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"Today we work as a team, and other men of God want to join us."
My first contact with this ministry was in 2002, when the CTMI team came to Kampala . They preached the message of the cross, and we were so confronted; we liked what we heard, we knew it was the true gospel, and so made the decision to follow.
Since being under this Apostolic Ministry, many things have changed, especially in my attitude towards the ministry. It is my life that I need to share with people, not just Bible verses. In the past, I used to share just scriptures, and people's lives never changed . Yet today, when I share my heart and what I am living with them, their lives are transformed. Not only has my ministry changed, but also my relationship with the other elders and my family. I used to blame my wife for everything. I told her she was responsible for the problems in the church. It never occurred to me that I was the problem. However, when the revelation of the Cross came, I understood that I needed to die to my flesh and give my life first. As I did this, I saw my wife change, as well as the church.
The gospel has really changed me. I used to be a charismatic preacher, a man of law, and a perfectionist. I always wanted things to be done in a particular way and often reacted harshly towards people in the ministry. But now, I allow grace to work my life, in the church, and at home. Before the gospel came, I hardly talked to my children or my wife; two weeks could go by without me talking to her. Today, we often enjoy times of sharing with our children. They share things with me because they have seen the gospel work in my life. They said to me: " Dad, now you have really changed. "
Little by little, the church in Uganda is making an impact on the nation. When we first heard the gospel, we were very independent in the ministry because we didn't know how to work together, or in which direction to go. Today we work as a team, and other men of God want to join us. Three churches in Kampala have started working with us, and we know others will follow. When we share our lives, people know that this is what they are looking for. We've preached for one week in a few other churches. By the end of the week the pastors come asking, "What shall we do," so we encourage and help them. I believe that in a few years time, the nation of Uganda is going to be affected by the message of the cross.
This conference has reinforced in me the need to die to my flesh and continue to give my life. I must never give the flesh an opportunity to take over. The false doctrines, which exist in so many churches today, are the direct result of preachers compromising the gospel. To keep sound doctrine, we need to stay on the road of the cross, and never compromise the truth, no matter what the price.
I'm going back to Uganda with one desire in my heart - to keep sound doctrine in the church, for it is the foundation of everything. If we can embrace the fullness of it, then our church will become established and grow on the right foundation. People will stop compromising the gospel. Also, as people listen to the CDs I've received from CTMI, I know things will become even clearer. My desire is to see the church change and grow as a result of the preaching of the sound doctrine of the cross.
I'm also trusting that God will open doors to share with other pastors, because I have a desire to tell them about the true gospel and sound doctrine. Today, many are troublemakers and are compromising the gospel by preaching false doctrines, in order to get things like money. I really believe God has a plan and is going to open many doors in Uganda.
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