PCU History - Page 4


 




He shall build 
his church..



Jesus Saviour 
and Healer



Often in danger 
in open seas



The Holy Spirit was decending


There shall be fruit 
unto everlasting life

GENERAL HISTORY
It is safe to say that the PCU work in Uganda started when some Ugandan Pentecostals visited missionaries in Kenya. This in particular is true in regard to Åse and Bjarne Lind who stayed at Nyambare Hill, close to the Uganda/Kenya border. Some of these brethren are still with us. The same can be said concerning the Finnish approach to the Ugandan work. During those days, Uganda was ruled by Idi Amin and he was not in favor of Pentecostals and it was nearly impossible to start a new work during the years from 1971 to 1980. There were no missionaries from Norway of Finland who went to Uganda to take up residence there at this time. First in 1986 we find that Karin and Trygve Korneliussen from Norway came to stay in Kampala and begin work there. At about that same time came also Pirkko and Åke Søderlund from Finland and these two families joined together in the work of God. The City Council of Kampala offered them a plot at Mbuya, overgrown with bushes. This place came to be the headquarter of PCU and soon buildings started to come up. Two houses for the missionaries were constructed together with other buildings. At that time there were already a good number of churches and it was necessary to register with the Government and the name of the registration came to be “Pentecostal Churches of Uganda”.
MBUYA BIBLE SCHOOL
Quite early it was clear that there was a definite need for a bible school. Funds came from Norway and Finland for this purpose and straight away the missionaries started to build the bible school building. This work started in 1990 and the building was finished in 1991. This year Inger and Torolf Karlsen came to Uganda for the first time for the purpose of organizing the bible school and set up a system of teaching and the Curriculum. The first group of students began their studies in the beginning of 1992. The work continued to grow and expand to many places and soon there 

were several thousand Christians in many churches. Today the figure is around 20.000 members in the PCU. Other missionaries continued to come and the social and humanitarian word commenced. Not to forget about the many orphans in Uganda who lost their parents due to the AIDS epidemic or other causes. Missionaries came from both Finland and Norway with projects that targeted this problem. Hundreds of orphans were assisted with school fees and other material substance and were thus saved from misery. Mbuya Bible School started in 1992 and the first Principal was Torolf Karlsen from Norway. His term lasted from 1992-1994 and after him came Rev. Aki Miettinen from Finland from 1994-1997. After that we find that Torolf Karlsen returned for a second term as Principal, from 1997 to 1999.The present Principal is Rev. Hannu Happonen, is a Finn from Canada holding a BA in Bible and Theology. In our Annual General Meetings, usually held in January each year, we have reposts that tell about progress with many new converts every year.
MISSIONARIES
PCU has had a number of missionaries who have come from both Finland, Norway and Canada, to work hand in hand with the Ugandans in God’s work. All have had their particular field of ministry and have contributed something to the growth of PCU in the country. The calling of the missionaries are different. To some church ministry is important, to others the ministry of teaching. Others are more into humanitarian and social work as they feel led by God. Missionaries come and go but the work of the Lord remains.

THE MAIN TASK
The main task is always the same: to win all Ugandans to Christ and build his church. To do this, we all need to cooperate and put aside differences and call upon the Lord so that His work can proceed. The harvest is great but the laborers are few. Therefore we need to ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into his harvest.

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