The Great Commission has the same message to all Christian leaders and believers. As recorded in Matthew 28, it outlines what Jesus expected the apostles and those who followed them to do until He returns. It summarizes the task left to the church to take the whole gospel to the whole world.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:19-20, NKJV).
Depending on the regions, the culture, the means used and the context, the Great Commission has different opportunities and challenges. For people like me in Rwanda, it talks about reaching the unchurched population living in the “thousand hills” of Rwanda. My country was affected by the horrible tragedy of the century: the Rwandan Genocide of April–July 1994, where more than 1 million people died.
Given the post-genocide context, planting a church in Rwanda can only be enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit, because it requires many things to happen. Under the leadership of Retired Foursquare Minister Roger Brubeck, through the support of Foursquare Missions International (FMI), The Foursquare Church came to Rwanda in October 2005.
Empowered to Plant and Grow Churches
Serving under Roger, the primary planter of our movement in Rwanda, transformed my life. I became connected to him through a “divine appointment” when I worked as a lawyer, which changed later to being the first elected Foursquare Rwanda national leader.
After planting the first national Foursquare church, we embarked in planting other churches. Through discipleship, prayer rooms and open-air crusades, we now have more than 30 churches. However, we all agree that the real reconciliation, healing, transformation and development in Rwanda rest in the hands of God through healthy churches and their leaders.
We focused on equipping healthy church leadership trough training, servant-leadership and the Christian message of hope, forgiveness and reconciliation. With the help of friends and partners, more than 100 leaders across the country were trained in short biblical courses, leadership, church doctrine, reconciliation and forgiveness, and church planting. Despite the efforts done, there is a need to strengthen the quality of training offered by opening a Bible college that will help the national church and the whole East Africa region to train strong church leaders.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
As Rwanda expands our strong church movement, we recognize the work of the Holy Spirit and His empowerment in all that we’ve achieved. Today, people, families and nations need empowerment as they attempt to respond to many challenges as those we face. I want to encourage them to rely on God’s help for empowerment. Empowered leaders have to equip others in order to accelerate the Great Commission. With the Holy Spirit as the empowering agent, I strongly believe that our generation will be able to keep writing the “29th chapter of Acts.” As a global church family, let’s join our hands in prayer and practical support. Together, we will!
Prayer Points
- Pray for the Lord to call out and send empowered church-planters into His harvest fields in Rwanda and East Africa.
- Pray for the Lord to open up opportunities for training healthy leaders in our region through discipleship to impact the lost in Rwanda and East Africa.
- Please pray the Lord intercedes in keeping doors open in Rwanda. Laws and regulations are becoming stricter about standards for church-building. Pray that God will soften the lawmakers’ hearts and that our opportunities to plant new churches and share the gospel will continue.
Share your thoughts. See comments below, and add your own.
