Over the next few days I will have the privilege of posting some of my recent experiences in Uganda. There is no way to “rank the best” but one of the greatest highlights was the showing of the Jesus film in the Soweto slum in Namuwongo neighborhood of Kampala.

We rented out space in the marketplace.  The marketplace vendors immediately began to complain. We had not yet had opportunity to begin setting up.  The local mosque went into public prayer and our local pastors were trying to smooth ruffled feathers.

Before we erected the movie screen a crowd began to assemble.  Children were anxiously awaiting the candy the “muzungu” were sure to have on hand, men wanted to observe the process of getting the parts together, merchants fussed and grumbled.  By the time the movie was ready to view, darkness had fallen and at least two hundred had gathered.

My team members, Tyler and Gary, handed out candy to the children (now numbering between two and three hundred) and everyone “settled in” as the first credits rolled on the Jesus Film.  There were no chairs, bugs were plentiful.  The crowd continued to swell.

Everyone was quiet and attentive during the “nativity”  and “temptatation” portion of the film but the crowd grew restive as Jesus began to teach and perform miracles.  The first eruption of applause came from the children when Jesus healed Simon’s mother in law (Luke 4.38ff).   The adults gasped in delight when the Simon, James and John pulled up nets full of fish at the commad of Jesus (Luke 5.3ff).  The adults cheere d when Jesus rebuked the religious leaders and declared himself Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6.1ff).  Even a bigger cheer arose from all quarters when Jesus healed the centurions servant (Luke 7).  The children were especially loud as they saw themselves being raised up by the word of the Savior.

And so it went…the crowd swelled to somewhere between 700 and 1000 standing outside, in the dark, in a marketplace, enraptured by the unfolding of the story of Jesus.  The crowd winced at each hammer strike.  They were still as Jesus was taken to the grave.

And then cheers for Jesus!  He rose from the tomb and the crowd clapped and shouted. 

Then they disappeared into the dark.  And we were left wondering if any would surrender to the story they witnessed. 

For my part, I was deeply moved by the response of those who had never seen such a thing before and I purposed in my heart to be faithful from that point on to join in the joy of the age and offer my cheers for Jesus.

He still is worthy.