Beatrice Aryeety was in tears as she spoke on the phone to the AE office in Accra, Ghana. The previous day she had completed AE Ghana's prostitute rehabilitation program. A former prostitute, Beatrice was amazed that someone would show her the love that she had experienced in the course. Why would anyone spend the sort of time, effort and money that AE did to invest in someone like her? She thought she didn't deserve the love and support she had received.
A former prostitute, Beatrice had learned an honest trade, sewing, and was overjoyed that she had found a job designing uniforms for an organization in Accra. About 40 women like Beatrice enroll in AE's prostitute rehabilitation program each year and are offered the opportunity to learn a trade, such as sewing, batik, tie-dye or soap-making, whereby they can provide for themselves with dignity. Along the way, they hear about the love of Christ for them, with many of them making a commitment to follow him.
Most end up being transformed by the experience. As one recent graduate said, "The teachings the pastors took us through have really transformed our lives. The program, which lasted for two months, did not only transform our moral lives, but it has also given us hope for the future. We came helpless and jobless but now we can confidently say that we are no more helpless and have attained something for our lives. You have equipped us with skills and talents and, based on these skills, we believe that we can succeed in life by the grace of God."
The evangelists preached until 8:00 pm and, when the preacher called people to give their lives to Jesus, even those who could not find room inside the fence, but heard from outside, raised their hands and accepted Jesus. When the sick were prayed for there was great manifestation of demonic powers, but were all delivered through the name of Jesus. This final rally was more than a celebration. People danced and praised God for such a blessed ending of the Mtwara Back To God Mission.
One woman, Mrs. Mangwiro, found new joy in Christ, as her husband, a drunkard, was saved at one of the meetings. He testified that he had never heard the preaching of the kind the young Foxfires preached. "I am excited to be a believer and follower of Christ today!" he said. Along with this man, 48 new Christians were baptized and added to the church.
Leprosy maims and kills thousands of unfortunate people each year. Funding the alleviation and cure of this horrible ailment was the aim of my previous work with the American Leprosy Missions, based in South Carolina.But as awful as leprosy is, an even worse disease afflicts far too many of our brothers and sisters, especially in Africa. I’m speaking of the alienation from Christ that causes too many to consult witch doctors, to engage in behavior that destroys their lives, or to treat their fellow human beings with murderous cruelty or neglect. Sadly, the most tragic victims of this are often women and children.
Thus I feel blessed and privileged to have joined the AE partnership as of March 22 this year. While I have been to Africa before, it is still heartrending to learn of thousands of women in Ghana who feel they have no choice but to seek an income via prostitution. Or of women in Malawi whose husbands have left them to care for children with no assistanc
e. And there are so many more shattering stories out of Africa, illustrating the tragedy that can envelop precious human beings when they don't have a Savior to turn to.Yet the Gospel of Christ which AE presents so powerfully and innovatively is astonishingly effective in bringing hope to those who are hurting. We see this happening every day, across the continent. And it’ll be my joy to bring these stories to you, so that together we can enable women, men and children to be healed of the worst disease of all – suffering a life and an eternity without Christ.
AE Uganda is headquartered in Kampala, the country's capital, and led by the Rev. Geoffrey Byarugaba (in photo to the left). The Uganda Team was launched in 1972 by the late Bishop Festo Kivengere, the "Billy Graham of Africa," who was known worldwide for his gracious opposition to former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, leading him to write a book entitled I Love Idi Amin.
AE Uganda engages in evangelism, especially to university students at Makerere University in Kampala, and spearheads numerous practical ministries, including assistance to AIDS orphans and childhood disease inoculations. Most recently, AE Uganda launched a citywide mission to Kampala.
Watch the video below, as Stephen Lungu shares his astonishing testimony of Christ's transformation of his life.