Footprints Podcast | Season 1 | Episode 17 | The Courage to Stay

The greatest accolade in any human life is not wealth or fame, it is discovering and fulfilling one’s true purpose. In this powerful episode of the Footprints Podcast, we sit with Pastor Gary Skinner, founder of Watoto Church, as he shares the remarkable journey that led him to embrace a divine calling to serve, transform, and love a continent.

Born in Umtali (present-day Mutare, Zimbabwe) to missionary parents, Gary grew up immersed in the rhythms of faith and service. A quiet and introspective child, he spent his early years in Eastern Transvaal, South Africa, where his passions leaned toward the natural world. Fascinated by animals and their taxonomy, he once dreamed of becoming a game warden, until he felt a deep, unmistakable call to minister to people instead. At first reluctant, believing humans were far more complex than wildlife, Gary eventually surrendered to a mission greater than himself.

After completing high school, he pursued a diploma in Theology in Canada and travelled across America with a Christian rock band, where he met and married his wife, Marilyn. Together, they served in Zambia before following God’s leading to Uganda, a journey that began covertly, under the shadow of Idi Amin’s regime. His first visit required secrecy and shelter in Mbale, reflecting the harsh religious persecution of the time. After securing approval from church leaders in Canada, Gary and his family officially returned to Uganda to begin the work of planting a church in Kampala.

What he found was a city scarred by tyranny. He recounts the fear, the bloodshed, and the moments his family was held at gunpoint. But still, he stayed, because he believed transformation was not only possible, it was inevitable. With his wife, Gary founded Kampala Pentecostal Church (now Watoto Church) in the heart of Kampala.

The church soon became a hub of hope, especially during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Through their message of abstinence, faithfulness, and Christ-centered living, the ministry brought healing to both body and soul. Their compassion extended further with the founding of Watoto Child Care Ministries, which has since provided shelter, education, and love to nearly 5,000 vulnerable children.

As lead pastor, Gary innovated spiritually and structurally, introducing the "cell model", small fellowship groups that brought church closer to the people. This decentralized approach empowered local leadership and deepened community bonds.

Over the years, Gary became not just a preacher, but a builder of people, shaping generations of young leaders with a vision for impact and integrity. At the age of seventy, he retired from active pastoral ministry, having laid out a succession plan a decade earlier. With wisdom and humility, he prepared the next generation to lead and continued to mentor from the sidelines. In this episode, he reflects candidly on the emotional and spiritual terrain of retirement, emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge beyond titles. “It is not about your title,” he says. “If you are confident in who you are, and purposeful as a leader, adjusting to transition becomes not just possible, but joyful.”

This is a testimony. A story of faith under fire. Of planting roots in dry ground. And of the quiet courage it takes to stay when everything around you says go.

For more on CivSource Africa's Change Ready Initiative, click ⁠HERE⁠:

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Footprints Podcast | Season 1 | Episode 17 | The Courage to Stay

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