Three weeks ago I left Australia bound for Africa, to be involved in the inaugural NextGen Uganda conference. There ended up being 20 of us from Australia who were involved, almost all of us having previously been involved with NextGen at Katoomba.

We did not know what to expect really, even after talking to people who had been there extensively. There were far more uncertainties than certainties: the language barriers, the cultural barriers, the church history, our ability to cope with the physical conditions (as piddly as that may sound), and the list continues. We decided to give it a go, despite these uncertainties, feeling a compulsion to help our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world to deepen their roots in the Word of God.

The Ugandan delegates who came to the conference were all involved in youth ministry in some way. By the end of the first day, we felt a little overwhelmed, wondering if we would be able to overcome the barriers noted above, and we added a few to the list. We began to think 'would our week hear be worthwhile?'

We persevered and by mid week, in God's kindness, we were beginning to see promising signs. Communication was easier. Expectations were clearer and more realistic. We added in question and answer sessions as we sensed the deep hunger for the Word of God that these young Ugandan delegates had for the Word of God. The first question blew us away: 'Who were the 144,000 in Revelation 7?' We thought literacy was low and that not many people even had Bibles. We experienced a great thirst to grow in knowledge, godliness, leadership and ability to serve.

On Friday was the moment of truth. Preparing Bible studies was new to them. How would they go in preparing them as we had trained them to do. The result almost brought tears to my eyes, as one by one my strand group read out their studies. They got it.

But then something else happened. We expected that we would be the ones to provide feedback and further training to help them evaluate what they had done. But they had learnt so well that they helpfully and constructively gave each other feedback. We couldn't believe what we saw given how it all started last Monday. But that is the power of God.

And it was certainly not one way. They said to us 'we are 2,000 years behind Sydney.' But as the week went on, we learnt that they are further ahead of us in many regards. You just don't see it when you measure things in terms of the values of this world.

They didn't want us to leave. And, though we were missing home, part of us didn't want to leave either. Thank you to all who have supported this venture in prayer and financially. It is particularly the Armidale Diocese and the youth of Sydney (who gave generously at KYCK this year) who have made this possible.

It is true. Australian evangelicals can have a great impact around the world, particularly in the area of theological education. Many parts of the world want it. The opportunity is there for the taking. How can you be involved?