On 3rd June there was a public holiday in Uganda. It was to celebrate Martyrs' Day.
I was inspired by the fervour with which Ugandans continue to remember and celebrate the sacrifice of these young men for their faith in Jesus Christ.
On 3rd June this year 2 million, yes 2 million people made their way to Namugongo, the site of the 1886 burning of 32 young men who were burned for their faith in Christ. Many of the pilgrims this year had walked for days from all areas of Uganda to remember and celebrate this martyrdom. Awesome! And apprently many Ugandans can recite the names of all 32 martyrs. That's inspiring and it speaks to me of the value they place on the sacrifice of these young men for their faith.
I was so thankful to be invited for lunch on this memorable day by my downstairs neighbours. We watched the Martyrs' Day celebrations on TV together and ate a very yummy lunch that Joyce prepared for us all.
This is s short history from a website which I could send you to, but want to copy for you here.
On 3 June 1886, thirty-two young men, pages of the court of King Mwanga
of Buganda, were burned to death at Namugongo for their refusal to
renounce Christianity. In the following months many other Christians
throughout the country died by spear or fire for their faith.
These martyrdoms totally changed the dynamic of Christian growth in
Uganda. Introduced by a handful of Anglican and Roman missionaries after
1877, the Christian faith had been preached only to the immediate members
of the court, by order of King Mutesa. His successor, Mwanga, became
increasingly angry as he realized that the first converts put loyalty to
Christ above the traditional loyalty to the king. Martyrdoms began in
1885. Mwanga first forbade anyone to go near a Christian mission on pain
of death, but finding himself unable to cool the ardor of the converts,
resolved to wipe out Christianity.
The Namugongo martyrdoms produced a result entirely opposite to Mwanga's intentions. The example of these martyrs, who walked to their deaths singing hymns and praying for their enemies, so inspired many of the bystanders that they began to seek instruction from the remaining Christians. Within a few years the original handful of converts had multiplied many times and spread far beyond the court. The martyrs had left the indelible impression that Christianity was truly African, not simply a white man's religion. Most of the missionary work was carried out by Africans rather than by white missionaries, and Christianity spread steadily. Uganda now has the largest percentage of professed Christians of any nation in Africa.
The Namugongo martyrdoms produced a result entirely opposite to Mwanga's intentions. The example of these martyrs, who walked to their deaths singing hymns and praying for their enemies, so inspired many of the bystanders that they began to seek instruction from the remaining Christians. Within a few years the original handful of converts had multiplied many times and spread far beyond the court. The martyrs had left the indelible impression that Christianity was truly African, not simply a white man's religion. Most of the missionary work was carried out by Africans rather than by white missionaries, and Christianity spread steadily. Uganda now has the largest percentage of professed Christians of any nation in Africa.
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