Seeing the Fourth Generation of Impact
A Return to Uganda
I got to see what most people never see.
Greeting St. Francis Chapel on my return to Uganda, March 15th
I returned to Uganda in early March after clearing out my mother’s apartment and am now back engaging in our primary calling—empowering African missional leaders in Jesus’ name.
Just a week later, I traveled to southwestern Uganda to visit one of our church partners, where Rose and I have been serving since 2009. Many of you have prayed for Rose over the years. What I witnessed during this visit moved me deeply, and I must share it.
Strengthening Families, Changing Futures
GO Africa—the Ugandan-based ministry organization Rose and I established in 2011—partners with local churches to strengthen families so children are not orphaned and can have a hope and a future.
One key way we do this is by training Christian social workers to serve alongside clergy and lead a three-year program called Father’s Family. Today, this program is active in 63 churches across Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reaching more than 9,000 families.
Watch this 30 second video clip from my recent trip to southwestern Uganda. When we first began in this community, we helped the church start a Father’s House – small homes for abandoned children cared for by local mothers. The children who entered care back in 2009 are now grownThey are no longer children. Some are in university. Others have graduated and are now working.
One young man, Ian, is a credit officer in the Diocesan SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative). Another, Timothy, is now serving as a social worker and Coordinator in a Father’s Family program at another church.
The Fourth Generation
As I listened to their stories, I realized something profound: This is the fourth generation of impact.
The Apostle Paul describes this in 2 Timothy 2:2—entrusting truth to faithful people who will teach others also. That is four generations: Paul, Timothy, reliable people, and others.
Most people might glimpse the third generation. I got to see the fourth.
Rose was discipled and mentored. She raised up social workers. Those social workers invested in vulnerable children like Ian and Timothy. And now they are leaders serving others.
And it continues.
Transformation That Multiplies
Timothy, orphaned at age six, is now a Coordinator in a Father’s Family program at another church in the diocese. He is strengthening families so the children in those families are not orphaned as he once was.
In other communities, we see these families become role models, informal marriage counselors, and trusted advisors on how to save, invest, and build healthy families.
This is how transformation happens. It is not quick or always visible—but over time, it multiplies.
A Lasting Legacy
What struck me most is that ministry like this creates lasting change far beyond what we can immediately see.
Lives are transformed, families are strengthened, and those once cared for are now caring for others.
This is the beauty of the Gospel at work—people building people who build people.
And by God’s grace, the impact will continue for generations to come.
The Rev. Canon Dr. Alison L. Barfoot
After 18 years in parish ministry, Alison founded Global Mobilization Ministries (GMM) in 2004 and moved to Uganda as a missionary. GMM is a non-profit charitable organization that empowers African missional leaders through individualized and customized leadership mentoring. As a missionary, Alison works to develop their leadership capacity to grow their passion for mission into a sustainable local ministry. GMM is convinced that Africa is not only a mission field, but a mission force. She also serves as the Archbishop’s Assistant for International Relations in the Church of Uganda, the Executive Director of GO Africa, a Uganda-based organization focused on church-based family strengthening, and a Trustee of Trinity Anglican Seminary.
