friends from Mark Tronson

This very interesting piece came across my desk - see end of text for further comment.

UGANDA REVERSES IDI AMIN'S 'REIGN OF TERROR'

Almost 25 years after Idi Amin's reign of terror, Uganda is experiencing a spiritual harvest. According to one megachurch pastor, 92 percent of the population claims Christianity, with at least 75 percent truly born-again believers.

Robert Kayanja, who leads the Miracle Centre Cathedral in the capital, Kampala, told "Charisma" magazine that it was "incredible" to see thousands of people lined up for miles walking barefoot through the city just to attend church. His church's 10,500-seat sanctuary is filled four times for Sunday services and once on Friday night for a service geared for troubled youth, prostitutes and other prime salvation candidates.

Known as "The Butcher of Uganda," Amin seized power in a coup in 1971. He sent roving squads of his thugs into Ugandan cities, killing anyone who criticised him or appeared to be a threat to his power. Victims were found dismembered and horribly mutilated. Some estimate that Amin killed between 300,000 and 500,000 people during his reign, which ended in 1979. Currently, he lives in exile in Saudi Arabia.

"He raped the whole country of morality, of integrity," Kayanja said. "He implemented a trend of corruption in a people who were not corrupt. He raised a generation of people who wanted to steal rather than to work for personal gain. He left the church on crutches."

"Twenty-five years ago, 22 percent of the population were Muslims," Kayanja said. "Today, only 6 percent are Muslims."

Miracles, signs and wonders have been sweeping the country, as key leaders in the government, military and the business community have been born again, Kayanja said. In 1986, current President Yoweri Museveni came to power. Because of Museveni's and wife Janet's strong Christian faith, the couple have helped turn Uganda around, politically and economically, Kayanja said.

Miracle Centre now feeds, clothes and ministers to Kampala's 20,000 street children. The church fights for the survival of Uganda's 4 million orphans, of which Kayanja estimated that 2 million are children of parents who have died in the country's ongoing AIDS epidemic. Kayanja said God has healed many people of AIDS, including a government agricultural official who, after his healing, gave up his career and is now a staff pastor at the church.

Source: Charisma News

ADDITIONAL COMMENT The question I posed to Simon Manchester in Sydney Around The Table was the reason for the enormous Muslim drop in % population in Uganda, that I didn't think it was simply a persecution issue. There was some other ingredient. I cannot remember who was telling me, in Nigeria recently in a series of crusades 1.56 million individuals made personal decisions to follow Jesus Christ. In one instance two men, both blind (one may have had very limited vision) were healed, both Muslims, were healed with 20-20 vision. The following evening they had their entire wider family clans in attendance, all Muslims, and all made their own individual personal decisions to follow Jesus Christ. (Now I remember, it was a WBA friend who attended a Mens Conference in Sydney and heard the story first hand from the speaker). There are many God remarkable things happening. I'm enthralled and marvel at it all.