Missionary Josue Satunero has been in Uganda since 2000. He ministers in Lira District, a war torn area that the LRA rebels regularly attack. He is small in stature, but a big man of God as he bravely stands his ground and ministers to many refugees. For five years his church met at his home under an outdoor canopy that he designed. Lack of facilities has not hindered the growth of the church and the Bible Institute that he founded. After years of patient prayer, the church finally moved to its own property in 2006. The simple tin roof structure, with a dirt floor and no walls, was filled with 1,000 people for their first Sunday service!
God is moving in wonderful ways in this special ministry. Nearly 100 attended a ladies meeting in the new building. About half of the attendees were first-time visitors. At the end of the meeting, Pastor Timothy Palaber, one of Josue’s “Timothys,” gave the invitation. Forty-three ladies made professions of faith, and 30 of them returned for church the next Sunday. In spite of the fact that missionaries have been restricted from ministering in Uganda’s prisons, God has enabled Josue to start a prison ministry. A prison commander actually drove 24 inmates to Josue’s church in a prison truck to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism! A prisoner’s Bible Institute has been started with 15 prisoners enrolled.
The most amazing part of this story is that Josue, wife Renelyn, and children, Eljane and Lemuel, are from the Philippines. They are the fruit of Rick Martin’s ministry, a long-time BIMI missionary to the Philippines. American churches sent Rick to the Philippines back in the seventies, and now the churches of the Philippines have sent one of their own to Africa!
