NAMUGONGO– In his Christmas preaching at Mamre Prayer Centre, Namugongo, Janda in Wakiso district, the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Orthodox Church in Uganda, Bishop Jacinto Kibuuka, urged parents and guardians to take greater responsibility in nurturing and protecting their children. He highlighted the importance of love, thanksgiving, reconciliation, and unity during the Christmas season, emphasizing that these values should extend beyond the church to every home and community.
Bishop Kibuuka expressed deep concern over the increasing mental health issues among children and youth, attributing the rise in these challenges to the negligence of some parents and the failure of schools to provide adequate guidance.
He called on parents to avoid relying solely on public institutions and teachers to raise their children. “Parents must always make time to sit down with their children, talk to them, understand them, and help guide them into becoming responsible citizens,” he urged.
Bishop Jacinto Kibuuka and the Clergy receiving the offerings
Bishop Kibuuka warned against the dangers of children learning harmful behaviors such as drug abuse and homosexuality from peers and teachers in schools, stressing that it is the parents’ duty to ensure their children grow up with strong moral values.
In his reflection on the significance of Christmas, Bishop Kibuuka reminded the congregation that the holiday is a time to celebrate God’s love through the birth of Jesus Christ. He called for acts of love, kindness, care, and reconciliation, urging the faithful to love God and one another. “Christmas is about giving, about helping others, just as God gave His only begotten Son for our salvation,” he said. He also highlighted the tradition of exchanging gifts on Boxing Day, which follows Christmas Day, as a symbol of unity and togetherness.
The Bishop emphasized the spiritual essence of Christmas, stressing that it is a time for forgiveness and peace. “As Jesus Christ came to set the captives free and bring peace to the world, He calls on us to live in peace with one another and be ambassadors of peace,” he explained.
Bishop Kibuuka invited the public to join him and the clergy at Mamre Prayer Centre for a special New Year’s Eve celebration. The event, which will feature a mega healing and deliverance prayer session, as well as fireworks and performances from Uganda’s top gospel musicians, promises to usher in 2025 with joy, peace, blessings, prosperity, spiritual renewal among others
This Christmas message, delivered with compassion and urgency, serves as a call to action for all Ugandans to prioritize family, community, and spiritual values in their lives.
