A powerful morning of celebration took place on January 13th at Lake Victoria, where 215 believers took the sacred step of baptism. Five buses and two vans transported these committed followers of Christ to the lakeside, where they publicly declared their faith. Our workers were deeply moved by the clear understanding and strong resolve shown by each person as they chose to leave their old lives behind and embrace new life in Jesus Christ.
Brittney Zellner
Miracles at Brandon’s Funeral & Bulanga Salvation
With deep sadness, we share that our precious Brandon entered into the presence of the Lord after a courageous battle with illness. His funeral service became an extraordinary moment of spiritual awakening as Fazira was called to preach the Gospel message. In a powerful move of the Holy Spirit, all 700 people present joined together in prayer to receive salvation through Christ! This remarkable response to Brandon’s life and testimony was followed by another miracle, as a modest sum of $175 for food miraculously multiplied to feed the entire gathering, reminiscent of Jesus feeding the multitudes!
We also rejoice in the wonderful news from Bulanga, where another soul has come to know Christ as their personal Savior. This testament to God’s ongoing work in the community continues to encourage our ministry team and local believers alike.
Stitching a Brighter Future for Jessica
Jessica, once sponsored and now a trained tailor, dreams of using her skills to support her family and community. With $2,000 in start-up capital, she can purchase a sewing machine and essential supplies to launch her tailoring business. Your support will empower Jessica to turn her training into a sustainable livelihood, bringing hope and stability to her future.
Shade Tent for Growing Bulanga Community
In Bulanga, the growing community gathers faithfully for worship and fellowship, often under the intense heat of the sun. To provide a more comfortable and welcoming space, we aim to raise funds for a shade tent, estimated at $300–$400. This tent will offer relief from the elements, allowing the community to focus on spiritual growth and connection without distraction. Your support will create a more suitable environment for gatherings, helping to strengthen the bonds of faith and fellowship in Bulanga.
Help Secure Shalua’s Education
Florence, who has been abandoned and struggling, is unable to pay the remaining $23 USD needed for her granddaughter Shalua to receive her grades and move on to the next grade. Without this support, Shalua’s education will be at risk. Additionally, around $120 will be needed in January to cover the school fees for her continued education ($120 per term/4 Terms). Your help will make a significant difference in ensuring Shalua’s academic future.
** Update ** The remaining fees have been covered so she doesn’t need to repreat 1st grade! She still needs her school covered for this year though!
Hope for Sarah and Her Daughters: Food and Education Support
Sarah’s life was forever changed three years ago when a stroke left her right side paralyzed and took away her ability to speak. In her greatest time of need, her husband abandoned her, leaving Sarah and her two daughters, Esther and Mirembe Aine, to fend for themselves. As a new believer, Sarah is clinging to her faith, but the challenges she faces are overwhelming. She has no means to provide for her family or to give her daughters the education they deserve. Your support can bring hope and stability to Sarah’s household, covering essential needs like food and school fees, and showing this family the love of Christ in action.
She needs:
$40 per/month food provision
$120 per child/per term (4)
Please sponsor this family and/or one or both of these girls’ education.
Widow Damali & Margaret Travel & Provision
𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶 is one of our widows in Bukaye village. She faithfully serves the Lord to the best of her ability. She has suffered with a painful goiter for many years; it needs to be properly diagnosed and treated.
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁 is one of the faithful people in Bulanga. She has had this enlarged ankle/foot for a few years. The wound on the side never heals, and causes her pain.
𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗛 𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘇 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮. We must transport them and a caretaker to Kampala, and provide their food while at the hospital. Back at home, their families need help with food till the ladies return. 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 $𝟱𝟬𝟬. As our American friends prepare for Thanksgiving, we look forward to seeing the Lord’s provision for these widows who are in His care.
Help Assistant Pastor Patrick Overcome a Hernia
Assistant Pastor Patrick and his wife, Jessica, faithfully serve their community despite living in poverty. Patrick is suffering from a large abdominal hernia that causes constant pain and prevents him from working, making it even harder to provide for his family.
The surgery he urgently needs to restore his health and ability to work costs approximately $700. Your support can make a profound difference in Patrick’s life, allowing him to continue his ministry and care for his family. Please join us in lifting up this faithful servant and his family.
Make Cecilia’s Orphans House Liveable and Secure
We are looking at about $7000 to get the house safe.
Update as of 12/26/2024:
𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐋: $𝟐,𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐁𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝟓𝐓𝐇 𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘
Many thanks to our friend, Lisa Cowan, whose birthday fundraiser allowed her to provide money for the 1) Latrine, 2) Cookware, 3) Wash basins and 4) One solar lamp!
Lisa and her husband, Todd, (and their friend, Sherri) will be with us the end of January. Todd would like to work on the house, but we need the building supplies. The replaced roofing sheets will allow the old ones to be used to build a small cooking porch where meals can be prepared even when it rains. Cement floors and plastered walls are needed in the bedrooms, plus doors.
𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 $𝟮,𝟱𝟬𝟬 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. Who’s up to the challenge? Like and share this post everywhere!
More pictures here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3jouhVsXB4bdJKAx9
An Appeal From Eleanor – Annual Operating Expenses 2025
December 24, 2024
Dear Friends of the Binji,
In over 40 years of ministry, the Lord has led me to varied places to serve Him, from the West Indies to Wyoming. For the past five years, the Father has connected me to Uganda, specifically the more remote villages of Eastern Uganda, working with a dedicated family of Ugandan believers. In 2025, we want to have an even greater impact in this region as we reach more people.
What have we been doing for the past 5 years?
I began ministering in three village locations in 2019; our team now regularly serves in NINE locations in the Iganga and Namutumba Districts. I formed The Binji ministry with my Ugandan partners, and we focused on caring for the widows, the abandoned families and fatherless children. We taught the Bible to the congregations, challenging them to live lives that reflected God’s image. We taught people how to pray for their family, their marriage, and their children. For most, it was a completely new way of life, and the impact on the communities was palpable. One village in particular, near Kaliro, has been the source of four more village congregations, as people who heard the Gospel taught in Kaliro begged us to come to their village, too.
In the past five years, more than 500 people in these villages have prayed for salvation and become disciples of the Messiah. Our Ugandan team continues discipling these people (whether I’m in Uganda or the US), teaching them Scripture, and empowering them to share their faith. In addition to the spiritual impact, we help feed approximately 70 families and provide tuition for 75 students. In 2024, we’ve raised over $30,000 for medical needs. The size of the harvest is growing, and we are ready to facilitate a larger harvest in the coming years.
Welcome to Uganda!
Beautiful Uganda is aptly nicknamed the Pearl of Africa. The mighty Nile river begins from the waters of Lake Victoria, dividing Uganda as it surges northward to the Mediterranean Sea 4,000 miles away. Agriculture is by far the main product of the country; the rural villages where I minister sit among expanses of sugar cane, owned by large companies, as well as private farm land cultivated by individual farmers.
Poverty is very real in these villages; most people live in simple brick huts with no electricity, and carry their water from the village borehole (well). The average income of the rural villagers is about $82/month USD. Roughly 50% to 65% of the rural village population is illiterate; school fees for their children are often a challenge for these people to pay. HIV/AIDS affects 57% of the adult population, contributing to an average life span of only 47 years. Life is hard. Life without God is filled with despair.
I am uniquely called and qualified to reach this community.
Ugandans tell me that most ministries who come to their country remain in the cities and towns. No one ever came to the people in these remote places. Until I showed up. When, after my first trip, I continued to return to the first three villages, the locals took notice (there is NO ONE my color anywhere near these places!). We lovingly helped people in need, Christian or not, putting hands, a voice and a face to the Love of Messiah. I go to their homes, walk through their village, and speak with everyone I meet, building connections. This has resulted in invitations to share the God of the Bible and His message with many types of people, leading to the aforementioned six additional locations. More villages want us to come.
Will you give financially to impact more Ugandans in 2025?
OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $40,000 BY MARCH 31, 2025 FOR OUR OPERATING EXPENSES.
Our Financial Breakdown: $40,000 Annual Operating Expenses:
$3,600 ($300/month) – Children’s ministry. In each village, we have 20 to 60+ children attending. Rewards (for correctly answering questions), coloring pages and crayons, and more supplies are rare treats in the villages. This also helps us buy clothing for some of the most destitute. It would allow Kusasira Evelyn, our Children’s Director, to lead every weekly children’s ministry class.
$18,200 ($1,400/month) – Weekly Gas Allowance ($350/week). This gets us through our weekly circuit of villages.
$7,200 ($600/month) – Auto Maintenance. The rugged dirt roads are rough on our two vehicles. Tires are $300 each, plus the annual insurance and license fees are about $1,700/year.
$5,000 – Annual Marriage/Family Conference. This four-day event teaches Ugandan leaders a Biblical perspective of marriage, parenting and finances they can then teach to their congregations.
$6,000 – My Travel/Living Expenses. This would cover my two 3-month trips in 2025, and free me to focus full-time on The Binji. (Each trip: ~$1,500 travel, $500/month living)
Individual one-time donations.
This is an individual breakdown of what we need to reach our goal. Would you take one of these slots?
1 person at $10,000
1 person at $5,000
4 people at $2,500
7 people at $1,000
9 people at $500
10 people at $250
10 people at $100