Newsletters
If you want to stay in touch with our vision and direction, go to our Newsletters page that provides a monthly update of the ministry.
Envision Conferences – 2025 & 2026
Grasping the need for the Trailblazers, Cohorts and TOTS to embrace a bigger partnership concept, we developed a yearly Envision Conference in Kampala. These large group events have engendered increased shared ministry in their home regions. Bringing together leaders from Sudan, South Sudan, the DRC, Kenya, and Uganda also offered a larger grasp of the gospel’s impact for the participants. In 2027, our Team is planning two Envision Conferences as the Trailblazer group is coming to an end of their training. Check out the dynamics of the 2026 Conference through the video below.
West Nile Outreach
The West Nile Region of Uganda is located in the northwest corner of the country on the border of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Amazingly, the region houses several Settlement Camps filled with refugees from these neighboring countries. Beginning in the fall of 2025, Partnerships for Training Pastors began to connect with pastors in that region through visits and mentoring of selected leaders. As a result, our vision for training pastors is resulting in an expand outreach through those trained. Presently, Audio Bible Devices are being deployed in the Camps bring the Scripture into the heart languages of eight different language groups. We’ll keep you posted of the movement if this outreach into 2027 and beyond.
Trailblazers 2025-27
This third iteration of training groups began in January of 2025. Under the guidance of local leaders, 43 pastors and emerging leaders were invited to participate. It has been a rich time every quarter as we come together to study God’s Word and topics vital for the life of the church. Click on the link below to see the vibrant nature of this equipping ministry for these dear friends.
Cohorts 2023-24
What is a Cohort? The definition is clear – a cohort is a group of people who share a common feature. This group of 30 leaders shared a passion for the gospel, a desire for serving others and personal growth through a greater understanding of God’s Word. After two years together, these leaders currently are shepherding churches across Uganda and Kenya. This was an exciting new opportunity to equip leaders who are developing others in the gospel ministry.
Leadership Curriculum
Since January 2020, Pastor Andrew Mwenge, Daudi Nkuggwa, Joyce and Dave Jones have identified topics and developed an approach for providing young adult Ugandan emerging leaders with six biblical Seminars. The include Understanding God’s Word (Biblical interpretation and Old Testament Overview, Understanding the New Testament, Keeping to the Path of Biblical Truth (Sound Doctrine), Servant Leadership for Today, The Living Church, Leadership Communication, and Leadership Accountability. Seminar eight is on a partnership theme and is being developed.
Emerging Leaders Training Project 2020-26
We are now into our sixth year of equipping a new generation of young adults across Uganda. In response to a request by the Baptist Union of Uganda (BUU), Partnerships will focus on training Emerging Leaders beyond Masaka into other regions of the country. It is our privilege to partner with Kampala Baptist Church and the BUU to address this critical national concern.
According to Pastor Abel Segirinya, BUU’s current President and our partner in Masaka, the population structure of Uganda is dominated by children and youth. With almost 68% of the population 24 years of age and under, an accelerated strategy is needed to prepare a new generation of church leaders.
After years of Emerging Leaders ministry in the Masaka region, our hope is to duplicate it among young adult leaders in Uganda’s Eastern and Central regions. Thanks for standing with us as we move forward in an exciting and essential outreach for the future of the church in this wonderful country.
Training of Trainers (TOTS) Project 2017-19
One of the more significant Projects of Partnerships For Training Pastors, is the investment in developing teachers of God’s Word for the future of the Ugandan Church. Since February 2017, individuals from three different Ugandan regions (Masaka, Oyam and Central Uganda) as well as Kampala Baptist Church have gathered to be trained to train others. These individuals were identified by regional church leaders as potential future trainers. Each year, the J. Russell Foundation provided a grant to help cover the cost of several training sessions.The Training the Trainers Project concluded with a wonderful celebration at Kampala Baptist Church on November 14-17, 2019. This event wrapped up three years of intense study of the Scriptures and leadership principles. Some of the highlights include:
Who participated in this Training? An introduction to the participating individuals is found in the following link: TOTP Participants December 2017 .
Ten Years and Counting in Masaka
In 2009, Kampala Baptist Church (Uganda) and Bethel Grove Bible Church (Ithaca, NY) began a partnership that shared in the teaching of God’s Word in the Masaka Region of Uganda. This commitment involved offering large group training sessions once or twice a year. Since Dave finished as Bethel Grove’s Senior Pastor in 2014, the church has continued to support the training of Pastors and Church Leaders. The Masaka Region Church leaders are thrilled with the results as over the ten years, they have seen incredible progress in the partnerships of pastors and churches in order to reach out in Jesus Name. Testimonies to the impact of the Conferences are found in the following links: Masaka 2018 and the final large group Masaka training in February 2019 .
Pastor Amos – one of the Masaka Regional Leaders- wrote the brief note on behalf of all the churches and pastors in that region. He writes: “Thanks so much Dave and Joyce for the love and support in ministry for us Ugandans.It is worthy to celebrate for the partnership we have enjoyed all these years and thank God for using our brothers in America to support this work, trust you, and be ready to share the vision of equipping us with all the tools necessary in handling God’s word correctly. Please extend our great thanks to all the donors towards this wonderful work. We love you and pray for you. “
Big Picture Reports – Summary of “Partnerships” Ministry through Years
January 2018 Summary of 2017 ministry action and 2018 ministry plans.
2017 Mid Year Update Mid-year Update that points to ministry accomplished in the first half of 2017.
2016-ministry-report – Check out this slideshow that highlights 2016 -2017 opportunities and vision. Though no sound is provided, these slides offer a glimpse at the big picture of Partnerships For Training Pastors ministry. Enjoy!
2016 Partnership and Budget Update A quick look at 2016 budget and partnership goals
2015-Year-End-Reflections An annual report of 2015 ministry for Partnerships For Training Pastors.
2015 Glimpses of God’s Grace Glimpses of God’s Grace Power Point that summarizes ministry in 2015.