Today in the Mission Yearbook - Hard healing work in Rwanda, a promising country with deep enduring scars

As a Rwandan proverb laments, ‘Help from abroad always comes when the rain has stopped’

October 26, 2024

On April 7, 2024, Rwandan President Paul Kagame lit the

flame of this Eternal Flame Monument now installed at the

Kigali Genocide Memorial as a 30-year remembrance of the

genocide initiated that day in 1994. (Contributed photo)

The Republic of Rwanda, a small country in central Africa the size of Maryland, is commemorating the 30th year since the genocide tore the nation apart. In a 100-day period between April 7 and July 19, 1994, up to 800,000 Tutsis were slaughtered by Hutu militias, and an estimated 500,000 Tutsi women were raped.

The term “genocide” was cemented into the global consciousness with the Rwandan massacre. Coined in 1944 by Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-Jewish lawyer, “genocide” combines the Greek word genos (meaning race or tribe) with the Latin word cide (killing) to describe the systematic and deliberate extermination of a group, as seen during the Holocaust. The term became crucial in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Many governments and organizations initially downplayed the scale of the violence in 1994. By the time the genocide was widely acknowledged, most of the killing had already occurred. In hindsight, this is seen as a major moral and political failure, which has tested the social structure of that country.

In the 30 years since, the country has under President Paul Kagame  done surprisingly well. After a decade of recovery, the country entered a phase of high economic growth. For an extended period, it became one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, while reducing poverty and fertility rates. Today Rwanda is an inspiration for other poor and struggling countries and a modern-day example of the biblical truth that adversity and trials will develop perseverance, which leads to new constructive solutions.

Rwandan prisoners are shown attending a lecture on restorative 

justice principles. (Contributed photo)

However, the racial divide which initially led to the conflict has been a lingering background concern, and consequently much effort has been extended on healing, forgiveness and integration issues throughout the community and in the prison system to which the main perpetrators were incarcerated.

After the genocide, Rwanda faced an overwhelming challenge of how to deliver justice for the vast number of people involved in the genocide. The conventional justice system was crippled, with courts destroyed, and many judges, lawyers, and other judicial personnel either killed or implicated in the genocide.

A fascinating part of the solution was the reintroduction of the Gacaca courts, which were the ruling community-based justice system in Rwanda before colonial powers took over the country. This traditional court system was revived and adapted in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. The term “Gacaca” (pronounced ga-cha-cha) comes from the Rwandan word for “grass,” referring to the informal gatherings where community elders would traditionally resolve disputes while sitting on the grass.

Pius Nyakayiro, director of the Good News Rwanda organization, 

speaks to the female population of the Nyamagabe women’s prison. 

(Contributed photo)

The Gacaca courts tried over 1.2 million cases between 2001 and their official closure in 2012 and played a crucial role in dealing with the massive backlog of genocide-related cases the conventional justice system could not handle. However, the Gacaca courts were not without controversy. Critics pointed to several issues, including lack of legal expertise, intimidation, false testimony, and inadequate appeal process.

Despite these criticisms, many Rwandan and international observers view the Gacaca courts as a significant mechanism for achieving justice and promoting reconciliation in the aftermath of the genocide.

Today the 13 prisons now in operation in Rwanda hold more than 80,000 male and 5,000 female prisoners, many of whom are serving long sentences for their part in the systematic killings.

Over the years, the Rwandan government has improved prison facilities and made law revisions regarding prison overcrowding. Soon a halfway house will be operational so released prisoners gradually can prepare for home return and, in the meantime, can communicate with family members through phone conversations.

Nyakayiro and his staff at Good News Rwanda are hopeful that with all these efforts for the safe reintegration the prisoners will eventually be accomplished. However, he fervently appeals to the international prison outreach community and faith organizations for assistance. “We would like to introduce professional Restorative Justice concepts and proven programs like Adopt-A-Prison, Rehabilitation through the Arts, Unlocking Harmony, and others to help our imprisoned brothers and sister return home with peace,” Nyakayiro said.

May the world not be silent to the Rwanda call again.

The Rev. Dr. Hans Hallundbaek, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is a co-founder of both Rehabilitation through the Arts and the Interfaith Prison Partnership, an outreach of Hudson River Presbytery. He is an adjunct instructor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Marist College. He lives in Katonah, New York.

Today’s Focus: Hard healing work in Rwanda

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Joel Townsend, IT Help Desk Specialist, Administrative Services Group (A Corp) 
Cuong Tran, Mail/Print Clerk, Mail/Print Center, Administrative Services Group (A Corp) 

Let us pray

Creator God, guide us to recognize your love for all people. We rejoice that you have given us individuality while holding us all in your hand. Help us learn from each other and acknowledge the strength that is gained through diversity. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Climate change conference delegates help students at the Presbyterian School of Kabuga in Rwanda plant trees

A recent video shows how students are working to protect their surroundings with help from their visitors

February 11, 2023

Video URL: https://youtu.be/4AFp7QlFHy4

The visit by delegates representing the All Africa Council of Churches was memorable for students at the Presbyterian School of Kabuga in Rwanda. (Contributed photo)

In November, students attending the Presbyterian School of Kabuga in Rwanda were treated to a visit from delegates representing the All Africa Conference of Churches, who took time during a conference on climate change to meet with the students and plant trees with them.

In a recent video (click on the link above) featuring the Rev. Dr. Ndayizeye Munyansanga Olivier, a lecturer on the faculty of theology and religious studies at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences in Butare, Rwanda, students in Kabuga are depicted interacting with the visitors and planting trees with them.

“We need individual and global efforts to tackle this climate change crisis head-on,” Olivier says during the video, made following the Nov. 24 visit and posted on the Facebook page of Presbyterian World Mission. “One way is education, which may be one of our greatest weapons for fighting climate change.”

Olivier called the visit “a time for some church leaders to transmit their ethical values of fighting against climate change, taking care of nature and preserving long life to the coming generations.”

It was also “a way to raise awareness for limiting global warming as it was adopted in the 2015 Paris Agreement. The world continues to get warmer at an alarming rate,” Olivier says, “putting almost every child at risk of more frequent and destructive climate calamities.”

Planting trees at the Presbyterian School of Kabuga in Rwanda reminded students how much they can do to care for Creation. (Contributed photo)

“The action of planting trees is one of the smallest and most effective actions to maintain the ecosystem and tackle climate change,” Olivier says. “Trees can handle the weather, metabolize nutrition from the soil and air and cooperate with the surrounding environment.”

“A tree is not just a tree,” Olivier says. “It is alive precisely because it’s connected to the Earth, to life and to nature, which is the expression of universal love in this world.”

Even as humble saplings, trees play a key role in our well-being, according to Olivier.

“Trees have to restore the balance within our human society and the rest of the natural world for assuring that future generations will be safe,” Olivier says. “Restoring at least a small part of the lost vegetation … is an environmentally friendly way to combat dangerous climate change.”

According to Olivier, research shows that a 20-minute walk in the woods can reduce a person’s blood pressure and blood sugar levels without medication. “Children who like to play under the trees have highly developed mental capabilities,” Olivier says, “and they are transformed into experts of innovation.”

To learn more about the Presbyterian School of Kabuga (PSK) in Rwanda, email the Rev. Paula Cooper, Presbyterian World Mission’s regional liaison for East Central Africa. PIASS and PSK are ministries of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (EPR), the PC(USA)’s global partner.

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Jashalund Royston, Research Analyst II, Research Services, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Cindy Rubin, Administrative Assistant, Ministry Engagement & Support, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)

Let us pray

Dear God, we praise you and give thanks for all that you have given us. May we share our abundance with others in your mission to this multicultural world. May we welcome and celebrate your rich diversity. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Training imaginative minds by planting seeds at the Presbyterian School of Kabuga in Rwanda

Teachers find honing students’ gardening skills can boost their creative spark

December 22, 2022

Teachers at the Presbyterian School of Kabunga in Rwanda are finding that working gardening into the curriculum helps make their primary students more responsible. (Photo courtesy of the Rev. Dr. Ndayizeye Munyansanga Olivier)

The Presbyterian School of Kabuga in Rwanda discovered that gardening helps primary school students to demonstrate greater responsibility at school and at home. It is a crucial part of teaching because it leads to creativity and innovation. It is a valuable life skill tool which can influence all aspects of life.

Inviting small children to plant seeds wakes up their spirit of innovation and inventiveness, leading to the improvement of their learning process and the development of their individual capabilities. The action of planting also makes a positive contribution to the society. It increases their confidence and their sense of nurturing and following up. Gardening is a perfect metaphor for innovation, development and cultivating new knowledge.

Before the harvest, students are involved in the systematic work of watering, weeding, and protecting the vulnerable plants against sun, heavy rains and harmful insects. This practice develops their creative and innovative capacities. In the Presbyterian School of Kabuga, planting seeds is included in the curriculum and became an integral lesson to help all students to succeed.

Teachers Rachel and Jeanette reported that parents were amazed to see how their kids had grown in helping them in the kitchen, especially in preparing and cooking vegetables. Some students planted seeds at home.

Teachers reported a boost in their students’ cognitive and practical capabilities. (Photo by the Rev. Dr. Ndayizeye Munyansanga Olivier)

Teacher Emerance said that planting seeds did not help only students, but it also has an amazing effect on teachers as planting, watering, and harvesting stimulate teachers’ spirit of responsibility. For the students it is a very important way of boosting their cognitive and practical capacities. Some students were attracted by learning and are motivated to join class. Teachers were also excited to see that some students improved their language expression since the lesson of planting seeds started.

Gardening promotes good communication, timeliness, friendship and interest in connecting with nature. In addition, it provides vegetables and other nutritious foods that offer a variety of health benefits.

After harvesting their own crops, the students cook and share joyfully the meal as a result of their own handwork. The child’s most wondrous ability is the capacity to create. If you create something every single day, then your spirit of creativity grows. It influences one’s long-term success in a variety of areas.

The school trains students practically for using their hands. Innovation is putting the idea into practice. For Christianity, it is also where God intervenes to bless the human action. Success in development is the accumulation of small actions and knowledge. With the simple action of planting seeds, a student can change, can influence, and can create, and he or she will never be the same again.

 The Rev. Dr. Ndayizeye Munyansanga Olivier, lecturer in the faculty of theology and religious studies of the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) in Butare, Rwanda. To learn more about the Presbyterian School of Kabuga (PSK) in Rwanda, email the Rev. Paula Cooper, Presbyterian World Mission’s regional liaison for East Central Africa. PIASS and PSK are ministries of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda (EPR), the PC(USA)’s global partner.

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Terri McCurdy, Operations Specialist, Presbyterian Foundation
William McElroy, Dishwasher, Stony Point Center, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray

Dear Jesus, as you ask us to follow you and to bring our brothers and sisters closer also, please help us see and use those opportunities to spur someone on to be closer to you, and to grow in your grace. Be with us and guide us in ways to share and show that grace to others. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - International Peacemaker from Rwanda to discuss her country’s history

Presbyterian pastor to shed light on ‘rebuilding and reuniting’ after genocide

August 23, 2022

The Rev. Julie Kandema

An International Peacemaker from Rwanda will visit the United States this fall to share how the country has evolved since the genocide against the Tutsis in 1994.

Julie Kandema, an ordained pastor with the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda, is one of 10 peacemakers from around the world who will be available to make in-person visits to congregations, mid councils and communities in partnership with the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

“By sharing stories of their work and witness, the peacemakers help us understand peace and justice concerns around the world and provide insights that can inspire us to greater faithfulness,” according to the Peacemaking Program. “Their visits broaden our sense of God’s inclusive family and help equip us to build a culture of peace and nonviolence for all God’s children.”

Kandema, who’s based in the capital city of Kigali, will discuss a tumultuous period of her country’s history in which an estimated 1 million people were killed by ethnic Hutu extremists who waged violence against the minority Tutsi people.

“During my visit to U.S. churches, I am willing to share with the congregants the journey of my country and the church in rebuilding and reuniting Rwandans,” she said. “I am participating in the International Peacemakers because I want to share my experience in peace and reconciliation, and I want to learn from the experience of my brothers and sisters from Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).”

The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda brings together genocide survivors from both sides of the conflict. (Photo by Mark Crowner)

In April, the United Nations and others observed the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, paying tribute to those who lost their lives and acknowledging that the international community could have done more to save them.

“Much more could — and should — have been done,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in his 2022 message acknowledging the day. “A generation after the events, the stain of shame endures. As we remember the bloodshed 28 years ago, we recognize that we always have a choice. To choose humanity over hatred; compassion over cruelty; courage over complacency; and reconciliation over rage.”

A Rwandan landscape (Photo by Nancy Collins)

In addition to discussing the genocide, Kandema will highlight challenges that Rwandans are facing today, such as unemployment and the consequences of Covid.

Kandema, who is married with three children, is vice president of her church, which is involved in supporting, empowering and equipping Rwandans to overcome their economic struggles.

As a church leader, “I am involved in different ways, encouraging people, especially the women and the youth who are more affected by unemployment, to start small business(es) and some income-generating projects,” Kandema said. “In other words, we train and encourage our people to create jobs instead of seeking jobs.”

If you would like information about how to host a peacemaker in your community, go here.

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program is one of the Compassion, Peace & Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Give to the Peace & Global Witness Offering to continue the valuable ministry of these International Peacemaker visits.

Darla Carter, Communications Associate, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Donna Costa, Food Service Manager, Stony Point Conference Center, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Amanda Craft, Manager, Immigration Advocacy, Office of the General Assembly

Let us pray

Gracious God, give us eyes to see others the way that you do. Prompt us to join with what you are doing in people’s lives and in our communities. Empower us, by your Holy Spirit, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Living together as a community

Presbyterian Pan American School has been a second home to a budding civil engineer from Rwanda

July 2, 2021

Born in Kigali, Rwanda, Adelite Hategeka is a 2020 graduate of the Presbyterian Pan American School in Kingsville, Texas. (Contributed photo)

Officially, the Presbyterian Pan American School is a “Christian international college-preparatory boarding school located in Kingsville, Texas.” But to Adelite Hategeka, it’s a second home filled with family from around the world.

“My favorite thing about the school is the people you meet,” she said. “It is funny that many people say that they met people who became their second family, and it makes sense once you experience the same thing. We rely on each other and learn how to live together as a community. The teachers are also great because they are patient. I did not really know English when I first went there, but with their help, I slowly learned.”

Hategeka is a 2020 graduate of Pan Am, as it’s affectionately called. She was born in Kigali, Rwanda, and moved with her family to Niger when she was 7 years old after her father got a new job.

Her brother, Roger Niyongira, attended the school in 2014. Hategeka started two years later, and in her four years at Pam Am, she’s taken on some important roles — as Campus Ministry president and the leader of the Random Acts of Kindness Program.

“As the Campus Ministry president, I prepare the programs of our Tuesday and Thursday gatherings as well as the Sunday worships,” she explained. “Campus Ministry organizes two major events in the year: Splash and Celebration. I host meetings with Campus Ministry members to come up with ideas and to make sure that we all participate. I also organize meetings with the Campus Ministry council where we discuss any issues that can be resolved and come up with fundraising ideas and new ways to help the community.”

Campus Ministry started the Random Acts of Kindness program, which consisted of writing nice notes to other students as well as faculty and staff—and making sure everyone got them.

“I know from personal experience that words are powerful,” said Hategeka. “I remember when I was a freshman, I used to write motivational things on a [sticky note] and stick them inside my desk. Whenever I felt discouraged, I looked at them and they kept me going. I also had people who encouraged me through the past four years, and that is why it meant a lot to me. Receiving a simple note can change your day. It shows you that there is someone else who cares for you. It was the perfect opportunity to use words for a good cause rather than harm.”

Hategeka, who was the Rwandan representative on the student council last year, also organized the remembrance for the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsis. She and other Rwandan students made ribbons to wear so others would be aware of the event. They gathered around the school’s fountain and were led in prayer by the Pan Am pastor.

“We also made a PowerPoint presentation explaining the remembrance that we presented during lunch,” said Hategeka. “It was a tragic event, and it was important to show our classmates that Rwandans came together as a community to rebuild. It was important that I tell my peers the history of my country, and how the country was reconstructed with the help of great leadership figures.”

Hategeka is a dedicated student. Her favorite subjects are English and math. She wants to thank those who support the Christmas Joy Offering through donations, because it opens up new possibilities in the lives of students who have the opportunity to attend Pan Am.

According to Pan Am’s website, “graduates go on to lives and professions that bring positive changes to the world by upholding the Christian ideals of love, service and community.” That is exactly what Hategeka hopes to do.

“I am looking forward to college life, honestly. I know it will be different from what I essentially imagined due to the pandemic, but it will be the stage where I get closer to my career goals,” she said. “My dream is to become a civil engineer. I want to build homes for other people, so I plan to specialize in structural engineering. As someone who lived in different countries, it is important to me to provide shelter for families that go through a similar journey.”

Special Offerings, Mission Engagement and Support, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Clorinda Moore, Office of the General Assembly
Jon Moore, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray:

Loving God, you know us better than we know ourselves. Help us find moments to identify how you are working in our lives and using our gifts as we minister as your disciples. You do call each of us. May we hear and follow that call. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - ‘Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations’

International School of Reconciliation in Rwanda workshop focuses on healing inner wounds

December 30, 2020

The International School of Reconciliation practicum team. Courtesy of Patricia “Pat” Petty Morse

Entering retirement in 2019, Presbyterian elder Patricia “Pat” Petty Morse wondered where God would direct her to serve next.

Morse’s career as a lawyer with the U.S. Department of Justice included assessing the judicial systems of several countries, including Sierra Leone, to encourage U.S. support toward transparent and effective systems of justice. She actively served her church in many ways, such as participating for 10 years on an anti-racism team in National Capital Presbytery.

At the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Big Tent conference in Baltimore in August 2019, Morse attended a healing and reconciliation workshop describing trauma care being done by Presbyterian partners in Africa. She was moved by the testimonies of inner healing and forgiveness taking place in Rwanda, Congo and South Sudan. A training scheduled in Africa earlier this year felt like a unique opportunity to explore how God might want to use her.

In February, before the pandemic disrupted travel, Morse arrived for a three-week workshop at the International School of Reconciliation in Rwanda. She joined participants from 11 countries, including several people from South Sudan. The facilitators, representing five nationalities, walked with participants through its “Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations” workshop, which includes four main areas: understanding God’s heart of love, healing our inner wounds, repentance and forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Morse reflected that healing our wounds helps to make us equal, as we realize that we are all broken and in need of healing. During the “cross workshop,” participants were encouraged to give their pain to Jesus, who took our sin and pain upon himself on the cross (Isaiah 53:4). Then they were encouraged to ask God to replace their pain with healing.

The South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church sent four members to Rwanda for this training. Afterward, elder Romano Kuat shared, “My father was killed in 1983, when I was a child, so I am a victim of ethnic conflict. I prayed many times and said, ‘I forgive them, because they didn’t know what they were doing.’ But I didn’t really forgive in my heart.” He said the course helped him realize he was still harboring unforgiveness. It gave him the opportunity to acknowledge his pain, give it to Jesus and ask for healing.

“After 30 years, I am finally experiencing healing for my father’s death,” Kuat said. “And I realized that South Sudan is very similar to Rwanda. We can learn from them!”

“The session ‘Forgiving Is Not Forgetting’ was really powerful for me,” said Suzan Ajullu. “Because if someone hurts you, it is not easy to heal and forgive. It is not just a matter of saying ‘I’m healed.’ Now I’m experiencing some healing of the wounds that I had. I don’t have the dreams anymore or the fears that I was having before. I really experienced healing in Rwanda.”

The Rwanda training culminated in a practicum where participants facilitated a workshop alongside coaches and translators. Morse, Kuat and Ajullu were in a group facilitating a workshop in a rural area that included both perpetrators and survivors of the Rwandan genocide. Morse shared that part of her learning process was working collaboratively with people from several different cultures, appreciating each person’s perspectives and gifts.

Just before their practicum started, Rwanda banned all public gatherings and began restricting travel due to COVID-19.

Participants scrambled to change flights and return to their home countries. Both in South Sudan and in the U.S., the past few months have revealed the inner wounds and ethnic tensions that plague people. Morse, Kuat, Ajullu and others are grateful for the healing experienced and the power of learning from one another. They said they are praying and looking forward to opportunities to organize future workshops to share the message of healing and hope with others.

 Kristi Rice, Mission Co-Worker serving in South Sudan

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Angie Andriot, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Jeffrey Arnold, Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities

Let us pray:

Lord, help us to share our ideas, our resources and our passion for your work in the world so that together we may be the body of Christ, sharing the good news and healing the tears in our social fabric. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - In Rwanda, integrity shines through difficult times

 PIASS staff works together to solve COVID-19 economic crisis

November 3, 2020

The Rev. Kay Day speaks with some of her PIASS students. (Photo by Kathy Melvin)

The Rev. Kay Day, a mission co-worker in Rwanda, believes she has witnessed true integrity in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2013, Day has been a lecturer in English and practical theology, preparing students for pastoral ministry at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Sciences (PIASS). The school is supported by five Protestant denominations, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s mission partner, the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda. The school strives to produce graduates who will contribute to Rwanda’s spiritual, intellectual and socio-economic life.

Like many organizations around the world, PIASS recently faced critical decisions about its future. The school had not been able to pay staff at all during the month of April. But rather than making an internal decision, it called together its management, board and general staff. Together they would decide a way forward.

The meeting was held in the main conference hall, for those who could attend physically, all wearing face masks and sitting three chairs apart. Those unable to attend in person, since travel restrictions have not been lifted, joined by Skype, including the vice chancellor, professor Elisée Musemakweli.

Using a large screen in the conference hall, the vice chancellor recapped the problem and outlined three possible options. The first was to close as others had. This would mean stopping all instruction and restarting the current year in September, hiring back whatever staff was available.

The second was for everyone to take only 30% of their salary for the next four months and continue to operate with online teaching, with staff performing essential work. This would not be a salary, but literally a living wage, just enough to get by. The third option was to offer the 30% to whoever wanted to take it and the rest could leave and search for other means of support with the option to return in September.

Day was in the room. She said a vast majority wanted option two, but they had concerns. So senior faculty members got together and made an amendment to address those concerns.

They proposed that the lower paid staff receive 50% of their salary. Since their incomes are low to begin with, 30 percent of what they make would not be enough to survive on. They make between 50,000 to 100,00 RWF a month, the equivalent of $50 to $100.

The amendment was overwhelmingly approved. The result was that everyone could keep their jobs and the school would remain operational.

Another concern was how the institution would make payments to the bank with no money coming in. The vice chancellor assured everyone that the school would take out loans, sell some unused property or do whatever it took to stay operational.

The final concern addressed by the group was that reduced salaries would allow people to live, but not pay back any loans they had taken out. The vice chancellor told the group that he had consulted with a bank and would draft a letter of explanation to the banks involved that the employees were not receiving salaries but would pay back the loans once salaries were resumed. Fortunately, the government has given banks the freedom to negotiate loan repayments during the pandemic.

A document was drafted with the terms of the collaborative agreement and signed by the vice chancellor. He then announced payments would be retroactive to the beginning of April and cover the part of the salary that staff had not received. The rest of April’s salaries would be paid after September, once the institution had income again.

“We closed with prayer, thanking God for his provision and asking for his continued protections and guidance,” said Day. “I wanted to sing praise, for I had just witnessed the grace of a caring institution that wanted to provide for the people who serve the institution and the compassion of my fellow staff members, caring for the least among us.”

Day has been a member of the faculty since 2013 but does not receive a salary from the institution.

Kathy Melvin, Director of Mission Communications, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Ellen Sherby, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Alejandra “Alex” Sherman, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)

Let us pray:

Loving God, stand with us all, we pray. Remind us to notice, encourage and listen, and inspire us to lead with your Son’s heart. Teach us again how to follow, how to learn, how to lead — all in your merciful manner. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Grassroots home churches thrive in Rwanda

The Center for Training and Documentation of The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda meets the needs of leaders and lay workers

September 9, 2020

The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda opened its Center for Training and Documentation in 1996, two years after the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi.

The Rev. Célestin Nsengimana during a U.S. partnership visit in 2017. (Contributed photo)

With the lives of more than 1 million Tutsi taken during genocide, the church created the center to equip church members and religious leaders with knowledge and skills to help meet community needs in a post-genocide Rwanda. Indeed, a church-wide grassroots home church program, also called the Basic Communities program, is working to strengthen members’ spiritual lives and promote community. Each week, seven to 15 families from the same neighborhood meet at one of the family’s homes for Bible study, socialization, sharing of concerns and prayer. Through the center, the church provides an annual booklet for use by these grassroots home churches. The booklet includes 52 topics for discussion and study, one topic for every week of the year. The program has been deeply embraced by church members, all of whom are engaged in these weekly meetings, which has contributed immensely to church-wide vitality.

“At 6 p.m. every day, all family members stand up in their houses and say the prayer of our Lord and recite the Apostles’ Creed together with the whole church in the world,” said Rev. Dr. Pascal Bataringaya, the president and legal representative of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda. He explained that during the current context of COVID- 19 pandemic, the grassroots home churches are meeting electronically, mainly through WhatsApp groups. “For the sermon, we send an audio message. Those who don’t use WhatsApp communicate by short text messages. This way is used by many church members, and it is very helpful in the current situation of COVID-19 and lockdown,” Bataringaya said. For church members who do not have a mobile phone, Bataringaya said that the church sends hard copies of the teachings.

Through the center’s Theological Education by Extension program, elders, deacons and preachers from various Christian denominations meet weekly in groups of about 20 to reflect on lessons prepared and published by the center on topics from the Old Testament, New Testament, homiletics, church history, Christian ethics, church and society.

In addition, a capacity-building program provides in-service training of church ministers on important issues such as conflict management, environmental challenges, gender-based violence and family planning. Training materials are compiled in a booklet and shared with trainees and others who may not have had a chance to participate in the in-person training, so that all can work together to examine the topics and preserve church unity and identity.

A Christian- Muslim relations program promotes peaceful cohabitation and interdependence of people of both religious groups. It brings together members of both faith communities to reflect on common political and socio-economic issues, promoting the spirit of tolerance and mutual respect in the midst of theological and doctrinal differences.

To keep track of empirical research on challenges faced by the post-genocide Rwandan community, and how churches can address these challenges, the center created a library at its offices. The library houses books, journals and articles to help church ministers, Christians, theology students and lecturers access learning materials for intellectual and practical enrichment. The center plans to create an electronic library and long-term data storage to provide a way for materials to be accessed remotely by various denominations.

Through varied programs offered by the Center for Training and Documentation, the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda not only maintains church unity and identity, but also contributes to the process of rebuilding and consolidating relationships among Rwandans through research and training. The church is grateful for the consistent and ongoing support of national and international mission partners in meeting its goals of organizing training sessions in different areas of the country, creation and publication of learning materials, and research and acquisition of books and articles for its library.

Learn more about the work of PC(USA) mission workers and partners in Rwanda.

The Rev. Célestin Nsengimana, Coordinator of the Center for Training and Documentation of The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Andrea McNicol, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Jewel McRae, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray:

Gracious God, empower us to use our talents to meet daily needs and to build bridges of compassion and peace to others. Amen.

Grassroots home churches thrive in Rwanda

The Center for Training and Documentation of The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda meets the needs of leaders and lay workers

by the Rev. Célestin Nsengimana | Special to Presbyterian News Service

The Rev. Célestin Nsengimana during a U.S. partnership visit in 2017. (Contributed photo)

KIGALI, Rwanda — The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda opened its Center for Training and Documentation in 1996, two years after the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi.

With the lives of more than 1 million Tutsi taken during genocide, the church created the center to equip church members and religious leaders with knowledge and skills to help meet community needs in a post-genocide Rwanda. Indeed, a church-wide grassroots home church program, also called the Basic Communities program, is working to strengthen members’ spiritual lives and promote community. Each week, seven to 15 families from the same neighborhood meet at one of the family’s homes for Bible study, socialization, sharing of concerns and prayer. Through the center, the church provides an annual booklet for use by these grassroots home churches. The booklet includes 52 topics for discussion and study, one topic for every week of the year. The program has been deeply embraced by church members, all of whom are engaged in these weekly meetings, which has contributed immensely to church-wide vitality.

“At 6 p.m. every day, all family members stand up in their houses and say the prayer of our Lord and recite the Apostles’ Creed together with the whole church in the world,” said Rev. Dr. Pascal Bataringaya, the president and legal representative of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda. He explained that during the current context of COVID-19 pandemic, the grassroots home churches are meeting electronically, mainly through WhatsApp groups. “For the sermon, we send an audio message. Those who don’t use WhatsApp communicate by short text messages. This way is used by many church members, and it is very helpful in the current situation of COVID-19 and lockdown,” Bataringaya said. For church members who do not have a mobile phone, Bataringaya said that the church sends hard copies of the teachings.

In February, before the COVID-19 lockdown, participants enjoyed a time of study and prayer during a grassroots home church gathering in Rwanda’s Kanombe Parish. (Photo provided by Kigali Presbytery)

Through the center’s Theological Education by Extension program, elders, deacons and preachers from various Christian denominations meet weekly in groups of about 20 to reflect on lessons prepared and published by the center on topics from the Old Testament, New Testament, homiletics, church history, Christian ethics, church and society.

In addition, a capacity-building program provides in-service training of church ministers on important issues such as conflict management, environmental challenges, gender-based violence and family planning. Training materials are compiled in a booklet and shared with trainees and others who may not have had a chance to participate in the in-person training, so that all can work together to examine the topics and preserve church unity and identity.

Men and women from Christian and Muslim faith communities meet together for discussion in December 2018. (Photo provided by Gisenyi Presbytery)

A Christian-Muslim relations program promotes peaceful cohabitation and interdependence of people of both religious groups. It brings together members of both faith communities to reflect on common political and socio-economic issues, promoting the spirit of tolerance and mutual respect in the midst of theological and doctrinal differences.

To keep track of empirical research on challenges faced by the post-genocide Rwandan community, and how churches can address these challenges, the center created a library at its offices. The library houses books, journals and articles to help church ministers, Christians, theology students and lecturers access learning materials for intellectual and practical enrichment. The center plans to create an electronic library and long-term data storage to provide a way for materials to be accessed remotely by various denominations.

The Rev. Emmanuel Muhozi (left), the Rev. Célestin Nsengimana (center), and the Rev. Paula Cooper, World Mission’s regional liaison for East Central Africa, at a meeting of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda’s Center for Training and Documentation in March. (Photo contributed by Paula Cooper)

Through varied programs offered by the Center for Training and Documentation, the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda not only maintains church unity and identity, but also contributes to the process of rebuilding and consolidating relationships among Rwandans through research and training. The church is grateful for the consistent and ongoing support of national and international mission partners in meeting its goals of organizing training sessions in different areas of the country, creation and publication of learning materials, and research and acquisition of books and articles for its library.

Learn more about the work of PC(USA) mission workers and partners in Rwanda.

The Rev. Célestin Nsengimana is coordinator of the Center for Training and Documentation of The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda, launched in 1996 to equip church members and leaders of other Christian denominations with knowledge and skills to help meet community needs in post-genocide Rwanda. In addition to his work at the center, Nsengimana teaches Theology and Development Studies at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS). He was in the second cohort of students to study theology at PIASS after the genocide and is past-President of Gitarama Presbytery. He is also pursuing his doctorate in Liturgical Studies at Protestant Theological University in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.