Release coincides with National Foster Care Month

Contact: Amber Sakis, Amber@design4.org;
Lesley Bateman, Lesley@design4.org;
813-849-0076

TAMPA, Fla., May 6, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Watoto Child Care Ministries announces the May 14 release of a single "Heart of the Father" (youtu.be/YylHAJByeJQ) written and performed by worship duo Brad + Rebekah, featuring the renowned Watoto Children's Choir, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the ministry's work to rescue abandoned babies, orphaned children and vulnerable women in Africa.

Worship leaders Brad + Rebekah wrote, "We once were orphans God came to rescue, all that was taken is restored," to describe Watoto - a holistic child-care solution initiated to serve the dire needs of Africa and her people.

Gary and Marilyn Skinner founded Watoto in 1994 with the mission to rescue a child, raise a leader and rebuild a nation. Today they provide quality care and long-term education for almost 3,000 children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, war and poverty in three well-established Watoto Children's Villages in Uganda. An in-country hybrid of foster care and adoption, children are placed into families of up to eight formerly orphaned brothers and sisters and are cared for by a Ugandan house mother. These family units remain for life. Watoto Children's Villages are built to replicate a traditional sense of African community and each village includes several clusters of homes, a school, medical clinic, church, recreation center and more.

In 2009 traveling worship duo Brad + Rebekah decided to give a portion of their CD sales to Watoto to invest into the lives of the children. After visiting the villages in 2011 the couple decided to do more.

"We came back with a deeper passion and desire to pour into the ministry the best way we knew -- by telling the Watoto story through a song. That's where 'The Heart of the Father' came from," said Brad.

This song will be released May 14, 2014 on iTunes and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Watoto to further its mission in Africa.  

This beautiful song (youtu.be/YylHAJByeJQ), co-written by Brad + Rebekah and James Tealy (Christian song-writer for artists such as Kari Jobe) features the world renowned Watoto Children's Choir singing about the grace and love of God. The music video features compelling images of newly rescued babies and smiling children and teens being raised by Watoto and is sure to be a favorite among those with a heart for orphan care and adoption.
 
"We are grateful for Brad + Rebekah's desire to support Watoto's work directly through the sales of this powerful single. We're asking our supporters to visit iTunes on May 14 and download the song. Every song that's purchased is a donation that will impact a life," said Eugene Stutzman, Watoto US Executive Director.

View "The Heart of the Father" music video at youtu.be/YylHAJByeJQ

Learn more about the story of "The Heart of the Father" at youtu.be/61P3sCkZ8Xw
or Brad + Rebekah’s ministry at www.bradandrebekah.com.

About Watoto:
Watoto (www.Watoto.com) is a holistic care solution providing for the physical, emotional, medical, spiritual and academic needs of children in Africa. Watoto was initiated as a response to the overwhelming number of orphaned children and vulnerable women in Africa. It is positioned to rescue an individual, raise each one as a leader in their chosen sphere of life so that they in turn will rebuild their nations.