From the Street to Divine Purpose

I’ll be frank. I just love this guy’s heart, message and vision!

There they were. Twenty-two street children standing beside him on the platform at the close of the church service yesterday—just under half of the forty-seven people giving their hearts to the LORD in an altar call. Grace Lubega turned towards the congregation after speaking to the children, all dressed in rags or ill-fitting clothes, and he called everyone to “Dress them!”

Children were ministered to after the service by experienced staff members, prayed for, and, one of them, who came in with a big stick to support him, was healed of his lameness and walked out without his stick! They were all taken aside by members of the church and were given a meal that was cooked for them.

Five thousand people packed into the second service with us, representing half of the normal church membership that meets in the rented building weekly. There would be more if the building was bigger. People living outside the immediate vicinity of the church building are asked to meet in other buildings and join in via the “livestream” that goes out to multiple centres around the country (and outside it).

But I digress. Grace Lubega, the “vision bearer” of Phaneroo Ministries International.

A man, with a contagious passion for the LORD and a wisdom way beyond his years, an apostle to this generation, who has the ear of the Ugandan President, is a man whom God is using worldwide through in-person meetings and the Internet in absolutely stunning ways.

Grace also has the absolute faith that street children like these will be redeemed and raised up with a purpose as doctors, engineers, pastors, and even leaders in nations. That sounds like a really God-like heart of faith! In actual fact they have already seen homeless people transformed and become effective ministers in the Kingdom.

His vision for the lost, love for the LORD, deep grasp of the Word of God and the anointing he brings as he speaks and ministers, has captivated my attention now for months since I first heard of him last year while we were based in County Fermanagh (N Ireland).

The ministry is entirely practical, and what is taught in the Word is strictly sought to flow only from the experience of the preachers on staff in the ministry. They live their message, and, present in every meeting is an holy awe for the LORD and His Word that I have rarely seen elsewhere to this degree.

This is why my wife and I have made this journey out to East Africa to take time aside to seek the LORD, study this ministry and hear from its leaders, including Grace Lubega who has kindly made himself and his key leadership available to us during these ten days in Kampala.

So far, yes, we are deeply impressed, are learning lots, have been honoured immensely by the Ugandans here in the ministry, and are meeting the LORD as a team and individually in important and profound ways.