Dr. Bishop Joshua Lwere leading intercession at the Annual National Thanksgiving Service at State House on Friday. PPU PHOTO.
Faith leaders in Uganda have repented and asked God to ‘visit them afresh’.
This was during the Annual National Thanksgiving Service at State House, Entebbe, on Friday.
Before leading intercession, Dr. Bishop Joshua Lwere, the founder of Grace Assembly Church, Kampala and General Overseer of the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches of Uganda (NFBPC), urged fellow clergy to fully embrace their calling and live exemplary lives.
The Service was graced by President Yoweri Museveni and his wife, Janet K. Museveni.
Others were Pr Robert Kayanja of Miracle Centre Cathedral – Rubaga, the Most Rev Stanley Ntagali, Dr Joseph Serwadda, the Presiding Apostle of Born Again Faith, Bishop David Kiganda, the Founder and Senior pastor of Christianity Focus Centre Church, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, Pastor Irene Manjeri of Bethel Healing Centre Church among others from different faith groups.
“Since most of us here are religious leaders, representing different religious sects, I am going to start with us. There are things we have not done. We have not preached the undoubted word of God, maybe, that is why corruption as continued to proliferate,” Dr. Bishop Joshua Lwere started his speech.
Bishop Lwere led the clergy through a prayer of repentance, and also called for spiritual transformation.
HE PRAYED:
“Father we are standing here today, as your people, as Ugandans. All of us religious leaders, public servants, government officials, army and police, and any other leader that represents your people in this country. Lord we are standing here to ask for mercy. Lord our hearts are heavy for we have let you down in many ways. We have already thanked you for so many good things that you have done, but now Lord, we want to ask for your forgiveness. We want to ask for your mercy. You promised that a broken and contrite heart you will not despise. You are a gracious God, have mercy upon us as we present our selves in honesty and brokenness.
We bring our corruption in the pulpit as religious leaders standing here today. Lord, I am standing on my own behalf, and for all my other fellow religious leaders and shepherds in this country. We who have stood in the pulpit to represent you, we ask for forgiveness because we have sinned against you. You said whosoever covers sins will not prosper, but whenever we acknowledge our failures, you grant us mercy and forgiveness. Lord we ask for your mercy, because we have failed as prophets and as priests. We have not preached the undoubted word that you gave us to preach in season and out of season.
We have not fully declared your timely will and counsel without fear or favor. Lord, we have peddled your word for profit in so many ways. We have over emphasized money and neglected righteous living and faithful stewardship. Many times Lord, we have fleeced flock that you have given us, and not warned them about the wages and consequences of covetous living.
We ourselves Lord, have not lived exemplary lives of righteousness and have lacked integrity in our lives. There has been greed, strife, pride, competition, jealousy, child abuse, covetousness, sexual immorality, even divorce and adultery among your shepherds. Lord, your people have been weary and harassed like sheep without a shepherd. Where we have not represented you our God, where we have failed you as prophets and priests, we ask for your forgiveness.
Repeat after me, “Lord, forgive us. Have mercy upon us. Visit us afresh, and reform your shepherds.””
