From pulpit to prayer mat: A Pastor’s journey to Islam

By Wasswa Tenywa
In the heart of Kassanda district, Muyenga village, a remarkable transformation unfolded. Pastor Segujja Patrick, a familiar figure who had led born-again congregations for nearly thirty years, embraced Islam, taking the name Segujja Muhammad. His conversion, at the age of 62, sent ripples of surprise and joy through the Muslim community.

Pastor Patrick recounted how a meeting of pastors was convened with the express purpose of strategizing against the spread of Islam in the area. However, destiny had a different plan for him. One day, he encountered a group of Muslims passing through his village. Eager to challenge and, as he believed, ‘out-reason’ them, the pastor stopped them.

The discussion began with Pastor Patrick confidently citing his Bible, asserting Jesus’s divinity. The Muslim clerics, in turn, respectfully referred to the Quran, explaining to the pastor how the very Jesus he preached and worshipped, himself worshipped God.

They illuminated how Muslims meticulously followed the worship practices of all prophets, including Jesus, emphasizing that this was the universal way all people should worship. This profound point struck a chord with the pastor. He realized that perhaps their own mode of worship was misaligned.

Initially, Pastor Patrick expressed concern about the commitment required for the five daily prayers in Islam, finding it daunting. The Muslim missionaries assured him that with acceptance, it would become simple and manageable. This resonated deeply within him. He invited them to his church the following day. The Muslims returned, mobilized and ready, engaging in further discussions that ultimately swayed Pastor Patrick. He accepted Islam.

The following Friday, a ripple of astonishment went through the local mosque as Pastor Patrick walked in to perform Salah. The Muslim leaders, recognizing a former vocal opponent of Islam, welcomed him warmly and promised a grand function to formally welcome him to their faith. As a token of their embrace, the mosque members, after confirming his genuine conversion, collected money and bought him a Muslim cap and a kanzu.

Deeply touched by the genuine warmth and acceptance from the Muslim community, Pastor Muhammad went home and returned with the very speaker that he had used for years to preach the born-again faith.

He gifted it to the Muslim fraternity, encouraging them to use it to broadcast the adhan clearly for all to hear. Last Wednesday, the local Muslims held a public function to officially welcome Pastor Segujja Patrick, now Muhammad, to Islam, marking a truly significant moment in the village’s spiritual landscape.