Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the LORD helped us.”  (1Samuel 7:12 NIV)

Just three years ago, the Joy Centre was little more than a maize, potato and bean plantation, scattered with stones, bricks and cement. Benoni and Joyie Mugarura-Mutana worked frantically to turn the property, located in Wakiso town, just outside Kampala City, into their retirement home and the place God called them to continue his service to youth and leaders of Uganda.

This video of a tour of the Joy Centre by Benoni was shot by Paulo about two years ago. It shows the beginnings of the dream …

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The Joy Center is partnering with Woodvale Pentecostal Church – Ottawa and Worship Harvest Ministries in the Uganda 2010 Worship Conference (August 8 – 12).

Please click here for more details on how to be a part of this one-of-a-kind conference in Kampala.  The website also contains details of how to register, participation in music master classes, dates and times.

Pray requests:

• Please pray for the team from Ottawa, which arrives in Kampala this Sunday, for a safe trip.
• Pray for the conference that God will use the people he has anointed with musical talent to share their ministry with Ugandan worship teams with love.
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower the leaders and participants with his purpose.
• Pray for a great time of great music, close fellowship and renewal in the worship ministry in the Pearl of Africa.

It was a day of fellowship, friendship and fun on August 1, 2010 when close to 100 people gathered at the Joy Centre to fundraise for the construction of a roof for the main hall.

Everyone gave generously. The budget for completion of the roof is Ushs. 25 million shillings.  Over Ushs. 12 million was raised on Sunday in cash and pledges and work on the roof has already begun.

We praise God for continuing to provide the Joy Center with friends and monetary support to continue the work of training godly leaders.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Dr. Patrick Mangheni & the Joy Centre Fundraising Committee

Joy Centre in the middle of the image

Click the image for a large view.

By Benoni Mugarura-Mutana

Joy and I have gone kookoo!

Earlier this year we decided to raise free range chicken at the Joy Center in Wakiso. We were prompted into this venture when a friend brought us a hen that hatched seven chicks.  You cannot imagine our excitement at the thought of starting our own chicken farm.

Joy hired a young man in our village to keep our small food garden and take care of the chicken.  However a few months later the young man fled with the hen and all, but one chick.

The lone chick quickly grew into a proud cock and needed a friend, so we decided to buy another hen. The new hen grew in popularity around the Joy Center.  A tryst with larger cock in the neighborhood led to seven new chicks! (more…)

I am writing this from Wakiso at the Joy Centre for Leadership Training. In case you do not know me, I am the Rev. Canon Benoni Mugarura – Mutana. When the Lord found me on the street in my home town of Kabale and saved my life, I was all alone and in gratitude, I offered my life to Him and to his service. (more…)

To all who may be leading the worship services in churches anywhere.

This note is my personal reaction and feelings as I continue to shop for the place to call home after I step down from the podium of leadership in the church services. I bound myself to as far from the City of Kampala where I have worked for the last 35 years to a Mpunga village in Wakiso District to start new life which my wife and I are enjoying very much. The challenge has been finding the church which we can call home. (more…)

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwell in the land of deep darkness on them has the light shone”, (Isaiah 9:2)

We shall begin with the definitions so as to get the same meaning out of the main words used in this text of study. (more…)