African Church Empowerment Ministries (ACEM)
ACEM is a registered Non-Governmental Organization in Uganda that supports and compliments the development of leadership and organizational abilities of the African Church. ACEM was founded by Rev. Dr. Michael Okwakol in 2004, with a vision to empower the church and empower the community. While serving in various capacities of leadership, traveling, and interacting with other leaders continentally, Dr. Okwakol perceived that Africa’s great spiritual potential is being blocked by the scarcity of educated, trained, and equipped church leaders. Weak church organizations and communities are riddled with socio-economic and socio-ethical challenges. These are communities where poverty, ignorance, and disease are alive and well. The ability of such communities to support the church and later the church to minister to them is a foregone conclusion. Dr. Okwakol saw a need to start a ministry to empower the church and to empower the community. The strength and stability of the church in the community and the place and condition of children in these communities is of great concern thus the founding of African Church Empowerment Ministries.
Aveleigh Fellowship of Presbyterians Church
Aveleigh has been an ongoing partner of Hands of Kindness Children’s Ministry. Aveleigh members have supported Hands of Kindness mission trips with prayers, financial support, child sponsorship, gifts of handmade dolls, toys, clothing, healthcare items, and sewing projects. Aveleigh Presbyterian Women chose to support Hands of Kindness Children’s Ministry as their mission for their annual birthday luncheon on two separate occasions and supported HOKCM through prayers, monetary donations, and numerous items to bring on the trip. We are very grateful for the love and support from Aveleigh members.
Berea First Baptist Church
Our partnership began in 2014, and Berea First Baptist provides us with logistical, facilities, and fundraising support for our mission trips to Uganda. The members of the church have supported our ministry by not only fundraising for our trips but by sponsoring children as well. Berea members can often be found accompanying us on our mission trips and working alongside us in our construction projects at the Children’s Center.
Mt. Tabor Baptist Church
We began partnering with Mt. Tabor in 2015 through their Mission Ministry Yard Sale. Hands of Kindness Children’s Ministry was named as a recipient of their sponsorship, and they have provided funds and supplies for each of our mission trips since the partnership began. In 2016, we learned that two weeks before our trip we would need a new generator which was vital to our construction work. That Sunday, Mt. Tabor gave us a check for $969 which they had raised without knowing the need. Their support has been critical to our success.