The following report is from Kalengule Kaoma, GCI Missions Director for much of Africa.
Rwanda
Many church groups in Rwanda have written to Grace Communion International for affiliation, financial support, prayer and other spiritual needs. Recently, I traveled to Kigali, capital city of Rwanda where I met the leaders who have written GCI.
On October 1 I met 12 leaders representing eight independent churches. Our meeting lasted close to four hours. We discussed various concerns and questions ranging from affiliation with GCI to orphan support. We have been requested to facilitate reconciliation efforts among church group leaders and communities where churches are established. It has been 17 years since the Rwandan genocide in 1994, and some quarters of society, including Christians, are still skeptical and suspicious of each other. “Please come back quickly and minister to us. We need to work together as church leaders” Bishop Benjamin Sibo-Muzi encouraged me.
After meeting the 12 leaders, I had several other meetings with leaders who are interested in being part of the GCI community. On Sunday, I had an opportunity to speak to 250 believers who joyfully and gratefully sang to our awesome God.
It is clear that a door is opening for GCI to be established and registered in Rwanda. Please pray for committed contacts with whom to work.
Malawi
After Rwanda, I visited Malawi to commission a church building for the church we planted about four years ago in Mombezi.
Before starting that church, Mr. Mape and his wife travelled 19 kilometers each way by bicycle to attend GCI church services in Mpanda. On their way to and from that location, the Mapes crossed a river by canoe. After a while, the GCI Malawi leadership team encouraged Mr. Mape to start a cell group in his home community of Mombezi. He did so, and the group grew to an average of 25 adults in weekly attendance.
Gardner Kunje, GCI Malawi National Ministry Leader and his team decided to construct a meeting hall for the Mombezi church. In 2010, Mombezi members molded bricks and baked them in firewood kilns. Construction of the meeting hall started in April 2011. Dedication and commissioning of the building took place in a service on October 8, with 300 in attendance. Among those attending were village, community and church leaders from churches in the neighborhood. When the traditional group village headman spoke, he acknowledged that GCI has a visible presence in the community. Since the dedication, average weekly attendance is up to about 45.
Please pray that God will provide committed, knowledgeable leaders to serve our churches in Africa.
It is encouraging to read that members are being encouraged and empowered to start congregations in their local communities. I believe that is a good way to engage our communities, cultures and peoples with the gospel. From the grassroots, GCI will blossom and have impact. Let the ‘ordinary’ member take the gospel to his or her community. God will take care of the rest. Well done, Mr. Mape and the believers in Mombezi.
PRAISE THE LORD, GO FORWARD IN HIS NAME AND CONTINUE TO BUILD HIS KINGDOM ACCORDING TO HIS WORD/WILL. LOVE AND BEST WISHES.