(UGANDA) A Servant of the Lord, A Servant of Everyone: Lukas and Lydia Kim’s Missionary Calling to Uganda
- Jul 27, 2026
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By Missionaries Lukas and Lydia Kim
"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." (1 Corinthians 9:19, 23)
The Nile River, which originates from Lake Victoria, the "eye of Africa" as seen from satellite images, travels 6,600 kilometers northward from Uganda before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. This remarkable reversal, illustrated by nature itself, carries a powerful spiritual message: The stream of the Gospel that begins in Uganda can flow through the Muslim nations along the Nile, eventually returning to Europe, the continent that once colonized much of Africa.
This movement also reflects a broader transformation in world mission. Countries once regarded mainly as mission fields are now sending missionaries throughout the world. Nigeria (once a European colony in Africa under the British empire) and Brazil in Latin America have become the world's second- and third-largest missionary-sending countries (Korea is now fourth). This reflects God's plan in redemption history.
Likewise, our vision is for Uganda to become a fountain of healing, gospel proclamation, and disciple-making that reaches far beyond its borders. At the heart of this vision are the 40,000 students of Makerere University, together with Makerere UBF and Bethesda Mission Hospital, which God is using as strategic centers for raising future Christian leaders and missionaries for Africa and the whole world.
God opened my heart for Africa, which began to grow through prayer after accompanying some German ministry leaders to the African UBF conferences held in Kenya in 2007 under the theme, "The Hope of Africa.” After that, I attended the South Africa Conference in 2012 under the theme, "You Will Be My Witnesses." God revealed His hope for Africa and what is needed to fulfill it.
During my final seven years in Finland, as I approached retirement, the Lord also allowed me to share in the burdens and challenges faced by national coordinators serving in pioneering ministries. Last year, God blessed Kristina's willing heart to become a missionary and helped her complete missionary training in the Korea UBF headquarters. On December 29, 2025, she was appointed as the new successor missionary to Finland. Through her, the Lord has continued the ministry that He began with us in Finland. I praise God for His faithful guidance.
In many ways, the 2026 World Mission Congress (WMC26) in Korea was nothing less than a God’s call for me to serve His mission in Africa, with a new perspective of mission life in Africa. Following WMC26, the first message at the Missionary Shepherds' Conference was titled "The Message of the Cross—The Power of God" (1 Corinthians 1). Christ emptied Himself, bore the sins of the world, died on the cross, and on the third day rose from the dead.Through His resurrection, He conquered the power of death and was revealed as the Lord and Christ who gives us living hope. This is the heart of the gospel and the biblical pattern through which Christ is proclaimed in every generation as the power and wisdom of God.
The question then is this: How can this gospel be revealed in our lives as the power of God? The second message, which revealed the essence of a gospel-centered life, was entitled "Paul, a Servant to Everyone" (1 Corinthians 9). At that time, God impressed upon my heart the words of 1 Corinthians 9:19 and 22–23: "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a servant to everyone, to win as many as possible. ... I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings (1 Corinthians 9:19, 23)”. The only Lord of Paul, who willingly became a servant to everyone, was Jesus Christ. He gave Himself on the cross for Paul, conquered death, and reigns as the Lord of Paul’s life and of ours.
To become Christ's servant means that everything we are—our lives, our ministry, and our entire existence—belongs to Him. It means following His will and living for the glory of God. Paul described such a life as "participating and sharing in the gospel." To participate in the gospel is to embrace the same purpose and the same hope as Christ. Our life should be to share in His cross, to proclaim the power of the gospel, to embody its truth in daily life.
In a world marked by pride, selfish ambition, the pursuit of personal glory, and unbelief, a gospel-centered life demands continual self-denial and often leads to misunderstanding, rejection, ridicule, and even contempt. Yet this is the wisdom of our Lord: by giving, we receive; by emptying ourselves, we are filled; by humbling ourselves, we are exalted; and by surrendering what is temporary, we gain what is eternal. At times this way may appear lonely, but we know that we are not alone. Like the Apostle Paul, the great cloud of witnesses is cheering us on as we continue running the race toward our Lord (Hebrews 12:1).
Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life, my possessions, my family, and His church. Only when we recognize and embrace Him as our Protector, our Provider, our Guide, and our Good Shepherd can we live with both courage and humility. The true virtue and spiritual maturity of Christ's servant is revealed in a life that fears the Lord and trusts His sovereign will, submitting to His guidance, and faithfully walking the path into “the narrow door” that He has prepared. We are able to let go of everything, gain everything, and glorify God in all things.
In Acts 20:18–35, we see Paul's example of missionary life and his prayer concerns as one who became a servant of all people. Until the very end, he remained faithful to the Gospel of Christ and fully shared in its blessings and sufferings in the name of Christ. This also gives us courage to win those whom the Lord has preserved for this generation. We pray that we may faithfully follow our Lord Jesus Christ and thereby contribute to the fulfillment of Africa's hope, found only in Christ.
Prayer Requests
1. Knowing more deeply how God has revealed Himself and worked in Africa, and participating in the fulfillment of His hope for Africa.
2. Growth and strengthening of one-to-one Bible study and disciple-making ministry in Uganda.
3. Serving as bridge-builders between the older generation and the growing second generation.
4. Serving the expansion construction of Bethesda Mission Hospital and for it to be carried out safely.
5. Being faithful in intercessory prayer and personal Bible study.
2. Growth and strengthening of one-to-one Bible study and disciple-making ministry in Uganda.
3. Serving as bridge-builders between the older generation and the growing second generation.
4. Serving the expansion construction of Bethesda Mission Hospital and for it to be carried out safely.
5. Being faithful in intercessory prayer and personal Bible study.
6. Good health.
