I WENT TO EXPLOITS MINISTRIES LOOKING FOR FOOD, BUT I FOUND MY DESTINY: HOW EXPLOITS CHANGED MY STORY.

An invitation to every university student to discover that life beyond the lecture room is equally important in shaping their future.

There are moments in life when God introduces you to people and places whose significance you only begin to understand years later. Sometimes, you walk into a place looking for something small, only to discover that God has prepared something much greater than what you came searching for. My story with Exploits Ministries is one such experience.

Today, when I look at the person I have become, the opportunities I have encountered, the people who have walked with me and the professional journey I am pursuing, I cannot tell my story without mentioning Exploits Ministries.

I went to Exploits Ministries looking for food, but I found a family, a spiritual foundation, mentors, destiny helpers and, above all, a renewed understanding of my purpose.

When Life Was Becoming Uncertain

My journey into Exploits Ministries did not begin with a grand spiritual ambition. It began at a time when life was becoming increasingly uncertain.

I was a university student, trying to navigate the realities of campus life. Tuition had become a serious challenge, financial circumstances were difficult, and I was not particularly certain about what the future held. There were moments when I wondered how I would continue with my education and whether everything I had dreamed of would eventually come to pass.

I had ambitions. I wanted to become somebody in life. I wanted to pursue law, build a career and make my parents proud. However, having dreams and having the resources to pursue them are two different things.

I remember a time when I had spent a night without eating. When I was invited to Exploits Ministries, I understood that there would be food. Honestly, that was one of the reasons I decided to attend. I was not going there with a sophisticated understanding of ministry, destiny or spiritual growth. I simply needed something to eat.

Little did I know that the place I was entering for a meal would eventually become one of the most defining environments of my life.

I found food, yes, but I also found something much greater: a family that would walk with me, people who would believe in me, mentors who would invest in my future and a spiritual community that would teach me how to depend on God.

Sometimes, God's greatest introductions come disguised as ordinary invitations.

The People God Used to Rewrite My Story

One of the greatest blessings of my journey at Exploits Ministries has been the people God brought into my life.

Among them is our Vision Bearer and Lead Pastor, Pastor Solomon Mayanja.

I will never forget the way he received me and gradually embraced me as a son. At a time when I needed encouragement, direction and someone to believe in my potential, he looked beyond my circumstances and saw something in me.

I remember him telling me:

“Livingston, you are a wise man. You must be a person who is going to become so productive in the future. So, I can give a hand and support you.”

Those words meant more than I could explain. They came at a time when I needed someone to remind me that my circumstances did not define my future.

Pastor Solomon Mayanja did not simply speak encouraging words; he extended a hand and supported me. He became one of the people God used to sustain my journey, including my education.

And the love did not stop with him. Mama Anna Mayanja, his wife, continued to embrace me with the warmth of a mother. She treated me as her own child, and I found myself enjoying the privilege of having another family away from home.

Then came another extraordinary blessing: meeting Counsel Nicholas Muwasame, who became my mentor.

Through him, I began to appreciate the importance of professional mentorship, exposure and the responsibility of preparing for life beyond university. His wife, Mama Jackie Mutuzo Muwasame, equally embraced me with a mother's love.

These were not relationships built merely around greetings at church. They became meaningful relationships that influenced my thinking, my ambitions, my professional development and my understanding of life.

When I reflect on these people, I see more than mentors and spiritual leaders. I see destiny helpers whom God strategically placed along my journey.

I have come to appreciate that sometimes the family God gives you is not limited to the people with whom you share a biological connection. There are people who become family because of the love they extend, the sacrifices they make and the lives they help shape.

That is what Exploits became to me.

Beyond Campus: Discovering That University Is Bigger Than the Lecture Room

When I joined university, like many students, my understanding of campus life was relatively straightforward.

You receive tuition from your parents or guardians, attend lectures, read your books, sit examinations, obtain your degree and eventually look for employment.

That was the picture I had. But Exploits Ministries introduced me to another dimension of university life.

I began attending sessions and programmes that challenged me to think beyond academic qualifications. There were discussions under themes such as Beyond Campus, business and entrepreneurship conversations, professional development engagements, mentorship sessions and discussions about discovering one's purpose.

I encountered people who had gone ahead of me in different professions. I listened to lawyers speak about the legal profession, entrepreneurs share their experiences in business, and accomplished individuals explain the importance of discipline, networks, preparation and faith.

As someone pursuing a Bachelor of Laws, I found it particularly inspiring to listen to lawyers who had walked the journey I was preparing to undertake.

I began to understand that university was not simply about passing examinations. It was also about discovering who you are, understanding what you can contribute to society and preparing yourself for the opportunities that lie beyond graduation.

I realised that a degree alone does not necessarily prepare you for the entire world. You need exposure. You need mentorship. You need relationships. You need spiritual grounding. You need to understand how to conduct yourself, how to identify opportunities and how to navigate the uncertainties of life.

Exploits Ministries gave me an environment in which these conversations became part of my growth.

It was an extraordinary experience to sit in a congregation and find yourself learning about law, business, leadership, entrepreneurship, personal development and spirituality, sometimes all within the same community.

I discovered that you can be a serious student and still make time for prayer meetings, conferences, mentorship programmes and fellowship.

You do not have to abandon your academic ambitions to grow spiritually. In fact, the two can complement each other.

Prayer, Purpose and the Courage to Pursue Dreams

One of the greatest lessons I learnt at Exploits Ministries was the importance of prayer.

Before joining the ministry, I had ambitions, but I did not fully appreciate the place of prayer in pursuing those ambitions. Through the ministry, I began to understand that prayer is not simply something we do when circumstances become difficult. It is a foundation for living, making decisions, seeking direction and remaining grounded in God.

I learnt to pray about my education, my career, my family, my future and the opportunities I desired.

I also learnt that faith does not mean sitting back and waiting for things to happen. It means trusting God while remaining committed to the responsibilities and opportunities before you.

Through the prayer altars, prayer meetings, conferences and fellowship, I developed a deeper relationship with God.

I began to appreciate the significance of the scripture that became the foundation of the ministry: Daniel 11:32 (KJV): “But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

That scripture gradually became more than a biblical quotation to me. It became a philosophy of life. I also found myself holding firmly to Luke 1:37: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Whenever I reflect on these two scriptures, I remember the foundation upon which my journey at Exploits Ministries was built.

There were circumstances I once thought would prevent me from progressing. There were financial challenges I did not know how to overcome. There were doors I could not imagine opening. But through faith, prayer, the support of people and my own determination, I continued moving forward.

Today, I can testify that prayer changed the way I approached life. It gave me the courage to pursue opportunities, the confidence to confront uncertainty and the patience to trust God's timing.

From a University Student to a Legal Professional

Looking at my professional journey today, I cannot help but appreciate how much has changed.

I hold a Bachelor of Laws degree from Kampala International University. I also hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, having successfully completed my training at the Law Development Centre.

I am currently pursuing a Master of Laws in Commercial Law.

Recently, I also completed a certificate course at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with UNESCO, on Freedom of Expression, focusing on human rights, judicial actors, journalists, mass media and the protection of freedom of expression.

Today, I am employed as a lawyer and serve as a Legal Officer within a group of companies comprising more than 20 companies.

When I sit in my office and reflect on the journey from the university student who once struggled to find tuition and sometimes went without a meal, I cannot help but ask myself: How did I get here?

My answer is simple: God, prayer, determination, mentorship and the people He strategically placed along my journey.

I do not attribute every achievement to one institution or one individual. I recognise the role of my biological parents, my education, my personal efforts and the many opportunities I have encountered. But I would be dishonest if I failed to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution of Exploits Ministries to the person I have become.

It was an environment that taught me to think bigger, pray deeper, pursue my ambitions and appreciate the importance of having people who believe in you.

I am particularly grateful that the happiness I experience today is shared by my biological parents back in the village. They may not have fully understood what Exploits Ministries meant to my journey when I first joined, but today they are witnessing the fruits of a journey that God has continued to shape.

Indeed, I have even found myself introducing them to the same ministry that became a family to me.

I Am No Longer Just a Beneficiary; I Am a Servant

One of the things I treasure most about my journey is that I did not remain a person who only received from the ministry.

Today, I am a minister at Exploits Ministries, serving in the Media Department.

It is always a privilege to serve in a ministry that has invested so much in my life. I consider it an honour to contribute, in whatever capacity, to the same environment that contributed to my growth.

I have learnt that when a community invests in you, you should also develop a heart to invest in that community.

I have received encouragement, mentorship, spiritual nourishment, opportunities and love. Today, I am glad that I can also give my time, skills and service to the ministry.

I am particularly grateful to the pastors, departmental leaders, ministers, media team, entrepreneurs, professionals, guest speakers and everyone who has ever stood on the pulpit at Exploits Ministries to share a message, a testimony or an experience that has challenged someone to become better.

Some people may never know how deeply their words influenced a young university student sitting in the congregation.

Some may have come to speak for only a few minutes, but their message remained with someone for years.

That is the beauty of ministry. You may never fully know whose life you are changing through a simple act of service, a sermon, a mentorship session or a conversation.

My Message to Every University Student: Do Not Just Graduate; Discover Your Purpose

If there is one message I would like every university student to take from my story, it is this:  Do not allow your university experience to be limited to lecture rooms, examinations, academic transcripts and graduation ceremonies. There is an entire world beyond your course outline waiting for you to discover.

You may be studying law, medicine, engineering, education, business administration, information technology or any other discipline. Whatever your academic pursuit, remember that your future requires more than the knowledge you acquire in class.

You need to develop spiritually, socially, professionally and personally.

You need people who can challenge your thinking, expose you to opportunities, encourage you when life becomes difficult and remind you of your potential when you begin doubting yourself.

You need a community that helps you understand that you are more than the degree you are pursuing.

And this is why I encourage you to join Exploits Ministries.

Do not join simply because you have heard that there is food. Do not join merely because your friends are attending. Join with an open heart and a willingness to grow.

Come and discover the place of prayer in your life. Attend the mentorship sessions. Participate in the conferences. Listen to the professionals and entrepreneurs who come to share their experiences. Engage in the conversations. Make meaningful friendships. Find an opportunity to serve.

Do not be the student who spends four years at university and only discovers the importance of mentorship, networking, professional exposure and spiritual development after graduation.

There are people in Exploits who have walked the journeys you are preparing to undertake. There are professionals who can help you understand your career. There are entrepreneurs who can challenge you to think beyond employment. There are spiritual leaders who can help you strengthen your relationship with God.

Most importantly, there is a community where you can belong.

If you are struggling financially, emotionally or academically, do not isolate yourself. Find a healthy community where you can grow, seek encouragement and be reminded that your present circumstances do not have to determine your future.

I know what it means to be uncertain about tomorrow. I know what it means to wonder whether tuition will be available. I know what it means to have dreams but lack the resources to pursue them.

And I know what it means to find people who remind you that your story is not over.

I found that family at Exploits Ministries. As I look back, I am reminded that some of the greatest blessings in life are not necessarily material possessions. Sometimes, they are the people who believe in you when you have not yet become what you are destined to be.

To Pastor Solomon Mayanja, thank you for believing in me, supporting me and embracing me as a son. Your words, encouragement and generosity remain part of my story.

To Mama Anna Mayanja, thank you for the motherly love and the warmth with which you embraced me.

To Counsel Nicholas Muwasame, thank you for the mentorship, professional guidance and the example you have continued to provide.

To Mama Jackie Mutuzo Muwasame, thank you for treating me as a son and extending a mother's love to me.

To the Lead Pastors, ministers, departmental leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, preachers and every member of Exploits Ministries, thank you for being part of an environment that has shaped my life.

To my brothers and sisters in Exploits, I celebrate you. You have made this journey beautiful.

And to my biological parents, who have continued to believe in me, I am grateful. Everything I am becoming is also a reflection of the sacrifices, prayers and love you have poured into my life.

Finally, Exploits is more than a congregation to me. 

Today, when I say I am a child of Exploits, I say it with gratitude. It is a place where I found God in a deeper way, where I discovered the importance of prayer, where I found mentors who became family and where I learnt that my dreams were worth pursuing.

I went there as a student looking for food. I found a family.

I went there with questions about life. I found people who helped me think about my purpose.

I went there with uncertainty about my future. I found encouragement to keep pursuing my dreams.

I went there as a beneficiary. Today, I have the privilege of serving.

And perhaps the most beautiful part of this story is that the journey is still continuing.

To every university student reading this: Your current circumstances are not the final chapter of your life. Your financial challenges do not define your potential. Your present uncertainty does not cancel your future.

Find God. Find your purpose. Find the right community. Embrace mentorship. Learn to serve. Pray, work hard and remain open to the opportunities God places before you.

I am a living testimony that a simple invitation can change the direction of someone's life.

If it were not for Exploits Ministries, the people God brought into my life through this ministry, and the spiritual foundation I received, I honestly do not know where I would be today.

I am grateful that I came. I am grateful that I stayed. I am grateful that I grew. And I am grateful that I can now serve.

Exploits Ministries: Where I found God, discovered purpose, encountered destiny helpers and found a family that helped shape my future.

“But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” — Daniel 11:32 (KJV)

I came looking for food. I found my destiny. And I have never been the same again.