Festo Kivengere: Revival and Forgiveness
Drawn from the teaching of Professor Gary S. Maxey · 2 min read
Professor Gary Maxey cites Bishop Festo Kivengere repeatedly in his book on why revival tarries. Kivengere was a leader of the East Africa Revival, the longest awakening of its kind on the continent.
Early life
Kivengere was born in 1918 in Rukungiri District, Uganda. He became a Christian at school. He worked as a primary school teacher and joined the Church Missionary Society in 1946. He played a major role in the revival in southwestern Uganda, known as the Balokole movement. Professor Maxey notes that he was born again during that revival as a young rebel against God.
Bishop of Kigezi
He later served as bishop of Kigezi in the Church of Uganda. In 1969 he joined African Enterprise. He wrote When God Moves in Revival in 1973.
Facing Idi Amin
In 1977, Kivengere was among bishops summoned to Idi Amin's quarters, where Archbishop Janani Luwum was held. Luwum died, and the government claimed it was an accident. Kivengere fled to Rwanda that night with his wife and walked across the border. His book I Love Idi Amin describes his experience and his call to forgive. He returned to Uganda after Amin's fall, and he died in 1988 of leukemia.
Why Professor Maxey cites him
He tells two stories. The first is of British officials who grew annoyed because so many Africans lined up to return stolen goods. The second is Kivengere's answer when asked why the revival lasted. He said it was God's work and not a technique. He described it as renewal within renewal, an attitude toward the Lord, the Bible, the fellowship and the Spirit.
What we learn
A revival that begins with repentance can produce a man who can face a tyrant and still say love. Ask God to teach you the second half of Kivengere's story: to forgive a person you think does not deserve it.
Drawn from the teaching of Professor Gary S. Maxey and public biographical sources. Sources: Wikipedia, "Festo Kivengere."
