“My Dad’s story from drunkenness to serving the Lord was a turning point in my life!”
Now that is influence! A Dad’s influence!
Her name is Constance and her Dad’s name is Smith. That’s his picture above this article. He used to be a telephoner. Meaning, he made calls–but not with a telephone–with a long straw about three foot long coming from a community pot filled with local brewed alcohol! Smith was a drunker! But God changed him and now he and his family are born again and are disciples of Jesus Christ.
Today, there is a church that meets in front of Smith’s house that I have worshipped with many times. And, three weeks ago when I was in Kampala, he was involved in a training I conducted for a group of church leaders in Naguru. He even shared with the group how God had changed his life. Smith is a true story of God’s grace.
Here is a email Joseph sent me this week detailing the influence Smith has had in one of his daughter’s life. It’s in her own words. What a great thing! A daughter praises her Dad for the influence he had in her life bringing her to faith in Jesus Christ.
When we entered Naguru slum last August, Smith was lost in sin and captured in drunkenness. Even though he was physically alive, his family was mourning for him. He spent all the money he earned in drinking.
Two months later, on October 23, 2009, Smith gave his life to the Lord. His Daughter Constance was too happy that something incredible had happened to her dad. She started watching him to see whether there was actually a change in his life.
This is what Constance had to say in her own words …..
“We as a family were in a sorry state due to our dad’s habit. We lived without meals because he drunk all the money he earned. The landlord actually threw us out of his house due to failure to pay the rent. We pleaded until he allowed us to live for one more chance. We did not know where or to whom to turn to for the habit of our dad.
October 23, 2009 was the turning point in my dad’s life. When members from Manna visited my dad, he prayed to receive Jesus. They gave him a book to read called Who is Jesus?
I started to watch whether there was really a change in my dad’s life. The first two weeks he was sneaking out to drink with his colleagues again. One of the members of Manna (Deo) kept on moving around inviting people to come to what he called a house church meeting every week. My dad asked us to come with him to that church. My dad started attending the church regularly and I begun to realize a change in his life. He repeated the scriptures he was memorizing from Bible Way to me. This was amazing!
As I too continued to attend the house church and was enrolled into Bible Way, I realized someone supernatural had touched and changed my dad’s life. His name is Jesus.
My dad’s story from drunkenness to serving the Lord was a turning point in my life! On January 18, when a group of Americans led by Deo shared the good news with me, I gave my life to Jesus. Since I had watched a change in my dad’s life, I decided to give my life to the Lord. Thank you for coming to the rescue of our family. God Bless you all”
Constance Slazia.
Today, Smith (Bible Way Student no. 61054) is doing his tenth book Ten Rules for Living. He has received a Bible from us and participates in mobilizing for the house church plant in Naguru.
Constance is in her sixth Bible Way book Responsible Christian and is an active member and mobilizes for the house church and Bible Way. Thank you for your prayers and financial support that helps us to reach to the slums, prisons, and high schools in Kampala, Uganda.
-Joseph
As I read the story of Smith, I’m reminded of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Pray for Smith and his family. Pray for the church that meets at their house. Pray that God would raise up some “Smith’s” in our own neighborhoods and churches. Pray that we dad’s could have the same influence on our children that he has had on his. Pray that people looking at our lives we will see the power of Jesus Christ and become Christ followers too!
What a story!
