Recently at a fellowship on this campus we discussed the real meaning of fellowship. We shared testimonies and how we

 have experienced fellowship in our Christian pilgrimage.
One person testified how he misses “meeting the people” if he does not attend some “fellowship” meetings, while elsewhere he would miss “the Fellowship”.
The concept of “fellowship meetings” was popularised by the East African Revival in East Africa. While they were separate from church services, fellowships served the church.
The word fellowship has two translations in Luganda: “Olukungaana” which means “a meeting”, and “Obumu” which captures the New Testament meaning of “Oneness”. The former is the popular meaning but it is not the substance of fellowship.
An East African Revival fellowship meeting programme is simple. Those who arrive first pray freely for ten or so minutes.
This is followed by the sharing of testimonies of what the Lord has been doing in your life; it is termed “walking in the light” because it is about one’s life, warts and all. Brethren may even freely share how God has given them victory over sin.
After this there may be announcements, followed by the reading and exposition of the Word.  A few other members of the fellowship may supplement the exposition before a closing prayer is said.
Fast forward to modern fellowship meetings: while they begin with a prayer or prayers, singing or preaching tends to dominate the time of meeting.
The Word of God is given anywhere from five to 30 minutes. Then there is a closing prayer.
What does John consider to be the essence of fellowship (“Obumu”)? He mentions two essential pillars:
In verses 1-4 he gives us the ‘positional fellowship’ we share with all believers on account of our common faith. It is foundational to Christian fellowship.
We talk about and believe the same. When I came from Nairobi as a new believer, I visited the fellowship meeting at Namirembe.
I heard the same, believed the same and knew positional fellowship with them. We experience this when we go to church.
Sadly, many Christians are content with this level of fellowship. It is non-intrusive, non-threatening and certainly resonates with our modern civility! Others never really get to know where you are at in your walk since you do not share it with them.
The second level is explained in verses 5-10. It is fellowship because we ‘walk in the light’; indeed fellowship is a delusion IF we do not. Walking in the light is central to an East African Revival fellowship.
After spending time in the Namirembe Fellowship I experienced open sharing to a level that makes one vulnerable.
In retrospect, if we become vulnerable such that other believers know us at our weakest level, when they know that we failed but God forgave us, there is instant revival. Brethren spontaneously sing ‘Tukutendereza’. They can relate to us to the level at which we have shared.
It is as in marriage. My bond with my wife is as strong as my transparency, and thus vulnerability with her.
When my wife and I were courting, I shared with her my all. I reckoned that if she was willing to know me that much and accept me, she would live with the ‘betters’ of me.
Clearly if there is no ‘walking in the light’ there is no fellowship (“Obumu”).
And if there is no fellowship with other believers, there is no authentic fellowship with God either! It is time for you and me to evaluate our fellowship with other believers. Do you really have fellowship? Or do you have a meeting? Amen.

Rev. Dr. John Senyonyi is the UCU vice chancellor