THE BEST DEFENCE IS ATTACK
By Pr Vincent Kinene
When I had just graduated from University, I used to rent an apartment near Makindye Military Police barracks. Unlike most Ugandan Military installations and institutions, which are in the deserted Countryside, Makindye Military Police Barracks is located in a densely populated Kampala City suburb.
          The Rag-tag Army of Dictator General Tito Okello Lutwa, used to keep the security of this institution by ensuring a very high and thick fence. This fence had a few intermittent no-nonsense sentry points. To get into the place, one underwent a thorough body search. All feared that it would be a fierce battle front to overrun in the face of  Museveni’s National Resistance Liberation war of 1986. It was rumoured that this facility housed the most sophisticated missile systems around Kampala City.
But surprise, and surprise; Makindye barracks fell without a fight. Just a few days of cut supply and communication lines, and all its inhabitants were pleading unconditional surrender.
Therefore, when an established president Museveni, was being tormented by the Allied Democratic Front Rebels, who were devotedly terrorising the people, throwing bombs here and there, and attacking police and military targets, Makindye Barracks needed top security defense measures.
But Museveni is a military genius. To the untutored eyes, there wasn’t any apparent step-up of defense fortifications. No! What happened was an increased out flow of well-equipped platoons of reconnaissance units up to 7 miles out of the barracks. These who would go out in camouflage, take-cover in dark junctions, and watch for any undertakings that looked suspicious. These, by light of day, would transform into keen looking men in civilian attire. With such formations, Makindye barracks environs became a safe haven.
Trying to gain ground is the norm in times of peace. This, according to me, is best described as the period between two wars. External intelligence is the in-thing. Without permission, many countries have officers and men deployed in territories of other people. In many cases, targeted killings and pre-emptying bombing attacks are renowned military maneuvers. George Bush Junior Verses Saddam Hussein is a recent point in reference.
Even in football, the best defense is attack.  Ask Jose Morinho formerly of Chelsea.
Therefore in Christian Churches, the best defense remains attack. “Cursed be he that doeth work of the Lord deceitfully, and Cursed be he that keeps back his sword from blood,” Jeremiah 48:10.  Unfortunately, the Churches have failed to reach out to the places where the devil dwells and pomp! His “Majesty Below” has taken the initiative. He has come all the way into the Christian Church. Where things are hot, Sir Lucifer is camping right outside the heavily anointed Church environs. He is busy cutting off supplies and waiting for the unconditional surrender of the hosts inside. He escorts those pious looking Christians back home and continues to reign. His supreme regime is only rudely interrupted when Sunday dawns.
There are multitudes of people that only remember about Godly things on the Sunday morning. These people are difficult to Shepherd because many aspects of their lives will never quite shine. They never tithe truly. They never grow in service but they never drop out. “They are not hot and they are not cold”. They are tasteless to the spiritual tongue. They usually have little or no testimony.
“I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. “John 15:1-2.
Indeed the Lord works in mysterious ways. I shall never forget the day I met a women of God. I had been born-again for 3 years. I had witnessed all the power of the Holy Ghost. I had enjoyed numerous healings but I had never really been satisfied in the financial area. It was hard, getting a job. Company after company that dared recruit me, either collapsed or suddenly stopped appreciating my usefulness. Some how, I always had enough to eat and the rented house where I stayed remained unpaid for an incredible 8 months. The house Lord, a Muganda cultural fanatic, who revered the Kabaka (Buganda’s King) in all ways, mistook me for the Kabaka’s namesake. Because of his love for the Kabakaship, Mr Landlord could not throw me out of the house.
As you can see, I was living but not thriving. Flourishing was a far-fetched term to describe my condition. Many bible teachers would have swore that the Lord was testing me. Others would have said that the Lord was purifying me. Lots of many other things would have been said. I would have remained thus for long. But thanks be to God, He had His own plans.
I was disturbed by a recurrent dream. In this dream, men in army fatigues who wanted to forcibly recruit me into the army always pursued me.
In all dreams, I would fiercely resist this endeavour. I should be forgiven. In the third world, where armies are under the whims of the dictatorship leaders, it is by no means a first resort to join the army.
Then I met prophetess Nakiganda, the woman of God I shall never forget. Despite the fact that we never had a lady in the clergy of my Church, it always surprised me to dream a lady Pastor praying for me. 
The subject of meeting her physically came rather unexpectedly one evening as I went to visit my young sister. Rose, as she is called, was attending university education at Makerere University. I had paid her a visit at her cozy hostel.
“You talked about how hard it is to get into a counselling session with your Pastor, “she’d begun after listening to my trials and tribulations.
“Oh yes, I remember mentioning that.”
“Well, why not see the prophetess of Kyengera!  After a counselling session with her, Vincent, I’ve never remained the same. All her words on my life came to pass, see that’s why I won and now enjoy this competitive scholarship.”
          I needed little prompting. After the death of our father, Rose was in a sorry state, but when she got Born-again, the first to take this “crazy” decision in our catholic family, some miraculous power had taken over her life. That is partly why many of us had started paying the God of the Born-again peculiar attention…
 I had a free week and that dream about the lady pastor was nagging my conscience like a sore tooth.  I needed little pressure.
Compared to my Church, the Kyengera church, where this prophetess stayed, was much smaller in size. It was not unusual for me to have doubts that God was at work here. I knew it was written, “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased” Luke 6:2.
Blinded by the light of that scripture, I even took long a time to absorb the configuration of the lady I found mopping the church floor and whatever she said to me.
She was of middle age, about 45 years old, dark skinned, with a skirt and blouse that lacked any fashion appeal.  She looked more of a poorly paid house cook. But something about her was really familiar.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t point it out.
Then, rather suddenly, with violent tremors she burst out, “My friend,” she started, never looking at me,” the Lord loves you. “
“That I know,” I promptly retorted in my heart.
“You are Born-again, and yet, you keep losing jobs. “ She said as she continued scrubbing the floor. Then the bombshell, “You did a good thing to buy a new bible.”
I was bemused; this lady seemed to know same facts I had not yet had the chance to reveal to any one.
“You are the Lord’s soldier. You shall be a powerful instrument of God. Forget about that passiveness in Church. Here is the Lord’s key to your success - Start preaching the Lord’s word. Then you shall get a job, house and a successful marriage. You need some prayers, yes. But telling people about Jesus will do.”
I didn’t like this discourse. I detested ministry. The restlessness of ministers and their trials and tribulations were perceptible by everyone. And here I was getting to learn that to be successful I had to join the club! I bade her good bye and returned home with my offering. I rejected her lunch invitation. I had heard that many prophets were mad; she was surely one of them, the mad class.
Many people don’t know the blessing power of having a Church congregation that is ready and eager to bring others to Christ. In Mark 16:15, Jesus commands the apostles to preach the gospel to every creative. Since every individual is to observe all that Jesus commanded the apostles (Matt 28:19) and they are commanded to reach every creature, it is the business of every Christian to be concerned with getting sinners saved.
There is no intent for Soul winning to be solely accomplished through the efforts and official proclamations of preachers from their pulpits. A number of us now know that we can be blessed when we bear fruit. Maize yields maize, apples yield apples, money yields money, and Born-again Christians yield Born-again Christians.
Before you grieve over your low bank balance, how big is your heavenly bank balance? How may people have you brought or helped to bring to Christ.
“Behold, the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise,” Proverbs 11:30.
Whoever bears fruits of winning souls, will be assisted to bear more fruit. The assistance often comes in the name of financial prosperity, better health, signs, wonders and MORE

By Vincent Kinene