What it’s all about: Knowing the love of God our Father

By Alison L. Barfoot (The Rev. Canon Dr.), Executive Director of GO Africa

The children of the Kabale Father’s House are regular and active participants in their local church, St. Peter’s Cathedral. On a recent Sunday, we were so proud of them because two of them were invited to read the Scripture lessons during the service.

Their church has an English service and then a service in Rukiga (Ru-chee-ga – the local language). The children usually attend the second. The only things written in Rukiga are the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, the Hymnal, and an occasional local newspaper. So, there are not very many things for them to read in their local language.

On this particular Sunday, a boy and a girl were selected to read the Scripture lessons, and they read them very well in Rukiga. Then, the entire Father’s House was invited to sing a song as an offering to the Lord.

The song was in Rukiga, but the meaning was, “We, children of the Father’s House, have decided to follow God for the wonderful things He has done for us. Truly, truly, Jesus is good. Thank you God for giving us parents, for loving us, and for saving us. You even gave us a home. Who else would have accepted us except you. Truly, truly, Jesus is good..”

By the end of the song, spontaneous joy broke out with all the children and the congregation going in.

That sums up what the Father’s House is all about – children who know the love of God their Father, expressed through the love and care of church members who are parents to them. Thank you, Lord, indeed!