Julius H

For Global Outreach Services, Inc. to accomplish its goals abroad, it is necessary to find indigenous leaders that have proven character and a similar approach to ministry. We believe we have found such a man in the person of Julius Mbagaya for some of our work in Africa.

Julius is a gentle, unassuming man who carries an incredible anointing for ministry and leadership. Of humble birth, he was raised in the bush of Luekume, Kenya and had been dedicated to the art of witchcraft since childhood. Because of his academic brilliance however, Julius consistently was awarded scholarships enabling him to attend school. The schooling ultimately exposed him to a presentation of the gospel. Upon receiving Jesus Christ as his personal Savior during his teenage years, Julius was immediately cast out of his family and village. A Christian man, Rev. Peter James Onguko, rescued him from the streets and sponsored him both in education and life. Onguko's involvement enabled Julius to complete his education and go on to university. Rev. Onguko continues to be a father figure to Julius.

Julius Mbagaya's education includes a diploma from the International Baptist Theological Seminary of Eastern Africa in 1995 and a Bachelor's degree from ICI University of Irving, Texas in 1997.

Julius is the husband of one wife, Jane Maima, and the father of three sons and one daughter: Dennis, Don, David and Shalom. Though only a pre-teenager, Dennis is following in his father's anointing in ministry and already preaches in the local church. The Mbagaya family resides in Kitale, Kenya.

Mbagaya received his appointment letter as Pastor of Kitale Baptist Church in 1993. Recently Rev. Julius Mbagaya has also been designated Bishop over 52 Baptist churches. This position also allows him to function as one of the Bishops in the National Executive Council.

Presently the Kitale Baptist Church holds two services on Sunday due to phenomenal church growth. In part, this is a result of the two daily services held downtown Kitale that are open to the public. Leadership for these meetings is being networked with other churches and denominations in the city as a way of building relationships within the Body of Christ. The 6:15 a.m. sunrise service averages 150 in attendance. The lunch hour service ministers to 2,000 people daily.

Another dream of Mbagaya's has been to develop a ministry that functions as a team of ministries capable of planting churches open to the moving of the Holy Spirit, training leaders, overseeing the churches, and also running businesses capable of funding the work. Each ministry itself comprised of teams and those ministries submitted one to the other. This dream became reality in 1999 with the establishing of Lighthouse Team Ministries (LTM). Julius Mbagaya also currently serves as Director of LTM.

Mbagaya's vision of creating industry within the churches to fund the operations of ministry aligned with the vision of Global Outreach Services' of empowering the local churches to become financially independent from American ministry “handouts”.

Because unemployment is currently running at over 70% in Kenya, that task is challenging. However, by utilizing gifts and donations from previous American ministries, (both Global Outreach Services and others), businesses operating under the ministry of LTM have been established. On the large scale those include a bus for hire, a video rental store, and a recording studio.

A future goal of LTM is to build upon the recording studio and open a radio station broadcasting the gospel in native tribal languages to surrounding countries.

Part of Julius' growth as an individual is reflected in his changing approach to music within the Church. As a young Christian, Julius experienced first-hand how his love of music and rhythm was not acceptable within most religious circles. How do you separate music from a people whose culture is so ingrained with rhythm and sound? Yet the Anglo-Saxon influence upon the churches planted within Kenya have done this for years. However, after attending a Kim Clement meeting in Detroit, Michigan, an understanding of music and sound incorporated within worship was planted deep into Julius' heart. As he began implementing change within the local church, people from the surrounding areas came to see this freedom of expression… drawn by the sound of blending their culture with worship. This influence can be heard on the music presently being recorded by members of his congregation. Look for CD's of African worship produced at this studio on our web page on the global shopping page; these will be available soon!

As you can see, we are impressed with this man's vision and accomplishments. We've briefly given you an overview of Julius Mbagaya's approach to ministry and the many ways his life has produced fruit. This vision is not limited to the local church, but also for the lost. Many crusades are undertaken by Julius and LTM every year in Kenya, Uganda, and other surrounding countries. This makes him a man of global vision and apostolic direction and one whose heart has been linked with ours.

Bishop Julius Mbagaya is a personal friend as well as colleague in ministry and is under no formal contract with Global Outreach Services, Inc. Any discrepancies or errors made regarding his personal life or ministry activities are the sole responsibility of Global Outreach Services, Inc. and our understanding or interpretation of the events.