By Arthur Nuwagaba
On February 3, 2023, the founders/team leaders of Watoto Church and Watoto Child Care Ministries, formerly Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC), retired and handed over the leadership to Pastor Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo. Julius and Vernita Rwotlonyo have been associate Team Leaders, giving spiritual and leadership oversight of the strategic implementation of the church’s vision.
This ended the 39 years of transformational leadership of Pastor Gary and Marilyn Skinner. To us who have been under their spiritual leadership, it was a mixture of joy and despondency as Pastor Gary said, “I have completed my mission. I have run my race.
These were great statements from a great leader who has mentored many leaders in his 39 years as the team leader of the Watoto Church and Watoto child care ministries.
Watoto Church under Pastor Gary and Marilyn Skinner, has been a center of Transformational leadership, creating valuable and positive change in the followers with the end goal of developing them into leaders.
Pastor Gary has always challenged followers to take greater ownership for their work. He had understood the strengths and weaknesses of his followers and he had mastered the art of aligning followers with tasks that optimize their performance.
Watoto Church is an organization that is well known for transparency. Annual audited financial statements are presented at an Annual General Meeting open to the public every April in what is called Business week. Financial statements are prepared annually after a comprehensive assessment by independent auditors – currently Ernst & Young. Income and expenses are recognized in the books of accounts and the income includes tithes, offerings and donations received during the financial year. All these financial records can be accessed by the public since they appear on organization’ website. This kind of accountability is not common among many religious organizations.
More enchanting thought is that the church returns its tithe (10%) annually on the tithes and offerings received by the membership to Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG), to which it is affiliated.
Other two core values that Pastor Gary and Marilyn Skinner have left at the heart of Watoto Church is that of excellence and character.
Character based on scriptural integrity. Excellence rooted in skillfulness of hand and attitude of heart.Even when some churches were swayed to preach prosperity gospel, Watoto church remained devoted to the Gospel of salvation.
Finally, in our country, it’s uncommon for Pentecostal church pastors to hand over church leadership when they are still alive, even more so to hand it over to someone they are not related to. Gary and Marilyn Skinner have raised the bar higher for Pentecostal church pastors who take churches as their personal/Family property.
All religious organizations must emulate transformational leadership of Watoto Church if their organizations are to benefit their followers.