Finding Hope in Hopeless Places
One man’s journey to understand the mystery of God.
Written by Rev. Everest Kato
Hope is the driving force to achieve a future goal. Biblically, hope keeps us focused on God and future Kingdom that is Eternal life.
On August 9, 2018, I gathered with my family as usual studying scriptures and praying. A friend called me and said there was an accident and a preacher was killed by a mob. I couldn’t believe it, as I have only read such stories from scriptures and from violent countries. What could have led to killing a servant of God? As I was consulting with colleagues about the incident, the police arrived to my house and arrested me. I only took my Bible with a hope to return home as soon as the investigation is done.
On August 10, I was taken to court and judged for a murder case. I realized some powerful people framed me. A murder case in Uganda is a criminal case with a penalty of death or life imprisonment.
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Life in prison was a hard life right from the first day. Everything was changed, such things as what time was for sleeping, not having any choice for food, doing hard labor, and wearing one type of cloth full of lice. Many tried to attempt escapes from the prison but it cost them their lives. My family and friends tried many ways to see me be released from prison and they were losing hope.
But I was confident in myself and with hope in my Savior Jesus Christ, I stopped worrying when I realized God sent me to the prison for a purpose best known to God. I had an assurance that I was innocent and had hope of coming out from the prison when God’s purpose is realized. So in the middle of the prisoners I started sharing the message of hope among inmates.
One day I questioned God, ‘Lord why did you bring me into this place of suffering?’ The following day some inmates came and asked me to be saved. I realized this was God’s answer to my question. I begun sharing Christ with prisoners and many gave their lives to God. After seeing God’s answer, I changed my behavior towards my imprisonment. I started ministering in the prison and many more inmates came to the saving knowledge of Christ.
Soon the prison authority gave me full responsibility to preach the Gospel of Christ on a daily basis. I was treated like a staff in the prison. I discipled and mentored those who gave their lives to Christ. Some were released and started church ministries. My hope was empowered as I heard those testimonies. My hope of getting out one day gave me the opportunity to do what God wanted me to accomplish before getting out. This gave birth to a vision to begin prison ministry called Forget The Past Global.
This hope also gave me a different mindset. I started viewing prison as a learning place and an area where the Gospel of hope needs to be preached. As I mentored many inmates, my hope was that one day these people would become church planters in their communities after their release. And as it was being fulfilled, the same hope gave me zeal to learn life skills from the prison to empower people after my release.
Finally, after three and a half years, I was released. Now I am a resourceful person and I teach church members and the community those life skills in handicrafts (making bags and other items from beads) and gas stoves (gas from grass, leaves, etc. which is environmental friendly and approved by UN agencies). This experience gave me a love for serving in prisons and I saw God doing a great work saving the lives of prisoners and officers alike.
This hope also developed love in my heart toward those who participated in my suffering. I understood that God took me in prison for His mission. I stopped blaming people who framed me and falsely accused me. God has reaffirmed my hope through dreams and it came to passed as you can see the dream from the picture God gave me at night that I enjoyed tea at home with my family.
This strong hope has changed my worldview, mindset and attitude toward my future. Thank you for prayers.
Rev. Everest Kato