Husband/Wife Retreat for Church Leaders

What a privilege to be able to share with the Harvest Christian Church in their first ever marriage retreat. There are about fifty couples here at the retreat center (Rwanda style). The husbands have been here for over a week and the wives arrived yesterday from every province in Rwanda. This was the first trip to Kigali for over twenty of these women. (I am reminded of my grandmother who was thirteen when she took her first trip to Danville, VA.

Last night was great. The church leader’s wives who had never met each other bonded quickly in an all-women’s gathering in the afternoon. Then the larger group came together in song and dance filled with joy.

This morning I shared Ephesians 5:21-33 with both husbands and wives. Their response was very positive. They seemed to connect well with Paul’s words and the vision he presents for Christian marriage.

I am now at the airport waiting for my flight to the USA. While I am extremely anxious to get home, I am also dreaming and preparing for my next trip to Rwanda.

Frank and Theophile sharing God's vision for marriage

The "Old Mama" at the Sunday morning worship service                                                                  (Tereze does not read or write, but she thinks she is 100)

Sunday was a great day. The team from Massachusetts and I joined Theophile and Miriam at the Hermon Church in Kimisagara (Mt. Hermon is the assumed location of the transfiguration). In 2009 the Hermon Church had grown to about 600 people. When the owner of their rented church building sold the facility, the Hermon Church was left without a place to meet. In 2011 we worshipped with them (about 20 people) in a school classroom in a difficult location at the top of one of Rwanda’s one thousand hills. However, they own property with a beautiful view in Kimisagara (a section in the Kigali Province), but lack the resources to build. The church felt shame in their situation and dwindled to a small group.

The “Old Mama” asked why can’t we build a church building. She was the first to give money to buy an iron sheet (one metal sheet for the roof), but they still lack the needed funds. In 2012 a large tent was donated to be passed from church to church for a meeting place until a local church is ready to build. The Hermon Church has now grown to about 150.

Last night, under the tent, we had our final showing of “The Passion of the Christ” for this trip. Neighbors were invited. Theophile estimates about 400 people showed up. It sounds like a preacher’s count to me, but there was a large group of people. The “Old Mama” was brought in and seated up front beside me where I was operating the laptop and projector. One hour into the movie people were crying uncontrollably. One church leader was wailing and prostrated himself on the concrete floor. After another fifteen minutes he had to leave. The “Old Mama” would continually take her igitenge (a dress or sometimes the wrap-around piece of cloth used in a variety of ways with a woman’s dress) and cover her face. It seemed as if she wanted to stay, but she did not want to look. Her igitenge would come down, but soon she would cover her face again and use her igitenge to wipe her tears. It was a special evening to be able to sit beside the “Old Mama.”

When the movie concluded there were once again hallelujahs, weeping, singing, prayers, and repentance. There were sounds coming from one woman that I cannot describe. A former prostitute who is a recent convert was particularly broken by the suffering of Christ. A common response was repentance. Many were asking how people can continue a life of sin after viewing this movie. They all want the people of Rwanda to experience God’s amazing love as portrayed in this movie.

As I wrap up this trip, Theophile will have the resources to show the movie for the Church in Rwanda. When I return to Rwanda this summer, we are expecting new opportunities to show the movie and proclaim God’s love for sinful people like us.

Prayer time after the movie

Eric gives a Kinyarwanda Study Bible to his new friend

Thursday and Friday was the last official group of church leaders taught by Rwanda Challenge on this trip. Eric Lee, Executive Pastor of Manchester Christian Church, was scheduled to join us for this training. He was planning to arrive with the MCC team of eight on Wednesday night. But after sitting on the tarmac in DC for over four hours on Tuesday, they missed their connection in Amsterdam. So, they arrived in Kigali after 2am on Friday morning. To my surprise I awoke to an email on Friday stating Eric would be in the lobby of their hotel ready to go at 8am.

We taught twenty-seven church leaders on Friday, giving each one a Kinyarwanda Study Bible, and finished the day by showing “The Passion of the Christ.” It was great to have Eric join us for the day and he personally assisted two late-comers with the material.

This group serves some of the larger churches in Kigali. They seemed to have a better understanding of the Bible than most groups, but still lacked real depth. One asked if Jesus command to “love your neighbor as yourself” included our enemies. That is a question we expect from new followers of Jesus, but not church leaders.

There were some similarities with other groups that had viewed “The Passion of Christ.” But this group was much stronger in insisting that they had to show this movie to their congregations. I should not be surprised, but I have been amazed at the intensity of the response by the Rwandan people. We will have our final showing for this trip on Sunday evening.

This coming week I will share in a marriage retreat sponsored by “Good Rain 2013.” Then I am scheduled to fly out on Thursday evening to arrive home on Friday.

The Last Rwanda Challenge Group for This Trip
(Front center: Eric, Theophile, and Frank) 

Jesus commissioned His followers go everywhere and share His Good News with everyone. This Good News is the same everywhere, but the context is always different. But, Rwanda seems to have a rather unique context.

Many dynamics are similar anywhere in the world. People everywhere struggle with sin and forgiveness; coveting, anger and hatred, lust, stealing, etc. On Sunday I preached at the Zarephath Church about God’s love and being His children from 1 John 3 and Romans 8. Afterwards we had discussions with Theophile about some of the implications of applying this in everyday life in Rwanda. He reminded us of the reality that exist in the Church in Rwanda.

On a Sunday morning there are people with smiles; worshipping, singing, dancing, and praying. This appears beautiful on the surface. And, in some ways, that is accurate. However, there is a different picture beneath the surface. In 1994 genocide took place in Rwanda that continues to affect in significant ways the Church of Rwanda today. Every Rwandan was personally affected by the genocide. As Christians gather to worship there are those present who participated in the genocide. There are orphans and widows present who lost their spouse and children, parents and siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins… In some cases the killers are present in the same congregation and they know each other and who did what. There are wives and children present who have a husband or father who has been in prison for eighteen years based on the testimony of others who are worshipping in that same local church.

Put this dynamic in the context of God’s truth that we are now one family, God’s children, brothers and sisters in Christ. How do you live that out in the context of the reality in Rwanda?

Only by the power of God’s love and His Spirit living in His children!

God will be praised among the nations as the Church in Rwanda demonstrates the power of God by the way they love each other. Hallelujah!!!

Kiziba Camp (Congolese refugee camp just outside of Kibuye)

Kiziba Camp, located in the Karongi district in western Rwanda, is the oldest refugee camp in the country. Back in October, Theophile and I received the invitation to teach church leaders from every church in Kiziba Camp. However, must get permission to go into the camp. Rwanda Challenge was approved and on Thursday and Friday we began our relationship with the church leaders of Kiziba Camp. Originally, we were discussing twenty church leaders (one per local church). Then the number grew to sixty. At one point on Thursday I counted seventy-seven leaders.

These leaders have a renewed (and new) vision of God’s purpose for His Church in the Kiziba Camp. They have an increased commitment to the unity of God’s Church and new strategies to advance God’s Kingdom in their neighborhood. God blessed our two days together and these leaders are hopeful that we will return and teach them again in the future.

On Friday afternoon, we showed “The Passion of the Christ” for the church leaders in the Kiziba Camp. The number grew to over one hundred leaders from the twenty churches. This was the third showing of the movie on this trip. The response has been very similar each time. In the Kiziba Camp there was crying, deep sobbing, “Hallelujah’s,” praying, and expressions of personal repentance. It is amazing to experience what God is doing among these church leaders in Rwanda. I count it a great privilege to be able to share in God’s activity here in Rwanda.

Home St. Jean in Kibuye


On Tuesday evening we took Gene to the airport. Wednesday we gathered our supplies for the trip to Kibuye and the Kiziba Camp (Congolese refugees). To my surprise we pulled up to Home St. Jean (a favorite guest house for the Manchester teams). My first question was, “Why didn’t you tell me we were staying here?” My second surprise was when we were told they no longer had the rooms we needed. So we decided to try Sainte Marie. Wow. It is not St. Jean, but it is good.

And then one more surprise; Theophile informed me that the refugee camp in the East Province has now invited Rwanda Challenge to come and teach the church leaders there. It is a privilege and joy to enjoy the beauty of Rwanda while teaching God’s church leaders here.




Sainte Marie on another cove of Lake Kivu (morning view from my bedroom)

Gene leaves tomorrow, so today was a souvenir day. Of course, Gene was welcomed into every little shop. "Welcome. You're my friend. Come, let me show you." 

While we had fun showing Gene these special marketplaces, Theophile and I were also preparing for Kiziba Camp. We leave Wednesday for Kibuye. The refugee camp is about thirty minutes from the city. We are scheduled to teach sixty church leaders in the camp on Thursday and Friday. We will miss Gene, but we are excited about new opportunities to teach God's truth.

Friends of Rwanda Challenge,

I woke to a beautiful morning this Sunday, February 3.  It was foggy early, so says Frank.   Frank is a morning person.  That could never be said of me.  Though Frank and I are different in various ways, there is something we share in common.  We are both concerned for the church of Jesus Christ, both here in Rwanda, as well as the United States.

Differences are fine.  God is the creator of variety, whether it the color of skin, the various personality types we may have, or the gifts He chooses to give for ministry.  We saw the God of variety yesterday as we went to Akagera and saw the difference in the animals God created.  From the slow, graceful movement of the giraffe to the lumbering movement of the hippo;  from the amazing running and leaping of the beautiful impala to the graceless exit of the not so beautiful wart hog; from the petite zebra to the massive elephant – each of these are a creation of and testimony to our Creator God.

Differences and variety are also seen in churches.  Last Sunday at Zarephath we worshipped with around 300 people in a service with much singing, dancing, and celebration with the use of a variety of instruments.   Today we went to Rusororo, a newer church with an attendance of around 50.  There was less singing, an African drum for the instrument of worship, and a more subdued atmosphere.  But in spite of the differences, there was a common thread in the two churches.  Both demonstrate deep love for the Lord and the Word of God.  Both churches desire to learn how to more effectively follow Christ.  And both churches were very gracious and welcoming to two men from America.

I praise God for these two weeks He has given me to enter into the Rwandan culture and to be reminded again of how vast His church really is.  As I leave my new found brothers and sisters in Christ this week, and return to my brothers and sisters, my church family in Washington, NC, I do so with faith rekindled and spirit renewed. 

Your brother in Christ,

Gene

After two great weeks of teaching, today was the day to take Gene to Akagera National Park. It was a beautiful day with many animals. There were more giraffes than I have ever seen. I think we saw nine in one location. Today was the first time I have seen elephants here. We were told that yesterday a herd of about thirty-five had been spotted. Today we saw three. It was a wonderful day to get away. Tomorrow we preach.

An elephant and giraffes for my grandchildren

On Friday afternoon eighteen church leaders completed “Overview of the Old Testament” presented by Dr. Gene Andrews. Also, I started Genesis with this group. This summer and fall we plan to complete our study of Genesis. It was a great day and a great week. These church leaders will now go and teach others what they learned this week. 

Paul says, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2

The church leaders shared “…the teachings have been very strong. But now we understand very well and we can teach others.”

This was “Equip a Church Leader” week. Individuals and couples committed $30 a week for one year to provide for this week of training. We have the opportunity to teach hundreds of church leaders here in Rwanda. I am thankful for those who support Rwanda Challenge to make this training possible.

Church leaders using their Kinyarwanda Study Bible to get greater understanding of the Old Testament