About Us

Elpida Ministries* is an organization founded by Abraham Kawuma in Uganda, and Connor Murtha in the U.S. Two ordinary young men, living in different parts of the world and united by a calling from God to serve the single mothers and children living in Mityana, Uganda. Elpida Ministries provides food, healthcare support, access to education, worship, and livelihood development (farming & raising livestock), for 57 single mothers and children.

Abraham is the boots on the ground in Uganda. He is the organization administrator, which includes working with the families, teaching and leading efforts to expand programs, & services (including worship and education), as well as providing life-experiences such as trades, farming and raising live stock.

Connor is based in the U.S., works in real estate and construction, leads ministries in his local church and has prior service in the Army Reserves. He also serves as an officer on the Elpida Ministries board of directors.

Our Story

ABRAHAM Kawuma (Uganda Lead)

I was on the street waiting for some one, then suddenly I saw a mad person with children picking food from the trees for their survival on the street. I looked at her and walked over to see what was going on with the woman. When I got close to her, she started telling me who her children are and what happened to her head. She narrated the whole story to me.

She told me how her hut had caught fire and how she received a head/brain injury when part of the roof fell on her. She told me how she was not able to save her youngest child.

Tears came out of my eyes, I had a small amount of money in my pocket and I gave it to her. I told her to go and get something to eat.

Then from that moment, I had to start something up, but I had no job because I had just finished school. What came into my mind was to make bricks and sell them. I didn't have anything to give, but I couldn't wait. So I went and made something.

I had to start this organization, because I imagined myself in this woman's position, and also thought what if it was my mother on
the street picking food for me? Then I imagined myself through the eyes of the youngest child.

Our Mission

To improve lives emotionally, educationally, economically, and spiritually.

Our VISION

Elpida Ministries will be financially sustainable with the ability to provide access for a healthy diet, clean water, medical care, education services, and consistent Christian discipleship, services, and materials, for the people it serves. In addition, we will have crops and livestock sufficient for food and revenue sustainability, and dedicated personnel in numbers sufficient to ensure the continuation and success of the organization.

WE

Teach the Bible and who God is.
Seek to build sustainable communities
Provide training of a general skill so the women and children can grow to be self-sustainable and build the kingdom of God (ex farming, welding, technical, builders.)
Spread the Gospel and raise people up in Christ

CONNOR Murtha (U.S. Lead)

Connor's first visit to the ministry headquarters in Uganda.

How I met Abraham It was in November, 2020 that I received a Follow from someone on Instagram that I didn”t know. I checked out the page named Abraham Kawuma, and the most recent post was a man standing with a woman and her two children in front of a mud hut.

He was explaining the difficult situation that she was in. She did not have food or water and the man was asking for prayers and provisions. Moved by the Holy Spirit, I reached out to the man and asked how I could support him, as he had no form of donating on his page. He didn’t respond right away on how I could donate, but instead we just had a conversation about what the ministry was. I wanted to help out so badly and felt I was moved to do so.

After asking 3 or 4 times how I could send some money, he finally let me know about an app called Remitly. I sent over some money right then and he was so surprised since many people had said they would give but never did.

It was night time on his side when I had sent the money and he was so excited to be able to get food for the families the next day that he hardly slept! When morning came, he went out to buy food and bring it to the families. Once he did so, he sent me pictures of the families with the food and holding a big piece of colored paper with a thanks and praise to God written on it.

I was in! Shortly after, I created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for him and the ministry. After a year of working with him over the internet and seeing families be provided for and projects happen, I was able to go and finally meet him and the families in person.