Mike Rainbow arrived in Kotido, Uganda with nothing—no plan, no connections, and no place to go. Fleeing a rebel army known for abducting child soldiers, he spent his first year surviving on the streets, carrying little more than uncertainty about what would come next. Yet it was in that place of hardship that he first encountered the gospel through friends, and not long after, God met him in a dream. That moment changed the direction of his life. Mike gave his life to Christ and eventually made his way to Bible school in central Uganda, where he began to grow in his faith and sense of calling.
When his training was complete, Mike felt the Lord leading him back to Kotido for ministry. He returned not with a detailed plan, but with a willing heart. His days were spent with children living on the streets--sharing the gospel and offering food whenever he had something to give--and his nights were spent sleeping on the floor of a local church. It was quiet, ordinary faithfulness—showing up, building relationships, and trusting God with the little he had.
Then, one morning, the unexpected happened. Thirty-two boys from the streets showed up at the church and asked if they could stay with him. Faced with a need far greater than his resources, Mike did the only thing he knew to do—he prayed. In that moment, God’s response was simple and clear: “Just share the little that you have.”
So Mike did. He asked the church if the boys could stay, and they agreed. He gave what he had—extra clothes, a few sheets, whatever could be shared—and made room for them. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. What drew the boys in wasn’t abundance, but love expressed through sacrifice, generosity, and presence. That day marked the beginning of Shalom Reconciliation Ministries.
Nearly two decades later, that same spirit of obedience continues to shape everything Mike and his wife, Denise, do. What began on a church floor has grown into Shalom Home, a residential ministry that now provides shelter, food, clothing, and medical care to more than seventy children and young adults in Kotido. The ministry has expanded beyond the home to include a school and a football club, creating spaces where children from the community can learn, grow, and experience the love of Christ in tangible ways.
Shalom has become a place of refuge for children facing unimaginable circumstances—those from broken families, those who have lost parents, and those simply searching for a place to belong. And yet, despite its growth, the heart of the ministry remains unchanged. Even when resources are limited, Mike and Denise continue to live by the same conviction that started it all: to share whatever they have and trust God to multiply it.
Mike’s story is not one of abundance, but of obedience. It began with sleeping on church floors and walking the streets of Kotido, and it continues today through a life marked by steady faithfulness. The same posture that welcomed 32 boys through the church doors is the one that now sustains a ministry impacting dozens more, offering a powerful reminder that God often chooses to work through what seems small to reveal something far greater.
His life is a testimony to what can happen when someone places what little they have into the hands of God—and trusts Him to make it enough.
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” — Matthew 25:40
Stories from the Field
