This is Legacy

In February this year, I had the opportunity to sing with the Worship Harvest choir at the Evening of Hymns. This was a fundraising event for a pool to be constructed at the Joy Centre in Wakiso that would contribute to the center’s self-sustainability. With the limited time available for preparation, rehearsals were squeezed in at the weirdest of hours - 7am on Saturday morning, 3pm on Sunday afternoon - with a lot of practice being done by the singers and instrumentalists on their own.  It took quite a bit of discipline and sacrifice.

Anyway, 16^th February eventually arrives. The final sound-check is done, we go to change into our stage clothes...make-up, drink water, prayers…and we’re on.

And it was beautiful! The stage lights shining on the white outfits made us look like angels and lent an otherworldly atmosphere to the whole space. The instruments sounded perfect. And the voices…wow. As the opening notes of the first hymn swelled to fill the room, my heart swelled with happiness. 

The evening unfolded beautifully. We sang, we laughed, we danced, we worshipped the Creator in music. I am sure tears flowed at some point.

Towards the end, Pastor Mosze invited Uncle Ben to the stage to give a few remarks. Rev Canon Ben Mugarura (popularly known as Uncle Ben) and his wife, Auntie Joy are behind the Joy Center in Wakiso. This is a youth leadership and development center that seeks to equip and develop young people for leadership. Uncle Ben and Auntie Joy have been in the business of developing young people for decades. Uncle Ben has held several youth chaplaincies across the country and was also chaplain at St Francis Chapel Makerere.

As a matter of fact, Uncle Ben is considered the grandfather of Worship Harvest Ministries. St Francis Chapel had a music outreach program called Come Alive that through a series of events, gave birth to what is now Worship Harvest Ministries.

Standing with the choir as Uncle Ben took the microphone, I could see what he saw: a recently opened 3000-seater auditorium in a massive half constructed building, nearly filled to capacity on a Sunday night. I also saw (and I would like to believe he did too): the hundreds of families represented, worshipping together, finding hope and a home through this ministry, not just this evening in this place but every day in a myriad of places. I saw lives transformed, businesses blessed, communities healed, excellence embodied, chains broken, limits discarded, dreams birthed and nurtured. And through it all, Christ glorified.

Uncle Ben spoke a few words, handed the microphone back and made his way back to his seat. And all I could think was: This is Legacy.

PS: All photos in this post are from the Worship Harvest Ministries Facebook and Instagram pages.