Communications update from Arusha Conference

The idea for a communication team for Africa was conceived in 2002, and with lots of hard work and prayer, Tim and Miranda Heathcote spearheaded what is known as YWAM AfriCom.

Over the last several years, the Heathcotes have travelled the world casting the vision to multiply YWAM Com Teams globally. The result has been the start-up of Com Teams in South America, Europe, India, and Asia Pacific.

Now it's our turn in East Africa!

A few months ago I posted an update from the CRIT consultation I attended in Jinja (see that post here).

One of the outcomes of that consultation was a commitment to build a communication team in East Africa that would compliment the work AfriCom has been doing from South Africa and join this growing global network of YWAM communicators. At the time, however, we felt we needed more representation from the region before starting the team, since the only delegates at the CRIT from East Africa were all with Uganda bases.

So we targeted the East Africa Regional Staff Conference in Arusha as the ideal place to spread the news about our heart for an East African com team, and to start identifying people in the region with a vision for communications in whatever form.

Miranda flew in from South Africa to introduce the whole idea of an East African Com Team during the staff conference, and then spent a large part of the conference in meetings with various leaders hashing out how the whole thing would work.

The result was the beginnings of AfriCom East!

Several people showed interest in being part of this team, including Sandra Merriman who will provide support and encouragement to the group in Jinja, Uganda who have already caught the vision for this com team.

My job will be to connect the various other people in the region with each other and with the AfriCom team in South Africa.

Our first big project will be to produce a magazine for YWAM's 50th anniversary celebrations next year, so we are excited to get going on that.

On my side, I'm excited about the new thing God is doing, and praying that I haven't bitten off more than I can chew! It's going to be a lot of work, but I believe this is part of what God has been preparing me for, and I'm thankful once again that He matches our dreams with His dreams.

Let the glory go back to Him.

For another perspective on the whole process, read Miranda's post here: YWAM AfriCom blog

The start of AfriCom East, from L - R:
John Mulongi, Antony Elliot, Sandra Merriman, Miranda Heathcote, Tom Sliep,
Rachel Spencer, Charles Syemi, Vikki Wright, and Robert Mazige