Lira Pentecostal Church in Kampala, Uganda, transitioned to the Purpose Driven model in 2004, just as the political insurgence was at its climax in northern Uganda. The uprising forced many displaced people into refugee camps, creating a mission field for Lira Pentecostal Church members.

The camps became the community outreach target for Lira Pentecostal members and mission efforts in their own back yard resulted in many people receiving Christ as Savior.

“We are always sensitive to the presence of seekers in our worship service,” Pastor Dickens Okello said. “We make our worship service simple and understandable for everyone.”

The members of Lira Pentecostal wanted to minister to the displaced individuals the best way they knew how by loving them in the name of Jesus and incorporating them into the congregation.

“When we assimilate new believers into the life of the church, we teach them the value of membership and ask those who are willing to register in our small groups to do so,” Okello said. “We are still sometimes weak in discipleship because of lack of materials, yet we have designed a series of lessons within our own small groups.”

Lira Pentecostal averages 1,200 to 1,300 members, up from 1,000 only two years ago. More than 60 percent have made commitments to membership; 10 percent to discipleship; 15 percent to ministry; and 10 percent to evangelism.

When Lira Pentecostal was first founded in 1984, it operated as a “traditional” church without much thought about intentionally fulfilling the five purposes. In 2004, Okello and his pastoral team attended a Purpose Driven Church conference in Mbale and “were greatly challenged by the concepts of being a purpose driven church,” Okello said. “On coming back from the conference, the team resolved at once to become a purpose driven church.”

The church started their journey of purpose when they formed their mission statement: “We exist to lead people to Jesus, unite them in the family of God, transform them into Christ-likeness, and empower them for church and global ministry to glorify God.”

After forming the mission statement, church leaders took five months to teach the five purposes until members clearly understood the principles. The members accepted the transition, yet “it was not easy to launch because it was a new concept, the traditional ways went out slowly.”

Okello cited three actions that helped members accept the new Purpose Driven strategy: Church leaders defined the purpose of the church; leaders then taught the entire congregation the concept of a Purpose Driven Church; and the lay leaders of the church were properly trained and educated about Purpose Driven philosophy.

The core leaders have attended Purpose Driven trainings and the training “did a lot to reshape the thinking and vision of our leaders,” Okello said. “The training helped leaders think about what part they play in the ministry and they were encouraged. Most of the leaders have become very committed as the five purposes of the church have become the focus of their activities.”

“Through this transition, we learned that change is not easily accepted by everyone,” Okello said. “We also have learned that we can operate effectively and efficiently when we have a purpose.”

Since the transition, Okello said the church is better organized, there is a high level of commitment with the members, and membership has increased.

“Within the Purpose Driven concept is a true biblical concept,” Okello said of finding a mission field and ministering to the lost in Jesus name. “Within this concept is the challenge to accomplish the divine task of winning the world for Jesus.”

Even if the mission field is the refugee camp across the street.

All 2006 Church Health Award winner information is correct as of Jan. 1, 2006.