Uganda Mission
By: Immaculate Maima
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“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--“ Ecc.3:1 After a very successful crusade in Nzoia, Pastor Julius and a team of 23 from the Lighthouse Team Ministries set out for Lira in Uganda. Lira is a small town in the northern part of Uganda. The climatic conditions of Lira are semi-arid, almost similar to that of Kiwawa in West Pokot. Poverty surrounds this area. The region has been torn apart through wars caused by the Lord’s Resistance Army against the government troops. Cattle raids carried out by the neighboring Karamoja tribe is prevalent. |
Very little can be seen in terms of development. All the days the team was in Uganda for the mission they took black tea because milk is a very rare commodity. There are no agricultural activities as the environs of Lira town are purely bushes.
A team that had earlier visited Lira prior to this mission gave testimonies of poverty being very prevalent in the villages. The talked of having seen a corpse that was being transported on a bicycle—a scenario that is common day after day; it never moves the natives!
The main food is cassava, rice and bean stew, brown ugali (made out of millet and dried cassava flour) and fish. In Kitale, Kenya (where Pastor Julius and Lighthouse Team Ministries is located) the main food is white ugali (corn flour), brown ugali to a lesser magnitude, and rive. Cassava as a whole meal is available, but to a lesser extent.
The level of literacy is very low. Like in Lukume in the Kakamega District of Kenya, the buildings are semi-permanent with crumbling walls. One hardly notices them for an educational institution. The lucky few children whose parents are able, go to school but sit on the floor—a scenario typical to that of Lukume.
The team was hosted by Pastor Johnstone Ogema of the Outreach Ministries. The Lighthouse Team Ministries’ band from Kitale, Kenya touched the crowd with their powerful praise and worship.
The powers of witchcraft were very evident in Lira, Uganda. In fact, witchdoctors came out openly without hiding their identity. On several occasions some of them vowed to take away Pastor Julius’ life through any means. Saints, however, prayed and covered Julius’ life with the blood of Jesus and nothing evil happened to him.
At one time, razor blades were found scattered all over the crusade grounds including the pulpit. The team had a terrifying encounter with a huge snake that strayed into their house. A sister from the Uganda team cautioned that it wasn’t an ordinary snake. She therefore asked them to pray. The serpent disappeared.
The first day of the crusade the city was turned “right side up” for Jesus. People in their multitudes turned up for the crusade that had been well publicized. Handbills, posters and radio announcements had been made concerning the meetings. The powerful praise and worship led by Henry captivated the crowd. People came to Jesus in large numbers that night.
Every morning either Teresa or Pastor John Wanyonyi of the Nzoia Christian Center ministered in preparation for the evening crusade. New converts were also ministered to every morning before proceeding to the crusade grounds. Deliverance was prayed for many, many people.
At the crusade many witchdoctors turned up with intentions of causing chaos and confusion. They openly showed opposition to the preaching of the gospel. Some of them were heard hurling curses at Pastor Julius, but the Lord protected him from all of them. By the end of the day, some of them accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Prayers of deliverance were made for them, renouncing all the curses of witchcraft.
In the morning service of the third day of the crusade, the new converts
were ministered to from the previous night. Among them was a pregnant
woman who had had persistent abortions because of a curse. Her husband
had forced her to visit witchdoctors in a bid to have a baby, but all
was in vain. She came to the crusade the night before and gave her life
to the Lord. She had been bleeding for a couple of days and was about
to abort. After
The evening of the third day of the crusade people with problems of eyesight were prayed for. These included glaucoma, cataract, shortsightedness and total blindness. Two children who were totally blind received their sight. One little girl who was deaf and dumb received healing. Others with defects in the ears also received healing. Great miracles were performed on this day. This is attributed to a lot of intercession by members of Lighthouse Team Ministries and the team from Lira.
As usual, there was intercession and meeting the new converts in church in the morning session of the fourth day. It had been announced the previous day that this would be the day for the crippled to walk. So the team prayed that God would confirm His word once again and manifest His power.
An elderly motorcycle accident victim, who had been walking on crutches for the last six months, gave a testimony of his ordeal. As Henry led the crowd in singing “Jesus is a Mighty God”, the Spirit of God moved causing healing. The accident victim said he had been bedridden for a long time as he sought for healing from medical doctors. But after attending the crusade on the previous day, he heard Pastor Julius announce that Saturday would be the day for the crippled to walk. So he went home and stirred up his faith that his healing was now at hand.
The jubilant ushers celebrating God’s power took the crutches from the man as he climbed onto the stage. His desire to worship and dance for the Lord on his feet had been fulfilled. He danced and rejoiced over the miracle.
An old man with a withered right hand also received his healing. He excited the crowd when he said that he had visited a medical doctor the previous day, but could not be treated for lack of money. He, however, told the doctor that he was going to receive free healing at the crusade in the afternoon, which he did.
The last day of the crusade, as Pastor Julius preached it was the day for the possessed to receive their deliverance. The demon possessed screamed as the evil spirits came out of them. There was a lady with a stubborn spirit of witchcraft. As the other people continued receiving their deliverance, this woman’s body shook in a trance. After she had been prayed for, she calmed down and was led to Christ. Later in the evening, Pastor Ogema and a few brethren visited the woman’s house and took portions of witchcraft, which they destroyed. They then prayed for her deliverance.
Generally, the Uganda mission was the most successful that Pastor Julius Mbagaya has ever had since he got into full time ministry. God moved in a big way, confirming His word through signs and wonders. Many miracles took place in Uganda. The Holy Spirit revealed to His servants many truths, which they gladly shared to those in attendance.
The success of the Uganda mission is attributed to strong intercession done by the Kitale and Uganda team members. Both teams fasted and prayed. As a result of the intercession, Pastor Julius preached and God did what the intercessors had asked for. Glory be to God!
11/2000
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