George Byabagambi of George Ministries Uganda was excited to share stories of how bicycles and motorcycles from the Advancing Native Missions Gift Catalog have impacted missionaries working with his ministry.
Alex is a young man who joined the ministry a year ago. He would walk seven kilometers, or 4.5 miles, from his house to minister at his church. The believers attending his church were scattered in about a 20-mile square. So, visiting his church members was a challenging task.
Alex also needed to travel a distance to the ministry Pastors’ Meetings. When Alex received a bicycle, it changed him and his ministry. While he was late or completely missed the pastors’ meetings and fellowships before, he never missed after getting a bike.
Alex also became the first to arrive at meetings. Typically, when a meeting is scheduled for one o’clock in Africa, it might start at three because people are walking to get to the meeting. But Alex began to arrive a half hour before the scheduled time. George asked him, “Alex, what is happening in your life? There is a serious change.”
Alex replied, “You know, Pastor George, ever since I got this bicycle, it’s as if I have a car. Everything is quick and easy for me.”
Alex shared that since the church was relatively new and struggling, he received no income for himself and his family. He realized he could use the bike to set up a business and become self-sustaining. Alex would go to a village and buy maize flour, which was very cheap there. He then took the flour to the city and sold it for a profit. His ministry and his family are doing well because of the bicycle given through the ANM Gift Catalog.
George explained, “It has been a source of income for him and a boost for his ministry. We are grateful for that!”
George also shared about a team leader receiving a motorcycle from the Gift Catalog:
Anotori is the leader of a team of ten missionaries. George gave him a motorcycle to ensure he could lead the fellowship team. He could also get home quickly after leading the team to spend time with his family.
Anotori saw the potential of using the bike to further his reach in the ministry. He began to organize meetings with pastors to hold crusades. He used the bike to carry drums, chairs, and other items to the meetings. Then he realized that he could offer to transport items for a fee. Now, he is making a living and adding to the ministry’s reach.
Another way that Anotori has used the motorcycle is to help set up showings of The Jesus Film. Missionaries must carry a heavy backpack to transport the film; they need chairs for people to sit in and a table for the projector to sit on. Anotori takes all those items to the event on his motorcycle. With this transport, the ministry can share The Jesus Film with more communities. George said, “That’s how it has worked. That’s wonderful!”
So many more people are being reached with the Gospel because of one bicycle and a motorcycle. You can help missionaries like Alex and Anotori share the good news of Jesus with people who have never heard that they have a Savior.
