Graves May 2025

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Our mission statement reminds us that we are here to help people know God.

Over the last two years through partnerships with Crossway, Ligonier Ministries, and the Rosemary Jensen Bible Foundation, we have been privileged to distribute more than 50,000 Bibles free of charge all across Uganda.

Bibles—and books in general—can be hard to find and expensive, particularly outside the Kampala area. The average worker here simply cannot afford a copy.

Last month, we distributed 10,000 Pew and Concise Study Bibles through our partners in the Church of Uganda, the Presbyterian Church in Uganda, the Lutheran Church in Uganda, seminaries, pastor training ministries, prison ministries, and others. Demand was high. We had to limit each group to 100 Bibles—and even so, we ran out in less than a month, but reached more than 100 churches and organizations in every corner of the country.

Do these Bibles have an impact?

Last week I attended the annual meeting of the Church of Uganda’s Chaplain’s Association. Here is what the Rev. Moses Nyonyi, school chaplain at St. Mark’s College, Namagoma told me:

We have a school enrollment of 3,100 learners.

During term 1 that has just ended, we mounted a project of giving Bibles to children who accept Christ, and we have been able to give out thirty-two Bibles this term.

Out of the thirty-two we have given out, we have given eight to Muslims who have converted, and we have baptized three of those former Muslims.

We are also receiving very wonderful reports from the parents, one of whom is a Muslim father who has asked that when the term begins, he also gets a Bible and also wants to be baptized here at school.

We have also found the giving out of Bibles as something very crucial. At first we thought that Bibles are accessible to everyone, but we found that actually, no, many people still need Bibles.

We have a lot of letters, learners are writing: “Chaplain, I need a Bible,” “Chaplain, my father needs to be baptized.” And more.

So the story of the Bible has done us so well this time. We thank you very much for the provision and looking forward for more if opportunities open. Thank you.

Sometimes it is too easy to be discouraged by the stories we hear. But this is not one of them. And, if thirty-two Bibles had this big of an impact, imagine the stories from the other 50,000.

The Reverend Moses Nyonyi

Rafiki Education System officially approved

On May 12, after years of work by our predecessors in Uganda and the curriculum experts at the Home Office in Florida, we learned that the secondary curriculum in the Rafiki Education System (RES) has been approved for use in Uganda schools by the National Curriculum Development Centre.

This means that the entire RES can now be used in any Uganda school, including those receiving government support. This has been a regular prayer request from us for the last four years—and we thank you for the prayers and we thank the Lord for fulfilling them. The RES is Christ-centered, written from a biblical world-view, and helps students at all levels to know God.

Family updates

• Michelle is hard at work on the dissertation for her doctorate in higher education leadership. She is working to finish it by next January.
• Nathan completed his fourth year at Virginia Tech and his time in the Corps. He will spend one more year there to complete his degree before being commissioned in the U.S. Army.
• The others are doing well, scattered all over—and gainfully employed.

Please pray for

• Full financial support for us to continue serving in Uganda (https://RafikiFoundation.org/missionary/michelle-and-david-graves-252).
• Inspiration, strength, and perseverance for Michelle as she works towards her doctorate.
• Rafiki to grow to seventy missionaries on the field in 2025.
• All Rafiki teachers institutes—particularly ours here in Uganda—to be filled up and complete the accreditation process.
• Rafiki Foundation to attain full funding of 3,500 Rafiki students and orphans by end of this year.
• All of our children and students to come to know God early and become godly contributors.
• 100 schools in Africa to begin using our Bible study and curriculum.
• The Rafiki Classical Academy in Eustis, Florida, to continue to grow and be a model for other schools and for training new missionaries.
• Wisdom as we steward all the resources God has given us, and that the distribution of every Bible, Bible study, and the curriculum would bear much fruit.
• Continued safety and protection for the Uganda Village.
• Awakening in the church around the world.

Thank you for your support materially and in prayer.

Please enjoy the following pictures from our life here in Uganda.

Rafiki chess players had a successful season including a medalist and a top five finish at Nationals 1

Crossway Bibles go to Presbyterian Church in Uganda members near Seeta-Nazigo

GL5 students listening for God’s still, small voice while reciting a poem about Elijah at Term 1 Recitation

Teacher Derrick Kakoma and Interim Headmaster Kathy Johnson award Honor Roll Certificates to the top students from 2024 Term 3 at morning assembly

S2 student uses the Secondary Library

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