Visit Rwanda: Make 2010 your year to visit our spiritual home

One of the great joys of being a part of the Anglican Province of Rwanda is the opportunity to visit our spiritual home and walk shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the real heroes of our Christian faith.

Rwanda, a nation which a mere 15 years ago was in the midst of a tragic genocide, is now truly a Christian nation where God’s hand may be seen in nearly every part of its culture, government, and family life.

It was men like our Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, President Paul Kagame, and Bishop John Rucyahana whom God used as agents of that change, and their willingness to sacrifice everything for the Gospel to redeem this land is at the core of our missional DNA in the Anglican Mission.

The Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, rooted in the East African Revival of the 1930s, is dedicated to upholding the faith and practice of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church. In response to an ever-deepening crisis of faith and leadership in both The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, the Province of Rwanda courageously intervened in the situation by consecrating the Rev. Chuck Murphy and the Rev. Dr. John Rodgers as missionary bishops in January 2000. Later that year the Anglican Mission was officially launched as a missionary outreach of Rwanda committed to reaching the unchurched in North America.

In many ways, Rwanda was moved to respond to America because of the pain suffered in the genocide. Archbishop Kolini notes that he could not turn his back on a faithful people who cried out for his help: “When UN Troops were asked to help Rwanda at the time of the genocide, instead of helping, the world abandoned us. I will never do what the world has done to my people.”

We in the Anglican Mission rejoice in the integrity and faithfulness of the Province of Rwanda, celebrating our membership in this global family. Rwanda and the Anglican Mission enjoy a close partnership of mission and ministry fueled by a shared passion and vision for evangelizing the unsaved. Our connection is strong, and we recognize how much we have to learn about forgiveness and reconciliation from the people of Rwanda.

I want to encourage you to plan a trip in 2010 to this amazing and beautiful country. If it’s your first trip, I encourage you to just go…You don’t have to plan a complicated mission effort, simply visit, and become acquainted with the gentle souls in the Land of A Thousand Hills.

While you’re in Rwanda you will feel the embrace of a nation which is known for its hospitality and kindness to visitors. In fact, as a part of the family of Christ you will never feel like a visitor in Rwanda. The English language is commonplace among nearly all of the people, the climate is temperate, and while the trip to Rwanda is lengthy, major carriers make the trip exceedingly comfortable.

If you or your church is interested in hearing more about Rwanda, you can contact any one of our HONA representatives who have been in country. Peter Mathews vanceperter@insightbb.com, Fred Carson fredcarson@sympatico.ca, Doc Loomis amiamission@yahoo.com, and others have made recent trips, and Fred has spent years visiting Rwanda as a missionary.

You are also welcome to contact us at amiamission@yahoo.com  to receive helpful details about planning  your Rwandan visit and to find out more about making travel arrangements.

Please remember that any HONA individual or group planning a trip to Rwanda will want to contact the Mission office and the office of the Archbishop to inform them of your plans to visit.

Anglican Province of Rwanda home http://www.pear-hq.org.rw/

Rwandan Blessing home http://rwandanblessing.com

Mustard Seed Project home http://www.mustardseedproject.org/

Rwanda Tourism Official Site http://www.rwandatourism.com/home.htm

Clergy Travel notifications:

Because ++Kolini's office and +Chuck's office work closely together, he would like for all clergy to let me know when anyone is going to Rwanda so that I can be certain he and Rose (his secretary) are aware that they are coming.  (I do believe our archbishop has, among many other gifts, the gift
of hospitality!)  This is not intended to take the place of working out details with Rwandan priests, but rather an assurance that he is kept informed; just as he has asked his bishops and priests to let me know when they are coming to North America.  It can be as simple as asking clergy to copy me when communicating with folks in Rwanda about traveling there. 

Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini ek@terracom.rw

Cc: Susan Grayson, AMiA sgrayson@theamia.org

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