Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda. Three African countries. Three countries in which Anglican Christianity is burgeoning, both in numbers and in the church's capacity to minister to the needs of her people. Together, their respective provinces total 11.5 million members, in a combined area approximately the size of Texas and Oklahoma. When we consider the 2.4 million members in our own vast province, there is not a member among us who does not stand in amazement.

Three bishops. Three dioceses. Three clues to their growth and effectiveness. The clues are common - almost so common that we might discount them because of their familiarity. Perhaps the unmistakable zeal behind each of these ministry principles will cause us to take notice: Evangelism, especially on the part of lay people. Outreach programs, based in scriptural imperatives. Ministry to youth.

’Ä¢ The Rt. Rev. Daniel Ngoru, Bishop of Kirinyaga, Kenya, was consecrated seven months ago. He has been ordained for nearly 20 years, and has taught in Bible colleges and a school for evangelism. Yet through the lay people of his new diocese, he has learned a great deal from God about sharing ministry.

Shortly after Bishop Daniel was consecrated, a group of 12 lay people visited their new bishop. They had an idea. They wanted to become involved in evangelism. The bishop responded by inviting them to recruit as many as were interested, and gather for several days of prayer and training.

About 500 lay people came forward. They gathered, prayed and developed a common theme around Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." They also developed skills of sensitivity in approaching people with the gospel. The 500 were sent out during Holy Week to every congregation in the diocese, with the initial goal that each congregation would receive at least two evangelists. In fact, each of the 100 congregations welcomed at least four people, with the congregations themselves covering the costs of transportation.

"Two thousand people came to know the Lord through them," Bishop Daniel said. Not only were the people invited to church, but the people of the churches were encouraged to get to know them and invite them to their homes.

"Sometimes people accept the Lord in an open air meeting, and that is it. You yourself have to make a link with them," so that each person may be incorporated into the life of the local congregation.

Bishop Daniel is happy to share what God has taught him through this process. "God is calling me not to do the work alone," he said. "I believe in 'every member ministry.' Getting to know all those people — 2,000 people — would take me years. It is a miracle."

• The Rt. Rev. Alexis Bilindabagabo has been a bishop in Rwanda for seven years, and is now overseeing the new Diocese of Gahini, begun in May of 1997. With his wife, Mukamwezi Grace, a physician, he is developing a piece of land to settle Rwandans who have been uprooted for many years.

Bishop Alexis has a special passion for reaching orphan children. He said God spared him from the genocide for a particular call: "I felt God calling me to something special - to care for the orphans - as a result of God's saving mercy."

Following that call, he began the Barakabaho Foundation in Kigali, with 8,000 orphans in a program which does not build orphanages, but rather places orphans in homes, and provides training programs and social services to support the foster parents.

"Rwanda is a country of orphans and widows," said Bishop Alexis. "The consequences of the genocide are still there." He estimates that there are a million orphans in a population of 7 million. "The Book of James says that the true church is the church which cares for orphans. If we fail, we lose credibility."

Now thoroughly involved in developing the new diocese, he sees great promise in the area, with good natural resources and a strong spiritual heritage, as the place where the East African Revival was begun.

• Bishop Nicodemus Engwalas-Okille has been ordained since 1973, 15 years the bishop of the Diocese of Bukedi in eastern Uganda. With 89 parishes served by 120 priests, he also bears witness to the power and effect of lay ministry when he tells of an additional 412 "small congregations," served by as many "lay readers," a term used in his diocese equivalent to our use of "lay vicar."

"Despite our poverty, we are running the affairs of the diocese," the bishop said confidently. With little money from outside sources, "all is done by our Christians. The little we get is the little we share. We believe in sharing in equity." Indeed, their methods and giving sound as if they were principles derived from the pages of the book of Acts. About 85 percent of the offerings of the local church are sent to a diocesan "common pool," then redistributed on a percentage basis to the work of the whole church.

He testifies joyfully to the daily growth of the church and the great task of training and testing people for confirmation in a largely oral society.

The lack of books and training materials does not hinder the people from mastering the hymns, the creeds and the commandments. With a glint in his eye he told the story of the recent visit of Bishop Michael Scott-Joynt, of Bukedi's companion Diocese of Winchester, England. To the English bishop's great surprise, the 1,100 candidates for confirmation were a considerable challenge to the two bishops, even with the aid of the hands of a retired archbishop.

Of the many facets of Bishop Nicodemus' ministry, nothing was more stunning than his testimony about the role of youth in the church. His words rang as true for any corner of the U.S. as they did for the Province of Uganda.

"There is life in worship," he said. "With traditional music and drumming, we encourage young people to be creative. The missionaries taught that the drums were evil. We are trying to teach our people to unlearn this. If they don't dance in the church, there will be another forum where they will dance. The young people are very lively. They don't like worship that makes them feel like they are in a funeral."

Persons who meet these bishops may be reminded of Paul's exhortation to the Romans: Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Rom. 12:11-13).

The Rev. David Duprey is the rector of St. Peter' s Church, Sheridan, Wyo.