Now is the time of year for reflection on what God has done in and through us in the previous year. In 2017, the Mbale team, made up of Dennis Okoth, JP Robinson, Leland Sawyer, and Peace Nanzala, continued the work of discipleship and church visitation, and I want to share with you what we’ve been doing…
Discipleship Cohorts (small groups of leaders that meet once a month fortwo days) continued the spiritual growth of pastors of local churches. In early 2017, the mission team concluded our monthly meetings with our first group of pastors. There were seven men that finished in Cohort 1; two of those are now helping us lead new groups. We also began two newdiscipleship cohorts in 2017. Counting the past and current groups, we are now discipling 28 pastors. We are really seeing the impact in their 
lives and pray that God continues to increase their spiritual growth. We have also completed a year-long process to update our Discipleship Workbook, the tool we use for discussion and diving into God’s Word.- We helped provide assistance to 22 churches during a food shortage by giving food that was distributed to families. We have significantly partnered with seven churches in their work of church building and visited more than 25 churches all over the country to encourage them.
- In 2017, we had Discovery Bible Study training in seven different areas in Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan. Each training focused on equipping leaders from over 50 churches to use DBS in order to get people involved in reading and studying the Bible for themselves. We have also added two translations to our first DBS book,
“Creation to Christ,” and printed a first translation of our second DBS book, “Christ to Our Lives.” We have confirmed 33 DBS groups meeting weekly in various communities. 
We were blessed to receive resources to nearly complete Phase 1 of our new Discipleship and Extension Center in Soroti (two hours north of Mbale). This has allowed us to start a new monthly discipleship cohort in that region.
Thank you for your continued prayers. We feel them on a daily basis! Please continue to hold up our family, this ministry, and the Ugandan Christians in your daily prayers.
Sawyers In Uganda 