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In March 1994, the Jinja mission team moved to Jinja with the dream of beginning a strong and vibrant movement of Churches of Christ in Busoga, Uganda. They immediately began the long slow work of settling in Uganda, learning Lusoga, and building good relationships with Ugandan people. At the same time, God was also working in the hearts of many Ugandans, preparing them for service and partnership in this dream. By the end of 1997, the first successful church plant was established in the village of Nawangoma in Jinja District. In the next year or two many others would follow including those in Kiduna, Musima, Butaswa, Jinja, Nakalongo, Nabikooli, Bugaya, Igalaza, Budoola, and many others. God was blessing the Churches of Christ in Busoga in many ways, and the church movement took its first steps toward growth and maturity.
 Up to this point, the missionaries had emphasized a relationship-based, incarnational, and discipling approach to church planting and nurturing which did not include plans for any formal institutions or programs. While the incarnational philosophy remains an emphasis to this day, by early 1997 it became apparent to all the Ugandans and missionaries that something more was also needed to help prepare and train church leaders for the work of serving and guiding this growing movement in mature and Biblically grounded ways. First, the church movement was growing big enough and quickly enough that it was no longer possible for the mission team or the new Ugandan leaders to provide the relationship-based training to everyone and every church that needed it. In addition, we saw that some kind of program was needed in order to help nurture a movement identity and build strong relationships between the leaders of different churches themselves and not just between leaders and missionaries. And finally, the almost continual requests from church leaders for more formal training showed that such an addition to our relationship-based ministries would meet some very strong felt needs of the Ugandan leaders, and would also provide the opportunity for some worldly marks of achievement and authority which, if used with the Spirit of Christ, would assist the leaders in their service to the churches.
With all of this in mind, the idea of Busoga Bible School (BBS) was born. While we had no facility or experience in organizing such programs, we decided that the need was great enough that we should not wait any longer to begin. It was decided that BBS would be organized in such a way where church leaders could come into Jinja four or five times a year to receive training in a week-long seminar or short-course format. Each week-long session would contain two credit courses (2 1/2 days each). The short-course format would allow leaders to be trained while not having to leave their families, businesses, gardens and churches, as is typically required for more traditional seminary programs. It was also decided that all classes would be taught or translated into Lusoga in order to serve the common church leader in the Busoga churches. In addition, it was decided that each student would be responsible for providing a fee of 5,000 Ugandan Shillings (about $3) per class as well as their transportation costs and materials. These financial requirements are low enough to be realistic for the common Ugandan, while ensuring that only those leaders that valued the training and were serious about it would participate. Finally, BBS was organized as an extension site of the Nairobi Great Commission School and followed the catalog curriculum for the NGSC Basic Extension Program. John Barton became the director of BBS on behalf of the Jinja team and Busoga churches.
In December of 1997, the first BBS class took place. Fieldon and Janet Allison came from Mt. Elgon and taught on Christian marriage. Over the next four years almost 30 classes were offered and an average of 25 church leaders attended each class. Classes were taught by missionaries from Jinja and elsewhere, visitors from America, and African church leaders from other countries or areas. Since there was no facility for BBS during the first several years, BBS classes met in a variety of places including several neighboring Baptist churches and Jinja team member's homes. With the purchase of the Source of Life Resource Center property on Main Street, Jinja in 1999, BBS finally had a permanent facility although it was not until 2000 that renovations had reached a point where it felt permanent. Another key development for BBS was the choosing of a Ugandan director to slowly replace John. In October 1998, the BBS students themselves chose Nyanga Grace to be that director. He is a Musoga, and had been trained in Nairobi at NGSC, and has the heart and the skills to do the job. Grace accepted the position which has now also been incorporated into a wider ministry position associated with the Source of Life Resource Center. In addition, in January 2000, the BBS students chose one of their own, Maanda Wilson, to follow in Grace's footsteps and attend NGSC in Nairobi for further training so as to nurture other qualified leaders who would be able to serve BBS for years to come. Maanda finished his course in Nairobi in December 2001, and then returned to Jinja where he has started to serve as an assistant to Grace.
On February 16th, 2002, BBS had its first graduation ceremony as five Busoga church leaders celebrated the completion of four years of work. The graduates were Richard Bazonoona, Stephen Waiswa, Ezekiel Suuti, Patrick Muto, and Steven Kiirya. Nyanga Grace was the Master of Ceremonies, and John Barton spoke and awarded the certificates. Shawn Tyler, and James and Noeli Luchivya, all from Mbale, were the guest speakers. For BBS and these first graduates, the graduation marked a milestone in the maturity and development of the Churches of Christ in Busoga in general. It was a clear sign of God's faithfulness to the now ten year old dream of a vibrant church movement in Busoga, Uganda. It was a great day for everyone involved.
Below is a list and short description of all the week-long classes which have been offered since December 1997. This list contains much of the story of BBS.
December 1997 Marriage and Family (Dis 202-I), taught by Fieldon and Janet Allison, and held in the Nile Baptist Church on Oboja Road. Because of the subject of this class, we invited all church members to attend and not just leaders. Over 100 people came from different villages. The biggest challenge: 100 men, women, and babies, many of whom had never used modern bathrooms!
February 1998 Introduction to the Bible (Bib 101 & 102), taught by John Barton and held in the Barton's home. This was the first traditional BBS class, and 25 church leaders attended. We borrowed desks and chairs from a local high school, and everyone slept on the floor.
May 1998 The Book of Revelation (Bib 117) and Evangelism (Min 304), taught by Lloyd Deal. Classes were held at the Victoria Baptist Church in Jinja, eating and accomodations were held at the Barton and Smith homes.
August 1998 Ministry Workshop (Min 308), taught by the Jinja mission team, and held at the Barton's home.
October 1998 Discipling Others (Dis 207) taught by Deron Smith and Church Communication (Min 309) taught by Greg Taylor. They were held at our first Resource Center location on Gabula Road, Jinja. The biggest challenge: The Gabula Road rooms were very small, so it was very crowded and very hot for a long week of study! This was also the week that Nyanga Grace was chosen to be the new co-Director of BBS.
May 1999 The Book of Hebrews (Bib 115), taught by Lloyd Deal. The class was held in the front room of our newly purchased Main Street property, but this was before any renovations, so our "new" property had no electricity, no water (we had to carry it in in large plastic jugs), and a badly leaking roof (and it rained several times that week!).
October 1999 Church Ministry (Min 301), taught by the Jinja missionaries, and held back at Gabula Road while the "new" propoerty on Main Street was starting to be renovated.
January 2000 The Book of James (Bib 121) and Servant Leadership (Dis 205), taught by Clifton L. Ganus, Jr., and held in a newly constructed room of the Main Street property that would eventually become the "BBS room." We had electricity, good chairs and tables, and fans! During this week, Maanda Wilson was chosen to represent BBS at NGSC in Nairobi.
April 2000 Christ and Culture (Min 310) taught by Brent Abney and The Lord's Supper (Bib 125) taught by Deron Smith and Greg Taylor, and held in the smaller library of the new Main Street facility while the BBS room was being painted.
August 2000 The Pastoral Epistles I & II (Bib 122), taught by Kipsamii Kamba. This class was held on Mt. Elgon on the Uganda/Kenya border. It was an unforgetable trip and class for the almost twenty who went.
November 2000 Bible Doctrines I & II (Bib 109) taught by Deron Smith. Now we were permanently locaed in our own "BBS Room" in the Main Street property.
March 2001 Introduction to the Bible (Bib 101 & 102), taught by John Barton.
May 2001 Spiritual Growth I & II (Dis 208), taught by Deron Smith.
September 2001 Life and Teachings of Jesus (Bib 104) taught by Deron Smith and the Law of Moses (Bib 118) taught by James Okumu.
November 2001 How to Study the Bible (Bib 103) taught by Ian Shelburne and The Book of Psalms (Bib 125) taught by Shawn Tyler.
January 2002 The Gospel of Mark (Bib 124) and Expository Preaching (Min 306) taught by John Barton. These classes were actually taught in Mbale, but several BBS students attended.
February 2002 Marriage and Family II (Dis 202- II) taught by Deron Smith, and Elders in the Church (Gen 405) taught by Deron Smith, John Barton, and some of the newly selected elders of the Nawangoma and Wankonge churches.
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