Why we changed religion

Was Richard Dawkins wrong to say, give him a child for the first seven years and he would give you a man for life? It is not a foreign concept for people to cross religions. Great England once a Catholic state turned Anglican overnight. And many threw fits when artiste Jose Chameleon attempted to convert to Islam. What Richard Dawkins did not put in play when he was making his assumption was the situations that force people to search for hope and faith away from the said home. Here are some testimonies of some people who opted for change.

Grace Nakanjako, forex bureau teller
I was born in a staunch Muslim family. I never gave much thought to changing my religion until I was in Primary Six. I contracted a strange disease. I used to have bizarre dreams and lost weight at an alarming rate, but no doctor could diagnose the problem. That is when my mother started taking me to several pastors for prayers. The prayers were in vain. I was later accepted in a Christian school for my O-Level. Hearing the word of God for a long time, I was convinced. And at the age of 13, I accepted Christ as my saviour.
Reaction: My parents did not warm up to the idea at first. They even distanced themselves for some time. Gradually, my father accepted me back. However, some family members are still against our decision.
Benefit: I have since made many friends in my new faith and never regretted my decision because salvation is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I got healed, I’m favoured and above all I have assurance to go to heaven through Jesus Christ.

Andrew Mwiine Kaggwa, IT consultant
I have a staunch Catholic background. But I could not fit in the faith like my family did. I first turned Anglican for more than five years. But I did not feel that good. When I turned 25, I converted to Pentecostalism. I felt more inclined to the style of worship of the new faith. And given the fact that we are all answerable to one God I didn’t see a reason against the change. Robert Kiggundu, my brother in faith, later gave me a new outlook on faith which changed my perception of life, I could finally feel at home.
Family reaction: My mother found this decision peculiar and uninformed but when she compared it to who I was before and what I had become, she became supportive. The Bible says 2 Timothy 1:7 ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’ Why should I then regret yet God has given me a sound mind?

Abdul Majid Kasamba, businessman
I was Pentecostal before I became Muslim 14 months ago. I deal in hides and skins and work mostly with Muslims and my wife is Muslim but had never. My motive for change was because of a man called Karim. Our business association, Entebbe Live Stock Cooperative Marketing Ltd was facing a financial crisis. To save it I had to ask for some help from Karim a businessman in Entebbe. I was a stranger asking for a large sum of money from a rich man. He was open and quick to respond. His trust and willingness to help a stranger inspired me. This and all the other factors combined stirred my ldecision to convert.
Reaction: Everyone saw this as a drastic change for a man my age. My children thought I was facing a mid-life crisis.
Effects: I have lost some friends and made new ones. It has not been easy to change at my old age, and learning the Koran is complicated. I carefully thought through my decision. I have a strong support team of my wife and teacher, and I aspire to go to Mecca when time allows

Daniel Odeke, media director at Entebbe Calvary Chapel
My conversion from Anglican to Pentecostal was a slow one. From childhood I desired to change faith, my only challenge was how to do it.
I would wake up early on Sunday and attend service with my father in an Anglican Church. And then would run for the second service at the Pentecostal one. I found that their service was livelier than the reserved Anglicans. It was all fun and games until the day Roger Mugisha visited our church. He gave a testimony about how he converted from being a devil worshipper. Heaven and hell seemed very real to me all of a sudden. I could feel my life hanging by a thin string on its way to hell. I had to give my life to Christ.
Benefit: The good of converting to real faith is inexplicable. My life has changed.I feel at peace and it shows in the way I love and socialise with people. My character transformed and that is something not even my father could fight.