It was a glorious celebration of the goodness of God, filled with song, dance and, of course, the latest gospel hits played by our favorite Christian disc jockey, DJ Twonjex.

Students of St. John SSS at the All-Schools Service

As the years have gone by, the schools participating in the service have taken up greater roles in ministry. Songs of worship were led by the choir from St. Michael International School and many students expressed interest in playing integral roles in the service next year. We praise God that many young hearts yearn to serve Him in great ways.

Perhaps the best example of this service came from Becky, a regular participant in the Joy Centre teen camps, who has attended the All-Schools Service in the past. Becky, now in her S6 vacation waiting for admission to university, testified about her journey to a real and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She was an encouragement to the students on how to live as a Christian in the midst of great turmoil and pressure that teenagers face. And she was a wonderful advertisement for the next teen camp!

The sermon of the day was delivered by ‘Uncle’ Ben Mugarura-Mutana. He focused on the words of Jesus in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and life.” Stressing that the only way to a full life is in Christ, he invited the students to know Jesus as their Lord. We were bowled over by how many responded and gave their lives to Christ.

God is opening up great avenues of ministry at the Joy Centre. Uncle Ben has been invited to disciple the new Christians at City Secondary School this coming Sunday and more schools are open to engaging in meaningful leadership of their Christian fellowships.

Praise God for his goodness!

Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord?

If you have, he has set you free through his victory over sin and death on the cross. Your destiny is eternal and your security is in Christ.

If you are not experiencing freedom, it may be because you have not stood firm in the faith or have not actively taken your place in Christ. Your daily victory as one chosen by God is at stake if you fail to claim and maintain your position in Jesus.

Here are some verses from the Bible to remind you of who you are in Christ.

• You are a child of God (John 1:12)
• You are a friend of Christ (John 15:15)
• You are not at war with God, but at peace (Romans 5:1)
• You are called to be separate and holy (2Corinthians 6:17)
• You are adopted into God’s family through Christ (Ephesians 1:5)
• You are forgiven (Colossians 1:14)
• You have been given fullness in Christ (Colossians 2:10)

As a true believer in Christ, you are not a helpless victim. You are not merely caught between the spiritual forces with no way out.

Consider the nature of God your Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Only God is omnipotent. This means He is the Almighty, the all-powerful. Nothing is    impossible with him.
2. Only God is omnipresent. Psalm 139: 7-10 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast.”
3. Only God is omniscient. He is all knowing, completely understanding you, His creation, and loving you all the same. In Him is all knowledge you need to live a victorious Christian life.

Sometimes the reality of sin and the presence of evil may seem more real than the presence of God; this is part of Satan’s deception. We should remember that as a Christian, you have victory over the enemy through an all powerful, all-present, all-knowing God.

For further study:

I am secure in Christ –Romans 8:1,2; 8:28; 33:34; 8:35; 2Corinthians 1:21; Colossians 3:5; Philippians 1:6; 3:20; 2Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 5:18.

I am significant in Christ – Matthew 5:13, 14; John 15:1, 5, 16; Acts 1:8; 1Corinthians 3:16; 2Corinthians 5:17-20; 6:1; Ephesians 2:6, 16, 3:12. Philippians 4:13.

In his tale of the life of Jesus, Marks relates a very interesting episode. It is a battle of spirit and intellect, with a strong, but simple lesson for the church today.

Mark 9:14-27: Jesus, Peter, James and John went up the mountain, leaving the rest of the disciples to wait for him downhill. What the rest of the group did there is unknown as Mark is silent about it. However we know that as they waited for Jesus to return, a man approached the disciples with his son in tow. The man desperately sought help from them for the healing of son who had been tormented with an evil spirit from childhood.

We can only imagine the disciples quandary. Mark tells us that when Jesus returned from the mountain, he found his disciples engaged in a serious argument with the teachers of the law. On seeing Jesus, they rushed to greet him.

“What are you arguing with them about?” Jesus asked.

No one dared answer except the troubled man. His answer reveals a lot of the confusion that occurred in Jesus’ absence.

Teacher, I brought you my son who is possessed with a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it thrown him on the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.

Essentially, the disciples had failed to perform. It is apparent that they tried to, but couldn’t meet this man’s need.

Sounds much like today’s church, doesn’t it?

A large section of the church has no idea what to do when faced by Satanic forces. Many people that are tormented by evil are abandoned by the church that is ignorant or refuses to engaged with their problems.

I was amazed when at a recent conference of pastors and their wives, a senior clergyman stood up to protest the existence of evil spirits. He had never seen one, he said, so they couldn’t possibly exist.

At a separate event, the professor at a theological seminary in Uganda yelled at his students after an argument: “If evil spirits exist, send one to me!”

Jesus was fully man, but fully God. He identified evil in his midst, and regularly, demons shrieked at his presence. Most importantly, he never turned his back on a troubled soul.

In the Mark passage, Jesus looked compassionately at the troubled man and rebuked the evil spirit in his son. “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you come out of him, and never enter him again.”

The subsequent conversation is a lesson for Christians today to be aware, but not afraid, of the presence of evil. Jesus teaches that evil can be dealt with openly and demonic activity can be stopped in his name.

“Why couldn’t we drive it out?” the disciples asked.

“This kind”, Jesus replied, “can come out only by prayer”.

Friends, think on these things.

Oh, and we won’t get started on those teens …

Ben and Joyie Mugarura-Mutana know what that means. After raising five teens of their own, they have a heart for the struggles of parents and would love to share their experience and lessons in the first-ever Joy Center Parenting Teens Conference. They have engaged a rich list of counselors and friends to facilitate the conference and bring out the best parent in you.

Program, dates and speakers to be announced very soon!

For any questions, contact the Joy Centre at joycentre@gmail.com or call =256-772469932.

The Centre is a five-minute walk from Wakiso town. Ben and Joyie have created a warm and friendly environment, fully equipped with outdoor cooking space and clean bathroom facilities. You can pitch your own tent or use the available rent-a-tent service.

The next time you are considering a budget-friendly trip west of Kampala, contact the Joy Centre.

Call +256-772-469932 for rates and booking.