During a Global Day of Prayer against coronavirus in May, Miracle Centre Cathedral – Rubaga lead Pastor Robert Kayanja whose ministry is among multitudes that reached out to the needy during lockdown, said the Church will emerge from this pandemic stronger than before. COURTESY PHOTO.
As calls to reopen churches grow louder around the country, a new report has found that many public places of worship for Christians all across the globe were busy during the lockdown providing vital help to their communities.
A study by Christians Against Poverty (CAP) reveals that 96% of Churches said they had been giving practical support to their communities during lockdown.
Nearly nine in ten (87%) said they were working directly in the community to help people while a further 9% had supported initiatives at other churches.
Seven in ten (71%) said they were working to support community-wide initiatives in their area.
As this website revealed in various reports since March, Ugandan Churches took it upon themselves to launch initiatives aimed at aiding those affected by not only the lock-down, but also the rise in Lake Victoria water levels and locust infestation.
In addition to practical help, the report found that 85% of the churches surveyed said they had offered emotional support, with nearly half saying they had given help to families dealing with the added pressure of children at home.
“Far from the Church being closed, this survey shows that congregations have been energised and mobilised in a way we’ve just not seen before,” said CAP’s Chief Executive Paula Stringer.
“The buildings may have been closed to public worship but the Church community has been incredibly busy meeting the needs of the people in their locality, often despite their own personal challenges,” she said.
“The narrative about closed churches has been frustrating. The perception is that the building is the church. Actually, Christians believe something a bit different. We believe that the people are the church, we are the living stones if you like, and the building is the special place where we usually meet. It is our experience that the real Church has had its arms wide open,” she concluded.
