By Yasiri J. Kasango
Mustard Seed worship team, a choir at Uganda Christian University (UCU), has launched a fundraising platform that aims to secure funds for struggling members.
The event took place at Besania Hill, Mukono, in the Kingdom View guest house, as the choir was celebrating 25 years of service.
“We do not want to move to classes in order to solicit tuition for the members of the choir,” said Patrick Barasa, the alumni chairperson of the choir.
He went on to encourage the Mustard Seed family to give towards the fund, noting that members are obligated to contribute a minimum of Shs60,000 annually. This would also help further the progress and welfare of the choir.
According to the Alumni Committee, the fund will be divided into three sections: the Annual Love Gift, Alumni, and All Love Offering, in order to help those in need.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics Affairs (DVCAA), Rev. Assoc. Prof. John Kitayimbwa, encouraged the Mustard Seed family to engage in investing as he applauded the founders for establishing such a developmental idea.
“That is the only way you will increase your level of income as a fundraising committee,” said Kitayimbwa. He went on to suggest that it could be called the “Mustard Seed Investment Club.”
On that note, the DVC noted that the fund can capitalize on the numbers of people it has in order to exploit the full advantages of self-reliance.
Speaking about this milestone, Dr. Martha Kyoshaba Twinamasiko, one of the choir’s founders in 1997, stated that their initial plan was to build God’s kingdom by starting small and growing big, much like the mustard seed.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.” Kyoshaba quoted Mark 4:31 from the Bible. She continued thatthough it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows into a tree, which becomes a shelter for birds.
By the time of this celebration, the choir, which began with ten members, had seen over 1000 students not only perform musically but also excel academically and in their different professions.