July 4th, 2008 Posted in Ministry Updates | Comments Off
A HISTORY OF
RANCH ON JESUS MINISTRIES
&
PEARL MINISTRIES, INC.
Ranch on Jesus Ministries came to life in 2001, through the faith of a Ugandan woman named Sarah. A recently born again follower of Christ, twenty-two year old Sarah was compelled that though she was weak, her strong God was calling her to bring the Gospel to the suffering in her community. As she read God’s Word with enlightened eyes, she saw specifically how God was calling her to act in faith.
In a country crippled by AIDS, disease, war, poverty, and idolatry, none are affected more severely than the children. Orphaned, abandoned, or rejected, these children often turn to life on the streets where destructive and deadly behaviors eat at their souls. Sarah was all too familiar with the plight of the fatherless. When she was still young, her father passed away and she spent part of her youth living in an Orphanage Home. Knowing that the heart of God is saving His children from eternal death and earthly misery, Sarah opened the front door of her home to any child who needed food and shelter.
Sarah was not supported by her friends and family. Her husband, Dr. Theophilus Kamara, was not a follower of Christ and was frustrated by his wife’s irrational behavior. Her pastor, Sam Kisembo, did not have any hope that Sarah would be successful in her mission. It was an impossible undertaking. Sarah was poor herself, and Theophilus was unemployed.
Sarah continued to cling to the unmistakable voice of the Holy Spirit and she prayed. She went hungry. She denied herself many personal needs to acquire the funds needed to keep the ministry afloat. People mocked her, but Sarah never doubted that her God would make a way.
Slowly, God began to soften the hearts of her Pastor and husband. Pastor Sam repented and welcomed Sarah’s children and ministry under the care of Mutungo Community Presbyterian Church. Theophilus, though still stubborn and unbelieving, granted his wife an allowance to rent a small room for the children across the road. This allowance also enabled Sarah to open a small Primary School in 2003 to offer an education to her orphans and needy kids in the community.
She called the ministry “Ranch on Jesus” because up the road from the Orphanage Home there is a country club called Ranch on the Lake. “They stick on the lake,” says Sarah, “we stick on Jesus.”
Sarah and the children continued to struggle along. Twenty-four children slept on the dirt floor of a dark house. There was no electricity, water, furniture, or toilet facility. Many times the children took only one meal a day. Yet they remained joyful in the midst of their situtation and faithfully prayed for the Lord to send more hands and hearts to partner with the ministry.
In 2003, Jamie (Rosser) Laslo traveled to Uganda on a short term mission trip through Covenant College. Jamie met Sarah working as an evangelistic translator at her community church. They were instant friends. Through a series of unexpected and providential events, the Lord revealed to Jamie that He had sent her to Uganda to help Sarah. He converged these womens paths and their hearts to see that His children were cared for in Uganda.
In July 2004, Jamie returned home to Peachtree City, GA and hosted a yard sale fundraiser for Ranch on Jesus through her church, Carriage Lane Presbyterian. The yard sale was more successful than anyone imagined and raised over 7,000 dollars for the ministry. Jamie knew that if she continued to act in faith, God would provide for Ranch on Jesus.
In May 2005, Jamie returned to Uganda now engaged to Scott Laslo. Over the course of that year, Sarah’s husband, Theophilus, repented and turned to Christ for salvation. He became fully commited to the ministry, at one point giving 90% of his personal income to Ranch. God raised up fathers for the ministry through Sarah and Jamie’s husbands. The Kamara and Laslo families are now the dearest of friends. The Laslos travel to Uganda annually to work alongside the Kamaras at Ranch.
In 2006, the Laslos founded an American non-profit to fully partner with ROJOM in Uganda. They called the organization, Pearl Ministries, because Uganda is known as the Pearl of Africa, and “the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46.
Ranch on Jesus Ministries also established itself as a non-governmental organization in Uganda, acquiring a ministry lawyer, forming a board of directors, and registering with the government of the nation. The ministry also continues to be guided by Mutungo Community Presbyterian Church.
Theophilus and Sarah Kamara
Scott and Jamie Laslo with their daughter, Vivian Kyamagero
