Like many churches in Uganda, Everlasting Sanctuary of God Church in Uganda was burdened and strained by a Pastor who was over strained and in charge of everything in the church.
PDN Interim Pastors pray with Pr. Dickson during a home visit
Pr. Magembe Gideon Dickson is the Lead Pastor of Everlasting Sanctuary of God Church in Gayaza Wakiso Dictrict. His every waking moment everyday was spent at his Church. He had no rest days and did everything by himself. He was burnout and wanted to give up.
“I was being overworked. I was on top of everything because we lacked systems in the church. No one knew what to do”, he says. “I was carrying the church alone. I was doing everything alone. It was too much and too heavy on me. I was over-stressed with everything and everyone depending on me alone.”
Everlasting Sanctuary of God was one among many Pentecostal churches afraid to seek for help when the Lead Pastor is feeling overwhelmed, and the church is suffering. Many Pastors are very distrustful of churches and Pastors coming in to offer help. They are afraid that this “help” only comes to “steal” their flock. Personal Insecurities and the lack of Church governance systems are other factors that contribute to Churches not seeking for help. Some Church leaders have a ministry system that ties the church to them, making the church unable to operate in the Pastor’s absence, which was the case of Everlasting Sanctuary of God Church.