There are moments in ministry where you realize human planning has ended and God’s orchestration has completely taken over. What we think are chance encounters are often the blueprints of Heaven being laid down right before our eyes.
This is the beautiful story of our brother in Christ, Abdullah James, and the sovereign way God has knit his path together with ours for a profound mission in southwestern Uganda
A Chain of Divine Appointments
Our journey with Abdullah began in Nakivale Refugee Settlement Camp. Hillary was visiting the camp on a mission trip organized by Brother Michael from Ethiopia, traveling alongside a powerful joint team from Lavod Church, Citygates Church, and Destined to Win Church.
It was during this initial outreach that we met Abdullah a dedicated brother in Christ who had taken his discipleship training under YWAM (Youth With A Mission). His heart for the gospel and deep training were immediately evident.
But God was only getting started.
Shortly after that first mission trip, Hillary and Abdullah crossed paths again completely unexpectedly in Kampala. They ran into each other at a conference specifically organized for the Somali Underground Fellowship. Meeting a second time in a bustling city of millions, within a highly specific and sensitive ministry context, made it undeniably clear: this was no coincidence. It was a divine setup.
When Citygates Church later organized another intensive mission campaign, Abdullah fully stepped into the work. He took part in a week-long conference and training held at Citygates Church Salaama.
More than just a participant, Abdullah became a bridge. He was instrumental in organizing, mobilizing, and coordinating the Somali believers all the way from Nakivale to come down to Kampala and join the training.
The Call Back to the Camp
After living in Kampala for a long period, Abdullah felt a stirring that only the Holy Spirit could place in a person’s heart. He chose to leave the comforts of the capital city and intentionally move back into the Nakivale Refugee Settlement.
He didn’t return out of necessity; he returned out of devotion. Abdullah has completely dedicated himself to the work of the Lord among the displaced, establishing vibrant underground fellowships within the settlement blocks.
Today, these small, hidden groups of believers gather regularly to spend time in deep worship, praise, raw prayer, and shared devotion. Just yesterday, on May 28, 2026, Abdullah shared a moving devotion with his fellowship from Luke 18:9-17. Together, they reflected deeply on the humility of the tax collector, learning that God values a humble, repentant heart far more than outward religion and performance-driven pride. They discussed the vital importance of approaching Christ with a pure, childlike faith—trusting Him completely as the author and finisher of their faith.
Understanding the Field: The Reality of Nakivale
To understand the magnitude of Abdullah’s mission, we must look at the actual reality on the ground in Nakivale. It is a harvest field full of immense spiritual potential, but it is equally a place of profound physical suffering.
| Nakivale Profile | Fact & Statistics |
| Location | Isingiro District, Southern Uganda (near the Tanzania border) |
| Distance from Kampala | Approximately 220 kilometers (8-hour drive) |
| Total Population | Approximately 190,000 residents |
| Nationalities Present | Somalia, DRC (Congo), Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudanese and Eritrea |
| The Spiritual Landscape | The vast majority of this population consists of non-believers who have not yet come to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Somali community, in particular, remains largely unreached, making Abdullah’s underground fellowships a critical lifeline. |
Severe Physical Challenges
Living in Nakivale means navigating daily structural crises. Recent humanitarian updates highlight the following conditions:
- Critical Clean Water Shortages: While organizations like the Red Cross have built regional water treatment plants, water is highly rationed. Large sections of the population still have to trek long, perilous distances to fetch water, sometimes risking waterborne diseases or encounters with wildlife at the lake edges.
- Overstretched Sanitation: The latrine-to-person ratio in parts of the camp is severely overstretched, standing at over 1 stance per 100 people more than double the standard humanitarian limit. This creates permanent hygiene risks and compromises basic human dignity, especially for women and young girls.
- Lack of Basic Needs: Due to massive international funding shortfalls, food rations have been drastically reduced across Uganda’s settlements. Many households are completely cut off from food assistance, leaving families struggling to afford basic daily necessities like food, clothing, clean water, and simple hygiene products like soap.
Stand with Brother Abdullah
Our brother Abdullah James is standing on the frontlines of a challenging spiritual and physical battlefield. He is ministering to a community that is deeply broken, heavily non-believing, and severely lacking in basic physical necessities.
To continue this urgent kingdom work, Abdullah needs the global body of Christ to stand with him.
How You Can Help
- Spiritual Support: Pray continuously for Abdullah’s protection, spiritual endurance, and boldness. Pray that the hearts of those attending the underground fellowships remain soft, humble, and receptive like the childlike faith they studied this week.
- Financial Support: This ministry requires resources. Financial backing is urgently needed to help provide basic material needs (food, clean water, soap, and clothing) to the vulnerable families Abdullah serves, opening doors for the gospel through practical, Christ-like love.
If you feel moved to support missions in Uganda, back our front-line leaders, or want to know how you can directly help Abdullah’s underground fellowship, please reach out to us at Graced to the Nations. Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus to the precious souls in Nakivale.
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