Missionary John Wakabi, from Uganda, said God told him to move to the U.S. in 2002 to reaffirm America's faith.
He sang at Woodward Hall three times, along with his keyboard-playing nephew, over the weekend as part of his "Voice of Hope Crusade." The event was sponsored by Destino, a Hispanic student ministry club on campus.
"We have weekly Bible studies, so every week we meet in the SUB on the third floor, and we have a get together with all that want to join and be a part of us," Destino president Joshua Martinez said.
Martinez met Wakabi at New Hope Church in Española and asked him to speak and sing at UNM for a weekend. Wakabi said American missionaries in Uganda inspired him to do missionary work in the U.S.
"I started from Washington, D.C., and then went to Virginia," Wakabi said. "From Virginia, I went to Texas because God spoke to me to go to West Texas. Then I just fell in love with New Mexico - it is one of the hidden states. I like to go to places where nobody knows about."
Wakabi said he is touring colleges and universities in the Southwest to reach young people who are not sure about their future.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"I have done this crusade to Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo.," he said. "I've been to some Baptist universities in Texas, too. And I'm going to NMSU. I'm also going to be holding some crusades in Rio Rancho."
Wakabi said college students might feel grim about their job opportunities after graduation because of the weak economy.
"My heart is for the young people because the young people are the ones being attacked by all this pressure," Wakabi said. "The young people are the ones that are going to heal, because they are the ones that have a good mentality. So I'm reaching to them with a voice of hope."
Wakabi said the turnout of about 300 for the workshop was strong and that many people from Albuquerque wandered into the workshop and stayed for worship.
"A woman came in here, and she was paralyzed on one side," he said. "She couldn't raise her hand and was on a walker. God touched her, and then she started walking on her own and raising her hands."
Wakabi said other healings happened during the workshop and that prayers took place throughout the weekend.
"There was a woman who came in here, and she was crying because she had been oppressed for so many years," he said. "She was so depressed, almost to the point of dying. She walked in here and said, 'You need to pray for me right now.' I prayed for her, and God set her free. By the time the service was over, she was jumping up and down, and she was very happy."
Wakabi said Americans should not lose faith even though they might be having a hard time financially.
"The Bible says that those who trust the Lord will never be disappointed," he said. "If we keep on seeking his faith, he is going to come. He is going to heal this nation. There is going to be restoration."
Martinez said Destino has yet to schedule more guest speakers but that the club is working on other events.
"We are going to do different activities on UNM campus," Martinez said. "We might bring in a radio station to park in front of the SUB and play some music."
