Martin Obbo sat clutching his boda boda helmet, hesitant and reflective. He lives in the country of Uganda. The man who once lived at the mercy of addiction now carries a quiet strength. His transformation is a testimony of God’s grace, one that began in the most unlikely of places—a former bar in a Mukono slum.
A Boy’s Broken World
Martin’s childhood was far from easy. When his father married a second wife, Martin, his siblings, and their mother were sent away. Left to fend for themselves, Martin’s mother struggled to provide, and Martin took on various odd jobs—carrying water and washing dishes—to help keep his family afloat. But as a teenager he was began using alcohol, and this would set the course for a struggle that would consume much of his life.
At first, it was harmless experimentation. A friend told Martin that mixing soda with alcohol created the perfect drink. But as time went on, the soda was left behind, and alcohol became his escape.
A Life Consumed
What began as a pastime quickly became a destructive force. “I wasn’t a bad boy,” Martin recalls, “but alcohol came into my life.” Although he got married, it didn’t last. He lost his job. His wife left with their child. He began sleeping at the pub, drinking himself into oblivion every night.
“I would drink until 2 a.m., then place bottles next to my bed so I could keep going after only a couple of hours of sleep,” Martin explains. He hit rock bottom one night after collapsing on the roadside and hiding in a garbage container all day, embarrassed and broken. “People called me a lunatic,” he says.
An Unexpected Invitation
Change came in an unexpected form—a friend’s invitation to a Words of Hope event called Living Free. Thinking it was another opportunity to drink, Martin showed up intoxicated. Instead of alcohol, he found something life-changing: a room full of people offering love, hope, and a way out of addiction through Jesus Christ.
“Titus [the Words of Hope ministry director] welcomed me so warmly,” Martin remembers. “It was the first time I felt like I was welcomed home.” That day, Martin gave his life to Christ, and his journey toward freedom began.
Freedom in Christ
Living Free, a group that meets weekly in Mukono, blends the Twelve Steps with Scripture to help those battling addiction. As Martin embraced this community, his life transformed. Where bottles once lay by his pillow, now a Bible rests instead. He starts and ends his day immersed in God’s Word, tuning into Christian radio for encouragement.
For two years now, Martin has been sober. He’s a regular at church and prayer meetings, a man who carries his Bible like a treasure. “When I compare my previous life to the life I have today,” Martin says, “I am so glad and so happy that God has brought me this far.”
A New Beginning
Martin’s story is one of many being written through the ministry of Words of Hope. People like Martin are discovering that no addiction, no darkness, is too great for God’s redeeming love.
Your support makes stories like Martin’s possible.
When you give to Words of Hope, you are providing resources that transform lives. From gospel programs to addiction recovery groups, your generosity helps people find freedom, hope, and new life in Christ.
Donate today to ensure that more people like Martin can break free from the chains of addiction and live in the light of God’s love.
Together, let’s bring hope and healing to communities in need.
