The Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, Rt Rev Godfrey Loum, has challenged Christians to seek a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, saying genuine Christian mission must be rooted in a transformed relationship with God.
Bishop Loum made the call on Sunday while preaching at St Francis Chapel, Makerere University, under the theme, “Anchored in Christ: Mission Begins with Encountering Christ.”
His sermon was based on Isaiah 6:1–8 and John 20:19 and formed part of the Church of Uganda’s 2026 theme, “Anchored in Christ for unity, stability and peace,” drawn from Ephesians 2:14–17.
Bishop Loum challenged Christians to examine whether they have genuinely encountered Christ or are merely comfortable identifying themselves as Christians, Anglicans, Catholics or Pentecostals.
Reflecting on the encounter between Isaiah and God, the bishop said Isaiah’s identity as a member of God’s chosen people was not enough to make him conscious of his mission. It was after encountering the Lord that he became aware of his own sinfulness and cried out: “Woe to me!”
“An encounter with God opens our eyes to who God is and who we truly are,” Bishop Loum said.
He also cited the conversion of Saul, who encountered Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus while on his way to persecute Christians. Bishop Loum said the encounter transformed Saul into Paul, giving him a new identity, calling and sense of mission.
He said the Christian life should be understood as a journey rather than a one-time event, adding that a genuine encounter with Christ must result in transformation.
“God can bring you into a community to transform it or the community to transform you,” he said.
Bishop Loum said Christians should therefore recognise that their presence in families, universities, workplaces, churches and other communities is purposeful.
He urged Christians who have encountered Christ to return to their communities as witnesses and agents of transformation, rather than merely relying on what others say about Jesus.
He said a genuine witness should be able to testify about what they have personally seen, heard and experienced in their walk with Christ.
Bishop Loum challenged the congregation to reflect on three questions: whether they have personally encountered Christ, whether that encounter has transformed their lives and what mission Christ is calling them to fulfil.
He also commissioned the week-long MakFest, a gospel outreach programme organised for the St Francis Chapel community at Makerere University.
The festival will take the gospel to students in halls of residence, offices and lecture rooms before culminating in a mega gathering at the Makerere University IMPIS grounds on Friday.
