Watoto Church Choir - Love Sprouts Into Joy When Ugandan Children Sing

By Paul Lintern, Editor, the Joyful Noiseletter

The Joy of the Gospel can manifest itself in many ways, including the gift of forgiveness, the reminder of hope, the act of service, even the decision of sacrifice, but certainly, it is easiest to hear in the sound of music and to see in the movement of dance.

Such joy is apparent in the 90-minute presentation of the Watoto Children’s Choir, a Ugandan-based mission that gives family and safety to thousands while promoting the Gospel and supporting its mission through small choirs that tour extensively throughout the world.

I have seen the choir several times over the years, always different children, always the same energy.

The U.S. tour covers about nine months, headquartered in Florida. September to December includes 72 concerts in the midwestern states, and January to May includes 68 in the southeastern states.

Host churches are Lutheran, Mennonite, Evangelical, Methodist, Baptist, Freewill, Nazarene, Assembly and Pentecostal.

JUDE MARVIN, in his late-twenties, has been part of Watoto for 11 years in worship leadership roles. I caught up with him after a November concert in Lexington, Ohio.

This is his third tour — Asia and Canada were previous — and he agrees that joy is the essence of the Gospel message.

“I grew up in a family that knew about God and seasons and sacraments, but not about relationship,” he said.

“IN HIGH SCHOOL, my auntie heard me sing and invited me to the Christmas program at Watoto Church, and I was invited into a personal relationship with Jesus.”

He added that such a relationship is what is important to the children, “to affirm in them that God loves them, and cares for them. We disciple them, and they sing for God, the Love of God.

“And love sprouts out into joy,” he continued.

“Joy is from within, a peace in storms — the Joy of the Lord is my strength — God is with you regardless of circumstances.

“When you have Jesus, He will give joy.“

Many women throughout Africa are left to bear the brunt of war, disease and poverty. We embrace these women with love and empower them with skills so they can be mothers to their children and leaders in their community. — Watoto.com

What is Watoto?

The church of 35,000 worships in 16 locations across Uganda and South Sudan. Three of those sites host a village of 1000 children, abandoned at birth or orphaned at a young age, each living in a house of eight that has a mother who is committed to raising them all to adulthood.

The church also provides feminine hygiene products for thousands of girls who otherwise would not be able to continue in school.

The goal is to provide basic needs, education, nurturing and discipleship, a full family experience through childhood with encouragement into adulthood.