The Project

When Jesus loved, he loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick. By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join him in giving to those who need help the most.

Last year during our Advent season, through ministry contacts and friends that we have on the ground in the northern region of Uganda, we became aware of a very specific way that we as a church have been able to partner with Christ in giving of ourselves to the least of these. Gulu is a district of Northern Uganda that was ravaged by the longest war in Africa (over 22 years). The war has been long and very complex and one of the outcomes was that nearly two million people in Northern Uganda were displaced from their homes and villages and were forced to live in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Camps.  The camps themselves were sites of some the most deplorable conditions imaginable, with close to one thousand people dying each week in the camps.  Go to www.resolveuganda.org/history for a complete history on the war, how it started, and more on the current peace processes.

The people in Gulu (mainly from the Acholi tribe) are now in a rebuilding stage and TTW Uganda (the ministry headed by Cornerstone missionaries, Jesse and Andrea Kroeze - www.ttwuganda.com) is on the ground working with the people that have been affected by the war and IDP camps to hopefully help them relocate with confidence back to their villages.  One such village is Adak (located at 2º41ˈ10.58753̎ N, 32̊ 26̍̍ 48.74820̎ E), a 1500 person town that was deeply affected by the war. The residents of the village currently only have local access to a contaminated well, must walk over 20 kilometers to reach the nearest medical center, and, because of their lives in the IDP Camps, do not have adequate job skills or training to give them hope of a sustainable future.

Last year, our church gave a tremendous gift and, working alongside TTW Uganda, began to change the story for the community in Adak, Uganda. By giving them the gift of a water purification system, community center, and medical clinic, 1500 Ugandans are now experiencing Christmas in a whole new way. The original project scope was as follows:

• Well and Solar Water Purification System, with links to the village
• Community Center for Job Training and Community Development
• Full Scale Medical Center

These three gifts alone will radically transform the outlook of the people of Adak, and are a tremendous expression of the story of Christmas to them. With around 1500 people in our church, this amounts to a one-to-one relationship with the village. We spent less. We gave more. We loved more fully. We worshipped by reflecting Christ.

Last year, Cornerstone collected over $125,000 for the Advent Conspiracy to not only go directly to the building of these three projects, but also expand the project to include purchasing more land, as well as expanded facilities. In August of 2010 we sent a team of people from our midst to follow up on the progress of the project and begin a deeper connection and partnership between the people of Adak and the members of our church. In addition, a representative from Cornerstone has been on the ground in Uganda since the start of the project in February of 2010, in order to help foster new friendships with the people of Adak. Through the ministry and project management of people like Jordan Kull, Adam Boe, and soon - starting in January of 2011 - Jeff Gunther, we are seeing firsthand what God has been doing in Northern Uganda, as well as how he is using our church to further restore the Acholi people.

When Advent Conspiracy first began four churches challenged their congregations with this simple concept. The result raised more than a half million dollars to aid those in need. One less gift. One unbelievable present in the name of Christ.