Medrine Nabalema

Meet Medrine, a vibrant soul with a heart bursting with love for every child she encounters. Growing up as the third of seven children in a lively Ugandan household, Medrine was surrounded by the warmth of family and the steady rhythm of Sunday church services, thanks to her parents’ unwavering commitment to faith. But even as a child, something tugged at her heartstrings—seeing other kids in her community getting into squabbles and hurting each other. It saddened her deeply, and she wished she could just clap her hands and bring peace to them all.

Her Sunday School lessons were like a light bulb moment for her. She realized that forgiveness and love were the real hidden strengths that could stop the fights and heal the hurts. So, at just nine years old, Medrine decided to follow Jesus, inspired by the message of God’s love and forgiveness in John 3:16. And that was it—she was hooked! Her passion for teaching others about this amazing love grew stronger by the day.

By the time she was ten, Medrine was already a Sunday school teacher at St. Peter’s Town Church in Lugazi. But she didn’t stop there. She dove headfirst into certified training with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), arming herself with the tools to lead others to Christ and encourage children to dive into their Bibles and live by God’s Word.

As her passion grew, so did her dreams. Medrine realized she needed a bigger platform to reach more children, so she pursued journalism—because what better way to spread the word than through stories? She earned a Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Uganda Christian University (UCU). Along the way, she wrote a research paper on “The Influence of Movie Heroes on Children’s Social Behavior,” and with and the insights she gained were truly eye-opening! She realized that children were often left out in the cold when it came to proper social development, and she knew something had to change. That’s when the idea for a social center, full of fun and age-appropriate activities, started to take root in her heart. Medrine’s journey didn’t stop at academics. She jumped into the professional world with a bang, working at Compassion International as a senior partnership facilitator. She made waves, impacting the lives of countless children and youths. And just when you thought she couldn’t possibly do more, she went on to earn a master’s degree in contextualized pastoral ministry from Lancaster Bible College in 2020.
But the cherry on top? Medrine founded ShaWon Christian Children’s Ministry, a place where she could bring her dream to life—reaching as many children as possible with the love of Christ. Under her leadership, the ministry has blossomed, offering Bible studies, counseling sessions, and training for both children and adult leaders. Medrine’s journey is a testament to what happens when passion meets purpose—and she’s just getting started!