Marriage, jobs and wealth top list of New Year prayer requests

RACHEAL NINSIIMA

By 8PM last Monday, devout worshippers trickled into Kololo Airstrip for the annual national celebration prayers hosted by Pr. Jackson and Eve Senyonga under the theme, ‘See, I am making all things new’ - Rev:21: 5. 

Eyes glassy from the sting of the evening cold, they clutched tight on their property as they settled into their seats. At the front, an overhead projector hummed; ready for a night full of praise, worship and sermons.

Some worshippers arrived here as early as 3PM to secure themselves a favourable position to petition God. Jorum Ssebandeke, a resident of Masaka is here to ask God for a proper job. For eight years, the 39 year old has worked as a casual labourer and wants an office job.

“Last year, I prayed for a job but did not receive any. So I have come back for the third time hoping 2013 will work out,” he says enthusiastically.

Like Ssebandeke, it’s hard finding anyone on the grounds without a request. For most of them, it’s the essence of staying awake the whole night. When it’s time for giving the seed, Christine Kirabira from Matugga squeezes a shs. 50,000 note into a white envelop before dropping it in the offering basket.   This lanky lady is here to sow seed so that she is may get married this year.

Random interviews indicated that jobs, marriage and the desire to live an affluent life dominated the list of prayer requests. Other common requests included good health, building houses and job promotions.

The certainty that when you sow you reap ran throughout Pr Senyonga’s sermon of the night. As the congregation began to worship, eyes closed, each person offered a spontaneous request with their seed in hand. Senyonga prayed:  "Lord, we come into your presence and we ask that you would grant the people who have given their requests…”

However Robert Asiimwe, a congregant disagrees with Senyonga’s position saying that people are forced to give because they are being intimidated.

“Rather than telling people that the larger seed you sow the greater your reward, people should be encouraged to give cheerfully and also tithe,” Asiimwe says.

Meanwhile, Ssenyonga also urged Ugandans to stop pointing figures and counter accusations as what killed Cerinah Nebanda Butaleja Woman MP.

“Let us allow chance for thorough investigations before we can speculate about her death. If it was not a natural death, government should deal with the evil doers accordingly,” he said.

He also condemned corruption and widespread violence in the country.

As the night leaped on hour by hour towards midnight, gospel artistes like Pr Wilson Bugembe, Julie Deborah and Martin Seku cheered the congregation out of their seats onto the dance floor. When Ache Agu of the double double fame stood up to sing, the crowd went crazy. Chairs were lifted; hankies waved and dance moves of all ages displayed.

Then, just like that, a single burst of red shot from the sky. And as it faded, more came. Bursts of yellow, green, blue, and purple… all different, all similar. This loud crackling of the beautiful firework was like a noise shot into the heart and mind.

They looked amazing against the night sky. It was the dawn of the New Year 2013.

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