A recent Youth for Christ evangelistic campaign at Bukalasa Agricultural College, located in Wobulenzi, Uganda, north of the capital city of Kampala, yielded a bountiful harvest. Thirty-one individuals were baptized, including 25 college students; and 43 enrolled in Bible studies.

Held from September 28 to October 6, 2024, the event drew 188 participants, including visitors, Adventist students, and volunteers from various colleges within the country. The meetings were led by Hudson Kibuuka, associate director of education for the General Conference of Seventhday Adventists, and Sebagala Samuel Ivan, Public Campus Ministry (PCM) and chaplaincy director for the Uganda Union Mission.

The eight-day program was coordinated by Deborah Sekitte, the North Buganda Field PCM director. It featured a range of daily activities, including community outreach and leadership training on the theme “Leadership With Integrity” presented by Kibuuka. It also included Bible studies and evangelism training by Fredrick Kulaba, the pastor of Katikamu Seventhday Adventist church. Each day’s program focused on a presentation about health and life principles by Kibuuka and concluded with a sermon by Sebagala Samuel Ivan, challenging participants to surrender to Christ and live a life of purpose.

“We were blessed to have Pastor Sebagala [Samuel] Ivan share the Word of God with such passion and conviction,” said one of the student volunteers. “His messages resonated deeply with us, and we saw many of our peers make decisions for Christ.”

Students and volunteers engaged in practical service projects, demonstrating Christ’s love. This helped break down barriers and created opportunities for meaningful interactions with the local community.

Trained facilitators led Bible studies and provided a safe space for students to explore Scripture and deepen their faith. Many participants expressed gratitude for the spiritual nourishment and guidance received during these training and learning sessions.

A powerful baptism ceremony marked the climax of the event, as 31 candidates publicly committed to follow Jesus. University administrators, church members, and friends gathered to witness this joyous occasion. Despite the rainy season, God answered prayers and kept the rain away during the meetings.

“We rejoice over the harvest of souls at Bukalasa Agricultural College,” said Kibuuka. “This is a testament to the power of collaborative evangelism and the urgency of sharing the gospel with the next generation.”

Moses Ndimukika Maka, president of the Uganda Union Mission, commended the team for their tireless efforts, saying, “We praise God for the dedication of our pastors, educators, and student volunteers. This event demonstrates our commitment to reaching and retaining young people, even on public campuses for Christ.”

The meetings concluded with a visit from special guests Emanuel Pellotte, assistant to the president of the East-Central Africa Division (ECD), and Esther Waiswa, youth ministries director for the Uganda Union Mission, along with other local leaders.

Pellotte and Waiswa brought words of encouragement, challenging the youth to deepen their faith and commitment to serving others as Christ’s ambassadors. Their presence blessed the community, and their valuable insights and guidance were greatly appreciated.

This was one of several similar Youth for Christ programs held across Uganda and much of the ECD territory. As the church prioritizes youth evangelism, events like these catalyze spiritual renewal and growth.

Sebagala Samuel Ivan (Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Chaplaincy, Bugema University, Uganda) is Director of Public Campus Ministry and Chaplaincy for the Uganda Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists, Kampala, Uganda. E-mail: [email protected].

Recommended Citation

Sebagala Samuel Ivan, "“Youth For Christ” Evangelistic Campaign Yields Fruitful Harvest at Bukalasa Agricultural College in Uganda ," Dialogue 37:2 (2025): 32-33