Our Partnership with Pilgrim Africa
Pilgrim Africa is a Christian relief organization created in 2004 as a response to the tragedy of more than a million Ugandans of the Northeastern (Teso) Region driven from their homes by the Lord’s Resistance Army and forced to live in camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s). Pilgrim is an indigenous Christian NGO founded by and for the people of Teso.
Pilgrim Africa provides:
- Public Health Initiatives, including mobile health clinics
- Education (including Beacon of Hope College, a Christian boarding school for 500 high-school age youth; and Teso University, to be launched in the fall of 2011).
- Trauma Treatment and Training
- Emergency food relief
- Community Organizing for Rural Villages
- Training and Empowerment in Sustainable Agriculture
The Redeemer became involved with Pilgrim Africa, formerly Pilgrim-Uganda, through the ministry of our Rector, the Reverend Dorsey McConnell.
Our parish has partnered with Pilgrim since 2007, providing significant financial support in the form of outreach grants. The Redeemer’s first mission trip to Uganda took place in 2009, further strengthening our partnership.
The second mission trip took place this summer, and included a science fair, 38 surgeries by our talented surgeon, and trauma counseling.
In addition to leading mission trips and encouraging Christians in Chestnut Hill to form relationships with Christians in Uganda, our Rector is also the President of the International Board of Pilgrim Africa and frequently visits Teso.
Pilgrim Africa says it best:
Our vision is to restore hope, dignity and love to those in need and devastated by war, poverty or disaster. Pilgrim provides spiritual, material, social and economic support through integrated multi-sectored interventions, demonstrating the hope and love found in Christ Jesus that generates wholeness, creativity and dignity.
Our vision is for people to take steps to "move their doorsteps" into the vicinity of needy neighbors. Christians have a real obligation to leap to the aid of the poor. We encourage people of compassion and good will to extend themselves to those in need.
Our vision is to encourage and enhance Christian charity and work in needy and hopeless regions, thus bringing more abundant life. We seek to promote individual friendships and cultural exchange between Americans and Africans through a variety of programs and tools, including micro-charitable investments into programs such as schools, farms, hospitals and education campaigns and to promote spiritual unity through these relationships.
