by Brendan Kimbrough | Feb 26, 2026 | Africa, Discipleship, Health, SAMS Missionaries, Uganda, Water
Ugandan Healthcare Projects Advance thanks to Apprentices Guided by Good Leadership
For the past nine years Patrick Lutalo, a Denver-based commercial carpenter and a SAMS Bridger, has spent many nights huddled over blueprints while on a video call with his construction workers and apprentices working in Uganda. This close coordination has been the key to his leading others in the work to construct the kind of healthcare facilities that are much needed in this rural part of sub-Saharan Africa. Patrick and his team of construction workers have been so busy building its meant that Patrick travels back to his native country up to three months out of the year. In partnership with the Church, Patrick’s organization has already completed a maternity clinic near Mityana, called the Naama Maternity Clinic, a much-needed facility in a country that annually tops the ranks with some of the highest birthrate populations in the world. In its first year of operation in 2022, the clinic had already helped mothers deliver over 400 children there, and today it is in constant use.
Naama Maternity Clinic was finished in 2022. It is in constant operation today.
Outpatient Healthcare Center
Today Patrick and his team are beginning the final phase of a building project to construct the 18,500 square foot, two-story Outpatient Healthcare Center in nearby Myanzi. It’s been a three-year project that Patrick and his team of workers plan to finish in December 2026. The ultimate goal of the facility is to serve the surrounding rural communities with outpatient care in this region of central Uganda currently with a population of over 100,000 people. The Anglican Diocese of Mityana is partnering with Uganda Christian University to staff the healthcare center once it’s completed with nurses and other healthcare workers. It will provide and enable much needed preventive healthcare and annual exams, women’s healthcare combined with public healthcare, radiological and lab services, as well as immunizations and disease research.
Water and power needs
Even though the plans are to begin occupancy of the Healthcare Center this December, water and electricity are crucial next steps for the Center to be fully operable. Patrick and his team are currently looking for those with expertise in establishing a well-water system as well as a power system for electrical generation. There is no current piped water supply anywhere near the healthcare center, but fortunately, the water table in this part of Uganda is very high and so the team doesn’t anticipate that finding water will be a problem, especially with the rivers and the Lake Wamala watershed close by. However, they are looking for someone with the resources and the expertise to construct a well water and filtration system to connect to the hospital’s tanks.
Additionally, the healthcare center will require either an off-grid standalone Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system with battery storage or a hybrid system that combines solar panels with a backup fuel-based generator in order to reduce the size and cost of the battery bank, ensuring continuous power during low sunlight periods. Patrick and the board members of Teach Men to Fish, the non-profit enabling these projects, are seeking resources and expertise to build and install this kind of standalone power system.
Apprentices Sustain the Projects
Over the past 30 years Uganda has placed much emphasis on healthcare and education across the entire country. This has significantly improved health outcomes for many people, and the young people of Uganda are better educated now than they have ever been. And yet this has created a problem with many well-educated young people available and desiring to work and support themselves, but who cannot find jobs. Uganda’s economy simply can’t supply the kind of labor demand needed to employ its young people, regardless of their education level.
Patrick experienced this firsthand while in Uganda in 2017. He was worshipping at the Cathedral in Mityana one day and met some young people there. They were mostly teenagers with some who were in their 20’s who needed work. What they shared in common is that they hadn’t had the opportunity to go to school. Patrick listened to their stories and afterwards he asked himself, “What can I do to help? How can I begin to address this situation?” He also heard how many of these young men’s friends were migrating to urban areas in Uganda with no skills, but in search of work. Many were making the wrong choices and getting in trouble.
Patrick’s Call
Patrick realized that the Lord had blessed him with a family and a good job in the United States. He’d had an opportunity to go to school, acquire skills, and even apprentice in the U.S. Yet he had continued to travel back to his homeland to visit family and friends. One day while in Uganda he found himself in the town of Mityana where God began laying in front of him an opportunity to help those in need. God didn’t ask Patrick to start something he didn’t know how to do. He called him to start the same kind of relational apprentice program that brought young men into fellowship with one another centered on the Gospel and learning a trade together. He began the program in 2017 and designed it so that it took three years for the participants to complete. They began by learning the fundamentals: How to use a carpenter’s square and a tape measure, and they progressed from there learning how to use power tools, work with concrete, masonry, rebar, to conduct field surveys, read blueprints, render plaster and many other skills. They took field trips to building sites. In their third year they put their skills to the test by building the Naama Maternity Clinic, and with just apprentices and other workers and with Patrick travelling back and forth to train and oversee, they completed construction in 2021.
The fruit of all this vocational training is the Lord’s doing. The Diocese of Mityana benefits the community with new healthcare capacity. The people of the region benefit with better health outcomes. Healthcare professionals benefit from gainful employment by treating the sick. The young apprentices benefit by learning skills as part of a trade that will help them become self-sufficient. And Patrick – how does he benefit? Patrick says, “The Lord led me in all of this, and has surrounded me with people who have been willing to help me. It has been the highlight of my life. Hard work, travel, and many long hours, yes, but to see young people come alive to Jesus and to make fishers of men themselves while learning how to build with skill, integrity and hard work in supporting themselves and their families – that has brought me such joy and gratitude to God. All glory to him! He has been so, so good to me, and I know he has many, many more good things in store for his faithful people in Uganda.”
Patrick Lutalo is called to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission by spiritually mentoring young people as they learn construction skills. He moved to the United States for higher education and began a career in the construction industry. As he reflected on the poverty and hopelessness of many youth in Uganda, God inspired him to share his skills in his home country in the context of Christian discipleship. With the support of his church family in Colorado, of which he has been a part since 1993, Patrick started the non-profit Teach Men to Fish. The program focuses on spiritual growth of young people to bless their community with hard work. As he equips young people to live a responsible life, he exhorts them to share with others instead of accumulating wealth. He does not want them to miss out on understanding the inheritance of the kingdom of God. Patrick travels to Uganda for three months annually. He is husband to Miriam and father to Edith, Jennifer, Abigail, and Isaac.
Learn more about Patrick
Teach Men to Fish website
Donate to help support healthcare and young apprentices in Uganda
Exterior wall plastering, windows and roof truss construction underway last year (2025) of the Outpatient Healthcare Center
In October last year the Diocese, workers, community leaders, and people from the area celebrated the topping off ceremony when the final roof panel was placed. In 2026 workers are concentrating on all of the interior finishing work.
“Topping Off” ceremony October 2025 where the US and Ugandan flag and the cross of Christ are placed on the Healthcare Center
Architectural plans of the Outpatient Healthcare Center
by Brendan Kimbrough | Feb 25, 2026 | SAMS Missionaries
Read the newsletter (.pdf)
by Roger and Joanne Griffin | Feb 5, 2026 | Church Planting, Mexico, SAMS Missionaries
Back in May we wrote about being hooked up with an expat group in a little town called, San Miguel de Allende. Here’s what has happened since:
A curious group of about twenty persons attended that first service in English. Among them, the owner of the chapel, Don Pablo, came with his sister and her husband. They were deeply moved to be worshiping in their family chapel, to the point that Don Pablo asked us to also offer a service in Spanish for his many employees. Oh yes! What joy! 
Two weeks later we had an English service with about twelve, and a Spanish service with almost thirty! Every month since May, we have returned to celebrate the Eucharist and bring the Gospel to both beautiful groups.
But is it a “church” yet?
It takes a lot of commitment from everyone to start a church. We knew we needed to have weekly Sunday services, but even the once-a-month rent for the chapel was more than the group could support. And where would we have Bible Study, or children’s church? San Miguel is expensive! How will God do this? Nonetheless, we saw that God had given Roger favor among both groups, and we love the community they are forming. But where, how, could things go forward? Was there no room at the Inns of San Miguel?
“God, what are you doing?” was our daily prayer while we continued to work in supply and support ministry, now working in three different states in Mexico every month.
By November we were perplexed and tired. We stepped back from all other services, thinking to get quiet. Instead, we decided to seek that quiet in San Miguel for a couple of weeks– long enough to really know the people involved. We needed clarity. We were exploring ways to overcome the practical hurdles and expenses of a full-time church, knowing it would change our lives radically to uproot from Aguascalientes, to serve in one place after seven years of circuit-riding.
While we were in San Miguel for Thanksgiving, Roger arranged a meeting with Don Pablo, ready to negotiate the possibility of weekly rental of the chapel. That was the first hurdle for the group. But Don Pablo surprised him with the generous suggestion that the group should consider his family chapel their home. For free. Any days or times. Extra garden space for the kids. Whatever. Free.
We were stunned into a quiet ride back to our AirBnB, our hearts full of wonder. The next day we procured a rental contract on a little casa for us in San Miguel starting in January. The adventure begins!
But first, we flew home for Christmas. We’d downsized and packed for the move while staring at the higher cost of living, the cost of the interstate move, the unknowns, and—none of it mattered! We see that God was already providing for what is obviously a church being born, by His will, in the fullness of time. We are merely His little donkey carrying the Light.
Like some anxious midwife, I immediately bought liturgical fabrics for the altar. Others had already stepped up and donated candlesticks, a podium, and a small sound system. My keyboard will now fill the little chapel with praise. Someone always brings flowers. Everyone brings something for the coffee/snack time between services so that expats and locals have time to meet each other. It’s beautiful to watch, and really, we had little to do with it except a plodding obedience. I think we got our answer: Yes. It’s a church!
We moved to San Miguel de Allende on January 14th. On the 28th, Bishop Steven Tighe and his diocesan staff joined us for a consecration of the Chapel of St. Mary and Joseph and confirmed Roger as the rector. On February 1st, we had our first official Sunday service.
by Brendan Kimbrough | Feb 1, 2026 | SAMS Missionaries
World Mission Sunday
February 8th, 2026
A special time set aside for Anglican churches
to refocus on the work God is doing around the world
Here are resources from SAMS and our Anglican Global Mission Partners for your church to use on World Mission Sunday on February 8th. Start getting ready now.
- Prayer bookmarks: Sign up at this link and we can send you prayer bookmarks to distribute to your church family. These are available on a first come, first served basis.
- Liturgical Resources for use in your church services or small groups:
- Prayers of the People for World Missions Sunday: Incorporate this into your Sunday liturgy.
- Kenyan Prayer for Missions: Incorporate this liturgy from Kenya into your service of Holy Eucharist.
- AGMP Litany for Mission: Use this litany pamphlet from Anglican Global Mission Partners in your church service or small group.
- Resources on discerning a call to serve in missions or send missionaries:
- The Windmill Chain of the Gospel – Making Disciples in Europe: Show this video to get people excited about mission!
- Go Where God Calls You: Show this video from SAMS on discerning a call to missionary
service!
- Watching God Work: Show this video with missionary testimonials of God’s work
- Being a short-term Missionary Bridger
- Being a Missionary Sender
- Invite parishioners and clergy to sign up for our Missionary Discernment Journaling Resource at this form. Written by Bishop Todd McGregor and other contributors, this journaling resource helps those discerning a call to slow down and pray through issues for discernment.
- Join with us in prayer for missionaries on a regular basis! Download our 6-month prayer calendar and sign up to receive recent monthly prayer requests via email at this form
Resources for Kids!
- Kids Prayer bookmarks: Sign up at this link and we can send you prayer bookmarks to distribute to the children in your church! These are available on a first come, first served basis.
- We have globe beachballs to use for prayer with kids. Pass the ball around, and pray for the country your finger lands on! Sign up at this link for us to send you some. These are available on a first come, first served basis.
- Download our world missions coloring page for kids to do at church or home. Learn about the continents and pray for the hope of Jesus to spread around the world!
by Chris Feuillade | Dec 19, 2025 | Chile, Latin America, SAMS Missionaries, South America
by Chris Feuillade, Associate Missionary to Chile
Iglesia El Salvador, where I have been serving as an Associate Missionary for more than 19 years, is a small Anglican Church that is on the cusp of something fresh and exciting. I have witnessed much over almost two decades here, but now my parish, which lies within the growing Anglican Province of Chile, has welcomed a new pastor with a clear gospel-oriented vision for reaching the people in our area.
The Challenge in Chile
While today Chile is successfully emerging from its previous third-world status, it remains an economically divided country, with large disparities in income. People at the lower end of the economic ladder often struggle to make a living and raise their families. This is true for this part of Santiago named San Joaquin, where the parish resides. San Joaquin is a working-class community, and this is reflected in the membership of Iglesia El Salvador. Over the years, while remaining faithful, the church has found it difficult to become self-sustaining. It has frequently depended on support from other outside sources, without having its own permanent pastoral leadership.
Pastor Morales, third from right, with his wife Melanie, daughter, Alicia with Bishop Juan Esteban Saravia and his wife Carolina on the left
Deacon Emanuel Morales
Recently, Iglesia El Salvador has been blessed by the appointment of a new young pastor, Emanuel Morales, whom the people of the church are striving to retain. The bishop ordained him a deacon to lead the church and to develop its ministries, including discipleship and outreach to the San Joaquin community. Emanuel was initially raised within the Assemblies of God and became a Christian through that ministry at age 15. Afterwards he moved to San Lucas Evangelista Anglican Church in La Florida, Santiago, after studying the reformation at university as a student of pedagogy in history. He was attracted by the strong evangelical, scriptural, and liturgical expression of the Anglican tradition in Chile.
Emanuel brings a strong personal connection to Iglesia El Salvador. He and his wife were previously lay members for several years, and his parents are also members. He discerned his call to ordained ministry as an apprentice to Pastor Nicolas Fuentes at a neighboring Anglican Church for several years, and then attended Centro de Estudios Pastorales (CEP), the Anglican Province of Chile’s seminary in Santiago.
Gospel inroads
Emanuel brings a clear understanding of the lives and needs of the community surrounding the church and how they may be reached by the gospel. In Chile, working class people are strongly motivated by the interests and welfare of their families, and are prepared to bear much stress and hardship in order to provide for them. Parents will make great sacrifices to overcome the difficulties they face, and promote a better future for their children, even though they may never personally experience it themselves. In order to reach such family-oriented people, Emanuel believes that it is critical for the church to live as a genuine, caring, and loving family, being a recognizable and relatable witness to the surrounding community.
Men’s Small Group Bible Study
Similarly, the church must recognize the needs of the many young people living in San Joaquin. In Chile, young people are subject to the same seducements as in many western nations, i.e., sex, drugs, social media, petty crime, etc. Much of this is due to the lack of authentic social relationships, according to Emanuel. Young people need deep and honest connections with others, especially those that can be found through a saving relationship with Jesus, and within the genuine fellowship of the church. Young people have shunned institutions which are too formal, where they detect falseness and hypocrisy. Christian outreach to the young in Chile has been impacted over recent years by flagrant examples of bad Christian witness from both the Roman Catholic Church (through sex scandals) and some of the evangelical churches (through the preaching of the prosperity gospel). To reach out effectively, Iglesia El Salvador must be a genuinely different, truthful, and caring community, which holds firmly to the gospel and lives it, so that everyone can see that what is being preached is also being practiced.
Fulfilling the Vision
Husbands and Wives embrace after a Marriage Discipleship class (pictured with Pastor Morales on the right)
Emanuel sees two ministry imperatives as being the most urgent. First, the impartation of the Word of God. Since his arrival at Iglesia El Salvador, he has concentrated on clear biblical preaching and teaching, with a strong discipleship emphasis, and has also strengthened youth ministry and outreach, marriage discipleship, men’s and women’s bible study, congregational and home group prayer meetings, among other key ministries.
The second imperative is the work of mercy ministry, relating and responding to the specific needs of the surrounding community. In San Joaquin, one special group are the elderly, and there is a clear need to provide spiritual companionship and evangelism to older men and women who live in loneliness.
Members of Iglesia El Salvador participating in the “March for Jesus” in Santiago
Emanuel is also trying to emphasize outreach through other means, such as medical missions, and special events, such as the church’s participation in the “March for Jesus” in the center of Santiago, together with Christians from many other denominations. The church is planning a special activity for Christmas as part of the Anglican Church’s “Gift to the City” in Santiago. The street outside the church in San Joaquin will be closed off for a day, to allow for activities including Christmas games, songs, food, and other entertainment.
There is much to be hopeful for as Iglesia El Salvador looks toward the many opportunities which lie ahead. These opportunities require strong leadership and Emanuel is the minister that God has sent to lead us in this season of reaching our community for Christ. May God bless Iglesia El Salvador and prosper the work of the Kingdom both within it, and through it. Glory be to Him!
You can read and support Chris and the projects he is working on in Chile here.
by Brendan Kimbrough | Dec 12, 2025 | SAMS Missionaries, Uganda
We give thanks for the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Jessica Hughes, SAMS Missionary, who died at home on December 8th. Jessica celebrated her 55th birthday on December 3rd with greetings from friends all around the world.
Jessica served faithfully with your Society since 2011, primarily as a lecturer focusing on field ministry preparation at Uganda Christian University (UCU) at the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology. She also helped UCU navigate massive challenges during the Covid pandemic by serving as the eLearning Manager. The seeds she planted in her ministry roles continue to bear fruit in East Africa and beyond for the Kingdom of God. Her fellow missionaries, students, and colleagues loved her dearly.
She persevered in the faith and earnestly sought to follow the Lord’s will throughout her life. By God’s grace, she graduated from the Selah program (spiritual direction certification) in September!
Jessica’s sending church, All Saints, Woodbridge, VA, has walked with her beautifully through the two years that she has been on this difficult journey–supported especially by the “Wonder Women” and held in the arms of Jesus. Jessica’s funeral will be at All Saints at a date in early January to be determined.
Jessica shared in her November letter this prayer: “Of all good things I have known in this life, Jesus, it is you alone I might keep into death, and it is you alone that I need.” ~Every Moment Holy, Volume II
Last month Jessica and I shared a sweet time together in prayer and remembering God’s goodness. I carried love and greetings from us all. Her love for you all was deep. We celebrated together the feast day of Hilda of Whitby—another faithful missionary who was gifted by God with wisdom. She, too, suffered in her last years. Hilda’s dying witness left a powerful mark on contemporary Venerable Bede as he recorded that she “passed from death to life.” Jessica kept in her vision the sure hope of passing into life everlasting in Jesus.
Please pray with me:
- O Lord, may you grant comfort and strength for Jessica’s extended family, her Wonder Women, her church family, her UCU family, her SAMS family, and all who love Jessica.
- May you continue your healing touch on Jessica’s godson Nick.
- “Let us learn to love one another well in our common grief, O Lord. Let us learn to speak freely together of our great loss, and our still-greater hope.” ~Every Moment Holy, Volume II
- “Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world;
In the Name of God the Father Almighty who created you;
In the Name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you;
In the Name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you.
May your rest be this day in peace,
and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God.”
In the love of Jesus with thanksgiving for you,
Stewart Wicker
A Memorial Service for Jessica will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 10 a.m. The service and reception will take place at All Saint’s Church 14851 Gideon Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192
