Pastor Thomas Chikooma served at an independent Pentecostal church in the village of Ngalwe, Uganda.
He was invited by local Muslims to participate in an open-air religious debate in the larger community of Pallisa earlier this month.
Source: Morning Star News
“After giving his defence of Christianity, he was privileged to lead 14 people to faith in Christ, including six who had been Muslims.”
As the meeting was concluding, angry Muslims began to shout Islamic slogans, compelling Pastor Thomas to quickly leave with his son. He was followed by Muslim protestors on two motorcycles, which then sped past them. As the pastor and his son neared their home, they saw the motorcycles stopped at an intersection, waiting for them. Suspicious of their intent, Pastor Thomas told his son to follow at a distance as he approached the men.
The tone quickly turned violent and he was struck by one of the men. The boy fled through a field to his home and returned with his mother and some neighbours to search for his father. Pastor Thomas was eventually found beheaded with his tongue cut out.
Relatives and friends are shocked by the violence. The father of 11 children had planted 50 churches throughout eastern Uganda. This is only one of the many instances of persecution committed by Uganda’s Muslim minority, some of whom have adopted militant Islamist ideologies.
Let us pray.
- Intercede for Pastor Thomas’ wife, Jessica and their children, as they come to terms with this tragic loss. Ask the Lord to provide comfort, strength, courage and protection.
- Pray the local Christians, will demonstrate God’s love and grace to their Muslim neighbours –including the perpetrators of the crime.
- Pray for the 14 new believers who have been confronted with the potential high cost of following Him. May they be encouraged to remain faithful and receive opportunities to be discipled in the faith.
I praise the Lord for these faithful believers who are persecuted for the “word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev 1:9; 6:9) and who overcome “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” and “love not their lives unto the death.” (Rev 12:11).
I pray for their families, fellow believers, the new converts and their persecutors.
Great work by the Pastor through the Holy Spirit. I can not understand why Gods angelic protection was not there. Its hard to comprehend how God operates
Jesus, our Greatest Treasure, keep revealing yourself to pastor Thomas, how family and the attackers as The Greatest Treasure, worth giving up ALL to have and share~!!!
In all humanity God is faithful. May the soul of all faithful departed with that of Thomas rest in peace. Amen.
Dear Father, we ask you to provide abundantly for our dear sister Jessica and her 11 children. May they always trust you and May they see many wonderful miracles of your faithfulness to undertake for them. May the new believers receive mature discipling and encouragement in their new faith. We pray also for the perpetrators of this horrendous crime. May they too come to know and worship you and become powerful witnesses to Your great love, forgiveness and ability to transform even the worst sinners. Please pour out Your Holy Spirit in this region and let Your kingdom come in power there. Amen
Amen! May it be so, in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Father and our God, we are appalled at the senseless violence and persecution perpetrated against your people across the globe because they dare to follow your Son the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you for our brothers and sisters and their faith and endurance under such terrible pressures. We intercede particularly for Pastor Thomas’ wife, Jessica and their children, as they come to terms with this tragic loss and we plead that you provide sweet fellowship, comfort, strength, courage and protection. Help and give wisdom to local believers that they will demonstrate God’s love and grace to their Muslim neighbours –including the perpetrators of the crime. Help them to pray for their enemies and love those who persecute them. We especially pray, Lord Jesus, for the 14 new believers who have been confronted with the high cost of following you. May they be encouraged to remain faithful and receive opportunities to be discipled in the faith. Finally Lord, we thank you for the life and faith of Pastor Thomas Chikooma who served at an independent Pentecostal church in the village of Ngalwe, Uganda. We praise you because of him and ask that we might honour his sacrifice to your glory. Lord have mercy!
PRAISE GOD he has received his reward inheaven his children and family,will see him again.
Lord such a senseless ,horrific death. These muslims show no love, grace, or mercy, to any other religion whilst demanding the world show it to them. Lord we thank you for Pastor Thomas Chikooma, life, and that he was able to lead 14 muslims to a saving grace in you, before he was killed. We thank you, that now he is home in heaven with you, and what satan and his people meant for evil, you have and will continue to bring so much good from it, as your bible says you will. Lord please protect Pastor Thomas Chikooma family, and comfort them in their grief.
Lord bring justice for them for this horrendous crime. Lord may these muslim men who did this, come to true repentance in you, so they never harm another child of yours again. Lord Yeshua help these new believers in their walk with you, to remain on your side. Help them to grow in understanding of your ways, and please protect them from the enemy.
In your loving name we pray