Testimony

Mark 16:15   And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Founder Rita Bulegeya’s Testimony:

I was raised Lutheran by a religious, church-going family from Indiana, at 11 yrs old I accepted Jesus at summer church camp, Camp Lutherwald. From age 15 to 30, my faith faltered and I walked away from the church, prayer, the Lord, and Bible reading. At 30, after having been in an 8 year marriage of abuse, pain, struggle, excessive use of alcohol, drugs, and dealing with an alcoholic husband, I got divorced. I “hit bottom”–the lowest point in my life. I was so confused, broken, unsure of life, and for the first time ever, was forced to live on my own. It was in this time that I realized that God was always there for me. I moved in with a Christian couple who attend Maranatha Chapel in San Diego, California. I decided to go to church with them, and each week, as the Lord spoke through Pastor Ray Bentley, it felt like God was talking directly to me. I realized what was missing in my life for the past 15 years, a real relationship with God, not a religious experience! In September of 1998, I rededicated my life to the Lord. I got more involved in exploring what it means to be a disciple. I went on regular mission outreaches to Gabriel’s House in Maneadero, Mexico, an orphanage that cares for disabled children—the children there changed my heart forever.   

The Lord began tugging on my heart, calling me international missions in Africa.  In August of 2004, I took a leap of faith and went to Kenya with Project Compassion. That trip changed my life!! God really spoke to me in Kenya or maybe it would be more accurate to say that I was more receptive to hearing His voice because the trip was an act of faith for me. When I came home from Kenya, I did started leading a small group Bible study and co-lead a small group at my place of employment, and started only listened to Christian contemporary music. All these changes allowed God into my daily life and strengthened my walk.

In 2006, I went to Uganda, Africa with a team from Believers World Outreach (BWO). This trip showed me the heart of the people in Uganda and I fell in love with them and their amazing faith in the Lord. When I got back from Uganda, I knew it was time for me to get re-baptized and publicly acknowledge, as an adult, that I love the Lord and have been transformed in Him. So on Saturday, August 26, 2006 I was baptized with about 200 other people at La Jolla Shores. In 2007, I returned to Uganda, spending a month in Nyendo/Masaka. This trip challenged me to be transparent with my brothers and sisters in Christ. After a night of amazing worship and unceasing prayer I broke down, asked God to forgive my Mother and released all of the pain I had from being abused physically and emotionally as a child! When I came back from Uganda, I wasn’t willing to settle for shallow relationships, sought out an intimate church body and returned to Maranatha Chapel. 

Not a day went by that I did not think about the children and people I had left in Uganda. The children and the country had become a part of me, my heart, and my life.  2008 was characterized by preparation—preparation for full time missions to Uganda. In 2009, I launched with God’s grace into full time mission, and He has carried me through. In 2010 I started Faith Hope Love Missions organization and began serving with Scripture Union (SU) of Uganda as a Masaka Regional Trainer and Coordinator. On March 31st of 2012 God granted me another blessing, an amazing and Godly husband. Rogers Bulegeya and I were married before our Lord and 55 guests, in a beautiful wedding ceremony on the beach in Entebbe, Uganda. In 2013 the Lord led Rogers and I to plant Tabernacle Church in the village of Bulayi. (in 2019 it was closed) This  adventure of church planting also led me to co-found Hilltop Church in Soweto with Pastor Sam Sombi in 2015.

As you can see my life’s been a work in progress, but God has always had a hold of me, even through my 15 year drought. I know now that my purpose is to serve Him as a Missionary in Uganda. I can’t wait to see what plan the Lord has already mapped out for my future. I keep obeying, trusting and having faith that My Father will bring  me through every challenge and give me His joy. I hope I can continue to serve Him and His people in East Africa and bring others to know the joy, love, and transformation I have come to have in Him.

Yours In Christ, 

Rita Bulegeya