LEADERS PRAISE & MOSES NAMISI
Praise and Moses both struggled through a very challenging childhood without parents, mostly having to fend for themselves and suffering greatly. They both met Jesus at age 13 in very desperate situations. God became their father and started them off on a journey of healing, restoration and calling into ministry. Due to their own experiences, God has given both of them very tender hearts towards orphans and the poor and suffering. Praise started caring for street children when she was only 15 and since then has rescued over 60 children, placing many in Ugandan families and re-settling others with family.
In 2010, Praise started an NGO as a covering for her ministry with children and young people, which now includes a school for 340 children in an impoverished community close to Kampala, family strengthening, community outreaches as well as 2 churches. One in Buubale, near Kampala and one in Kotolo, Eastern Uganda.
Moses and Praise found each other around their shared passions for God and vulnerable children and got married in 2014. Since 2016, Moses has been leading the ministry which is called Maisha Africa www.maishaafrica.org.nz (maisha means life) together with Praise. They also parent 40 orphaned children and are hoping to start a medical clinic soon.
Moses' work experience with Compassion International (Tearfund) has been a great asset to the ministry, mostly in the area of child-care and administration and he is a great father to the children.
Through Isabel Betts, member of Changepoint since 2005 and Praise's un-officially 'adopted' NZ mother, Praise got invited to a Discipleship Training School with YWAM in NZ in 2013. Her heart connected with Changepoint - and vice versa - during a visit to our church in April 2013. It was during that visit that Praise felt to call the church that she had previously started Changepoint.
Since that time, there has been a heart-connection between the churches and since 2014, Changepoint has been channelling support to Maisha Africa from different individuals and families. Praise has returned for a visit to NZ and Changepoint in April 2016 and in December of 2016, Pastor Linda accompanied Isabel on a trip to Uganda to see the work first-hand and minister in both Changepoint churches in Uganda.
In 2010, Praise started an NGO as a covering for her ministry with children and young people, which now includes a school for 340 children in an impoverished community close to Kampala, family strengthening, community outreaches as well as 2 churches. One in Buubale, near Kampala and one in Kotolo, Eastern Uganda.
Moses and Praise found each other around their shared passions for God and vulnerable children and got married in 2014. Since 2016, Moses has been leading the ministry which is called Maisha Africa www.maishaafrica.org.nz (maisha means life) together with Praise. They also parent 40 orphaned children and are hoping to start a medical clinic soon.
Moses' work experience with Compassion International (Tearfund) has been a great asset to the ministry, mostly in the area of child-care and administration and he is a great father to the children.
Through Isabel Betts, member of Changepoint since 2005 and Praise's un-officially 'adopted' NZ mother, Praise got invited to a Discipleship Training School with YWAM in NZ in 2013. Her heart connected with Changepoint - and vice versa - during a visit to our church in April 2013. It was during that visit that Praise felt to call the church that she had previously started Changepoint.
Since that time, there has been a heart-connection between the churches and since 2014, Changepoint has been channelling support to Maisha Africa from different individuals and families. Praise has returned for a visit to NZ and Changepoint in April 2016 and in December of 2016, Pastor Linda accompanied Isabel on a trip to Uganda to see the work first-hand and minister in both Changepoint churches in Uganda.
Pastor Linda's Visit to Uganda
"I was praying about going to Uganda with Isabel Betts and the Lord spoke to me and said, “Will You Allow Me To Break Your Heart?” At that moment I knew God had an appointment for me in Uganda. I was excited to go and prepared to ‘rough it’ if I needed to. I asked Sharon Hollander to come along and that made the trip extra special. Any time you enter into a Third World Country you are met with chaos on the roads, beside the roads and you are made aware quite quickly that this place is very different from home. My mission while in Uganda was to check out the various works that Changepoint has been engaged with over the last five years. Two churches have been raised up under the leadership of Moses and Praise, Changepoint Kotolo and Changepoint Kampala. Maisha Africa, also under Praise and Moses' leadership and Hope In Villages+ (HIV+) in Jinja. Upon reflection, my heart was “broken” by the condition of the human heart. God gave me His eyes into the deprived soul of one who doesn’t have the Lord Jesus Christ in their life. They will do whatever means it takes to survive, no matter how it may cause pain and hurt to someone else. This wasn’t about the ‘harsh’ cultural environment of Africa. It was about God showing my the human heart without Him. God used this trip to open my eyes to the black soul of humanity and to then see the beautiful lives of those transformed by the power of His love. In that same harsh climate God produces the rich fertile soil that He can plant His love into and It will bring forth life change. We are believing that God will multiply His fruitfulness upon this Land and bring a harvest of souls for His Glory. Since returning in December, Changepoint Ohauiti has been increasing our financial support to Changepoint Church Kotolo. They have been in a severe drought since October. We are helping them by supplying some food each week for them. We will do what we can to continue to help them until the rain comes and the crops grow. The needs in Africa are great and overwhelming. But we have chosen to put our hand to the plough and help. We aren’t sure what this looks like for the future but for now it is and has been a privilege to partner with Isabel Betts, Praise & Moses and YWAM" Ps. Linda Dishroon
UGANDA MINISTRIES
Hope In Villages+ (HIV+) is a project that empowers impoverished women in rural Uganda, many of them HIV+, to care for their own families and children. It is run from a holistic transformational development perspective to raise up families and churches who can sustainably care for their own children and orphans in the community. Child Sponsorships of $25/month are available to make it possible for the children to attend school, while giving support, training and discipleship. Changepoint is a joint partner in this project alongside YWAM Uganda and YWAM Bethlehem. Contact Isabel Betts for information on sponsorship at hopeinvillages@gmail.com www.facebook.com/HopeInVillages
Maisha Africa was started by Praise Namisi, a Ugandan, who connected with Changepoint during her 3-month stay in New Zealand in 2013. She has been caring for street-children and other vulnerable children since she was 15 and is presently caring for 40 orphaned children and running a school, church and community outreach in rural Uganda. Moses, whom she married in 2014, is leading the ministry together with her since January 2016. Changepoint has a solid heart-connection with Praise and the ministry and channels 100% of donations to Uganda. For more information see www.maishaafrica.org.nz