DETAILS: Watoto Church Founder Gary Skinner Steps Down After 40 years of Service

Pastor Gary Skinner of Watoto Church Ministries is stepping down from leading the ministry after 40 years.

This announcement was made in a letter posted on the Watoto Church website and signed by Pastor Gary and his wife Marylin Skinner.

Over the past ten years, with the blessing and endorsement of the Watoto Church leadership, we have, very intentionally, been preparing and mentoring our successors,” the statement reads in part.

Watoto Church (formerly KPC), was established in 1984 by Gary and Marylin Skinner. The church is famous for providing shelter to street kids, orphans and widows.

It is now, on average, a 27000-strong congregation with 30 weekend celebration services in Kampala and Gulu, Uganda; and Juba, South Sudan.

In the statement, Gary and Marylin revealed that Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo who has been serving as associate pastor will replace the Zimbabwean born Canadian pastor.

“And, so it is with joy and delight that we announce that Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo, who have served as Associate Team Leaders for Watoto for the last five years, will succeed us and be commissioned as the new Team Leaders of Watoto Church Ministries on 3rd February 2023 at Watoto Church Downtown in Kampala, Uganda,” the statement adds.

Watoto Church has a leadership structure, with the Church Council at its apex. It is the overall policy organ of Watoto Church and all its ministries. The council is responsible for strategic policy decisions as well as the management and smooth running of the church. It is made up of the Pastoral Team, the Elders’ Team and the Deacons’ Team.

The deacons’ team is responsible for the physical needs of the church while the elders’ team is responsible for governing the direction of the church, guarding its doctrines, and together with the pastoral team, provide direction and authority within the church, encouraging and empowering members of the congregation to do what God has given them the ability to do.