Acknowledgments

I thank the Lord God, Master Creator, who saved me from sin and destruction and gave me strength, knowledge, and wisdom to accomplish the task of writing this book. Had it not been for Him I would not be alive and well, and I would not have written this amazing story of revolutionary forgiveness.

This has been a wonderful, emotional, challenging, and inspiring journey. It would not have even begun had it not been for Jonathan Brown and Richard Herkes at Kingsway, who saw, believed, and championed this book from the start. John Pac, Mark Bowater, Mark Debnam, Andy Hutch, and Les Moir have all played important parts with dedication and skill.

I thank Mr. Craig Borlase, my coauthor, who always tirelessly worked hard to shape and write this book. May God bless him a thousandfold.

I thank my dear wife, Constance Birungi, and the children, Barnabas, Joel, Festo, Esther, and Omega, for all the love, support, commitment, and prayer.

Ginia, Caitlyn, Amy, and all the team at David C Cook have been wonderful all along. Frog Orr-Ewing, the New Wine team, World Shine Foundation Team, and J.John: You are great people.

I also thank the Anglican Youth Fellowship Choir, who led me to Christ, and all members of the East African Revival team, clergy and bishops—alive and departed—and missionaries from the United Kingdom who discipled, nurtured, and mentored me when I received Jesus Christ. I thank all my 245 intercessors and prayer partners for their prayers.

To God be the glory.

MB

Medad’s right: This has been quite a journey. Yet during the times when it looked as though it would be a short-lived adventure, JB and Richard Herkes had the belief, skill, and tenacity to see it through. Thanks are also due to the rest of the team at Kingsway, including Mark Bowater, Mark Debnam, Andy Hutch, John Pac, and Les Moir. Thank you, Frog, for pulling strings and J.John for gracious and generous support.

Without Cowboy we would never have been able to tour Southwest Uganda in safety and peace, and without Winnie and Eldard the trip would not have had such a lasting impact on me. Thanks too are due to the amazing Connie Birungi for supporting Medad throughout all this, and the Borlase crew for joining in the excitement about all things Ugandan.

This book was written to the sounds of Orchestra Makassy, King of Juju, Taha Rachid, and the people of Pastor Jackson’s church up on the hill in Kigazi. Thanks to Jez Startup for opening my ears to African music and to Kay Amon for inspiration.

Last but one: Medad, your honesty, vulnerability, and continued passion for serving others continue to inspire me. May this book help you help others.

Finally, to the Canadian academic atheist I met at the Namirembe Guesthouse … I think you may well have been right: This book really will change my life.

CB