At the age of four, Stephen’s life imploded.
A tragedy took place that etched into his memory forever. His father, a well-respected leader and pastor in the community of Kinju town in Uganda, was violently attacked on his way back from preaching at a town four hours away.
“In the east, there was rebel activity, they rained bullets on his car, caught him and he was gone. It was the day darkness covered our family,” says Stephen.
“In the east, there was rebel activity, they rained bullets on his car, caught him and he was gone. It was the day darkness covered our family,” says Stephen. Photo: Compassion
After Stephen’s father died, his siblings and mother went days without food.
“My father was the breadwinner. He worked not only as a pastor, but also as an engineer, while my mother stayed home to look after us. I also missed school, because we could no longer afford to pay the fees. When we could attend, we had to walk two or three miles on foot with empty bellies,” recalls Stephen.
Sometimes on his way home from school with his brother they would stop by the river to catch some fish.
“We would run, until we caught [the fish]. It was our way, in our little brains of trying to contribute. We were hungry and we knew there was no food at home.” Photo: Tyler Palmer/Unsplash
“We would run, until we caught it. It was our way, in our little brains of trying to contribute. We were hungry and we knew there was no food at home.”
Three years after his father’s death, the family started to experience God’s provision in a new way.
“Someone approached my mother and said there was a church in Kinju town that was looking for orphans and widows.”
Not long after, Stephen was registered into the Compassion programme.
Stephen, as a child, being registered into the Compassion programme. Photo: Compassion
“As a child I didn’t understand the significance of it. But I always looked forward to Saturdays, because on Saturdays I knew we would have food. For me and my little understanding, food was hope,” says Stephen.
“For my mother it was everything. A prayer answered. To me Compassion was God hugging me and my family. It was security.”
Once a month from the centre the family would get a bar of soap, x2 kilograms of corn flour, beans, sugar, and salt.
“That was another miracle. Centre Day was more than meeting other kids and food. We went to Bible school, played sports, and the staff would teach us extra skills like tailoring and crafts.”
“They didn’t offer music lessons, but the church had a piano. I really wanted to learn how to play.”
His father had a guitar at home, so he watched and listened to others play the guitar and that’s how he learnt to play.
“I would then translate what I learnt on the guitar to play the same notes on the piano,” says Stephen.
The piano at the church was always locked, but on the odd time it wasn’t, Stephen would go into the church and play. When an elder of the church discovered his talent, he went to get the pastor.
“The pastor said, ‘this boy has a gift, never lock this piano, always let this boy play.’ That was a defining moment for me. I found my purpose in the house of God,” says Stephen.
“The pastor said, ‘this boy has a gift, never lock this piano, always let this boy play.’ That was a defining moment for me. I found my purpose in the house of God,” says Stephen. Photo: Paul Arky/Unsplash
By the age of 14, he was leading his church in worship and teaching the choir.
From there Stephen directed music at small start-up churches across Uganda, wherever he felt he was needed.
During that time, he even starred on Africa’s Tusker Project Fame Season 2 – similar to The X-Factor.
Eventually, he was called to be a music director at a church called Child of God Sanctuary in Boston. He is now married to Tonya, has a six-year-old son named Samuel and is the senior pastor of the church.
“Compassion was a game-changer. I am forever grateful,” says Stephen.
Photo: Compassion
Stephen is coming to New Zealand in March to speak to churches about the power of child sponsorship.
Where he is speaking:
Northcross Church, Albany in Auckland on the 23rd of March at 10am.
Birkenhead Community Church in Auckland on the 31st of March at 10am.
JCRCM Church, Hornby in Christchurch on the 23rd of March at 2pm.
If you’re not in any of those locations, he will also be hosting a webinar on Tuesday the 25th at 7:30pm. Click here for more details