"This is the hardest mission I've ever been on."  I murmured this to myself while leading a mission last year. I lay on the sagging bed, sweating, mosquitoes buzzing about, and thumping bar music playing at 2 a.m. just a half block away. I told God I wasn't sure I could lead another mission. But, it wasn't the physical conditions that made it hard; it was the oppressive spiritual warfare.

There is a great need for inner healing among children in Tanzania (and in many cultures). Evidence of this was discovered during a SOMA mission to a neighboring country last year. Of the 153 youth participants, 99% reported facing traumatic situations such as mental and physical abuse, violence by one adult to another in the home, sexual abuse, neglect, divorce or separation, or drug abuse in the home. Recently, SOMA and the Christian Renewal Association (CRA) pilot tested an inner healing ministry adapted specifically for children.

SOMA and the Christian Renewal Association (CRA) have a missional relationship that began in 1999. In 2007, our combined efforts successfully planted an inner healing ministry in the Diocese of the Rift Valley (DRV), Tanzania. Subsequent visits have always brought back reports of continued Kingdom fruit. Glory be to God and for His faithfulness!

SOMA hosted a fantastic dinner event to celebrate and support our global ministry. But it was much more than a dinner⎯it was a celebration of faith among believers, giving thanks to the living God.

Rwanda has played an enormous part in SOMA International’s history. It was the location for a unique mission where SOMA teams came from all over the world in 1996 to minister in every diocese not long after the national tragedy of the genocide.

Want to take a peek inside my mission journal? Nearly every night while on a mission, I chronicle the things I’m thankful for, my challenges, and my prayer requests. I’ve shared a few excerpts that I provided to SOMA’s prayer team while I was in Northern Ireland.

When I got the message from my bishop and the email from the team leader [to join the mission team], I was so delighted! First, I prayed and asked the Lord to guide me in all I was going to do at the conference.

Photos from Mission to NW Ankole Diocese Uganda

I am thankful to have served on several prior SOMA mission teams. On this mission to Northwest Ankole Diocese, once again I saw the hand of God in our ministry, especially during the transformation from the resistance manifested among attendees on Monday and Tuesday, to the spirit-filled openness manifested on Wednesday after Bishop Amos’ exhortation to his clergy.

A few days after we arrived in Ibanda, the town with the diocesan headquarters for Northwest Ankole, we learned that it had an interesting history. The name “Ibanda” is a derivative of the original town name, which meant "witchcraft is practiced here," a likely explanation for the disturbing dreams that a couple of team members had experienced.

After serving on nine SOMA missions, I have faith that the Holy Spirit will show upwe always bid Him to come. The fact that He shows up in His own time and in His own way was certainly reinforced on this mission! I have never experienced a SOMA conference where the participants resisted engaging for over half of the talks, as was the case in NW Ankole. The dramatic way the Holy Spirit moved was just what was needed for the spiritual breakthrough that occurred in the people of this diocese.

Ron Davis
February 6, 1954 – May 12, 2023
Personal Reflections of a Dear Friend
By Edwina Thomas, Soma USA National Director, 1991-2010

Mission to the Diocese of Aweil, South Sudan

Mission to the Diocese of Aweil, South Sudan

Mission to the Diocese of Aweil, South Sudan

Greetings from the Mission Field!

Photos from GAFCON IV, Kigali, Rwanda

Photos from Sebei, Uganda, 2022

Life as a clergy couple is demanding in Uganda, even as it is throughout the global Church. In Sebei Diocese, many clergy struggled with prioritizing ministry ahead of family and the relationship with their spouse.

Where are you in your relationship with God? Where are you in your marriage relationship? Where are you in your ministry?" The first step in effective ministry is reconciliation and forgiveness in relationships.