October 2017
In 2002, Pastor Pete Imlah of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lombard, Illinois and his leadership team began planning for what would become a several hundred person, multi-congregation, multi-location affair. This year, they celebrated the 15 year anniversary of the manifestations of those dreams with 278 of their closest friends.
Ukandu Chicago serves the mission field in our backyard, spending one week serving various locations throughout the inner city of Chicago. This year’s annual mission trip, Ukandu Chicago 2017 “Unleashed,” took place from June 25 through July 1.
Over the course of the week, Ukandu leadership and 278 participants hosted Vacation Bible Schools, sport camps, did landscaping, painting, and construction jobs, and went out into the community practicing street evangelism and acts of random kindness.
Participants get to choose the areas they would most like to serve, then teams, which intentionally include people from many congregations, are formed with prayerful consideration. There were 41 teams serving as the hearts and hands of God this summer.
Jumior High Schoolers to retirees from 11 congregations hailing from Tennessee to Minnesota to right here in Chicagoland traveled into the city to serve. Each day, these teams received deliciously cooked meals, were awoken with great joy, and spent treasured time in devotionals and lively worship.
Devotionals and worship time for participants are very important to Ukandu leadership. Their “proactive philosophy lives in Scripture.” Philippians 4:13 and Ephesians 2:10 are the basis for the name of the ministry and more importantly, are two of the major propellers of the mission.
Ukandu states, “we believe in helping youth and adults experiencing the joy of fulfilling the ‘good works’ prepared by God for them to do by creating mission trips that serve God by serving His people here on earth.”
Participants come back year after year not just because they have fun serving, but overwhelmingly because they experience great spiritual growth. One man, Brett Hansen, who was back for his fourth year told Ukandu that “the BEST part was how [his] relationship with Jesus went to a whole new level.” He says, “Ukandu opened my eyes to so many things and made me so much more.”
This is one of many testimonies of the impact Ukandu has had on the lives of its participants. Whether it be a funny memory of dressing up as Buddy the Elf for Vacation Bible School or a cherished relationship built and sustained for years, Ukandu holds a special place in hundreds and arguably thousands of people’s hearts for the life-giving works of the Lord done there.
One participant, after reflecting on funny memories and his expectations going into his first Ukandu week years ago said, “What I did not know is that God had plans to hugely impact my faith life in the best possible way. He’s pushed me to do things I didn’t know I could do! … God has so much joy waiting for those that will be attending UKANDU. If you haven’t been on one, I encourage you to consider going in a future year. Who knows what God may have in store for you? Dive in and do something!”
If you are eager to bring your congregation to “dive in and do something,” especially something right in your own “backyard,” serving our neighbors, look no farther than Ukandu. Registration for this coming summer’s mission trip will begin in February. Follow them on Facebook for more information.
