A 23-year-old Muslim convert to Christianity was forced to leave his father's house after the father discovered his son's new-found faith in Christ in Kamahango, Uganda.
Abdallah Kule Josephat was raised in a Muslim family that followed strict Islamic principles. But in September 2019, Josephat found Christ as the only way to God and that Islam was not a true religion.
Josephat told International Christian Concern (ICC) that "I was the first to convert to Christianity after listening to Pastor John Murabyo preach in the market. The message was so clear and powerful that I was convicted of my sins and the Lord saved me that day. I went back home and shared with my wife about my new birth and she also decided to follow suit. I called the pastor to pray with my wife and until now he has been walking with us."
After accepting Christ, Josephat stopped going to mosque or praying five times daily. Just three days after Josephat accepted Christ, his father knocked at his house door early in the morning to know why he had not met him at the mosque for prayers.
"I could not lie to him and the Holy Spirit prompted me to testify to him that Christ had become my savior," Josephat told ICC. "I was scared to the core, but I found strength in the Lord. That is when hell broke loose, and it was time to pay the consequences that many from strict Muslim families experience when they desert the Islamic religion for the Christian faith. We were ordered out the family with immediate effect," Josephat explained.
But Josephat, his wife and three children found shelter in Reverend Murabyo's small house. Rev. Murabyo is the one who led Josephat to Christ.
"They called in and informed me that their father had chased them away for receiving Christ. Thankfully, I had a vacant small house where I usually give shelter to needy people. I asked them to occupy the single room house as they look for a way to settle after being disowned by their family members," Rev. Murabyo said.
Following Christ came with a cost. After being abandoned by the family, Josephat had also lost his job. Now he does some casual jobs in Kisinga village to make some money for his family.
"It's not easy, but the Lord has been faithful to us. He has given us peace, joy, and love in our hearts. We are happy to join other believers in fellowship every week," Josephat told ICC.
The family is also aware of the risks connected with conversion because there were several instances in the past where Christian converts in Uganda were beaten to death or poisoned by their very own family for leaving Islam.
But Josephat and his family is determined to serve Christ even if it means losing their lives. "We know that there is another life awaiting us where we shall live with Christ forever," he testified.
