills for Sustainable Ministry

RPI's goat project is one way we connect practical vocational learning with our long-term commitment to rural pastors. Goat raising and livestock management can offer pastors skills to explore ways of providing for their families while continuing to serve their congregations.

Through the Vocational / Sustainability / Discipleship Program, RPI seeks to pair ongoing discipleship with practical training that can help pastors build more stable livelihoods. The goal is not to replace biblical teaching, but to help reduce financial pressures that can make rural ministry difficult.

The goat project illustrates the practical sustainability opportunities within RPI’s program; students individual involvement with the goat project has not been confirmed.

More Than a Training Program

RPI's relationship with pastors continues beyond their initial biblical training. Through ongoing discipleship, encouragement, follow-up, and opportunities for practical sustainability training, participating pastors can continue growing as leaders while working toward stronger families, churches, and ministries.

Help Equip Pastors for Ministry

Your recurring monthly gift supports the education and training of all pastors in the Vocational / Sustainability / Discipleship Program, not one individual pastor.