Shortage of evangelists among challenges affecting ministry in Bumbire

A shortage of evangelists, high operational costs and inadequate funding for the training of church workers have been identified as some of the major challenges affecting the provision of spiritual services in Ihumbo Parish-in-Formation, located on Bumbire Island, Southern B Church District, under the ELCT North Western Diocese.

The challenges have been highlighted in a report presented by Mr. Eustard Joseph, during a Sunday service led by the Assistant Bishop of the ELCT North Western Diocese, Dean Prof. Josephat Rweyemamu, at Kajule Congregation, where the headquarters of Ihumbo Parish-in-Formation are located.
The service marked the conclusion of Dean Prof. Rweyemamu’s four-day pastoral visit to Bumbire Island, which focused on strengthening evangelism and providing spiritual services to Christians.

During the four-day visit, Dean Prof. Rweyemamu preached the Gospel, visited Christians in their homes, provided pastoral and spiritual services, baptized new believers, received Christians from different denominations into the Lutheran Church and administered confirmation services.
In his sermon, Dean Prof. Rweyemamu urged Christians to continue living in Christian love, emphasizing that love is an important foundation of Christian life and unity within the Church.

He also called on believers to stand firm in the faith they have received through Jesus Christ and to avoid mixing Christianity with other beliefs and traditional practices, including traditional witchcraft.

He urged Christians to depend on God in every challenge they face, emphasizing that believers should seek God's guidance and remain faithful to Him rather than turning to practices that contradict the Christian faith.

Dean Prof. Rweyemamu further commended the Christians of Ihumbo Parish-in-Formation for their efforts toward fulfilling the requirements for attaining full parish status.

He specifically praised the congregation for the progress made in the construction of the pastor’s house, which is nearing completion, as well as their efforts in environmental conservation and maintaining a clean church environment.

During his four-day visit, Dean Prof. Rweyemamu ministered in Masi, Buhyo, Bukaisho, Kajule and Rushonga Congregations, where he conducted various spiritual services, including preaching, home visits, baptisms, receiving new members and confirmation.

The visit provided an opportunity for the Diocese to assess the progress of the Church's ministry on Bumbire Island while also listening to the challenges and needs facing Christians.

According to the report presented during the service, the history of Christian ministry on Bumbire Island dates back to 1919, when evangelistic work began in Buhyo Congregation under missionary Frederick Seza and Sister Milia, who also provided health services to the local community.

In 1934, the ministry expanded with the establishment of Kajule Congregation, which later became the headquarters of Ihumbo Parish-in-Formation.

In 2023, the area was elevated to the status of Ihumbo Parish-in-Formation, and since then Christians and church leaders have continued working toward fulfilling the requirements needed for the area to attain full parish status.