After all of the hype over the Ugandan warlord at the top of the International Criminal Court list, I felt compelled to share some positive news of things happening here in Uganda. Yes, Uganda has endured a dark past; however, the future has much hope.
Just this last weekend, I was invited to a 10-year anniversary for Youth Revival Movement International (YRMi). The movement was started by Isaac, who was previously a Muslim. While in school, he was sponsored by Agnes Kabatesi, the ministry leader contact for our “eMi Project Trip, Family Style” last June.
Isaac, mentored by Agnes and introduced to God, made several deals with God about passing exams and continuing to the next grade level, later committing his life to Christ. Seeing rampant sin and darkness among Ugandan university students, Isaac saw the need for change. He saw a vision of a dark valley beneath an upper road riddled with holes where students were being pushed through the holes. In 2002, he started YRMi to lead a wave of change within the youth of Uganda and revival within their country.
YRMi, now 10 years running, leads regional missions, university campus conferences, fellowships, worship nights, school outreach and school dance/drama competitions. Isaac invited me to be a guest of honor at their annual National Youth Revival Awards at Makerere University last summer. Students from all over the region competed in dance, drama, singing and Bible memory. I gave a short sermon encouraging the youth of their God-given talents. At the end of the competition, I handed out certificates, trophies and a goat and cow for the top two schools.
Devoid of goats and cows, this weekend’s YRMi anniversary celebration included a university student choir, introductions, a Kampala primary school choir, descriptions of the YRMi movement, pastor speeches, a keynote pastor speech, and several songs from a Ugandan female singer performer.
In just 10 years of existence, YRMi has led conferences at universities in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. With Uganda having the second youngest population in the world (49% below the age of 15) and the second highest fertility rate, YRMi is strategically poised to impact the future generation of Uganda, if not the continent or the world. One of the pastors speaking noted that the future president or Minister of Commerce could come from those impacted by YRMi.
There is much hope here in Uganda.
The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked perishes. – Proverbs 10:28
