of Kampala situated near Lake Victoria. This area is called “the place where they eat goats” because there are so many sacri- fices performed along the shore. God sent a young African named Peter to serve a small church in Gaba where


T


HE GODS ARE more active down by the lake, many Ugandans say. This explains the 20 shrines for devil wor- ship and the many witch doctors near Gaba, a suburb


meeting every Friday night for an all- night prayer meeting. And God began to work.


The tiny 12-by-24-foot church began to fill, and then overflow. A witch doc- tor nearby offered to sell his land to the church. God’s work was gaining ground, literally, in the area of the gods. The more the people prayed, the more they saw God work. Then came a Thurs- day night when the police visited the church. That night the youth had gath-


The Area o the Go


After a night of prayer instead of sleep, Peter arrived before the local gov- ernment.


“Who told you to pray at night?” he was asked roughly.


“There is no law refusing me the right to pray,” Peter answered calmly. When Peter and the church would not agree to stop praying at night, he was ordered to go into the capital city of Kam- pala and obtain a letter of permission to have prayer meetings at night.


rea of the Gods What happened when a Ugandan pastor and his church started praying?


Peter went to the right place and asked the right people, but was not given a letter of permission. They could not give him a letter, they said, because there was no law against nighttime prayer meetings. Peter returned and


explained.


“Are you sure?” the local authorities asked him. He was sure.


The authorities said, “If you insist on praying, could you pray quietly?”


by Kimberly Rae Thigpen


only 15 people gathered each week. Peter was zealous, and he had a plan. He orga- nized a door-to-door program, and saw many “results.” People came to church once or twice, but they did not stay. He brought in preachers who drew large crowds. Forty people professed to believe. They came once or twice. Two weeks later, it was only the 15 again. Peter was discouraged. Something was missing. He decided to stop the big programs and start praying. People began


12 EVANGEL • SEP 2010


ered to pray. The young believers were beaten and told to stop praying. The following night was the usual Friday night prayer meeting. Would any- one dare to come? Forty people arrived to pray.


This time, both police officers and soldiers came. “Stop praying!” the people were commanded. Peter stood his ground; he would not stop the meet- ing. So he was ordered to report to the authorities in the morning.


The little church on the shores of the lake, once a church of 15, is now a church of hundreds. Not because of programs, but because of prayer. The police officer who had led the per- secution against them is now a believer. He now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.


Peter emphasizes the need for prayer and stead- fastness. “This is time for us


to stand strong in the Lord.” He adds with a smile, “When you persist, you win.” Even down by the lake, where the gods are supposedly more active, Peter’s God continues to work, and Peter’s church continues to pray.


Kimberly Rae Thigpen and her husband served as missionaries in closed and restricted- access countries until health problems brought them back to the United States. They now live in Ohio with their two young children.


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