Participants of the Seventh Day Adventist Men’s Congress have been called on to wake up and exert their presence and effectiveness in society, with a reminder that being the first creatures of God’s creation, men are under obligation to be exemplary to their siblings and the entire mankind.
The advice was made by Pr. James Gumikiriza, a lecturer at Bugema Adventist University, who was the guest speaker at the Adventist Men’s Congress held at Hilton High School at Bukasa village in Nakisunga sub-county, Mukono district.
The congress held under the theme “Adventist Men Arise” drew participants from East Buganda Field comprised of the four districts of Mukono, Kayunga, Buikwe and Buvuma, and it was geared at awakening men about their responsibilities to their families and God.
Pr. Gumikiriza lamented that although many church members did not access adequate education levels, they are very intelligent and have potentials for developing the church; consequently, he invited many Church ministers who lack the formal religious education to seek post graduate diploma studies at his Bugema Adventist University, as an entry point for empowering the church.
“We should stop hearing of pastors and church elders who interprete the bible verses as they want but not as the bible intends to communicate,” he said.
He reminded men that although they were born as boys in God’s wisdom, being a man is an order and not a choice, adding that the onus is on them to discard the boys in them.
“It is not years or sexual prowess that define a man because even an idiot can attain these, but what you do, how you handle your responsibilities to your family, society and to God determine whether you are a man or not”, he told the attentive congregation.
The pastor urged men to discard the mistake that a woman defines a man, clarifying that one can be a man even without a wife, noting, “it is wrong to tell a newlywed that he has turned a man because he is married”.
The Director for the Men’s Ministry in East Buganda Field, who is also in charge of information and communication, Elder Apollo Mubiru said the retreat was organised to review what men have done in fulfilment of their responsibilities, and to guide them to make amends where they may have registered shortfalls.
Mubiru reported that in comparison to men, women have performed much better especially in evangelization, and noted that men have grossly failed because of poverty in society.
On challenges faced by men he said that owing to biting poverty, many cannot settle their obligations, and added that they are doing their best to ensure there is change in 2025.
He attributed the many domestic violence incidents in homes to poverty where men lose tempers when wives ask them for usables in their homes.
“A man with money enjoys marriage because when it is school time, they simply pay requirements and take family members as and when they fall sick without much ado,” Mubiru noted.
Mengo government representative for Gombolola Mituba IV Kauga Eng. Isaac Newton Musoke said the retreat will go a long way in awakening men in their responsibilities, as they have discarded much of their responsibilities.
Eng. Musoke disclosed that the Kabaka has introduced the department for men with a view to see that gaps in fulfilment of their responsibilities are closed.
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