Strengthened by Christ

The story of Jumba

My name is Ernest Jumba from Kenya; the following testimony is how Jesus Christ can change and save lives. 

I was born in a family of five consisting of two boys and three girls. We were raised in the slums surrounded by drug and alcohol abuse. Before long I too was part of the drug culture, friends and the availability of drugs soon had me hooked. For six years my drugs of choice were bhang, khat, glue and alcohol.

My life became a mess, yet I didn’t seem to care or notice, to me it was an escape from my impoverished existence. My personality was chaotic, friends and family could see it- but no one could stop me. There came a point in my life where I decided to join some friends in a local football club, a place to go and exercise in the evening. To my surprise, within the club around 98% of the guys were also abusing drugs. So, every evening I decided to do the training, then partake in the drugs afterwards. You may ask what was my source of income to buy all these drugs?

1:  Collecting people’s garbage and charging them a fee,

2: collecting plastic materials then selling them to a recycling facility,

3: theft (which presented many dangers) and

4: gambling with friends. 

Overall life was not that good.

This however was my daily routine until the coach of the football club sat us down and explained that drugs were really messing with our lives. He told us he knew a man that ran a rehabilitation center and he could help us if we were willing to change. I decided to take the opportunity. On the way there I even thought I might be given money to allow me to smoke! To my surprise we were shown a program that revolved exclusively around Jesus Christ. Initially I felt this was a waste of time and pointless.

I had a month of one on one counselling with Fred Munuku the director of the facility. It wasn’t easy, there were many challenges and yet I managed to stay in the program and accomplished a year without drugs! After graduating I returned to the old world to face a reality of drug addicted friends and temptation. I chose to stay strong and to continue with my abstinence.

I thank God it did not take me long to get a job. I was employed in a cleaning company. I worked there for six months. Fred visited me to see how my progress was going. He then asked if I was willing to help him to evangelize other addicts and to encourage them that change was possible. After working with Fred I decided to go to school and learn more about addiction which led to me becoming an employee in the rehabilitation center!

I worked there for around two years and truly saw God changing lives. God would restore families, heal the wounded human spirit, save people and gave everyone hope. Eventually I had ten clients. Five of them went on to be serious believers and live a life free of drugs. This further strengthened my faith in the power of Jesus Christ living within us.

The work at the rehab and the outreach was becoming a success till the rehab was full and there was no more room. This laid a big burden on the organization and it could no longer support the program due to a lack of resources.  God was so faithful to me, apparently some of the previous clients referred the program to others and now paying clients came to me. I began to think of how I could help reduce the uptake of drugs in my country.

Initially I went to schools and then to the streets to create awareness. In the process however I discovered many children who were needy and orphaned due to their parent’s drug habit. I decided to take some home to live with me. Without realizing the number grew and it was becoming increasingly  difficult to look after them all. Yet again Fred intervened.

Whilst visiting me he saw my predicament and offered to help. Through the funds Fred provided I was soon to become the head of an orphanage with nearly forty children in my care. Fred introduced me to other men of God who also encouraged me and mentored me. The orphanage has now been running for three and half years. My heart for addicts remained and eventually Fred introduced me to an Australian Pastor who also had been an addict. He taught me the importance of integrity and God’s word.

For many years I had prayed to God asking to go back to school. Recently a miracle occurred. The Australian Pastor offered to sponsor me to do a two-year course in agriculture. My prayers to God had included me asking some way I could help make the orphanage more self-sufficient. This was God’s answer!

I am now privileged to be commencing this course and will be a trained as a farmer. My skills will be utilized to feed the children and for the Harvest of Hope Rehabilitation Centre which is coming soon.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Almighty God for how far he has taken me. I am married now and have two children of my own, a boy and a girl. I also currently play the piano in our church and teach others. If you are struggling with any kind of addiction, just know there is a solution and the solution is to  accept Christ  as your Lord and Savior.  If Christ could free me He can free you. In Philippians 4:13 it states, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. This is my own philosophy now.

God Bless you