Grab a Towel: Luganda version launched in Uganda

We are excited to announce the launch of the Luganda version of Grab a Towel, which took place in May 2025. The launch was held during a special training event for Anglican priests and lay readers, organised by The Message Uganda. In Luganda, Grab a Towel is translated as Weesibe Ekimyu, and we are grateful that the book is now accessible to a new audience in Uganda. The Luganda version will soon be available on this website.. Contact us for more information.

Godfrey E.N. Nsubuga was the chief translator for this project, and he submitted this review of Grab a Towel

I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to serve as the lead translator of Grab a Towel, a book by Tim Tucker, from English into Luganda. This translation journey allowed me to deeply engage with the content of the book. As a result, my longstanding knowledge and experience, as a Bible school teacher and church leader in various capacities for over 35 years, were profoundly challenged, paragraph by paragraph.

Right from the start, I was struck by the words of Pastor Anthony Liebenberg, who, in his endorsement at the beginning of the book, offered this caution to readers: “Get ready for adjustment after adjustment, because that’s what this book is all about. Grab a towel and enjoy the journey.”

The author presents Christian leadership through what can only be described as an “upside-down” approach—radically different from traditional concepts and practices. First and foremost, he emphasises that you are not truly a leader unless you are first a servant. Moreover, this leader must not only be rooted in Christ, but must also fully embody Christlikeness—inside and out.

A Christ-centred servant leader, according to the book, should consistently work with a heart focused on raising others up, ultimately phasing themselves out to make room for new, Christlike leaders they have mentored. The essence of this model is a leader who is always willing to “give away power” to those they have groomed, mentored, and discipled—to see them not only reach their level of leadership, but surpass it.

This message deeply challenged me. I found myself sitting down with my fellow ministry associates to reflect on our own efforts. We had to confront the reality: if, after several years, we have not yet raised up capable servant leaders to take over from us, we are doing too little. We have since adjusted our discipleship process in our church to ensure that our followers are empowered to reach their God-given potential as servant leaders as quickly and effectively as possible.

At the heart of Grab a Towel is the powerful idea that all the activities, programs, and projects of a ministry or church must revolve around a passion for people, not the other way around. Too often, ministries can become so focused on programs and activities that they lose sight of the people they are meant to serve. This leads to a “people for programs” model, instead of “programs for people.” In other words, everything we do should prioritise people, not treat them as appendages to our church or ministry calendar.

I’m deeply thankful to the author, Tim Tucker, for writing Grab a Towel. I truly believe this book will create ripple effects wherever it is read and used for training.

Godfrey E.N.Nsubuga is a trained journalist, theologian and teacher. For the last 30 years, he has written course books for the ministries of Education for Uganda, Zambia, Rwanda and Kenya. He has taught in several Bible Colleges in Uganda and currently he is managing Nissi Publishers (U) Ltd.