Philip’s Call
Philip Kakangulu was adrift in life. A young man with no clear plans for the future, he didn’t know what God wanted him to do with his life. He eventually decided to join the Ugandan army, but days before he was going to enlist, he heard about a peace training conference in neighboring Kenya. Something about this event stirred Philip’s heart, and his decision to attend would change his life forever.
Peace Socks
At the closing meeting, Dan shared the story of how God called him to bring extra socks on a trip to Liberia, where he had the unexpected opportunity to give them to a man whose feet were covered in sores from wAs International Ministries global consultants, my husband, Dan, and I were leading the ten-day Training of Conflict Transformation Trainers in Kenya with participants from eight African countries. Philip impressed us with his sharp mind and deep engagement. We could see that his soul resonated with what he was learning. By the end of the event, he had joined with other participants to form the Pan African Peace Network to encourage and support each other in their ongoing work of peace.
At the closing meeting, Dan shared the story of how God called him to bring extra socks on a trip to Liberia, where he had the unexpected opportunity to give them to a man whose feet were covered in sores from walking to church every week without socks.1 Later, as Dan struggled with the strange meaning of this encounter, God spoke clearly, “You are the socks.” Just as socks cover and protect our feet, God’s people are called to cover the wounds of the hurting world.
As he told the story, Dan handed out socks that had been donated by an American Baptist congregation that had heard the same story at a World Mission Conference. Philip took his pair of “peace socks” as a personal call. When he returned home after the training, he began to do long-distance runs to raise funds for human rights in Uganda, and during every run he wears these socks. He also wears them whenever he leads a peace workshop. So far, he has taught in Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Ivory Coast as well as his native Uganda.
“Aiden’s Mantle”
In November 2018, Dan and I returned to Kenya to lead another training event. Philip was again with us—this time as a co-facilitator. While we were there, Dan gave Philip something that had been very important to him in his own calling: “Aiden’s Mantle.”
When Dan first entered ministry with IM in 2003, the pastor of his mission partnership team, Frank McAuley, gav him “Aidan’s Mantle.” Aidan was a Celtic Christian saint and missionary, and “Aiden’s Mantle” was a poem about the missionary calling, especially the call to serve those who live at the margins of society.
By the time that Dan and I joined Philip as co-leaders of a peacemaker training event, our former trainee had already answered the call to mission service. He had mentored many Christian peacemakers and many who would themselves become teachers of peace. Dan handed down to him the story of “Aiden’s Mantle” and a framed copy of the poem as a reminder of God’s call, challenging Philip to prepare for the day when he would likewise pass the mantle to one of his own mentees.
Then we prayed for Philip and his peacemaking ministry in the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit. As has happened across the generations of history, the older one must decrease so that the younger one can move into their fullness of contribution for the Reign of God. Already we are rejoicing in the incredible fruit of Philip’s ministry, and his ministry to come as he has begun the process of joining IM as an endorsed IM global servant. The future is as bright as the promises of God!
Rev. Sharon Buttry is a retired Global Consultant for Community Transformation for International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches. She lives in Hamtramck (Detroit), Michigan in the US where she is an eco-justice warrior, helping poor communities deal with corporations that foul their neighborhoods with toxic dust and waste. She has been a co-facilitator at a number of the TCTTs around the world.
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