
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
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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 |
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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. |