Apostle Alex Mitala (L) and Pastor Peter Kasirivu (R), host of the Renewal Summit 2024 organised at the campus of Gaba Community Church/ Africa Renewal Ministries in Ggaba, a neighborhood within the city of Kampala.
A recent study conducted by Barna Group revealed that among practicing Christians, nearly half of Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) think “it is wrong to share one’s personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith.”
The Christian research organization also found out that the term “Great Commission” does ring a bell for one in four (25%) churchgoers, though they can’t remember what it is.
Speaking Wednesday at the Renewal Summit 2024, an international leaders’ conference organised by Gaba community Church, Apostle Alex Mitala explained that fulfilling the Great Commission is not an option for Christians, but rather a divine mandate.
The Great Commission refers to the assignment Jesus gave His disciples shortly before returning to heaven following His resurrection. The commission is found in Matthew 28:18-20.
In this, Jesus commanded the disciples to go out into the world and find men and women who would follow Jesus just like they had followed Him. And that is exactly what they did.
In his submission, Apostle Mitala urged that it should be every believer’s privilege and responsibility to share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ with the world.
Unlike a football game where a few players participate while many watch, Apostle Alex Mitala explained that the Great Commission requires all believers to participate, not just a select few.
“The Great Commission is not a spectator sport, but a participatory program for all believers,” he said, delivering his sermon under the title “The Great Commission: Empowering Believers for Victory.’
Through Ephesians 4:11-12, the founder of Back to the Bible Truth Evangelistic Mission (BBT) organization, told his fellow Church leaders that “when we fail to empower all saints, we risk failing to cast out demons and bringing God’s healing to the sick.”
“God’s logic is clear: empower the minority (leaders) to equip the majority (believers) to fulfil the Great Commission.” “Let’s rise up, walk in our divine authority and to finish the task!”
The Renewal Summit was birthed by Pastor Peter Kasirivu in 2017, under Gaba community Church and Africa Renewal ministries.
In a statement, Pastor Kasirivu said this year’s 5-day event started 19th August, 2024, emerges in response to the pressing need for global missional outreach by Christians and ministry leaders.
“Many communities remain unreached (and untouched) by the transformative power of the gospel. Thus, by focusing on the theme of “Our Global Missional Mandate,” taken from Mark 16:15, this conference seeks to mobilize believers to go into all the world with the good news of Jesus Christ,” Pastor Kasirivu said.
“Ultimately, our prayer is to ignite a renewed passion for global mission and equip believers to fulfill their role as ambassadors of Christ to the nations,” he said.
Other speakers at the event include Ps. Roger Poupart (Wayside Chapel, TX USA), Ps. Charles Mugisha (Africa New Life Church, Rwanda), Ps. Lincoln Kasirye Serwanga (Liberty Christian Fellowship, UK), Apostle Moses Mukisa (Worship Harvest Ministries – Uganda) and Rev. Bradley Goode (Good News Church, FL, USA) among others.