Rwanda July 28th – August 6
This world is one big place. It is filled with 7.7 billion people, all unique, all different, and all created by God with a purpose and destiny. I have had the honor and privilege to meet many of those people, not only here in America but around the world. At the end of July, I will be heading back to Africa for the twenty-first time—it just doesn’t seem possible. I remember many years ago when Laura and I started Empty Tomb Ministries, we told God that we were willing to go and serve Him with all our hearts. I think He heard us!
I will be heading back to Rwanda with my good friend and ministry partner, Greg Yancey. Greg is the board chairman for Arise Rwanda Ministries, and I serve with him on the board of directors. This will be my fourth trip to Rwanda, where I have made many wonderful friends who have a heart and passion to serve Jesus. John Gasangwa is the founder of Arise, and he and his team will meet us in the capital city of Kigali; from there, we will head to the village of Boneza for a week of ministry. It has been a little over a year since our last visit and all of the challenges from COVID. Our God is greater than any virus or power on this earth, so we go in His name and the power of the Holy Spirit.
It will be a busy week of ministry in many different areas. We will be spending time at Kivu Hills Academy which is part of Arise Rwanda. It will be wonderful to see many of the students again and to be able to bring them encouragement from God’s Word. We will also be doing leadership training with the staff, equipping them for the work that is to come. They are led by Principal Jean Claude Dusabe, who has become a dear friend, and he and his team are doing an amazing job leading the school with almost 300 high school students. We will also be hosting a Pastors Conference in Boneza with Pastor Arsene Manzi. Pastor Manzi is on staff at the school and is heading up our pastoral outreach in Boneza. Manzi is a very gifted man, a great worship leader, and has a heart to impact the world for Christ.
One day, we will head back to one of my favorite ministry spots in Rwanda—Iwawa Island, home to about 4,600 hundred men. It is a government-run drug and alcohol rehab center and is an hour boat ride from Boneza to Iwawa on Lake Kivu. Please join with me in prayer as God starts to prepare the hearts of the men for our visit. I believe the Holy Spirit will once again move in a very powerful way as these men hear about the love, grace, hope, and forgiveness that is found in Jesus Christ. We will also find our way to visit some of the great churches in Boneza. It is such a blessing to spend time with all the people, to worship together and encourage one another. It has been a real challenge for the pastors and all the people this year with all the COVID restrictions. I think the timing of our visit will help bring encouragement and hope too many.
I want to thank all of you who have invested in ETM, stood with me in prayer and helped support me through the years so I could go and be used by God. I am so humbled and honored to be joined with you and to represent you to the country of Rwanda.
It will be good to be back on Iwawa Island and to challenge the men to become followers of Christ and to watch the power of the Holy Spirit set their hearts free.
It is always such a blessing to join our brothers and sisters at church as we worship and open God’s word together.
Rwanda Pastors Conference:
50 X $50 = $2500
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16
The world sure has changed in the last year and a half. What was normal before isn’t so much normal anymore. Jesus promised that one day He would return! My word to you—I hope you are ready: I pray that you have a personal and living relationship with Jesus Christ, that He is not only your Savior but your Lord. And for all of us who know Him, we need not fear as we walk through this world and all its uncertainties.
I am looking forward to our pastor’s conference coming up in Boneza, Rwanda. Each time we visit we invite all the pastors to join us for a time of leadership training. We feed them, encourage them, challenge them, and love them. It is truly an amazing time together and we have seen much fruit over the years as these leaders grow in their faith and leadership. The last year has been very difficult for them as they have been unable to open their churches because of COVID. Living in a very poor community has stretched them even more. I want to invite you to join me as we do something special for these pastors. The average pastor makes about $2 a day—that’s right $2 a day. Let’s do this: if each one of us would give $50 and we have 50 pastors, that would mean we need to come up with $2500. I think this is possible, don’t you? What a blessing it would be that, at the end of our conference, we hand each pastor an envelope with $50. I think they would probably dance all the way home!
Consider yourself invited to be a part of this blessing. God’s word tells us that when we bless others, we are also blessed. As we share our resources with our brothers and sisters in Rwanda, God sees our sacrifice and He will be well pleased. You can be a great blessing to them and not even have to board a plane, fly for 23 hours, and then drive for 5 more. You can do it from the comfort of your own home. I got ya covered! If you send ETM a check just memo, “Pastor Gift.” If you would like to give electronically through our web page you can do that as well. Thanks so much for prayerfully considering how you can bless someone else.
God has done a great work in Boneza as He has brought the pastors together. It is an honor for me to work with them and to see the faithfulness of God in their lives.
Vision for Uganda
For many years, I have been working with the wonderful people of Uganda. After 16 visits and countless hours on the road visiting many different villages, I have some exciting news. But I can’t share it with you yet! How about that? Still working out some of the details and I’m very excited about the new opportunity that seems to be unfolding there. Just in case my wife Laura is reading this: No dear, we are not moving! Over the years, we have been a part of planting churches and doing many different leadership conferences and training throughout Uganda. It has been such an honor to be joined with many different pastors who have become very good friends. You have seen many of their pictures over the years through my newsletters, and you have heard many of their stories and even been a part of helping them build their churches through your financial support. They have a special place in their hearts for ETM and for all of you. I will be sharing more with you in my next newsletter. I just wanted to prime the pump on what might be coming with our ministry work in Uganda. The best is yet to come!
Uganda Village…During one of my last trips to Uganda we spent time with Pastor Avis and many in the church. They were in the final stages of completing their new building. A miracle of God.