Of Servants and Martyrs

On Monday, we spent the day visiting the Ugandan Martyr’s Shrine.  We actually visited 2 different locations – Munyonyo, where the king judged the martyrs and sentenced them to death, and Namugongo, where the execution of most took place.  As we listened to the story of these martyrs back in 1886, we were all struck by the conviction to their newfound Christian faith – that they were willing to give up the only loyalty they had ever known the Kabaka (the king of Buganda) – and give their lives for the King of kings.  The gospel had only recently been introduced by British Evangelists so there wasn’t a long history of Chistian belief.  The Kabaka took exception to there being a King above him so He told His subjects that those who were with him to get on the right, and those who chose Christianity to be on his left.  The brave Christian Ugandans moved to the king’s left.

We heard how they were brutally tortured, limbs cut off, speared and burned to death.  Most were pierced with chains at the Munyonyo location where they were judged and sentenced, then forced to walk, crawl and eventually had to push themselves along the ground on their backs to Namugongo – the place where they were tortured further and eventually burned alive.  And we thought that the drive out to the Namugongo shrine was torture…I kept imagine having to walk/crawl that distance in the martyr’s condition.

June 3^rd is the annual Martyr’s day and is a national holiday in Uganda to celebrate the price these martyr’s paid.  We also saw the pavilion where the Pope spoke when he was at shrine and blessed the pool as Holy Water.  In 2015 when the Pope came for dedicating the shrine sites, they estimated that almost 3,000,000 people were in attendance.

I can’t speak for everyone there, but as we learned about the martyrs and everything they endured and he conviction with which they stood for their faith in Jesus, I really wondered if my faith could be that strong.  I suppose that is one of the things I love about coming to Uganda –  I learn more about faith and prayer than I could ever imagine.  It is through the examples of the believers here – both past and present – that show me the power of God as well as the cost of faith in Jesus really is and what that relationship with Christ may require.

On the lighter side, when we were on the papal platform, we did have a visit by pope Sean Paul X

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm trees in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  Revelation 7:9-10

The Renewal Summit 2017 is finally started and today was the second day.  We have been looking forward to this since January.  The planning and preparation that has taken place is resulting in a top-rate conference.  However, as I sat watching the opening ceremony celebrating the heritage and beauty of Africa, then heard a roll call of all of the nations in attendance, I immediately thought of the verse above from Revelations – we really ARE representatives of many, though not all, tongues, tribes, nations and peoples coming together before the throne of Jesus to worship together as one.  Wow – it really is hard to explain the feeling of being together with these believers from around the globe.  There are over 10 different African countries represented, as well as the US, UK, Australia and India.

Ken, Brandon & Sean Thome’ have all been representing Canby Christian Church in break-out sessions and Ken also was one of the keynote speakers Wednesday morning.  Ken spoke about the development of the relationship between CCC & ARM.  It was a great job of speaking in an intimidating situation and Ken did a great job.  All three of them have had 2 break-out sessions each now and have had good feedback from participants – even while facing some challenging questions.  Brandon has been joined by Didas and Peter from the Kacungwa co-op to help address the project there.  The co-op has attracted a lot of attention and fits well into the conference theme of transformation.  Sean has seen pastors from all over Africa coming to his sessions with a deep longing to plant more churches and spread the gospel.  These same pastors have little to no resources to do this and are looking for churches like ours to partner with and people like Sean to advise and equip them.

Something that I realized in talking with many of the conference delegates is how insignificant our travel “difficulties” really are in comparison to some who have come.  We complain about the length of time it took to travel half-way around the globe, having baggage difficulties, too much food on the plane – and some of it not the best quality.  Then we hear stories of the time it takes the pastors from the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) to travel on the poor roads and those coming from South Sudan who are risking their lives just to travel because of bombings of cars – not to mention the fact that South Sudan is facing one of the biggest humanitarian crises ever.  The stories just go on – and humbles me in the presence of these men of faith and at the same time gives me energy to renew efforts to help where we can.  The needs are so great. 

But rather than talk in generalities, let me share just a few stories I have heard and people I have met here in the past few days – true servants of God.

Pastor Eric Byamugisha came from Ggaba Community Church originally with a desire to minister to the people in northern Uganda – specifically in the city of Pakwach (just on the northern end of Murchinson Falls Game Park).  Pastor Eric has started a ministry called Witness, Win, Transform and is ministering in an area with very few evangelical Christian churches.  His primary need at this moment is for bibles to give to the community.  He is also celebrating the recent birth of a beautiful baby daughter.

Pastor Victor Aire is looking for partners to help him minister to the

hungry and lost in Gulu, Northern Uganda.  There are so many coming around Gulu fleeing South Sudan, but they are also still recovering from the decades of terror by the LRA & Joseph Kony.  Pastor Victor gave me some sim-sim (like sesame seeds) and g-nuts (like peanuts) as an example of the foods they have available. He also wants to start a school to provide education to so many children that do not have that option now.

Leonard Ngeleja from Tanzania is an IT worker by trade with a God-given vision to help youth transition into the “real world”.  Leonard had a vision of being in a dark jungle and having to use a machete to hack through the plants to be able to see and allow light in.  He saw this as a sign that there were so many in the dark, who need the light of Christ, but also need practical help in learning skills to help cope with transitioning from school into the working world.  His wife Emma has a similar vision and together they have started Mwangaza (Light) Hope Foundation.

Pastor Ruvugana Joseph from Burundi is a pastor and university professor teaching community development.  Pastor Joseph has a desire to see the lost saved and the church grow in Burundi.  As we talked, he invited me many times to come and see Burundi.  He said it was once such a beautiful place, but has been so damaged by war and the people there are in such extreme poverty that I saw a sadness in his eyes at what his beautiful country had become.  It was a difficult journey for this man of God to arrive here in Ggaba.  Burundi is a small country just to the south of Rwanda with a population of approximately 10 million.

Israel Sind from Muletee, Uganda is a young man I met many years ago.  Israel came from a life without family and was taken in by Pastor Wilson (great man of God in Mubende area) and Israel wants to start a ministry called "A New Hope" for children who are in the condition he was as a young child.  I was blessed to be able to facilitate a few conversations with other young Ugandan men who have a similar vision and are a little farther down the road towards seeing their dream become reality and it was an encouragement to Israel to press on.  With some encouragement, advice/counsel and helping with some organizational planning, young men like Israel will change Uganda!

These are just a few of the many stories we are hearing here in Ggaba from the conference delegates from across Africa.  Stories from the DRC about the warlords, torture & rape.  Stories about the civil war in South Sudan leading to an immense humanitarian crisis.  I could fill pages with what we’ve heard in just first few days.

There is a desire to find partners to help with the Kingdom work these pastors are doing and the need is overwhelming.  One thing that strikes me is the commitment these men have to serving God and doing His work to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, but also to bring hope through the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.  The other common theme is that they aren’t just interested in making converts, they want to make disciples.

The bottom line is that despite the tragedy, apparent hopelessness and despair, THERE IS HOPE IN JESUS and this conference is an opportunity to bring the CHURCH together to find ways to carry this hope to all of Africa then the world.  I really can’t believe I’m here to be part of this.  Please be in prayer for what God is doing here!

Yesu Yebazibwe (Praise Jesus)

PS  Lest you forget how beautiful Uganda is, let me share just a couple of pictures from the conference location here in Ggaba.