Pastor Teddy Naluswa Bugingo (L) together with Pastor Jessica Kayanja (R) at Miracle Centre Cathedral, a Pentecostal megachurch in Rubaga, a surburb Kampala on Saturday, 4th May 2019 . Courtesy Photo.
RUBAGA – Pastor Teddy Bugingo, wife of Pastor Aloysius Bugingo on Saturday attended the marriage retreat Miracle Centre Cathedral – Rubaga in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
Her surprise visit to the mega Church came as a shock to Pastor Robert Kayanja and his wife Jessica Kayanja who earlier launched a prayer chain in response to reports that the couple’s marriage hangs by a thin thread.
“I almost burst into tears when I saw you walk into the marriage retreat,” Pastor Jessica said, welcoming Teddy.
“This is a woman who has refused to put her lamp under a bowl. And we as the women of Uganda, we as the married women of Uganda, are standing with her,” Pastor Jessica continued.
Pastor Jessica described Teddy as a mentor, role model, and woman who has stood up to the “face of Goliath.”
“If a marriage covenant is violated, in the Christian leadership of our country, then Goliath has won. And we will become slaves to the Philistines that are fighting our marriages. We cannot allow that. That is an indictment to every marriage in Uganda to the principle of seed, time and harvest,” Pastor Jessica said, adding that the Church in Uganda will not tolerate divorce.
“We are not judging anyone, but this is an insult to what we stand for as the born-again Church of Uganda. If one purported man of God will do it, our children will rise up thinking this is the way to go. That throwing rings in the dust bin, and waking up with a different wife everyday is the way to go. Married people stand up and fight for what is Godly and what is yours,” she explained.
“We honor you, because you have stood for light,” Pastor Jessica told an emotional Teddy. “God said He will not forget our labour of love. Where is the Word of the Lord? We must stand for light.”
“I have always preached about a woman like this. And I didn’t know that she existed. In every marriage retreat, I have stood to say, we are not leaving our homes. In every marriage retreat, I have stood to say, that no other woman will sit on the graduation tables, marriage tables of our Children. We will take what we have toiled for. And now the devil has come in to defy that. I encourage you, stand up for what is right. Stand up for what is Godly. Do not be intimidated by the cry of Goliath. Do not be intimidated by the chariots and horses of the Egyptians,” she noted with emphasis.
Adding: “I want you to know, that the married women in Uganda are praying for you. I have watched you being called a dog on a pulpit. I have watched you and your children being called ghosts on the pulpit, but I have seen the fruits of the spirit in you. I have not heard a negative word , except for you to come up and defend yourself. And say you are not a thief, you are not a dog, you are not a ghost, there is just another Philistine in this picture.”
‘God answers Prayers’
On his part, Pastor Robert Kayanja encouraged Teddy saying God answers prayer.
We are praying for you and your husband, Kayanja said, revealing that many people today do not know what marriage or love is. Pastor Kayanja urged that it’s time to realize that marriage vows are a covenant.
“Often times we become pastors before we become Christians. If you have ever become a Christian, and you know you have been saved by grace and the love of God, and you know there is a savior, you will treat each other with respect,” he noted.
He urged the church not to confuse lust with love, adding that many believers think staying together is marriage.
“Brother, you are born-again, if any man is in Christ Jesus, he becomes a new creature. The old things pass way, and behold the new have become. One of the things why we get saved, is that we shall spend eternity with God. While we are still in the world, fornication, adultery and changing women was part of the worldly living,” he said.