Meet Ray & Peter, 2 PTC students from Koboko, Uganda

Akim Raymond (Ray) and Asiku Swaibu Peter are two Pastor Training Center students who travel from Koboko, Uganda, to be equipped with the gospel at the Living Stones Pastor Training Center (PTC) at Abaana’s Hope. Through the encouragement of PTC lead trainer, Pastor Moses Maliamungu, these two men realized their need for gospel clarity and sound Biblical doctrine. Ray and Peter will graduate on September 13.

Ray, 29, is the fifth born of 8 children. His father is Lugbara by tribe and his mother is Kakwa by tribe. When Ray was very young, his father divorced his mother, and he hasn’t seen his father since then. His father has been a soldier since the regime of Ugandan president Idi Amin. He’s currently a soldier under the regime of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. 

After completing senior 3 (equivalent to 10th grade in the U.S.), Ray had to drop out of school. Life became more difficult, and he ended up living on the street. He was influenced by secular music and drugs.

“I realized that I was really in need of the Lord,” Ray said. “There was a powerful conviction in my heart, but now the only challenge was that I don’t know the way to break through. I was really a captive. I grew up in the midst of the world.”

Ray remembers surrendering his life to Jesus Christ five years ago during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“One night I was sleeping, and I had a dream,” he said. “In the dream, I was in the church. The church was a little bit dark, and I was shaking in fear. I left the church through the back door and then a voice spoke to me.”

In the dream, the mysterious voice asked, “Where are you going? Come back.”

Despite his fear, Ray obeyed. This time the church was filled with songs of praise, but Ray didn’t see anyone. There was a bright light beaming on the pulpit, but it was so bright, he couldn’t look. He heard the voice again, which said, “Ray, my son, come here. Don’t leave. Come to me.”

Two days after this dream, Ray went to a local church where he heard the message of the gospel of Jesus.

“Physically the Lord used a sermon to invite me for a fellowship where they preach the gospel. From there, I responded, and I gave my life to Christ,” Ray said. Now, he is the only Christ follower in his entire family clan within the Kakwa tribe.

A year later, Ray went to a theological school to learn more. He began praying for God to show him what to do after completing this education. His prayer was answered when he was invited by Pastor Moses for an interview for the Pastor Training Center at Abaana’s Hope.

“I have to know the Word of God properly because outside there I’m going to meet great thinkers, those who even go deeper with the Word of the Lord. I have to really know the Word of the Lord properly before I go out,” Ray said. “As a soldier, you have to go through a lot of trainings, so when you go out, you will stand strong for the Lord.”

While studying at the PTC, Ray also works in construction and is an artist. He ministers a church, does door-to-door evangelism, and teaches youth. Please pray for the Lord to give Ray opportunities to reach the unreached and for the Lord to touch the hearts of the people in Ray’s family and community. 

“There’s a difference between my former school and this school. Here we are going deeper with the Word of the Lord, and I’ve experienced coming in contact with the different people from the USA side. Having new friends, that’s really a great experience for me,” Ray said. “I am really craving to go out and do the work of the Lord because I know my entire life I’m going to work for the Lord, and I believe He’s going to use me. I know the battle belongs to Him. He alone is the one who calls these people. My part is only to speak, and they accept.”

Peter, 38, is Kakwa by tribe. He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and later moved to Uganda after his Muslim father divorced his Catholic mother. He grew up with his father, who was a businessman before he joined Arab rebel activity. When Peter was 10 years old, his father was arrested for being a rebel. When his father was released from prison, he told the family he had to leave. Fifteen years later, Peter heard that he was in Khartoum, Sudan.

During those years, Peter stayed in Arua with his stepmother and eight siblings. Because the family struggled, Peter’s uncle helped support them, and during holidays, Peter would visit his biological mother who went back to DRC. With support from his cousin and later his father, Peter attended school up to senior 4. This is when he heard the gospel and gave his life to Jesus.

“I’d be hearing the gospel over the radio. Also, I was still with my uncle who was a Christian, and I could see the lifestyle. I decided to give my life to Christ because I’d been hearing that Jesus is the only way and the truth,” Peter said.

After Peter became born again in Christ, he faced rejection and persecution from his Muslim family.

“When my father came from Khartoum, he realized that I converted to Christianity,” he  said. “He wasn’t happy, and he called the (family) clan leader. He said, ‘From today onwards, you are no longer my son.’”

Although he was abandoned by his earthly father, his heavenly father opened a door for him to continue his schooling and join a ministry in 2010. He served as a missionary to South Sudan, helping to open a school and a church. In 2014, war spread to this region of South Sudan, and everything the missionaries established was destroyed. Peter continued to help strengthen other South Sudanese churches and encouraged the pastors. By 2017, Peter returned to Uganda. He is now an assistant pastor at a church in Koboko. He also earns money working as a barber, shaving hair.

“It wasn’t easy, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, I got encouraged because many believers when they heard about all these things they’re able to encourage me. They have to strengthen me with the Word of God, and they’re able to pray with me,” Peter said.

In 2019, Pastor Moses Maliamungu told Peter about the opportunity to study at the Pastor Training Center. Peter already had a desire to learn how to handle the Bible and interpret it so he could grow spiritually and reach more people. 

“I know God has a purpose for all things that has happened,” Peter said. “I’ve learned a lot, especially in the book of Ephesians. One of the things that I learned is how I can fight the enemy. Having Christ is more than anything. I’ve learned that my fight is not physical. It is spiritual, and having Christ who will fight my battle is so encouraging. I’m grateful for the pastors who visit, and especially Larry (Szyman), who is the head of our group in the class. He really encouraged us.”

After graduating from the PTC in September, Peter is praying for the opportunity to go to South Sudan and DRC to share what he’s learned and to preach the gospel to the unreached. Please pray for the Lord to strengthen Peter for this task. Pray for Peter and his wife, Abua Nona, as they raise their five children, and pray for the Lord to soften the hearts of Peter’s family clan to turn from Islam towards Jesus Christ.