By Michael Kisekka
The Reverend Simon Peter Ddamba Anatoli stirred the congregation during a Community worship service today, January 2, 2022, when he told a story from his past as a “street kid”. He said on many occasions he was so starved that he sometimes “fought for the same food with hungry dogs” and consequently sustained through dog bites.
During the service that took place at Nkoyoyo Hall, Uganda Christian University (UCU), Rev. Ddamba who was the preacher of the day raised his wrist to show the congregation some of the scars that stay till date. When testifying, he said when he looks back to those days, he is reminded of the faithfulness of God.
“When I think about how far the Lord has brought me, I can only sing ‘God you are so good,” he said, after confessing that his life became miserable after the passing of his mother when he was only a boy, and inevitably took to the street because he was not welcome at the home of most relatives.
The Reverend encouraged members of the congregation to not give in to difficult situations in life, but instead to trust the Lord who will deliver them. Preaching from 1 Samuel 30, he reminded them that when David the king in the Old Testament was distressed, “ he encouraged himself in the Lord.”
Ddambe further discouraged the congregation, especially students from resorting to drugs, sex addiction, orgies, suicide, among other practices, as remedies for temporary stress relief. Instead, he rugged them to seek God and trust him to deliver them. He further encouraged students to reach out to church leaders for help and counsel when in distress.
“ Thank you reverend for the sermon today. It was powerful,” one of the congregants said to the preacher, after the service was over, at about 1 pm.
Community worship service is a traditional UCU biweekly gathering of Christians, which happens every Tuesday and Thursday.
