Rwanda Partnership Update
Church of the Redeemer has a sister-to-sister partnership with the Karangazi parish in Rwanda which largely stems from the ACNA’s formation as a mission of the Anglican Church of Rwanda to America.
Redeemer is one of several parishes partnered with Friends of Gahini, a non-profit organization which seeks to foster relationships with churches in the Gahini Diocese of Rwanda. MOUCECORE (French: “Mouvement Chrétien Pour L’ Evangélisation, le Counseling et la Réconciliation,” English: “Christian Movement For Evangelism, Counseling and Reconciliation”) is a Rwandan Christian organization which aids churches in community development and facilitates relationships with other parishes, such as Redeemer’s relationship with the Karangazi parish.
We are so thankful for our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Karangazi parish, and hope that we’ll be able to make our annual visit in the spring of 2022.
Here’s a May/June 2021 update on our sister parish from our MOUCECORE representative, Rosemary Uwineza.
End of Month Report
Church of the Redeemer has a Sister-to-Sister partnership with Karangazi parish which fosters a cross-cultural relationship and ministry alliance between Anglican Mission churches and Rwandan parishes. MOUCECORE facilitates the partnership by providing different services and administration support. This end of month report will help maintain a clear communication and follow up on projects being implemented in Gahini Diocese supported by Friends of Gahini.
KAMATE PARISH
Gahini Diocese has 6 Archdeaconries and Karangazi is one of them. Under Karangazi there are eight (8) Parishes including Kamate Parish with about 1,400 congregations including adults and children. Pastor MUHOZI Gideon is the Senior pastor of Kamate Parish.
Having very many plans about the development of the Parish along with Gospel preaching, Pastor Gideon is working very hard with church members on the following projects:
Renovation of Kamate church;
Creation of Self-Help groups;
Construction of more classroom buildings and a fully equipped library;
Construction of commercial buildings;
Installation of electricity in Kamate school; and
Buying of more desks for Kamate Primary School
The above-mentioned projects are expected to be done in 5 years or less. Implementation of some projects have already started, others are still in thoughts and they humbly ask for your prayers that may God enable them to accomplish what they have started and even more.
PROJECTS
CHURCH RENOVATION
After seeing the need for renovation of Kamate church, the congregation contributed and worked together to renovate Kamate Church. They are grateful and thank God who enabled them.
INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICITY
Installation of solar panels has started in Kamate Primary School but due to a lot of work taking place in Kamate Parish that requires money, Kamate Parish began installation of electricity in primary 6 because they have National exams coming up in a few months but they are planning to do other classes as funds are available because they want to provide electricity to the whole primary school (Nursery school to primary 6) as well as the church building. They humbly ask for your prayers since this is highly needed in the school by Kamate students.
CREATION OF SELF-HELP GROUPS (SHGs)
The idea of starting Self-Help Groups that teaches saving developed in the mind of Pastor Gideon after seeing the importance and how it has positively affected people that joined Self-Help groups in Nyabitekeri Parish (the Parish he relocated from) and wanted to introduce this to Kamate Parish as well.
Pastor Gideon introduced Self-Help Groups to Kamate church members, explaining what it is and its benefits and whoever heard about it was very excited and couldn’t wait to join.
In September 2020, the first Self-Help Groups in Kamate Parish were created and they are composed of Kamate church members. The aim of these Self-Help Groups is learning how to save, socialize, do Bible study in small groups and pray together, help one another to get out of extreme poverty by putting together all their strength, capacity and sharing of experience.
Below are the Self-Help Groups formed and they are well-functioning:
EAR Kamate Mothers and Fathers Tuzamurane: This SHG is made up of Fathers and Mothers Union of Kamate Parish.
Kigazi EAR Kamate Duterimbere: This SHG is made up of church members from a cell group called “Kigazi cell group.”
EAR Kamate Tuzamurane: This SHG is still mixed as it includes; Fathers, Mothers and Youth Union.
Kamate Parish is planning to form more Self-Help Groups as people understand it more, what it is, and how it works.
CONSTRUCTION OF MORE CLASSROOM BUILDINGS
Recently the Ministry of Education visited Kamate primary school and commanded the school to have enough classroom buildings for all students. Today Kamate Primary school has a total of 7 classroom buildings and they are in need of 3 more classroom buildings, a library as well as a staff room. The main reason for this is the increasing number of students enrolled, hence leading nursery school use church buildings as a classroom due to shortage of classroom buildings. This is a big project for Kamate Parish and much of your prayers are needed.
Pastor Gideon continues to express his thanks and gratitude on behalf of Kamate parish to the Church of the Redeemer/Friends of Gahini, for all the financial support they have provided to them in construction of 5 classroom buildings and they thank God who enabled you to do so.
BUYING OF NEW DESKS FOR KAMATE PRIMARY SCHOOL
The Ministry of Education has ordered every school to seat only 1 student per desk to prevent spreading of coronavirus. This was very hard for Kamate school because number one, this was unexpected and number two before coronavirus 3 students used to sit on 1 desk and now they were required to seat only 1 student per desk meaning buying of more desks. So far, Kamate primary school has bought 200 desks and they still need to buy more desks due to a large number of students but they are grateful to God that students have continued to study as the school proceed to find ways to buy more desks.
Kamate Parish congregation would love to hear from you as well, how the church is doing, what is happening and prayer requests they can pray for you. They miss you and always pray for God’s blessings and protection over you.
Report done by: Uwineza Rosemary
