Remembering John Michael
Posted by Vernon Brewer, WH President in Staff and Culture, Vernon's Blog | 1 comment
Yesterday afternoon, I received the news that my dear friend and World Help partner in Uganda, John Michael Mugerwa, had been tragically killed in a car accident with several others in Kakira.
My heart sank.
I thought about his wife, Evah, his family, his congregation of 1,500, and the 1,400 children he cares for at The Destiny Villages of Hope, where over half have been affected in some way by AIDS, losing one or both parents to the deadly disease. Several of these children are currently on the Children of the World choir. For many of the orphans at Destiny, John Michael was the only father they ever knew.
When World Help first began our partnership with John Michael in 2003, Destiny had just begun, with World Help providing over 20 of their buildings. The first children who resided there were rescued from the slums of Katwe, and would have been completely abandoned. John Michael’s passion for reaching these children has given them the opportunity for a future that would otherwise be impossible.
Destiny is still among one of the finest children’s homes I’ve ever seen. John Michael’s vision is “to educate and train a generation that will reform and transform a culture in communities and nations.” He was in the business of transforming lives, both physically and spiritually. I could not be more grateful for our partnership with this great man of vision.
Just a few weeks before his death, John Michael opened up a baby rescue center at Destiny, caring for neglected and abandoned babies from the slums. Nine of these precious children just arrived to the new facility only days ago.
Although John Michael can never be replaced, he has empowered his staff to carry on this legacy—offering a future of hope for Uganda’s next generation. I am confident that they will continue following his dream for a better Uganda through the transformative power of Christ.
The video clip provided is one that John Michael graciously sent me only a few weeks ago to congratulate World Help on our 20th year of ministry. I want to share it with you because it captures the joy and dedication of this remarkable man, both for these incredible children and for the work of Christ.
The memorial service and burial will take place at Destiny tomorrow. In the meantime, we are preparing to send support staff to Uganda next week to minister to John Michael’s family, church, and the children and staff of Destiny as they grieve the loss of their pastor, leader, and friend.
Please join me in prayer this weekend for John Michael’s wife, Evah, and the pain of this tremendous loss. Pray for comfort and healing. Remember the children at Destiny and the congregation of Saint’s Gate Church.
And join me in praising God for a life well-lived.
A life that mattered.
A life that accomplished something every day that will last for eternity.
John Michael, we love you. You will be missed.
