Martyred for Christ

It is our desire to honor a man of God by the name of Pastor Alufunzi Ziwa who was martyred for Christ on August 12, 2011 leaving a wife and three small children. Pastor Alufunzi was the pastor of Bibbo Pentecostal Church and a student at Faith Bible College-Lugazi directed by Prepare the Way Ministry. He endeavored to see repentance and transformation in the community he sowed his life into. Pastor Alufunzi was the District Overseer of the National Fellowship of Born Agains. He directed a school in his village, supported thirty widows, and had thirty orphans in his home. He was involved in providing medical care for the village of Bibbo. His heart was that of a servant, and he loved his God with all of his heart, his mind, and his strength. Throughout his earthly life, he touched thousands of people for the Kingdom of God. He was known and loved everywhere he went. Over 3,000 people gathered to remember Pastor Alufunzi at his funeral service.

The final evening of his life found him faithfully in attendance in his New Testament Church History class at Faith Bible College. Near the end of the evening, Pastor Alufunzi raised his hand. Under the anointing of God he said, “I have something to say about men who have died for their faith. Jesus died for the Kingdom of God, and others have followed Him in death for what they have believed. I would like to acknowledge some of the other people who died for the faith! There were men in the Bible like Peter and Paul who were martyred for Christ. I also appreciate missionaries who died for their faith in Africa. Bishop Hannington was murdered by order of the Buganda Chief in Jinja.” Vincent Rulangwa was so impacted by the death of Pastor Alufunzi that God allowed him to remember the exact words and message that Alufunzi had for the body of Christ on the night he crossed over into eternity.

I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21

Pastor Alufunzi was trying to make an important point on earth for eternity. He was stressing the value of martyrdom. After class Pastor Alufunzi was on his motorcycle crossing the railroad tracks in the dark of night. He was brutally beaten by the enemies of the gospel. The assailants did not take his money or his motorcycle. His body was found in the morning.

When Jesus was predicting His own death He said, “The hour has come for the son of man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be” John 12:23-26

As Pastor Alufunzi has sown his earthly life into the ground, we pray that God will use this tragedy to bring forth fruit of repentance and salvation to the village that he passionately loved and served.

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation12:11

With all our hearts, we love and honor our dear Pastor Alufunzi.

Pastor Bill and Linda Campbell and the students of Faith Bible College-Lugazi