By: Ismael Kasooha
MPIGI
President Yoweri Museveni has commended the Pentecostal churches for complementing government efforts in spreading the gospel of ‘Wealth Creation’ to believers.
“I thank God for your remarkable journey of growth and multiplication, as the Full Gospel Churches of Uganda. I am glad to learn that there are now 2,300 Full Gospel Churches, across the country. I congratulate you upon this wonderful achievement, which is akin to Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed. In the past, there were some attempts to suppress the Balokole movement in Uganda,” noted Museveni.
The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah being received at St. Lawrence College Maya for the Full Gospel Annual Pastors Conference
The President said that even when the NRM came to power in 1986, some religious leaders tried to de-campaign the Pentecostal faith and asked the government to ban the Balokole churches.
He said that they refused because they understood the parable of the Good Samaritan, as told by Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 10:25-27.
“In that parable, Jesus gave an answer to the question: ‘Who is my neighbor?’ Jesus introduced a revolutionary idea, by saying that a neighbor is not necessarily a person from your tribe or religion; but, anyone who helps you when you are in need. Therefore, for us, in the NRM, we do not segregate against any religious group. We embrace everyone and welcome their positive contribution to the spiritual and economic development of Uganda and Africa,” he noted.
Museveni observed that the Pentecostal churches have not only preached the gospel; but also built schools, hospitals, orphanages among others.
“I thank you for preaching a holistic ministry that is concerned about both the physical and spiritual needs of the faithful,” he said.
This was contained in the President’s message delivered for him by the Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah, the Prime Minister of Uganda at the closure of the Full Gospel Churches of Uganda Annual pastors conference at St. Lawrence London College Maya.
The President said that religious leaders should not only consider the spiritual needs but rather include the physical needs of the faithful. He noted that people should not only work for food but ensure that they join the money economy to meet other needs.
The General overseer of the Full Gospel Churches in Uganda Rev. Paul Kinataama lauded the government for allowing freedom of worship. “We used to pray in hiding but when the NRM government came to power we were free to worship in broad daylight and even at night without any interruption,” said Kinataama. He stressed that apart from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they also handled economic and social concerns.
“According to St. Paul, ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat’. This verse emphasizes that idleness is a grave offense, and the Full Gospel community encourages members to work and support themselves rather than becoming a burden on others. Paul lived this principle himself, working tirelessly to avoid burdening the churches he ministered to,” said Kinataama.
The President contributed sh30m towards the conference expenses where over 1,960 pastors attended. Currently the Full Gospel Churches in Uganda are spread all over the country with over 2,300 churches established.
Among those who attended the annual pastors conference was the Grandson of the Founder of Full Gospel Churches from Canada.
Full Gospel Churches of Uganda were founded in the 1960s by Pastor Hugh and Audrey Layzell, who were Canadian missionaries sent by the Glad Tidings Missionary Society.
They established the first Pentecostal Church in Uganda in the early 1960s, with their work leading to the formation of the Full Gospel Churches of Uganda, which now has a national presence.
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