Africa has got under my skin

Evangelist Greg Downes (St Mary’s Cogges) has just returned from leading his first SOMA team, and writes:

I can honestly say after this last visit to Uganda 🇺🇬 that the African continent has got under my skin!

I love Africa! I’m an Afrophile !

In the final team debrief all agreed that it has been a life changing experience.

One highlight was accompanying Bishop Patrick to a service at a nursing and midwifery school in his diocese. He spoke powerfully and many gave their lives to Christ, including a number of Muslims.

As well as the main events of a youth conference, and clergy conference, there was also scope for some more informal ministry. Greg updated the SOMA Community of Prayer with his adventures.

I am on my way in a taxi mini bus to do a house visit of someone I met at the youth conference (Reagan aged 21) who said he wanted me to honour him by meeting his patents. His parents have no motorised bike or car so I need to go by public transport…I am on the bus now and am very late as it will take a long time as it is stopping at every stop. There are 18 people packed onto the mini bus taxi

At first I was squeezed in the back but at the first stop they moved people around and gave me the front seat (with somebody else) I said to the (Muslim) money collector “is this because I am a muzungo?” He said: “we give you the seat of honour, not because you are a muzungo but because you are a priest”

Reagan asked me if he could throw the meeting open to his friends and could I teach them and let them ask me questions : of course I said yes. He is a bit anxious as his friends are assembled waiting for my arrival and wondering if I am really coming (I am 2 hours late at the moment)

He tells me 87 people are waiting to hear from me and receive prayer! So I thought this was a pastoral House visit, but it turns out I’m going to speak at another youth conference! This is a wonderful incarnational opportunity as some of these will not be Christians and some will not have been able to afford the transport to the conference.

Team members Diana Awor (St Paul’s Hammersmith) and Anthony (All Saints Ipswich) spoke to clergy of the importance of having a rhythm of life and taking a proper day off (to relax, sleep spend time with family and friends and have fun). This seemed genuinely challenging to many but it seemed to land and lots went away with a resolve to put this into practice. The team finished the day by offering prayer with the anointing of oil and many were touched by the Lord, some receiving prophetic words of encouragement.

And the youth conference was extended into a third day after some additional funding was found by the diocese for the keen youths gathered:

It had begun with 500 attendees swelling to 1350. Greg gave an appeal for people who wanted to give their lives to Christ -really trying to emphasise that this was only for people who were not already Christians - but ‘despite my best efforts about 400 stood.’

Afterwards, the bishop hosted a testimony time and someone said that they had been healed during the meeting and a young man from a Muslim background said he had given his life to Christ

The afternoon session was led by Antony on the theme of BEING WITH JESUS

Since we didn’t all fit into the main venue by the time the afternoon session came there had been markees erected in the school which enabled everyone to sit in the round.

After his talk, he offered people to come forward for a prayer of blessing and nearly everybody did

Around 14 people fell to the ground and were taken into a side room for deliverance ministry

Many other others were impacted by the Holy Spirit

On the final day of the youth conference and Antony kicked off by giving a Bible exposition which was practical and applied

Diana did the next session on healing and did a wonderful application where people prayed for one another modelling every member ministry

I closed the conference by speaking on spiritual gifts and mission and then the Bishop gave concluding remarks and the final blessing

Following this, we did a seminar over lunch at the hotel with about 14 youth leaders from the diocese

They told us they were so encouraged and about 190 people had made a first time commitment to Christ as well as testimonies of healing (both physical and emotional) and deliverance

The Bishop announced he is holding another youth conference in December and invited the SOMA uk 🇬🇧 team back 🤣

To join a SOMA mission check out somauk.org and have a think and pray if you are being called to Encounter God Globally in this way.

As Greg would put it: #youcantaketheboyoutofafricabutyoucanttakeafricaouttheboy