Myra and I left for Virginia/North Carolina on February 5th and intended to return home earlier this week (about April 7th). We were halfway into our trip when church services were being closed, first in NC and then VA. 

The purpose of our trip was to seek partners in the new mission of Rwanda Challenge: to offer an associate degree in Bible in Rwanda. New laws in Rwanda created the need for this new mission. By September 2023, a local church cannot meet without a legal preacher. A legal preacher is required to have an associate degree in Bible/theology by September 10, 2023. Multiple churches and individuals in VA/NC were communicating excitement about Rwanda Challenge partnering with Mid-Atlantic Christian University to provide the necessary degree. Then everything stopped; churches were not meeting, budgets were closed to anything new, and future decisions were on hold until they could assess the new normal.

​In future blogs I will provide more info on the present status and future possibilities. But, for now, Myra and I are waiting for COVID-19 to calm down in New Hampshire – 268 known cases yesterday in Rockingham County compared to three where we are staying in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. So, we are “stranded” in my niece’s camper by the Banister River where we enjoy watching two bald eagles nesting in the tall pines.

Giving thanks for small gifts while we seek God for a huge need in Rwanda.

Yesterday, April 7, 2020, was the 136th day since the earliest reported case of COVID-19 and the 26th anniversary of the beginning of the Rwandan genocide.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 80,000 deaths in 136 days.                
The Rwandan genocide claimed over 800,000 lives in 100 days.
Some estimates are as high as 1,000,000 or more deaths.

Today, most of the world is intensely aware of COVID-19. In 1994 most of the world, and especially the United States, had little to no awareness (or interest) of what was happening in Rwanda.

My intent is not to undervalue 80,000 deaths resulting in countries shutting down and borders being closed.
But I do intend to help us to pause and reflect on 800,000 to 1,000,000 deaths when the U.N. and the U.S. stood by and did nothing (except to debate the definition of genocide).

This past week was the first time the church leaders (EACL) and the next generation (ETNG) joined together for a week of teaching.  Alison DeLong introduced the two groups to ten major categories of a Christian worldview; interpreting every area of life (philosophy, ethics, science, law, etc.) through the lens of God’s truth. This seemed to be a new approach for the entire group.  The approach of considering how the Bible applies to every sphere of life was different than studying the life of Christ, the journeys of Paul, Galatians, etc. Also, this approach heightened their realization of living out what they claim they believe. There were expressions of confession and repentance. It was truly a powerful week. They requested future weeks where we go deeper in politics, economics, sociology, the place of mind and emotions, etc.

Alison and I rejoiced with the many things they expressed and how the Holy Spirit was working in a powerful way. However, one of their questions caused us to pause. One of the church leaders was expressing his excitement about what he was learning and how this was different from how they had ever approached the Bible. Then he asked a question about the Church in the United States. Are you raising up an army to teach this? I understood him to mean, raising up an army for Rwanda, Africa, and the world to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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What do you think? Are we raising up an army?
Frank

As I have been here the last few days, Frank and Theophile have been updating me on the new Rwandan regulations that the government put into effect last year on the churches.  The new laws having the greatest impact on Rwanda Challenge say that if the church leaders do not have some kind of theological degree or certificate from a higher learning institution, in four years they will no longer be a “preacher” in Rwanda.  

I wanted to include what the new Rwandan laws actually say, so that you can have an understanding of how many of the statements need more clarity: 
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"CHAPTER IV: PREACHER AND PLACE OF SERMON
Article 22: Requirements for being a preacher
A preacher must:
1° be of majority age;
2° be a person of integrity;
3° fulfil the requirements of an organization for being a preacher at that level;
4° possess a statement testifying that an organization authorizes him/her to be a preacher;
5° not have been definitively sentenced to a principal penalty of imprisonment equal to or exceeding six (6) months which was never removed by amnesty or rehabilitation;
6° not have been definitively convicted of the crime of genocide, genocide ideology, discrimination or sectarianism;
7° possess a degree of a higher learning institution in religious studies or any other degree with a valid certificate in religious studies related matters delivered by a recognized institution."

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Reading the requirements leaves several questions: What is considered a “valid certificate”? What is a “recognized institution”?

Nevertheless, even though the statements are vague, the standard of education that this law sets for pastors is extremely difficult for the majority of pastors to be able to accomplish, especially in four years.  It is believed that about 10% of pastors have completed a high school education. In order for them to receive a theological degree, they first have to finish a high school education. In the United States, we have a GED program for those adults wanting to finish high school, but in Rwanda, there is not a program that offers the same kind of opportunity for these pastors.  For those pastors who do have a high school degree, the challenge is for them to be able to afford or have time to complete the certification needed. In order to obtain this certification, they also need Bible resources in Kinyarwanda, which are few and far between.

The challenge becomes even more concerning when you realize that if the pastors that Rwanda Challenge has been working so hard to teach do not have the education needed in four years, these pastors will no longer be able to lead and preach in their churches.  

Rwanda Challenge has options for how to help the pastors reach the necessary education standards, but they come with seemingly impossible hurdles. As we discussed the options and the possibility of meeting with Rwandan government leaders for answers, it is very evident that prayer is necessary.  If a solution is not found, in four years, it appears that only 5% of pastors in Rwanda will be able to continue preaching. We certainly agree with the government that Biblical education and training is vital for a Church pastor–for that is indeed the reason why we are here–but how can we make this possible for them?  

​Will you pray with us that church leaders are able to have a reasonable and possible way to receive the Biblical education they need? Will you pray for the Rwandan government leaders that they will humbly submit to the will of God and offer wise guidance and decisions for the Rwandan churches? Will you pray for Rwanda Challenge that God will use Frank and Theophile to be a part of the solution?

This is Gene Andrews' fifth trip with Frank to Rwanda. Below is an August 30 article from "Intersections: Where Life Meets Faith," by Gene.

                 Rwanda Challenge 

Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:8-11

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The challenge of Rwanda Challenge is to train Rwandan church leaders in the word of God as well as basic theology. This week, for example, we are teaching a group of 22 leaders for the first time. This teaching is on the Holy Spirit, as there is a lot of confusion of this topic in this country. Another challenge RC seeks to meet is that local preachers and church leaders do not have access to Bible study tools. Therefore, each student is given a Kinyarwanda Study Bible we purchase from the Rwandan Bible Society.  
 
Theo was born in the Congo (DRC or Democratic Republic of the Congo). He has lived in France. He is fluent in the language of Rwanda (Kinyarwanda), as well as French and English. There are a few more languages in which Theo is also conversant. He is one of the interpreters we work with on these trips.
 
In conversations with Theophile, I have learned a little more about the church in Rwanda. The structure differs from what we are used to in the states. Because of past abuses by some missionaries as well as native evangelists there are certain regulations the churches need to follow.
 
One is that a church cannot just start and exist on its own. There must be a recognized body to which the church is accountable. Theo is the overseer of a group of churches called Harvest Christian Church. He functions as the bishop for these churches, representing them before the government. There are 65 churches in this fellowship.
 
Today Theo has left Kibuye where we are teaching to attend a national conference of these church bishops before the government in the capital, Kigali. The bishops are seeking clarification and input on some things the government is saying. Be in prayer for these church leaders, as well as the Rwandan government, as they work through these matters.
 
Another difference in Rwanda is how a church is planted. Theo and I were talking at his house Saturday evening and be spoke of a new church being started in one of the villages by Harvest Christian Church. I asked him how they planted churches here.
 
He said they would determine an area for starting a new church, then find someone who was willing to go there and lead this effort. The proper papers are filed for this church by Theo. Then the person planting the church would find a place to meet and tell people in town there was going to be a new church starting the next Sunday. By word of mouth others would learn of this. On Sunday, a good size group of people would be present to check out this new thing in their village. The next week the word of mouth of those who had attended led to more people coming.
 
I thought how different that is from the American culture. To plant a church in the United States requires many months of planning. Mass mailings are sent to people in the area. Sound boards, a drum set, guitars, ear buds so the musicians can hear each other, and lighting equipment is purchased so the stage can be set to appeal to this video and entertainment culture. Thousands of dollars are poured in before opening day.
 
I am often conflicted about the way churches are planted and sustained in the American culture. I realize that in some ways we are prisoners of our culture. To reach the culture we have to be aware of the ways of the culture. I fear, though, at times we can seek to become so culturally relevant that the most important thing, the message, is drowned out.
 
I don't know the answers to the questions I have. I do pray, though, for the continued work of church planting both at home in my native land as well as here in Rwanda and in places around the world. It is through the church that the manifold wisdom of God is made known
 
Jesu ashimway (Jesus be praised),
Gene
 
P.S. I brought the consistent rains we had been experiencing in eastern NC with me to Rwanda. Every day and night we have had rain. Sometimes it has been extremely heavy. Monsoon season has arrived a month early here.
                                                                                        
P.P.S. If anyone is reading this who knows the Kinyarwanda language, please excuse my spelling of Kinyarwanda words. I am spelling them like I am hearing them. 
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© 2018 Gene Andrews. All rights reserved
 
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture from The Holy Bible: New International Version, 1984.

This past Sunday I preached for the Zarephath Church in Kimironko. There were some worshippers from five other churches because of the closing of over 7,000 church buildings (due to safety issues) in Rwanda since February. One of the groups was the choir from the Hermon Church. They had rented a bus to travel to Zarephath. This solution is too expensive for them to do every Sunday.

After the service I was able to meet with the choir to encourage them and deliver $500 to Eric, the Hermon preacher, for microloans. Many U.S. partners have contributed to provide these loans. Partners do not ask for the return of the loans, but the women do pay back the loans, which are then recycled into ongoing loans.

Most of the women who receive loans at Hermon are prostitutes because of the genocide of 1994. With the destruction of the infrastructure and the loss of their husbands, many struggle just to feed their children. These microloans provide a way for these women to start a small business. It is truly a hand-up, not a handout and offers dignity out of a life of shame.

This past week the “Equip the Next Generation” young people resumed their study of Luke. They continue to show growth in using their resources (Kinyarwanda Study Bible and Africa Bible Commentary).
On Thursday afternoon they were given a brief break. Instead of taking their break, I found them exhorting each other and organizing their group.