After being involved in a car crash that almost claimed her life in 2015, Julie Deborah woke up from a coma with no memory that she was a Pastor.
The well-known musician had before the tragic incident also made a commitment to buying land to build a Church – this too was a mystery following her memory loss.
“It is the people that came to visit me in hospital that reminded me that I was a Pastor. They reminded me that I had a piece of land I intended to buy, and build a church,” The lead Pastor of Prayer Healing Tabernacle International Ministries located at Kibili – Ggangu in Busabala said.
“I asked them, “do you know the place I wanted to buy the land.” They said, “yes”. I requested them to take me there,” she said.
Before the accident, Julie had signed a 5-year agreement with the landlord authenticating their stay on the property. She was to pay Ush150,000/= as rent, per month for a year. Her hope was that in 5 years, she would have the capacity to buy off the piece of property. A temporary structure was built. This served as the church, as well as a house where she slept together will several less privileged children who were under her care.
The land owner priced the property at 100 million. He however thankfully lowered an acre to 70 million.
“In the 3rd month of the year I planned on making the first installment payment, I got involved in an accident in Kyengera, along Masaka road that left me in a comma. I experienced a traumatic injury due to bleeding in the brain. I was unconscious for a long while. But when I woke up , I hardly recalled that I was a pastor. I didn’t recall that I had a church. I didn’t recall that I even had children I was taking care of. I could hardly talk,” she said in tears.
Deborah only had 2 million of the agreed figure. Was the landlord patiently going to wait for her to look for the the rest of the money? Yes he did – but not for long.
Julie embanked on selling ‘mandazi’, rearing pigs and organizing a fund raiser to collect money to buy the land. Many people made pledges, but some were never fulfilled. In three years, they were able to raise 17 million shillings.
To their dismay, the land lord started selling off the land, including the one acre he had designated off for Julie’s Church project.
“The landlord grew impatient demanding for the remaining 53 million. Sooner than later, he demolished the structures we had established where the children slept. I opened up a case at Kibuli CID headquarters, and the in-charge of lands protection helped us. We had a meeting with the land owner and reached an agreement of paying 10 million for the small portion of land that was left. I was given 21 days to clear,” Julie said.
Thankfully, with the help of well-wishers and friends, a perfectly health Julie revealed last week that the money was successfully collected and that construction of a church perimeter wall commenced.
She announced a service of thanksgiving and celebration for winning the major Church land battle. This is slated for 29th October, 2019. Bishop Grivas K. Musisi, the Senior Pastor and Vision Bearer of Prayer Palace Ministries is expected to be the chief guest.
