Dear ministry partners,
I have just returned yesterday from my latest training in Africa, this time equipping church planters who will work to reach the many who have never heard the Gospel throughout Rwanda as well as portions of Burundi and DR Congo. This is part of the Tyrannus Bible School system with whom I’ve worked several times. The young ministers are trained in fundamental skills of which we in Pathways are a part. My training partner Pastor Chris (from southern Oregon) and I spent two weeks with this group. The first week was spent introducing them to the fundamentals of healthy Bible study and preaching. The second week we took a deep dive through the book of 1 Peter, helping them apply those Bible study principles and glean practical lessons from this important book. 1 Peter has much to say to those who are experiencing persecution and suffering because of their faith in Christ, which is so relevant to these church planters who will go to unreached parts of East Africa.
As you may have heard, most churches in Rwanda (over 10,000 at this point) continue to be closed by the government as church and government leadership negotiate a way forward. This has been the case for over two years! The closures create many difficulties for pastors and members alike, but some pastors say this will have the end result of purifying the church in Rwanda. I was able to connect with several pastors and denominational leaders with whom I have worked in previous years, and encourage them to continue in their ministry efforts. One of the students, Joshua, shared, “We studied a lot and I love the Pathway. We now know how to study much better and we will pass this on to others.” Samuel added, “Now I can see from 1 Peter how we can even rejoice through suffering because of Jesus Christ!”
On a side trip on Sunday, Chris and I traveled for 3-4 hours each way to a church in southern Rwanda to preach and encourage the believers in one of the few churches that is open. It was a good opportunity, and the church was very encouraged since a prophecy had been given 20 years earlier that missionaries would come to them, and they believed we were the fulfillment of that prophecy. Not sure of the theology on that one, but we preached the Word!
Enjoy these two brief videos from the church in southern Rwanda:
Please keep church leaders in Rwanda in your prayers, and also that God will bring about resolution with the government soon toward reopening churches. I head out on Sunday evening to Iowa to work with team members and stateside pastors to coach and develop facilitation skills for global training, so would appreciate your prayers for that as well.