Everything that happens in our life happens to fulfill what God has spoken about us. I’m Dr. Sunny Bhaskaran, and welcome to Simply Jesus Church! With me today is Moses Lugemye; he has such an amazing testimony, and I wanted him to talk about some of the defining moments in his life, his father, how he was called into worship and the prophetic, and how God is working through the generations.
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Matthew 1:22-23 (NKJV)
We discuss:
- Stories of My Father | God Works Through the Generations
- The Effect of My Father on My Personal Faith in Jesus
- Growing in Faith | A Baptism of Fire
- Entering God’s Calling | My Journey into Worship & the Prophetic
- Tearing the Veil | God as My Heavenly Father
- A Message to Those Who Are Suffering
Stories of My Father | God Works Through the Generations
I believe in the calling of God; we serve an eternal God. His perspective transcends time and space. Often, we only experience this for a brief moment—the dash between the time we’re born and when we pass on from this world. However, God sees us in full, looking at generations, calling upon them. But a person’s decision to follow Jesus can have a lasting impact that spans generations.
Introduction
I was born in Uganda, East Africa, a small country that has experienced significant turmoil. We gained our independence in 1962 from the British. Dr. Sunny, being from India, might relate to this aspect of our history. However, post-independence, it seemed like we just went from one dictator to the next.
Unfortunately, Uganda is often associated with Idi Amin, a man known for his evil, brutal reign, under which countless people were killed, including many Christians. My father was part of those who faced persecution.
But I believe that when God calls someone, they are marked in the spiritual realm. This mark is noticed not just by the forces of heaven but also by the forces of evil. It’s clear to me that God had a calling for my family and me. Even as God was preserving and preparing me, the enemy was also watching, attempting several times to harm me. For instance, my birth was very difficult. The umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck, and many thought I was goner, but God saw me through that ordeal.
It was my dad who faced a lot of danger; the enemy attempted to take him out several times. I want to share a few of stories about this.
1. God Protected My Father Through the Kindness of Others
During Idi Amin’s regime, the military committed numerous atrocities. They had absolute power and did a lot of things with impunity. They were known for fabricating charges and arbitrarily arresting people.
On one occasion, my dad and my uncle were at a trading center when soldiers came by and accused them of robbery. They were forcibly detained and put on a truck. My mother was at home and unaware of these events until a witness came by to the house and told her, “They took John.”
At that time, my mother was pregnant and frantic to find where they had been taken. She learned they were brought to a different location. The group, including my dad, was dropped off at a police station, with instructions for the police to hold them until the soldiers returned to take them to their final destination.
My mother followed the group to the police station, where she inquired about my dad and the other men. The clerk lied and denied their presence, but the police commander recognized my mother and asked her, “What are you doing? Why are you crying?”
My mother told him about the situation, the commander confirmed that my dad and uncle were there, and he decided to intervene. He said, “They cannot stay here,” and he took my dad and my uncle into his own home for safety.
When the soldiers returned, they took the remaining men, and none of them were ever heard from again. This was one instance where the enemy sought to take my father out, but God intervened.
2. God Gave My Father Peace & Wisdom
When I was just a baby, someone accused my dad of harboring rebels. A young commander from Tanzania came to our house. He knocked on the door and threatened my family, saying, “I’m going to count to three. If you don’t open this door, and I have to break it down, I’ll kill everybody in the house.”
My dad got up and opened the door with my mom following close behind, terrified for her life. The soldiers barked orders, and the young commander seemed somewhat taken aback upon seeing my mom. He said, “We were told you were harboring rebels.” My dad’s accuser insisted they were at our other property.
My dad denied it and explained that we had a property not far from our house where we kept cattle, looked after by a friend of ours. He offered to show the property to the commander to prove there were no rebels.
My dad then led them out, saying he would show them that it was just our friend taking care of the cattle. During the night walk, my mom stayed behind, uncertain if my dad would return. While walking, my dad was praying. The group came across some drainage ditches, and one of the soldiers stumbled and fell, dropping his gun. Instead of seizing the gun to defend himself, my dad helped him up and returned his weapon.
When they reached the property, my dad woke up our friend to show himself to the officer and affirm that we weren’t rebels. The friend showed them just a bunch of cattle. Realizing he had been misled, the soldier became angry and turned on the accuser who fled into the night amidst the commotion.
The soldier apologized for the misunderstanding, and my dad left unharmed.
3. God Defended My Father with the Truth
There was another instance when my dad was accused of being a traitor, and the accuser wanted him executed. However, the story did not align with the facts, and the soldiers turned on the accuser, questioning his claims.
In a separate incident, someone accused my dad in front of soldiers, alleging he was a collaborator. The commander, impatient, said, “I don’t have time for this,” and ordered a subordinate to “take care of it,” implying execution.
When the soldiers came to our house, only my mom was there. They asked for my dad, and when my dad arrived, the accuser pointed him out, ready for the soldiers to act. However, my dad was walking with a friend who vouched for him, saying, “I know John, he’s not a criminal, he hasn’t done anything wrong. Where is your proof?”
Realizing his plan was failing, the accuser insisted, “No, let me show you, let me show you.” Then the soldier turned to him and asked, “Where’s your identification?” It seemed that in the process, the accuser had either handed it over to the soldier or misplaced it.
The accuser reached out to the soldier’s pocket saying, “I don’t have it. It’s right there,” leading the soldier to mistakenly believe he was reaching for a weapon. The soldier reacted by shooting the accuser dead.
My father escaped. The man who brought the accusation against him – intending to have him executed – was instead shot dead, right there. That’s three times I know of when the enemy tried to take out my father and failed.
The Effect of My Father on My Personal Faith in Jesus
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
God says, “My ways are higher than your ways,” and it’s a humbling experience to realize that. Sometimes I find myself asking, “God, why me?” But His ways are indeed higher than mine. All I can do is be grateful and thank Him for all that He has done.
Running to Jesus in Times of Crisis & Fear
As we transitioned from one dictator to another, I remember bullets flying outside our home and us having to turn off the lights to avoid getting hit. I was maybe 7 years old by the time the next dictator took over.
In some ways, I thought this was just how life was meant to be, but I also recognized that something was profoundly wrong. There was fear and dread, but I vividly remember my dad reciting Psalm 91 over us every night.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”
Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV)
That was our prayer. Every night, my father would gather us, and we would kneel and pray. Prayer was a crucial part of our lives, acknowledging God’s protection. We had no weapons for defense, but we had Jesus. And that’s who we turned to. It imprinted on me the importance of running to the Lord in times of crisis.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)
My father loves Jesus; he was a passionate worshiper. He served as the head usher at our church. One of my best memories is arriving at church to see my dad with his big afro, fully immersed in worship. The music is very lively in Uganda. You could just see him, completely unashamed in his praise, raising his hands high. To me, my dad was a superhero. Yet, in the presence of Jesus, he became like a child, worshipping with pure, unashamed joy.
And it wasn’t just the stories of his faith that had an effect on me; my dad’s prayer life was also incredibly powerful.
The Power of Intercession & Prayer
One day, I came home from school to the sound of someone wailing. It was a man, wailing and crying. So, I rushed inside to find my dad on his knees in the bedroom, crying out to God, praying fervently that his children would serve Him. He was interceding for us. My mom didn’t become a believer until later, but my dad’s intercession deeply influenced our entire family.
He came from a family that did not follow Jesus, one that believed in ancestor-worship. When visiting the village, it was customary to bring offerings to the ancestors. However, my dad put an end to that tradition.
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
He was shunned for that, yet he continued to intercede and pray for us.
Two of my older brothers also entered the ministry. My dad prayed especially for my eldest brother, who’s now a bishop in Kenya. My brother was initially rebellious and wanted nothing to do with God; it contrasted sharply with the powerful prayers of my dad. I remember thinking, “My brother’s just wasting his time.”
And, in a single day, God changed this rebellious boy. My brother, once known for fighting, began visiting his former gang members to preach the Gospel. He’s now a bishop, passionately spreading the word of God.
Growing in Faith | A Baptism of Fire
My journey into worship goes back to the verse, “Before you were born, I knew you and I set you apart.” Growing up in the church, I had responded to altar calls and believed that I had accepted Jesus. I’ve seen my father pray and witnessed his faith. But going to church and seeing all these wonderful things has made me realize we all come to a point where we receive must Jesus and make Him the Lord of our lives.
Being Mocked for My Faith in God
It wasn’t until I found myself being mocked for my faith, that I truly encountered Jesus. There was a time when the economy was in turmoil, and my mom was transferred to another town, Mbale, to manage a depot for the construction company where both of my parents worked. My brother was living a rebellious life, but the prayers finally caught up to him.
There was an evangelist in town who led my brother to having an encounter with Jesus. My dad sent me out to find my brothers, presumably to bring them back home. So, I went into town not knowing where they were, asking friends for their whereabouts, and I visited an old school friend.
This friend wasn’t a believer, but he knew I went to church and decided to mock my faith. Upon entering his house, he offered me beer. When I declined, he taunted me, saying I would one day be so thirsty I’d beg for his beer, and he belittled my faith mercilessly. Among those present was a Muslim guy who intervened, telling him, “Come on, let the kid go.”
Being Baptized with the Holy Spirit
I left that place with a cloud hanging over my head, feeling like I couldn’t defend my faith. I was just sitting there, completely humiliated. I went into town, knowing that the evangelist was holding a meeting at a specific place, and I was convinced that’s where I would find my brother.
When I walked into the venue, the evangelist began to speak, and it was like he had been reading my mail. This man stood up and said,
“Some of you, because you haven’t received the Holy Spirit, go to places and are mocked. It’s because you don’t have the Spirit of God in you to speak. God will give you the right words to speak in those moments. You need the Spirit; God is calling some of you into ministry. He’s going to fill you with His Spirit.”
At the very end, the evangelist invited anyone who wanted to receive Jesus or the baptism of the Holy Spirit to stand up. Feeling desperate, I stood up and thought, “God, I am tired of being mocked. Whatever this is, I want it.”
I had seen people fall under the power of God before, but I was skeptical and thought, “I’m not going to fall for it. I’m not going down.” Watching the people fall around me, I raised my hands as instructed, and suddenly, it was as if a bolt of lightning or electricity hit me.
I started shaking, I fell straight down like a log, crying, not understanding what was happening. They carried me to the front, and the evangelist looked at me saying, “God has called you. You’re going to see nations, you’re going to proclaim the name of Jesus to the nations. God has given you His Spirit, and you will stand before nations.”
Looking at my circumstances, I didn’t even have enough money to buy shoes. How was I supposed to get on a plane and travel the world? But that moment marked me, and something changed. The Spirit of God came upon me.
When I went back to school, I wanted to tell everyone about this amazing God and what He had done for me. I found myself holding miniature crusades in the school courtyard, telling everyone about Jesus. Something peculiar started happening: I would get the same electric sensation, almost like a tingling on my lips, whenever I began to speak.
Entering God’s Calling | My Journey into Worship & the Prophetic
This leads me to another story about how I got into music. A minister from Grenada was visiting our church, and I’ve always been passionate about music, it’s a significant part of our culture. Around the age of 10, I attended an open-air crusade and saw someone playing a small Casio keyboard, using the auto accompaniment feature. I was fascinated, thinking, “How do all those sounds come out of that little thing?” I remember praying, “God, if You teach me how to play that instrument, I’ll use it for Your glory.”
Entering Into Worship
A few years later, my pastor purchased a set of instruments, including a drum set and a keyboard. Whenever I came to church with my dad, I couldn’t take my eyes off the keyboard; I was mesmerized by it, drawn to it like moths to a flame.
After service, I would approach the keyboard and start tinkering until they would chase me away. However, my persistence paid off. One day, one of the pastors, the worship leader, finally said, “Okay, I’ll teach you one song,” and he taught me “God is So Good.”
That marked the beginning of my self-taught piano journey. I kept practicing, repeating my prayer to God to teach me how to play if I promised to use it for Him. Eventually, I joined a band, initially just by carrying instruments and other things. Over time, I became one of the keyboard players.
The Prophetic Psalmist
One day, after I had the experience with receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, I was playing during a worship session. Suddenly, I felt this urge to start singing during the time of ministry. I thought it would be a bit odd to do that when I had just been accompanying instrumentally. I hesitated, wondering, “Should I sing out loud? Should I do that?”
Then, without warning, the minister turned around and looked directly at me. “God’s giving you a song. Sing it.” Without hesitation, I began to sing prophetically, aligning with whatever was happening in the moment. As I sang, the minister also began to prophesy and she told me, “You’re a prophetic psalmist. God has called you; His Holy Spirit is upon you. You have the spirit of David, and God is going to use you.”
That moment marked the next significant milestone in my life, affirming that I am a worshiper.
Tearing the Veil | God as My Heavenly Father
Three years later, I had lost two of my family members; my two sisters. One had medical complications from the time she was little, and she passed away around the age of 18. The loss of my other sister was particularly painful. She got involved with someone, became pregnant, and decided to have an abortion, which tragically backfired, resulting in her death. These losses deeply affected my father, plunging him into a period of depression
Passing on How to Light the Lantern
Around November 1995, I was playing at a youth conference at church. My dad and pastor, who were great friends, came to the event and spent some time together, taking a long walk and talking. My dad went back to our home that night, and I stayed to play for the conference.
The next day, I saw my baby brother, my youngest sibling, at the back of the church, and I immediately knew something was wrong; he wouldn’t have come that far by himself. He told me, “Dad is really sick.” Apologizing to everyone, I said that I needed to go home immediately.
When I arrived home, it was evident my father wasn’t well; his breathing was labored. Entering his bedroom, I found that he had opened Psalm 88. Despite my denial, I had an eerie feeling that something was going to happen.
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave.
Psalm 88:3 (NKJV)
That evening, a huge storm hit. We had a pressure lantern, which my dad usually operated, but that night, he insisted I learn how to turn it on, insisting, “What are you going to do when I’m not here? You need to learn.” He showed me how to light the lantern, and then we went to bed.
The Healing of Jesus
Around 11 p.m., I was awakened by blood-curdling screams. My mom ran into my room, crying out, “Your dad’s dying.” I rushed to find my father and discovered he had collapsed on the floor. Not knowing what else to do, I started praying, overwhelmed by all that was happening as my mom and my baby brother wept.
Realizing we needed help and with no phones to call anyone, I ran into the darkness, desperately searching for help. No one had a car, and there was no place to go. I told a friend of mine, and we just ran back to the house and continued praying.
My dad was drifting in and out of consciousness. I heard my mother cry out, “God, I’ve lost two of my daughters. Why can’t You have mercy on me this once?” I knelt down and kept praying.
One of the last things my dad said was, “Jesus has healed me.”
His voice faded away, and he was gone. I had hoped for a different kind of healing, one where he would stand up and be my dad again, but he went home. There was no more suffering or pain for him. Yet, there I was, left watching my baby brother and my mother cry.
Inviting God to Become My Heavenly Father
I remember kneeling, and the first thing that came to my mind was, “God, you’ve taken Dad home. Be my father.”
Something profound happened in that moment. I’d had all these experiences with God, but asking God to be my father took on a whole new dimension. Instead of going to my dad, I could turn to my heavenly Father.
It reminded me of the calling of Isaiah the prophet:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Isaiah 6:1 (NIV)
I wonder if Isaiah, in some way, depended on Uzziah to see the Lord. In my case, my dad was like the veil through which I could encounter God. But now, he was gone, and it was time for me to encounter God directly. From that point on, my worship was for an audience of one, before my heavenly Father. I went to Him with my pain, my joys, with everything, and He is such a good Father.
A Message to Those Who Are Suffering
Sometimes, only in hindsight, you can look back and see that in those deep, dark valleys, it felt like the end. But looking back, I see that God was teaching me, molding and shaping me, and it has allowed me to encourage others who are suffering or experiencing similar things.
1. You are Never Alone, God Understands
I want you to know that we have a God who is near to the brokenhearted. That’s the first thing. You’re never alone. Jesus is right there. I think of Psalm 139:
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
Psalm 139:8 (NKJV)
God is everywhere, and some of the pain and struggles we experience are due to our limited perspective. God is eternal; He sees the end from the beginning. Scripture says that God causes all things to work out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.
2. The Greater the Call, The Greater the Test
I believe the greater the call, the greater the formation, testing, and molding. It’s throughout Scripture. For example, Joseph received the promise of God and then went into testing before he ascended to the throne. Moses was in the wilderness. There’s a pattern of God testing us when He wants to raise us up.
3. Your Spiritual Growth Affects Generations
God is near, and He has not left us; He is with you through all your pain. He is writing a story that transcends even your life, because God works in generations. The pain you experience could teach you something that not only affects your life but also generations to come. Christians have to think in terms of generations. God is playing for the long haul. He has not left or forsaken you.
We are finite, so we see with a limited view. In the moment, all we see is pain, but God sees the resurrection, the glory that will come. There’s glory coming. You have a Father who will never leave you. He is with you, and there’s purpose to your pain.
When I was in high school, there was a young lady who was very detached from everyone and often made fun of. She was depressed and frequently found crying alone. I reached out to her to see what was going on, and I shared my story. She opened up about her father committing suicide.
While I didn’t know the pain of having a parent take their own life, I knew the pain of losing a parent. Sharing my story with her made a difference; she later wrote to me how much it meant to her that someone understood.
This shows how God loves people. He is working on something that transcends even our lives. God will use your life and your circumstances to impact generations upon generations.
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Final Exhortation from Dr. Sunny
My friends, remember: All these things were done, that what was spoken by the Lord might be fulfilled. God has spoken into your life; He has spoken into your future. Prayer is never a waste, and whatever time and tears you shed before God, it will be answered.
If you have been saved, and you are asking, “What is going to happen to my generation?” Those generations are being marked for the kingdom of God. Nations will be impacted, and the families of this earth are going to be blessed. God is uniting Christians.
I’m so grateful to have gotten to visit with Moses today. His testimony is a blessing to hear, and I hope we will get to hear more from him in the future.
