Uncle Ben and Auntie Joy Mugarura: Faithful Stewards in St. Francis Chapel and Beyond

Dressed in Gospel Dancers uniform, we were scheduled do a processional dance at a wedding in St. Francis when I bumped into Uncle Ben. He was walking through the aisle. When we said we were not the bridal team but dancers, he was perplexed. Dancing? In Church? In an Anglican church at that? Unthinkable, unheard of. (The rematch between Pentecostals and Anglicans).  He reminded me of Tevye in the Fiddler on the Roof – too many changes with these youths.

As Reverend at St. Francis chapel Makerere, Uncle Ben and auntie Joy nurtured generations of university students and what a delight it was to sit at their feet last night. To sit at the feet of spiritual parents and reminisce the days we were nurtured. Times when as clueless, passionate youth eager to change the world they listened, provided guidance and allowed us to spread our wings and fly. Someone said “You believed in us even when we were terrible. You never gave up on us and protected us.” Out of that love for young people ministry teams like Come Alive, Teen Challenge and Youth Group were birthed. Groups like Heaven Bound, Destiny, Dove 7 and Voice of Victory served as venues of ministry but also kept the youth engaged positively.

Somewhere the line between spiritual and physical parenting ceased to exist as they fed both body and soul. It must have been quite the experience for the biological children having all these university students vying for space in their parents’ hearts. “We walked into their home unannounced and sought a cup of tea and something to eat. When one of our marriages hit a snug they visited and stayed way after midnight to help iron things out.” Someone else added.

As we sat in the cozy home of one of their adopted sons, tears of joy and words of gratitude flowed seamlessly from grateful hearts that had been touch directly and indirectly by their ministry.

“We owe a lot of who we are to your ministry”. Another said “I came to the Lord under the ministry of Uncle Ben.” The testimonies of their influence continued to resound as we all agreed that our Christian faith was anchored and nurtured under their care. Uncle Ben and auntie Joy sowed seeds of eternal value.

While auntie Joy smiled and recalled all the events like they happened yesterday, uncle Ben sat with hands folded to his chest and gazing up at the ceiling.

Auntie Joy attributed her love for the youth to the fact that her father was a reverend too. “Growing up in church, I knew what it entailed.”  Then she added “But this is God’s work not mans.”

Did they have much? Were their resources over flowing? No! But they had two things going for them; a passion for young people and a faithful God who replenished. Their home was a place of refuge, rest and recreation. There was always a flask of tea and a snack for the hungry campusers who walked through their doors. They never lacked, food never dried out and they never went hungry just like the manna for the Israelites in the desert or the woman with a bottle of oil – it kept flowing.

“When God gives you a gift, use it to serve his people and to glorify Him fully otherwise you will die with that which He has given you.” Auntie Joy said.

She recollected how her highlight in life was having young people in her home. “I enjoyed it. I have never had such a time like that.”

When uncle Ben shared he said “For us, we are weak really, but He is strong”. That right there was the testimony.

His admonition to us: “And for you” he said, “If you have ever met uncle Ben and auntie Joy, you have no excuse whatsoever not to be in a ministry where you are. You don’t need to have theological training. Seek God and see where He places you.”

Colossians 2: 6 -7:

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

-          Live in Him, in the fact that if there was any shake up, you would still be found in Him.

-          Be rooted in the faith. If you don’t know how, go back to the scriptures and please get yourself a hard copy of the bible, one that you can read and mark up and write in – just like you were brought up to do.

-          Abound in thanksgiving. Live as men and women who are thankful for salvation and what Jesus did on the cross.

We left blessed and glad that we had to opportunity to thank them for such selfless giving. What is the scripture he and joy have lived by?

“Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit” says the Lord of hosts: Zachariah 4:6

“We trusted the Lord of hosts. Love for young people was placed like an imprint on our lives. A tattoo on our hearts.”