How Far the Lord Has Brought Us
Deliverance Church was not started by a committee or a mission board. It was started by the Holy Spirit, among students. This is the story of how that fire reached Mbale, and how a small group meeting in a borrowed room became the church on Nabuyonga Rise.
Late 1960s
Where it all began
In the late 1960s, the Holy Spirit sent a Kenyan evangelist, Apostle Joe Kayo, to preach to students at a secondary school in Eastern Uganda.
He preached with such power and passion that, as one of our elders recalls, he could hardly stay in his seat.
A group of young men caught the fire that day. Among them were Stephen, Nicholas, Titus and Ben. They gave their lives to Christ and began to pray with a hunger that marked the movement from the start. It is said that one of them, praying alone in the school chapel, sounded like fifty people were in the room.
When some of them went on to teach in Moroto after their exams, Apostle Joe followed them there to make sure the fire did not go out. Those students later became the pioneers and overseers of Deliverance Church Uganda: Pastor Stephen Mungoma was its first leader, followed by Pastor Nicholas Wafula and Pastor Titus Oundo.
What began as a student revival is today a family of hundreds of churches across Uganda, with sister churches in Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and beyond.
The journey of DC Mbale
DC Mbale started small and without a home of its own.
Chapter 1
A small room at Elgon Nursery School
Our first meetings were held in a small room at Elgon Nursery School along Naboa Road. Many members were students, and baptisms were done in the river.
Chapter 2
Mbale Public Library
The church then moved to the public library. This was the season of Pastor Daniel Naaya, who taught us the grace of God in words many still remember:
“Grace is God's Riches At Christ's Expense.”
Chapter 3
A miracle piece of land
When we had to leave the library, God opened the way for us to receive the land on Nabuyonga Rise. The Town Council asked for a fee. It looks small today, but back then it was a mountain for a congregation of mostly students and job seekers, with only a handful of working members. God provided, and the land was paid for. DC Mbale became the first Deliverance Church congregation to own its own land.
Chapter 4
Worship under the open sky
At first the land was bare. For several Sundays we worshipped in the open sun, on the very spot where Joy Hospice stands today.
Chapter 5
The “mud cathedral”
The church then built a simple structure in the corner where Joy Primary School now stands. That was our home for many years.
Chapter 6
The building we worship in today
Then God moved again, and construction of the present sanctuary began. The rectangular hall and the decagon were designed together as one unit by an architect in Nairobi. The carved wooden doors were made by hand by one of our founding members, a carpenter, working alongside Pastor Daniel.
Pastors who have led DC Mbale
- Pr Christian Peterlate, our first pastor
- Pr David Kinglate
- Pr Daniel Naayalate
- Pr Stephen Patrick Achillalate
- Pr Samuel Wamboga
- Pr Lucius Okello
- Pr Silver Wanzalacurrent Lead Pastor, with Pr Sam Maina
Where we are going
The land God gave us is admired by all who see it, and we believe it is meant to be developed for His glory.
The multipurpose hall stands as one more miracle. Plans are under way to expand Joy Hospice with a new unit, and we are trusting God for vehicles for mission.
If a church of students and job seekers could pay for this land, imagine what we can build together today. The God who brought us this far is more than able.
History questions
When did Deliverance Church start?
Deliverance Church began in the late 1960s as a student revival at a secondary school in Eastern Uganda, and took the name Deliverance Church in 1971.
Who started Deliverance Church Uganda?
A Kenyan evangelist, Apostle Joe Kayo, preached to students in Eastern Uganda in the late 1960s. Students who gave their lives to Christ then became the pioneers and overseers of the church: Pastor Stephen Mungoma was its first leader, followed by Pastor Nicholas Wafula and Pastor Titus Oundo.
Where did Deliverance Church Mbale first meet?
In a small room at Elgon Nursery School along Naboa Road, then at the Mbale Public Library, before moving to its own land on Nabuyonga Rise.
Who was the first pastor of DC Mbale?
The first pastor was Pr Christian Peter, now with the Lord. He was followed by Pr David King, Pr Daniel Naaya, Pr Stephen Patrick Achilla, Pr Samuel Wamboga, Pr Lucius Okello. The current Lead Pastor is Pr Silver Wanzala, with Pr Sam Maina.
Was DC Mbale the first Deliverance Church to own land?
Yes. DC Mbale was the first Deliverance Church congregation to own its own land, on Nabuyonga Rise, paid for by a congregation of mostly students and job seekers. Joy Hospice and Joy Primary School now stand where the church first worshipped there.