Dear fellow Christians in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas,
The Kellermann Foundation, located in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, provides hope and health to the Batwa pygmies and their neighbors in southwest Uganda. Whether you realize it or not, you are part of the story—the beautiful story of how God reached out in love to them through the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas.
For millennia, the Batwa pygmies lived peacefully in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which they believed God had given them. In 1991, they were forcibly evicted from their ancestral home when the UN made the forest a world heritage site to protect the mountain gorilla living there. Given nothing in return, the Batwa immediately became beggars wandering the region without land, homes, food, medical care, or education. Thousands of Batwa died because of widespread malnutrition and diseases which they were not exposed to in the forest. God responded with help through parishioners, priests, and entire churches in our diocese.
In 1993, Archbishop of Uganda Livingstone Nkoyoyo visited the Diocese of Dallas and asked Diane Stanton, wife of Bishop James Stanton, to undertake the resettlement of the Batwa. Worried that she was unprepared to help, God assured her that he knew what to do. Diane opened her heart—and in turn the heart of our diocese—so the Batwa could achieve life in all its fullness. Three Dallas area churches immediately assisted with projects, and a substantial grant from a diocesan mission fund purchased 350 acres of land to establish settlements adjacent to the Batwa’s original homeland. In 2000, through a series of God-ordained events, Dr. Scott and Carol Kellermann volunteered to conduct a short-term medical survey of the Batwa. They first treated the Batwa with IVs hanging from a large ficus tree with few other resources—no buildings, no electricity, not even a common language. Within two weeks, Dr. Scott and Carol knew that God had called them to stay and help long-term. The Kellermann Foundation was formed to continue and expand their work.
The people of the Diocese of Dallas continued its mission to help through the Kellermann Foundation. Diocesan mission teams traveled to the remote region of Uganda to share the Gospel, build homes, mentor students, and assist with healthcare. Over the course of two decades, God multiplied these efforts into countless missionary outpourings from our diocese resulting in the following accomplishments:
Coming to the aid of the Batwa when they were evicted from the forest over thirty years ago saved their lives. It also started a new relationship which flows from God through you and me to the Batwa, their larger family in Christ. As their family, we support both the generation evicted from the forest, and younger generations who may have an even greater challenge to both preserve their heritage and depart on a new and unfamiliar path. These Batwa children are able to take bold steps because of relationships with people in our diocese who walk alongside them and provide a steady hand in the face of challenges. Thank you to everyone in the Diocese of Dallas for extending God’s love and caring about the most vulnerable among us. There are still many great needs. We pray that your support will grow, and all to the glory of God!
Mukama Assiimwe, Praise the Lord!
Laura N. Corley
Executive Director and clergy spouse
