Uganda (MNN) ― The Hope Medical Center of Bugongi received its name from AMG International as a reminder that true healing is only in Christ.
In August 2005, the Center opened in Bugongi Village in response to the great needs. AMG's Paul Jenks says, "Although there was a government clinic, they literally had no medications at all in the clinic." The center also provides counseling services to people living with AIDS. This year's vision is to expand their work to include the construction of a maternity ward.
Jenks says they're also partnering healthcare with a childcare program. AMG-Uganda's childcare ministry began in the mid-1990's with 11 children. There are now nearly 1,000 children in the program, with more than 300 sponsored.
The children and the community have been taught the Word of God through Saturday camps, church visitations, and outreach programs in schools and colleges.
It's time to grow again because there's need. Because they strategically partner healthcare with the existing AMG childcare development centers, Jenks says, "We're focusing on these clinics in Bugongi, and another new clinic that we're just establishing now is in a place called Igamba. We had a team member donate the funds so that it is possible for us to expand to a new clinic."
The Igamba project began in 2004 and has 248 sponsored children. Like many other parts of the district, Igamba faces high poverty. The Poverty Alleviation Program is a strong partner.
AMG's approach to the Gospel is through holistic ministry. Jenks explains: "How do you tell a hungry or a sick child that God loves him without ministering to the body as well as to the soul? This is a very clear way of demonstrating that we're not here just to proselytize or change people from a spiritual perspective, but we're also here to really bring about good for their life, here and now."
