Phaneroo celebrates 10 years

_______________

Phaneroo Ministries International celebrated its 10TH anniversary at the ministry’s grounds in Naguru last Saturday.  Thousands of believers flocked to the grounds, filling every inch of the prepared and unprepared spaces, creating an overflow that mirrored the overwhelming spirit of unity and faith.

The welcoming smiles at every entry point signaled that this was more than just an anniversary; it was a celebration worth every moment. True to tradition, the event featured the cutting of two cakes, symbolizing a decade of spiritual growth and the tangible blessings. The cakes were shared among the attendees as they reflected on the journey that began with a leap of faith.

The journey of Phaneroo Ministries, however, has been far from easy. Apostle Grace Lubega, the visionary leader behind the ministry, shared the humble beginnings and divine encounters that have shaped its path.

Apostle Grace Lubega, the visionary leader behind the Phaneero Ministries International. (Courtesy photo)

“In 2013, I was lifted in a vision of the night,” he recalled. “It was a place of commissioning, an assignment, where God introduced me to people, and we had a conversation about the next move of the Spirit. What I saw was something I didn’t deserve, the degree of anointing in this next move was unlike anything I had ever seen.”

On August 7, 2014, despite having nothing to his name, Lubega followed God’s instruction to start the ministry. With a borrowed sh5m, the ministry began its journey. “I was a banker for five years,” he explained. “I never dreamt of becoming a man of God because I did not admire the burden and the weight of persecution that office holds. But I knew the difference between permissible and perfect, so I said yes to the perfect will of God.”

The ministry’s humble beginnings were marked by a lack of resources, but that did not deter them. The first gathering at Theatre La Bonita attracted about 1,000 people, and the numbers grew rapidly. Within three months, the congregation outgrew and shifted to the MTN Arena and then the UMA Multipurpose Hall.

“The biggest percentage of attendees were students,” Lubega noted. “I remember inviting a wonderful man of God to speak to us, and he said he couldn’t preach to students because they are poor. Today, those poor students are heads of departments in the biggest companies, they are lawyers, engineers, married, and some of the most influential people on earth.”

As the ministry continued to grow, finding a permanent home became a priority. Despite advice to move out of Kampala, Lubega held firm to his belief that Phaneroo’s place was in the heart of the city. After years of searching, the ministry acquired five acres of land in Kisasi, but it wasn’t until a late-night fellowship with a friend that Apostle Lubega received the divine instruction to purchase land in Naguru.

“We drove to Naguru at 2:00 am. and held the soil of this ground,” he shared. “I said, ‘Father, I thank you because we have bought this land.’ Three years later, the land was offered to us, and we continued to pray and trust God, even in the face of mockery that we cannot have money to build a cathedral.”

Nathaniel Bassey leading worship at Phaneroo's 10th anniversary. (Courtesy photo)

The highlight of the celebration was the presence of Nigerian gospel musician Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, whose songs like “See What the Lord Has Done,” “Imela,” and “Adonai” have touched hearts across the globe. Bassey, known for his skillful trumpet playing and deep spiritual chants, led the congregation in worship and declared a year of shift and a sound rising from Uganda from the book of Revelation 10:6.

“We Nigerians are very dramatic people,” he said with a smile. “Every time God amazes us, we put our hands on our heads and rotate while singing.” In the same manner, he asked Ugandans to put hands on their heads while singing Jesus Iyee. As if this was not enough, Bassey sang Luganda translating his song of Jesus Iyee.  

Pastor Robert Kayanja of Miracle Centre Cathedral Rubaga. (Courtesy photo)

Phaneroo at 10 was not just a celebration of the past but a moment of unity for the future. In a powerful display of solidarity, Pastor Robert Kayanja of Miracle Centre Cathedral Rubaga and Pastor Moses Mukisa of Worship Harvest honoured the invitation from Phaneroo. Pastors over 50 years old prayed for Uganda’s revival, the younger generation, and unity among church leaders.

As Phaneroo Ministries International looks ahead, the foundation laid over the past decade promises even greater things to come. The journey has only just begun.