Program Year One Pastoral Training

Location Buvuma Island

Pastor Jessy's upbringing destined him to inherit the role of the village witch doctor from his father, a position for which he was groomed since childhood. However, his refusal to embrace this path resulted in tragic consequences, including the loss of his first-born daughter to sorcery-an event his family deemed as punishment for his defiance. Facing death threats, he initially found solace in the Anglican faith. Despite knowing only a single scripture verse, his newfound faith was influential in leading 19 individuals to accept Christ as Savior, a deed that some leaders in his church viewed as defiance, prompting his expulsion from the congregation along with his converts.
Undeterred, Pastor Jessy rallied his group in songs of praise as they marched to his home compound where they held their inaugural Sunday service. In 18 years in ministry, he's planted over 50 churches, including ones in South Sudan, bordering Uganda to the north.  His church on Buvuma Island is a beacon of hope and transformation in the community. Pastor Jessy is passionate about evangelism and pastoral mentorship, yet he feels hindered by his lack of formal training. He believes the knowledge gained at the Rural Pastors Institute will be the cornerstone of the discipleship classes he conducts in his village and he's eager to understand the contextual application of scripture.
Pastor Jessy and his wife, Sylvia, have been married for 34 years and have nine children. In addition to being a pastor and leader, he is also a farmer and woodworker. Despite his dedication to ministry and trade, financial stability remains elusive. By investing in his training at the RPI, you contribute to his development and enable a more significant impact on the communities around him. Your sponsorship makes a significant difference in the lives of men like Pastor Jessy, allowing them to receive solid biblical teaching and other necessary foundations for the ministry's work.
Thank you for being a Pastoral Sponsor at Rural Pastors International.