Pastor Peter Migadde of Watoto Church Wakiso-Nansana has called on Christians to demonstrate God’s love by protecting, supporting and standing with vulnerable people in their communities.
Preaching during Sunday’s church service at Watoto Church, Wakiso-Nansana, Pastor Migadde said caring for vulnerable people is not merely an act of kindness but a command from God that Christians are expected to embrace as part of their faith.
The service concluded a sermon series on “Caring for the Community,” with Pastor Migadde focusing on “God’s Heart for the Vulnerable.” He based his message on several biblical passages, including Exodus 22:21-24, Deuteronomy 24:17-22, Psalm 72:14, Psalm 82:3-4 and Matthew 25:35-36.
Quoting Exodus 22:21-24, Pastor Migadde said God instructed the Israelites not to oppress foreigners, widows and orphans, reminding them that they themselves had once been foreigners in Egypt.
He said the biblical command demonstrates God’s particular concern for vulnerable people, including widows, orphans, foreigners, the homeless, the hungry, the sick, prisoners and those without anyone to defend them.
Vulnerable People Are Precious to God
Pastor Migadde said the first reason Christians should care for vulnerable people is that they are precious in God’s sight.
He referred to Psalm 72:14, which says that God rescues the poor when they cry to Him, helps the oppressed who have no one to defend them, and considers their lives precious.
He emphasized that a person’s social or economic circumstances do not determine their worth before God.
“The rich and the poor have something in common: the Lord is the maker of them all,” Pastor Migadde said, stressing that every person is created in God’s image and therefore deserves dignity and protection.
He urged Christians not to discriminate against vulnerable people because of where they live, their economic status or the circumstances they are experiencing.
Remember Where God Brought You From
Pastor Migadde also challenged Christians to remember their own experiences of vulnerability and recognize that their present circumstances are largely a result of God’s grace.
Referring to Deuteronomy 24:17-22, he said the Israelites were repeatedly reminded that they had once been slaves in Egypt and that God had rescued them.
He said the same principle should guide Christians today by encouraging them to extend a helping hand to people going through difficult seasons in life.
He explained that vulnerability can be temporary and that people who are currently struggling may eventually overcome their challenges.
“Remember the Lord your God. It is He who gives you the ability to create wealth,” he said, urging believers to acknowledge God as the source of their opportunities, abilities, businesses, jobs and resources.
Pastor Migadde encouraged Christians to use what they have to help others, whether through their businesses, workplaces, families or personal resources.
Christians Urged to Defend Vulnerable People from Exploitation
The pastor further called on Christians to protect vulnerable people from exploitation and injustice.
Citing Psalm 82:3-4, he urged believers to defend the weak and fatherless, uphold the rights of the poor and oppressed, rescue the weak and needy, and deliver them from the hands of the wicked.
He challenged professionals, including lawyers, to consider offering free legal assistance to vulnerable people who cannot afford legal services.
He cited situations involving widows and orphans who may be vulnerable to relatives or other people seeking to take possession of their property after the death of a family member.
Pastor Migadde advised Christians to help such people secure important documents, including land titles and other legal records, before they become victims of exploitation.
He said community members should be willing to stand with vulnerable families and prevent others from taking advantage of their difficult circumstances.
Care Should Involve Practical Action
Pastor Migadde stressed that caring for vulnerable people should go beyond prayer and words of encouragement.
Referring to Matthew 25:35-36, where Jesus speaks about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, caring for the sick and visiting prisoners, he said Christians are called to respond to people’s physical needs.
He encouraged believers to share what they have with those in need rather than waiting until they have excess resources.
“If you have food, give the person food. What you have, give it away. Share what you have with people who need it,” he urged.
He also called on Christians to make generosity a deliberate and consistent practice by setting aside part of their income or resources to support people in need.
Pastor Migadde said even seemingly small interventions can make a significant difference in the life of a vulnerable person.
He cited an example of a family whose house may be leaking because a single iron sheet is missing, saying that helping to replace that one iron sheet could protect the family from rain and improve their living conditions.
He also highlighted the plight of people who cannot afford medical treatment, urging Christians to identify such cases and provide practical assistance where possible.
Watoto’s Continued Support for Vulnerable Children
Pastor Migadde also highlighted Watoto’s long-standing efforts to care for vulnerable children and mothers.
He said the ministry currently has more than 3,600 children under its care, as part of more than three decades of work supporting orphans and vulnerable mothers.
He explained that the children are supported with basic necessities, education and care, while vulnerable families are also assisted to improve their livelihoods.
According to Pastor Migadde, the ministry’s approach includes working with communities, training people, supporting them spiritually and economically, and providing start-up assistance to help vulnerable individuals establish businesses and become self-reliant.
He said such interventions are intended to create sustainable solutions that enable vulnerable parents to take care of their own children.
He encouraged church members to see community care as a collective responsibility, saying Christians can become God’s hands and eyes by responding to the needs of people around them.
Five Babies Dedicated to God
The Sunday service also featured the dedication of five babies to God, as parents and the church community committed the children to God’s care and guidance.
The dedication formed part of the church’s worship and family ministry, as congregants celebrated the children and prayed for their future.
Pastor Migadde concluded by urging believers to make caring for vulnerable people a practical part of their Christian lives—not only through prayer, but also through generosity, justice, protection, mentorship, training and other forms of support.
He said caring for the vulnerable ultimately reflects God’s own heart and enables Christians to demonstrate their faith through action.
