Arlon and Darline Royer

Uganda

Arlon Royer felt the call to missions in his early ministry.  Then God led him through 30 years of pastoring in which he became a strong promoter of missions.  After cancer claimed the life of his first wife, he visited Kenya in 1990 where he married missionary Darline Kantola, a Bible school teacher of 28 years.  Sensing God’s mission call once again, the Royers received appointment to Kenya where they served until their appointment to Uganda.

Beginning in the 1970’s, Kenyan-based missionaries endeavored to reach into Uganda, but the political turbulence during the 70’s and 80’s made it impossible to effectively impact Uganda with the apostolic message.  After several months of residency in Uganda, the Royers succeeded in registering the church by May 1996 and have since had to periodically renew the registration.  They have also operated mobile Bible schools (60 hours of training) used to qualify pastors for apostolic ministry.  Many trips have been made to promote evangelism/church planting while also finding time to print training/evangelism materials.  In 1998 the Royers planted a church in Kampala that serves as a model of outreach to the city and nation.  This church has experienced significant growth.  As of January 2007, the church in Uganda had expanded into more than 18 districts with 3000 constituents and 62 licensed ministers.

The establishment of schools in relationship with the church has given the church good standing in the nation and provided a base for continued renewal of the church registration.   The primary school and secondary schools based in Kampala with over 450 students serve as an outreach of the United Apostolic Church.  Also, New Beginning, Hope for Uganda’s Children, an extension of the church and a registered NGO, provides orphan home care and schooling for orphan children.  As a result of a 21-year insurgency by rebels in the North and a high AIDS infection, Uganda is listed as having the highest ratio of orphans in the world.