Pastors trained in bible storytelling at Pader community church

27 February 2026, 21:43

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

More than 50 pastors have gathered at Pader Community Church in Pader District for a transformative training that aims to equip Christians to carry the Word of God in their hearts and share it anywhere, even without a Bible.

The training, organized by Heart Bible for the Nations, is part of a growing movement spreading across Africa that teaches believers how to internalize and retell the full message of Scripture.

Leading the training is Pastor Benson Hombi, who says the goal of the program is simple but powerful.

“When we talk about Heart Bible, we mean having the whole content of the written Scripture in the heart of a person, so that he or she can share the Word of God easily and without difficulty,” he said.

This is the second time the training is being held in the Acholi sub-region.

The first session took place in Patongo in Agago District last year, where it received strong response from church leaders and participants.

The Heart Bible training follows a structured program made up of four levels designed to gradually build participants’ confidence and understanding of Scripture.

The current training in Pader focuses on Level One, which runs for two and a half days.

Participants who successfully complete it will move on to Level Two, which takes the same duration.

According to Pastor Benson, the program is expanding rapidly across Africa.

“This ministry is already working in more than 15 countries across Africa, including Kenya, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Rwanda,” he explained.

He added that the ministry’s global vision is supported by a leader based in the United States known as Pastor John.

The host church leadership says the program has brought unity among churches and leaders in the area.

Pastor David Ocira, Senior Pastor at Pader Community Church, said they were grateful to host the training that has attracted pastors and leaders from different churches.

“We thank God that He has connected us with this ministry that brought pastors and leaders’ training to our church,” Pastor Ocira said. “Our church is glad to host different ministries because we serve God together.”

He noted that the training is helping the body of Christ learn how to minister through Bible storytelling and keep the Word of God in their hearts.

“This training has come to help the body of Christ learn how to minister through Bible stories, having the Bible not just in the mind but in the heart,” he said.

According to him, churches from within and outside Pader town, including branches of the host church, have participated in the three-day training.

“When the training began yesterday, people responded well, and from what I see and hear from participants, the training is very good,” he added.

Pastor Benson said he was encouraged by the turnout and the unity among churches in Pader.

“I am very happy with the pastors and the leadership of the body of Christ here in Pader. Many of them came in large numbers and embraced the vision,” he said.

The training provides learning materials, handouts, and meals for participants, and certificates are awarded after completing Level Two.

The organizers are also calling on churches and well-wishers to support the program so that more communities can benefit from the training in the future.

Among the participants is Joel Komakech, a teacher at Ridge Christian Nursery and Primary School, who described the training as a life-changing experience.

“This training has helped me learn how to share Bible stories from memory, directly from my heart,” Komakech said. “I can now teach Bible stories to children at school and share the Word of God even without carrying the Bible.”

He believes the knowledge gained from the training can help transform communities.

“This is an opportunity to change the world by sharing the Gospel wherever we go,” he added.

Another participant, Edith Atto from  Ridge Community Clinic, said the training has deepened her understanding of the Bible.

“Sometimes you may find yourself in a place where you do not have your Bible with you, but when you know the Word of God by heart, you can still share it,” she said.

Atto explained that the training has helped her learn complete Bible stories and understand how they relate to everyday life.

“After this training, I will share what I have learned with my colleagues, friends, and family,” she said.

Organizers say the program is open to all churches regardless of denomination and are encouraging communities that missed this session to participate in future trainings.

Pastor Benson emphasized that the mission of the program goes beyond church walls.

“Our aim is to equip believers so that the Word of God becomes part of their lives and can be shared wherever they go,” he said.

With growing interest from local leaders and positive feedback from previous trainings, the Heart Bible initiative is expected to return to more communities across northern Uganda in the near future.