Festo Kivengere: The Man Who Loved His Enemy

Festo Kivengere grew up herding cattle on the green hills of Uganda, in the heart of Africa. As a young man he met Jesus during a great wave of new faith that swept East Africa, and joy so filled him that he could not keep it to himself. He became one of the most loved preachers his country ever knew — some called him “the Billy Graham of Africa.”

But a dark time came to Uganda. A cruel ruler named Idi Amin seized power, and he was terribly afraid of anyone who would not bow to him. His soldiers arrested and killed many people, including Christians who spoke the truth. One of them was Festo's own dear friend, Archbishop Janani Luwum, who was murdered for standing up to the dictator.

Festo knew he might be next. Soldiers were looking for him. So one night he and his wife fled, climbing on foot over the steep mountains at the border, through the darkness, until they crossed safely into the next country. He had lost his home and his friend and very nearly his life.

Now, anyone would understand if Festo had hated Idi Amin. But Festo had learned something at the foot of the cross of Jesus, where a dying Man had prayed, Father, forgive them. Instead of hate, Festo chose love. He even wrote a whole book with a title that astonished people: I Love Idi Amin. He did not mean that the cruel things were good — they were wicked, and he said so. He meant that he would not let hate grow in his own heart, because Jesus had forgiven him, and so he could forgive too.

Festo Kivengere spent the rest of his life carrying that message across the world: that the love of God is stronger than the worst that evil can do, and that even an enemy can be loved.