Our Story
Wilton & Gloria Youngblood
God called us to mission work while in our late 20’s. Our first travels on vacations connected us with Mexico and Brazil. . Over the next several decades, we found ourselves in places around the world we never would have dreamed we would have been. One of those places was Uganda. The first trip to Uganda took us to Moyo, on the border of South Sudan. This turned into a three-year partnership between our church in the U.S. and the church, there. We, quickly grew to love the people of Uganda.
After that partnership ended, our church was invited to partner with the churches in Bundibugyo. It was on this trip that God laid the groundwork for our ministry, today. Landing in Entebbe, we would travel an arduous journey to this village. During that first trip, we spent the night in Fort Portal, which was the half-way point for the ten-hour trip. We saw a enormous round building on the highest hill in Fort Portal. We asked the missionary, who we were travelling with, about the building. He responded by saying it was the home to the youngest king in the world, at age 12, who, also, had the title in the Guinness Book of World Records. This was 2003.
When we got home, God impressed me to contact the King of Tooro to meet him on the next trip. I wrote the Ugandan Tourist Department. They questioned my motives to meet the King, but, my only answer was, “Our granddaughter is the same age as him and we are proud of Texas and want to give him some Texas gifts.”
By the next trip, we had not heard from the Tourism Department. After we arrived in Bundibugyo, our daughter called to tell us we had gotten an email from the Prime Minister of the Kingdom that we had an audience with the king. After our work was done in the village, we drove to meet with the King, after scurrying to find proper attire and gathering our leftover village gifts.
There is so much more to this story, but space does not allow the details. However, the meeting with King Oyo, his mother Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, and their administration was divinely touched. We kept in touch forming a strong friendship. The King and entourage came to Midland, Texas, at our invitation in 2010. In the spring before their arrival, we went to Fort Portal to attend his coronation of him turning eighteen and taking over full power of the kingdom. He had been put on the throne at age three when his father died, suddenly.
Here’s the ‘rest of the story’—In December of 2009, our phone rang. It was Pastor Moses Mujaguzi, Queen Mother’s brother. He had come to the U.S. for the first time and this would be the first time for us to meet him. We invited him to come to Midland for a couple of days and visit with us about the coronation. At the coronation, we spent time with him, too, and learned about the work of his ministry. He came with the King’s entourage and thus, started the connection as it is, today. We realized, a few years later, that it was Pastor Moses and his ministry was where God was calling us all along. He had been praying for God to send help.
We ended up being the vessels God wanted to use to answer the prayers. From that first night at the palace with King Oyo, to the dinner with Pastor Moses at our table and to his return with the entourage, God was at work to bring help to the western part of Uganda. God allowed us to be a part of His Work, there, and we are eternally grateful for being used in such a way.
We know that there are still many who will be a continuing part of the answered prayers for this ministry and invite you to join in God’s plan for this area of the world.
Our Leadership
Pastor Dr. Moses Mujaguzi
Pastor Dr. Moses Mujaguzi is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone House of Prayer and his ministry has planted over eighty churches in western Uganda and the Congo. He and his wife, Janerose, serve in the ministry, together. They have six biological children and three adopted children.
Light For Uganda Board
Dr. Trichelle Barber—Trichelle is a doctor of pharmacy and works in management with United Pharmacy in Midland, Texas. She is the mother of two daughters and has one granddaughter.
Dr. Philip and Joan Everett—Dr. Everett is a dentist who practices in Midland, Texas. Joan is a retired hygienist. They have three sons and three grandchildren.
Ken Hankins, Jr.–Ken is the Midland/Odessa District Director for Texas State Senator Kevin Sparks. Previously, Ken worked as the Midland Development Director for Partners Relief & Development based in Thailand. He and his wife, Ann, are West Texas natives and have two sons.
Patrick and Patricia Reich—Patrick is a retired accountant and they have lived in Midland, Texas, since 1983. Together, they have three children, three grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
Charles and Donna Rice—‘Chuck’ is a CPA and works for a local oil company as the Secretary of Treasure/CFO. Donna is retired from teaching Kindergarten and Preschool. They have a daughter, son, and 5 grandchildren.
David and Linda Thomas—David is retired from Pioneer Natural Resources where he worked for over 40 years. Linda worked for the former Pioneer Corporation. They have one daughter and three grandchildren.
Wilton and Gloria Youngblood—Wilton and Gloria are the co-founders and U.S. Coordinators for Light for Uganda. Wilton is a pharmacist and Pharmacist in Charge at Market Street Pharmacy in Midland, Texas. Gloria is a retired real estate agent. They have one daughter, two granddaughters and a great-granddaughter.