Men work on a damaged building in the northwestern province of Idlib, Syria. Photo by Mahmoud Hebbo/Reuters
Through a shelter rehabilitation scheme, Watoto Church in Uganda has helped Syrian refugees rebuild their homes destroyed by war.
Officials reports show that approximately 50 percent of all registered Syrian refugees are under the age of 18 – and millions have grown up knowing nothing but conflict.
Speaking during a live broadcast on Sunday, Pastor Gary Skinner, the visionary and passionate team leader of Watoto Church said the ministry has been able to re-built 10 houses for Syrian refugees.
With a Christian population of only around 1.2 million, Pastor Gary Skinner explained that the humanitarian operations have benefited most especially the Christian widows in the Middle East country.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees revealed earlier that of more than 5.6 million Syrians that fled the nation due to war, so far, more than 750,000 have returned to their areas of origin.
“Christian widows whose families and their houses have been broken down. We have renovated those homes,” Pastor Gary Skinner said.
“I know that Africa has never been thought of as a generous continent, we need to change that. We have always seen Africa as a continent with its hands out, asking for something. Well, it is time for Africa to turn that around, and our hands go out to give something to someone else,” Mr Skinner said.
This development comes as the cell-based Church continues its annual campaign called ‘My Miracle Offering’ aimed at among others supporting God’s work among other churches.
“Giving is not something we have to do in the middle of the Church service, it is an act of worship,” he said. “Generosity is the perfect act of perfect love. And that is the heart of God.”
“As a result of our giving, we have seen churches planted in eastern Europe. Last year we planted a Church in Canada. A couple of years ago, we planted a Church in Japan, Burundi, and Rwanda. We did this also in South Sudan,” he added.
Meanwhile, Watoto Church has also expanded its reach to western Uganda.
In a release in Wednesday, the ministry confirmed acquisition of a prime piece of land where Watoto Church Mbarara will be located.
