02/06/2026
BHW NEWS - When Life is Extremely Difficult
We recently heard a compelling message from a visiting Pastor at our church about the persecuted church around the world.
It was very moving to hear about believers who are living in the most dangerous places to be a Christian and what this ongoing experience is like for them. While we know Uganda (the country in which we facilitate partnerships for Bright Hope World) is not one of the top fifty countries in the world for persecution against Christians, we could not help but think of our wonderful Bright Hope World partners because we know there are many challenges that they face every day.
This timely and powerful message reminded us of the unshakable faith of so many Christians in difficult places, including those working in Uganda. The five points raised in the message are deeply challenging in drawing our attention to what it means to be a committed follower of Jesus even when life is extremely difficult.
1. It means never standing alone: Hebrews 10:25 (“not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another”) emphasises the importance of Christian community and mutual encouragement. Our partners are such an encouragement and inspiration to us when we visit, and we pray we too can be an encouragement to them as they continue their work in Uganda, and we journey alongside them. As Christians, we can journey together and never stand alone.
2. It means depending on God in prayer: Jeremiah 17:7 says, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” This verse highlights the contrast between relying on human strength (which leads to disappointment) and placing one's ultimate hope and confidence in God. We pray alongside our partners and ask above all that their confidence is in Him.
3. It means radical forgiveness: Matthew 18:21-22 says, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” We know that we are all called to forgive, and we acknowledge that in the environments in which our partners are working and living, there are situations where they might be wronged or hurt. We pray that even as they face these challenges they seek to forgive and heal.
4. It means having an eternal view: Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Christ is our focus, our goal, and our chief desire. The work our partners are doing is not just about changing peoples’ lives in the physical sense but bringing people to Christ and to the hope in Him and eternity this provides.
5. It means going again: Proverbs 24:16 says, “for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” We know there are many challenges to the work our partners do, but God gives them – and us - strength and resilience to ‘go again’ and serve Him.
We thought very much of our partners as we listened to this and chose to share this encouragement with them, as well as with the supporters of Bright Hope World.
Our concluding words to them were “Be encouraged, you are doing great things, and we look forward to continuing to walk alongside you.” That, we hope and pray, is what defines our partnerships with those serving God in difficult places.
Jason and Aimee McGregor
Uganda Partnership Facilitators
