Meet the New Directors of CBC-Uganda

CBC-Colorado graduates, Mary and Hank Lenz, the new directors of CBC-Uganda. (Click to enlarge)Leland Shores III, a 2004 graduate of Charis Bible College in Colorado, launched CBC-Uganda in February 2010. He had been on the mission field in Africa since the latter part of 2005, and experienced tremendous success as he answered the Lord's call to make disciples in that region. Sadly, for those who knew him, Leland went home to be with the Lord in June of 2011, at the age of 49. At the time of his passing, CBC-Uganda had approximately 130 students enrolled. CBC graduate, Dean Crooks and his wife Linda stepped in as the school's interim directors. The couple led the students through the completion of the school year and held CBC-Uganda's first graduation ceremony. After graduation, Andrew and AWM's World Outreach Director, Wendell Parr, were forced to put CBC-Uganda's classes on hold until they found a full-time director.

Now, 14 months later, plans are in motion to re-open the Ugandan campus for the coming school year. The Lord has raised up a husband and wife team from Colorado to lead the charge; Henry A classroom at CBC-Uganda in Kampala, ready and waiting.
(Click to enlarge)(Hank) and Mary Lenz, have been named the new directors of CBC-Uganda.

Hank and Mary were fellow classmates and friends of Leland's. The couple graduated from CBC-Colorado in 2003, and Hank apprenticed in 2004. They first came across Andrew as a result of a friend inviting Hank to Andrew's annual Men's Advance. Hank remembers enjoying the message of grace that he heard Andrew teach, but he was sure there had to be a catch—he never found one.

The Lenzes managed a camp just outside Woodland Park, CO when they sensed God leading them to attend Bible school. One Sunday while visiting a church in Colorado Springs, the couple picked up materials from CBC which included information about the Expand Your Vision conference (now called Campus Days). It wasn't until they were on campus and classes had begun that they realized that Hank and Mary sit for a moment on the tailgate in Colorado. (Click to enlarge)CBC was an extension of Andrew's ministry.

Both Mary and Hank enjoyed their time at CBC and they had the eyes of their understanding opened. Many teachings made an impact on Mary, but she said that The True Nature of God helped her overcome many of her own religious misunderstandings. One class that really caught Hank's attention was Andrew's series on Righteousness. "When Andrew taught on Righteousness, I knew there was something there that I needed to understand at a heart level," Hank shared.

The Lenzes gained more than head knowledge of God's goodness while at CBC; they experienced it first-hand. When Mary was 11, she rode her bicycle to the local store, something her parents had not given her permission to do. On her ride, she had an accident with a car. Because of the guilt she felt, she tried to hide her injuries from her parents. Several days passed before she told them, and they took After graduating from CBC in 2003, the Lenzes owned and operated a sandwich shop, and at one time they employed Leland Shores III (left).
(Click to enlarge)her to see a doctor. Mary had broken her hip.

At the recommendation of an orthopedic specialist Mary had surgery to address the damage. Mary's problem turned to tragedy when the surgeon damaged blood vessels as he placed a pin in her hip. As a result, growth in her hip and leg stopped, and disease also set in causing her hip to deteriorate further. As doctors sought ways to address her issues, Mary's other leg continued to grow. Doctors came up with a way to halt the growth of Mary's good leg, but not before it had grown an inch and a half longer than her injured leg. The length discrepancy caused curvature of the spine and a host of other problems.

Mary's physical problems lingered as she aged. Hank and Mary were married when they were 21, and the couple had their daughter, Amanda, when Mary was 26. By age 31, Mary could barely walk, and by 34 she was visiting the top hip replacement surgeons in the country seeking much needed help. After more complications, further problems ensued. Eventually, Mary was left deformed and dependent upon a pair of Canadian crutches, a scooter, a wheelchair and medication. Long-held, childhood dreams of becoming a missionary seemed lost, and the simple act of getting on the floor to play with Hank and Mary were married at the age of 21. At the time, Mary was Catholic and Hank was Presbyterian.
(Click to enlarge)her daughter became nearly impossible.

Two and a half years after the failed surgery, Mary had one more procedure. This time the hip replacement was deemed a success; her leg was attached, and her hip was aligned correctly. Although one leg was still shorter than the other, she still had scoliosis, and her muscles were so weak that Mary couldn't pick her leg up if she was lying on her back, she was optimistic.

Hank and Mary moved to Colorado Springs a year and a half after Mary's last surgery in 1996. When they started classes at CBC in 2001, Mary could still only walk short distances and she was unable to sit comfortably through the four hour class schedule. "One day when she left school early and went out to the car, and Andrew asked me to go out and bring her back in. He prayed for her, and she was able to sit for longer durations," said Hank.

Since that time, Mary has been able to take two mile walks, her stomach has been healed from damage caused by Mary and daughter Amanda on a family outing prior to being healed.
(Click to enlarge)medication, she can lift her leg off the ground while lying on her back, and she can get on and off the floor by herself. She no longer relies on walking aides—Mary seldom even uses a cane. Mary is healed and gets stronger every day.

It is through CBC that Hank and Mary came to understand and receive all the blessings that are provided through Jesus' finished work. They enjoy seeking God and his grace, and having the Holy Spirit continually remind them of their righteousness. "God is good, all the time," said Hank. "Mary is going to be a missionary by God's grace," he declared.

At the writing of this post, Hank and Mary are on the ground in Kampala, Uganda getting things organized and promoting the re-opening of the school. Andrew will be holding meetings in Kampala in late October, and classes are set to begin the last week of January 2013. With plenty of time to get the ball rolling, and plans to include a new third year leadership training program, the Lenzes anticipate a full house. They have contacted more than 100 students that were sidelined without a school in 2011, and they have received an eager and excited response.

For more information about the Hank and Mary, and their ministry, visit their website . To keep up with their progress in Kampala, follow them on twitter: @LenzMinistries.

Andrew Keeping "Boots on the Ground" in Uganda

Andrew with CBC Uganda Interim Directors, Dean and Linda Crooks, in the main CBC classroom.
(Click to enlarge)Wrapping up the trip to Uganda involved two final meetings: The first with Charis Bible College staff and students at their facility. We realized that these students were the face of the future in Uganda for the message of God’s love and grace.

At CBC Andrew brought an encouraging message about how to keep the spiritual relationship the students had cultivated through their studies at school. He told them of plans for CBC to continue in the Students gather to hear Andrew at CBC.
(Click to enlarge)future. He also let them ask questions for an hour. Most of the questions were about challenging passages of Scripture. Andrew sensed a very positive response from the students as he spoke. The impression received was that these students will do very well in the days to come. They have established their hope in the word, and in the Lord, and have not been knocked off course by the unexpected loss of Leland Shores.

Andrew receives a gift from CBC Kampala students. (Click to enlarge)David Hardesty and Gary Everett prepare for the pastors meeting with longtime ministry friend, John Katto. (Click to enlarge)

Andrew and David listen as Pastor Herbert speaks of Discipleship Evangelism. (Click to enlarge)The final meeting was an intimate meeting with pastors. They discussed the history of Andrew Wommack Ministries in Uganda. Andrew first went on Lighthouse Television in 2005. It soon became obvious that he would need to establish “boots on the ground” to make the most of the television impact there. Later, when Leland Shores went to Uganda, he met Pastor Herbert Kiwanuka who led him to gather pastors to receive the Discipleship Evangelism course. Most of these meetings were organized in outlying villages. This approach multiplied the impact throughout much of Uganda.

Meeting with pastors. (Click to enlarge)Over the years, Leland brought the DE course to pastors in Kampala, which sparked a demand for a Charis Bible College in this densely populated area. The Andrew Wommack bookstore was also established as a ministry contact point for locals. It has proven to be a very effective outreach. As we boarded our flight in Entebbe and began the long flight home, we had a deeper appreciation for the effect of these combined outreaches in Uganda. They will continue to yield very high eternal returns. In spite of the attempts of the enemy to kill, steal and destroy, none of our efforts have been wasted, and nothing has been lost to the Lord of the Harvest.

Filed November 11, 2011 by AWM Media Operations Manager, Stephen Bransford.

Andrew Visits Glory of Christ Church in Uganda

Andrew speaks at Glory of Christ Church.
(Click to enlarge)Every trip to Uganda includes a Sunday speaking engagement at Glory of Christ Church. Pastor Herbert Kiwanuka was the first Kampala pastor to embrace Andrew’s teaching and let it transform his congregation. Pictured here is the crowd that gathered to hear Andrew at the second Sunday morning service. There were no empty chairs inside, and outside, many listened on loudspeakers placed in the streets.

Pastor Herbert interprets for Andrew.
(Click to enlarge)Pastor Herbert began his ministry conducting miracle and salvation meetings in the outlying villages of Uganda. It was to these same villages that he led Leland Shores in 2006, pulling together the original network of pastors receiving Discipleship Evangelism training. This was the foundation that grew to become Charis Bible College, and the Andrew Wommack Bookstore in Kampala. Herbert has been a key to seeing the message of God’s unconditional love and grace take hold in Uganda.

We can still hear this choir singing, “His love has made me whole …” (Click to enlarge) Three young men re-enact historic drama.
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Each visit to Glory of Christ Church features the music of several choirs, plus a display of African tribal pageantry. This time three young men (above) depicted tribal warriors confronted with the healing power of Jesus. They celebrate the miracle that caused their tribe to reject superstition and witchcraft and embrace Christianity.

Pastor Herbert’s twin daughters join in a youth dance. (Click to enlarge)Priceless.
(Click to enlarge)The young dancers pose with Andrew.
(Click to enlarge)Late arrivals in a full house.
(Click to enlarge)Pastor Herbert Kiwanuka, what these eyes have seen… (Click to enlarge)Picture Pastor Herbert as an eight year old orphan watching a sudden hail of bullets and grenades explode through the wall of the only home he has known. The bullets riddle the bodies of his beloved aunt, uncle, and cousins. He is untouched so he falls down with them because he is sure it is some kind of game. His Aunt pulls him to her side, urging him to lay very, very still as a group of Idi Amin’s soldiers kick and shoot their way into the room. Miraculously, the boy alone survives and grows to become an angry young criminal wreaking vengeance on Uganda. In the midst of his crime spree, he encounters the one who so miraculously spared his life---Jesus Christ. When Pastor Herbert preaches the good news today, he knows perhaps better than most, the life changing power of love over hate, grace over law, and mercy over justice. This is just one more reason why we always look forward to our regular visit with Pastor Herbert and Glory of Christ Church.

Filed November 10, 2011 by AWM Media Operation Manager, Stephen Bransford.