Happy 29th Birthday

Twenty nine years ago on Easter Sunday, Watoto Church began (it was called Kampala Pentecostal Church in those days). God called Gary and Marilyn Skinner to plant an English speaking church in the heart of Kampala, Uganda. We have been privileged to hear some of their story throughout the time we have had a relationship with Watoto. It is incredible to hear the stories of what they went through during the Idi Amin era and in the years following. To quote Marilyn, “God has to test those He plans to use.” Believe me, they were tested and now they are being used in a mighty way!
Watoto Church is just one church, but it has ten celebration points: Suubi village, Bbira village, Laminadera village, Gulu, Juba and five sites in Kampala (Central, North, South, East and West). Over 20,000 people praise God at these celebration points every weekend. God has brought this church and this organization a long way in just 29 years. Check out Watoto Church website at watotochurch.com. You can see all the exciting things that God is doing and you can listen to sermons that are being preached here in Uganda.
Once the church was well established, God called the Skinners to start the child care ministry. Today thousands of children are “Watoto kids”- some are young and are still living in the babies’ homes or in children’s villages, others are now grown and are working for Watoto or elsewhere. The impact of this ministry cannot ever be measured- so many lives have been saved and changed for eternity.
The sustainability project is one of the things that attracted us to this organization. Watoto has numerous farms- vegetables, goats, chickens- that help to feed the villages and to generate revenue.
Living Hope is a program that exists to transform the lives of vulnerable women. There are so many amazing stories of how God has changed these women’s lives and futures.
Watoto has so many other amazing ministries and so many stories of God’s healing and transformation. Check out their website watoto.com. You will be blessed.
Wow- look what God has done in 29 short years. He took two ordinary people (Marilyn’s description, not mine) and called them to start a ministry here in Kampala. They were obedient. They were tested and they continued on in obedience to God. Now God is blessing their obedience and is giving them much fruit for their labours.
Is God calling you to do something today? To step out of your comfort zone and do something for Him? Take the plunge today. You never know what God will do with your obedience. Maybe 29 years from now someone will be telling the story of what God did when you chose to obey Him.