Date: 08–11 September 2025
Location: Emmaberg Girls Secondary School, Southern Diocese – ELCT
By the grace of God, the leadership of the Southern Diocese under Bishop Rev. Dr. George Mark Fihavango, Assistant Bishop Rev. Dr. Johnson Gudaga With Rev. Yusta Mgeyekwa, secretary of the Women, Children and Diakonia department, has successfully organized a special seminar for the spouses of all the pastors of the diocese. This four-day seminar has been held in the quiet environment of Emmaberg Girls’ Secondary School, aiming to strengthen marriage, service, and family cooperation in God’s work.
OPENING SERVICE
The opening ceremony followed after the parade of all the spouses of the pastors from the administration area to the library area where the seminar and worship were held. The opening ceremony was led by the Bishop of the Southern Diocese Reverend Dr. George Mark Fihavango with the Assistant Bishop of the Southern Diocese Reverend Dr. Johnson Gudaga.
In this service, Bishop preached using a lesson from Ecclesiastes 4:9. He says through this article, we are reminded of solidarity and unity. In the journey of the pastor’s ministry, it depends a lot on the great cooperation from the spouse. Therefore, through this seminar, we will have a chance to build a strong foundation for cooperation through sharing, getting to know each other, etc. “Strong marriage, strong service”. If the spouse is a problem, it will make the work difficult for the pastor.
In this seminar, the participants had the opportunity to: Be taught about the basics of Christian marriage and the challenges of ministry, discuss how to develop spiritual and emotional communication in marriage, Share the testimony of life and ministry, learning from other spouses, and Enjoy worship, joint prayer, and time to rest happily.
LESSON ONE: The War Against Poverty
The seminar was officially opened by the Bishop of the Southern Diocese, Pastor Dr. George Mark Fihavango, who gave the first lesson titled “The War Against Poverty.” In that lesson, the Bishop emphasized that poverty is not only an economic condition, but a spiritual, intellectual, and systemic challenge. He encouraged pastors’ spouses to be ambassadors of change, building families with vision, knowledge, and courage to bring about progress.
In his teachings, Bishop Fihavango explained: The importance of pastors’ spouses being at the forefront in promoting development ideas, the power of faith, knowledge, and family solidarity in fighting poverty and The Church’s call to participate fully in economic projects and social services.
Bishop of Southern Diocese
In addition, Bishop Fihavango used the opportunity to reflect on retirement preparations, emphasizing the importance of: Preparing early for life after official service, establishing economic, spiritual, and social foundations for the retirement period, providing service with wisdom and calmness, while recognizing that every service has its season.
LESSON TWO: Building Confidence and Self-Esteem in the Pastor’s Spouse
After the opening lecture given by Bishop Dr. George Mark Fihavango on “The War Against Poverty” and a call to prepare for retirement, the seminar continued with the second lecture taught by Pastor Obias Kilagwa, entitled: “Building a State of Confidence and Self-Esteem for the Pastor’s Spouse in the Implementation of Church and Social Responsibilities.”
In this lesson, Pastor Kilagwa emphasized that a pastor’s spouse is not just a domestic helper, but a full-fledged ministry partner. He encouraged: Confidence in oneself as a person with a unique calling and contribution to God’s work, Self-esteem by recognizing the spiritual, social, and historical role of the pastor’s spouse, Direct participation in church responsibilities, development projects, and community services, and Developing a positive attitude, determination, and a heart for learning to bring about real change.
LESSON THREE: The Role of the Spouse in Pastoral Ministry
Teacher: Rev. O. Ndelwa from Iringa Diocese. In this lesson, Rev. Ndelwa elaborated on the role of the pastor’s spouse as a partner in ministry, not only in the family context, but also as a spiritual, administrative, and social pillar.
He encouraged: The spouse’s participation in prayer, counseling, and community building, the spouse’s presence as a model of Christian faith and discipline, and Building a harmonious marriage that enables productive ministry.
LESSON FOUR: Food Preparation
Teacher: Ms. Esther Fihavango – Spouse of the Bishop, In this unique lesson, Ms. Esther taught with love and knowledge about food preparation as a service of love, discipline, and family unity.
Bishop’s Wife
She encouraged: Preparing food wisely, cleanly, and respectfully for guests and family, recognizing food as part of family and church service, and Building a spirit of sharing in the kitchen as a way to strengthen marriage and communication.
LESSON FIVE: Nutrition
Teacher: Ms. Felista Gudaga – Assistant Bishop’s Spouse, in this health lesson, Ms. Felista taught about the importance of good nutrition in the life of a pastor’s family.
She encouraged: Establishing a nutrition plan that takes into account health, available resources, and family needs, recognizing nutrition as part of God’s service to our bodies, and Avoiding diseases caused by improper eating by focusing on nutrient balance
Wife of Assistant Bishop
This lesson brought a new awareness among the participants about physical health as the foundation of productive ministry. Participants learned techniques for planning meals, choosing foods with the right nutrients, and preparing a diet that builds family health and happiness.
LESSON SIX: Non-Prioritized Diseases
After the spiritual, social, and practical teachings, the seminar moved on to the sixth lesson focused on physical health, taught by Ms. Felista Gudaga, the spouse of the Bishop’s Assistant. The lesson was titled: “Non-Prioritized Diseases”
In this lesson, Ms. Felista emphasized the importance of identifying and taking action against non-communicable diseases, such as: Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Cancer and nutritional problems
She encouraged the spouses of pastors to be at the forefront of the habit of regular health check-ups, seeking professional advice, and adopting a healthy lifestyle. She explained that spiritual ministry requires strong bodies, and that taking care of oneself is part of serving God.
CLOSING SERVICE: HOLY COMMUNION
The seminar concluded with a Holy Communion service led by Rev. Dr. Johnson Gudaga, Assistant Bishop, in collaboration with three other pastors: Rev. Elitha Myinga, Rev. Juliana Kilagwa, and Rev. Emmanuel Kidumba.
The service was unique, reminding participants that family ministry is built on the Lord’s table – a place of grace, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal. Holy Communion united the pastors’ spouses into one body of Christ, symbolizing the covenant of service and God’s love.
Participants left spiritually instructed, socially motivated, and familiarly strengthened – ready to continue their ministry with zeal, wisdom, and joy. The most beautiful and interesting thing was the participation of both genders, because the spouses of female pastors also attended. But also, the response from all the congregations of the southern diocese was very large.
To watch the joy of Spouse click https://youtu.be/8CeWI_yvQaI?si=YzZJePfy7hJWZ28N
Other Photos:
Apart from that, Emmaberg School is a good place and great education center for girls, you are warmly welcome. Click here https://youtu.be/YmCboreR6Dk?si=FEokUyQiTlF4MEnz
Provided by:
Christian Nakoli
Phone: 0769 628 082
Email: nakolikhristian@gmail.com