WORKING ACROSS UGANDA|KENYA|RWANDA|BURUNDI|TANZANIA|DR CONGO
Watchmen International is a UK-registered Christian charity operating predominantly in Africa.
Working across the Christian denominations, we are engaging in Christian discipleship and training, nursery education and a clean water project, both in urban and rural locations.
| BACKGROUND
Watchmen International began in 1994, just prior to the Rwandan genocide. At that time many refugees were flooding across the Ugandan border, desperately trying to escape the atrocities taking place in their own country.
Hugh and Juliet Shelbourne were then living in Uganda , working with indigenous local churches. Hugh was deeply troubled as he realised that many of the people actively involved in the Rwandan genocide were born-again and spirit-filled Christians who, stirred by tribal hatred, were killing and maiming their brothers and sisters in Christ.
In the midst of these turbulent times, Hugh came to understand that what the Bible calls ‘sanctification’ is a process of radical heart change, following an initial commitment to Jesus Christ, a change which is required by us all if we are to demonstrate a truly transformed lifestyle.
This spiritual discovery became the foundation stone of the Watchmen message and ministry in Africa . Over a period of time and through teaching this message of transformed hearts leading to transformed lives, Hugh began to see a real change in the marriages, family life and ministries of many Christian leaders. This led to the founding of the first Watchmen team in Uganda, made up of pastors and leaders (with their wives) from different church denominations, who travelled the country teaching and testifying to this message of personal transformation.
Today, Watchmen International has expanded into several nations, including Kenya , Rwanda , DR Congo, Burundi and Tanzania , with each nation having its own indigenous inter-denominational leadership team responsible for the expansion of the work in their own country.
As the ministry developed, Nursery education was added to the work – our first Christian Model nursery school was opened in 1997 in Kilembe, Western Uganda . Schools are now established in five of the nations we are working in. These schools give an opportunity to impact whole communities with the message of change as well as providing education and improving health for hundreds of young children.
In 2006, a clean water project – LifeWater – was added to the overall ministry of Watchmen International in East Africa , providing clean and safe drinking water to many families, schools and local communities.
