By Kabuye Ronald
The senior pastor of Omega Healing Center, Namasuba and also one of the most respected Pentecostal pastors in the country Michael David Kyazze has revealed how now the late United Christian Church (UCC) Bishop Stephen Ssenfuma shaped the ministry amidst opposition from the elders of the church and how he has managed to keep it steadfast on Godly principals for the last 30 years.
Bishop Stephen Ssenfuma died on Saturday morning at Nakasero hospital where he has heen battling illness for two weeks which is yet to be revealed however unconfirmed reports say it was Leukemia and others say Covid 19.
See full Pastor Michael Kyazze tribute
“EULOGY IN TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF BISHOP STEPHEN SSENFUMA
About 30 years ago, I received an invitation to minister for a week in a new church being planted in Kasubi. The church was a peel away from another church located in Nakulabye led by a friend of mine and village-mate Steven Ssozi, who went to be with the Lord some years ago.
Elders of what was then called Heritage Church had protested the Pastoral leadership of Ssozi, who had changed the ministry and surrendered to another leader. This group of elders told me about a young Pastor under the Heritage ministry who was doing a good job in a village called Zengebe – Lwampanga, Nakasongola. They said he was the right person to come to Kampala and lead the remnant members of the scattered Heritage Church. They later on brought Stephen Ssenfuma to me and invited me to speak for a week to the congregation as we prepared the foundation for a new work.
The arrangement was that it was going to be a church led by a committee of elders. After meeting Ssenfuma for the first time, I felt sympathy for him because I personally believed if that church was to grow, it needed a new foundation and a strong top leader to help it navigate through its initial stages. I preached for one week on Church Leadership and my recommendation was that Ssenfuma be given full rights to shape the future of the church despite the fact that he was young and urbanly naive.
The elders didn’t like my proposal, so they “threw“ me out of the church and never allowed Ssenfuma to invite me again. By God’s grace Ssenfuma took the bull by its horns and labored against resistance to establish from scratch the great work we now see as United Christian Centre (UCC) ministry.
This apparently uneducated young man grew in stature and in knowledge of the Word of God to become one of the most amazing apostles in the Pentecostal Church fraternity in Uganda and globally. He themed his ministry – “Omuntu Womunda” translated “Inner-man.” He has preached and taught about the inner-man until he has been called home. Thank you Bishop Ssenfuma for being faithful and true to your calling.
The studious spirit of Bishop Ssenfuma for the gift of teaching has made him exceptional and earned him honorary academic accolades. Indeed he has been a doctor in this discipline of pastoral leadership.
The Ssenfuma Anniversary:
Bishop Ssenfuma, lost his first wife in a tragic car accident that also claimed a few other members of UCC. In that accident, Ssenfuma walked out of the car without a scratch. I consoled him during the funeral of his wife and he told me that pastor we will die someday. But before the accident, the Lord had prepared him for the loss of his wife.
Afterward, the Lord created way for Esther Favor to come into Ssenfuma’s life. His short stint of being a widower proved impossible with the aggressive young ladies who made it impossible for him to mourn his first wife. He told me after a short period how he had miraculously spotted a person who would comfort and transform his life. Thank God for Favor Ssenfuma. She came in as a young lady to face the challenges of a pastor’s wife and an already established Church. The ultimate challenge was to be accepted by a congregation and ministry friends. Her first obligation was to her husband.
Favour has surmounted all her mountains, she won the hearts of the congregation of UCC and has been a darling to Bishop Ssenfuma.
I was privileged to attend a surprise party recently organised by members of UCC to mark their 14th marriage anniversary. Preparation meetings were conducted. Gloria and her husband spearheaded the surprise arrangement.
In the preparation meetings, I was tasked with the responsibility to invite Stephen and Favour to the function. Gloria told me emphatically that the only person Bishop Ssenfuma told them he would not question on anything was me. It was imperative that I make an invitation which Bishop would not revoke. I wrote a letter inviting the couple on that Sunday evening of April 16th, 2021. I requested them to come and talk to our marrieds. Ssenfuma replied on phone affirmatively, and said; “Pastor I was committed to be elsewhere for our anniversary but I will tell Favour and we shall be there on time.” That was the last event I was with him alive. I believe it was a farewell event. It was attended by a select few close to him, about sixty. We had fun, the hotel room was filled with testimonies, laughter and music. All this took place on 16th of April 2021.
Favour, has been such a blessing to Stephen, you can never know the impact of a good wife until you see one. She submitted and served her master with all her heart. With her came an obvious social, ministerial and domestic upgrade to Stephen. I visited their home with my wife Christine one Sunday, about ten years ago. On arrival we realised Bishop Ssenfuma had invited two other couples to have lunch with us. We entered his beautiful living room, sat in our designated seats and Ssenfuma with his wife -Favour, disappeared only to return with a basin and watering can. They knelt at the feet of each of us and washed our feet. I beheld humility and received hospitality in a way I had never comprehended.
A Gift of a Car:
I was chairing a pastoral meeting at Omega Healing Centre one morning, when I received a phone call from Ssenfuma. It was brief and on point in Luganda. “Mzee wakazi, nona wano ekyuma” – translated “ Elder – come for a machine. I replied that I will be with him that afternoon. My mind battled with thoughts of why: “Stephen had chosen to give me a sound amplifier or something related!”
After the meeting I was driven by Richard Ssekyeru one of the ministers then at Omega. On reaching UCC – Makerere at around 2pm, we were fast forwarded to Ssenfuma’s office. He greeted me and with a bunch of keys, he requested me to follow him out of the office to the church parking lot. As we walked he told me, “Pastor last night the Lord told me to give you my car so that He may open greater doors for me in ministry.” By the time he finished his narration we were standing by a Range Rover P48. I prayed a blessing over him and departed blessed and in total amazement at how he made giving so easy.
The UCC Fraternity:
UCC, you are such a wonderful congregation and ministry that seems to march in formation like a disciplined unified army. The breakthroughs, the growth and expansion of this ministry has been exponential. The challenge UCC ministers are left with is to carry on this ministry seamlessly. I encourage you to steer clear of any form of strife, greed, power struggles, discord and division at all ranks.
There are challenges which no one person can overcome; the challenge of bills, loans, school fees and daily running of the central Church. Show us the great fruit which your spiritual father has labored to establish in you for the kingdom of God.
I have lost a friend and a partner in ministry.
Fare Thee Well:
Journey on great warrior; soldier on, my friend. How I will miss your voice of counsel. It’s by the Messiah’s side you have found rest from this stupid plague that has decimated the beautiful picture you were building for us, my friend.
God be with you till we meet again, Fare thee well.
Michael D. Kyazze
Senior pastor,
Omega Healing Centre – Namasuba.”
