The partnership between Eternal City Church in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, and University Community Church (UCC) in Gulu, Uganda, began providentially in 2017 when a member of Eternal City visited UCC. What started as a chance meeting quickly turned into a gospel-centered relationship. Church planter Jimmy Okello of UCC called it “an act of God.”

Chris Moran, lead pastor at Eternal City, and his church took the partnership seriously. One member spent a month in Gulu with Jimmy and his congregation, laying the groundwork for long-term collaboration. Eternal City began supporting UCC with training, encouragement, and finances, eventually introducing them to Acts 29. UCC is now one of the few Acts 29 churches in the region.

Since then, UCC has grown in health and maturity. They’ve installed a plurality of elders, formalized church membership, and become known for gospel clarity in a region where discipleship is rare. Jimmy shared, “Our church is more effective now in sharing the gospel and making disciples as compared to the time before our partnership with Eternal City and Acts 29.”“Our church is more effective now in sharing the gospel and making disciples as compared to the time before our partnership with Eternal City and Acts 29.” Click To Tweet

In 2021, Eternal City and UCC launched the annual Shepherd the Flock conference in Gulu to train local pastors. Over 100 leaders participate each year, with many entering Acts 29’s church planting pipeline with the desire to plant more churches in the region. Eternal City has also distributed over 5,000 theological books, helping address the local resource gap.

Being near a university, UCC has a gospel opportunity to minister to a transient student population. “When they leave, we’re commissioning them to make disciples wherever they go,” said Jimmy. One student, Gabriel, came to UCC curious and left changed—baptized and following Jesus after encountering the gospel at UCC.

Recently, Eternal City helped UCC purchase land for a permanent facility, investing in their future. “We’re thankful to Eternal City and Acts 29,” said Jimmy. “They walked with us every step of the way.”

A church can accomplish more around the world for the sake of the gospel by partnering together than they could apart. Acts 29 is the catalyst for these church-to-church partnerships as a network on mission!