
I've just returned from the East African country of Rwanda, Le Pays aux Mille Collines (The Country of a Thousand Hills). For decades following World War II, animosity between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes cast a dark shadow over this land of hills, lakes, and laughing children. By 1994, this dark shadow became a storm cloud of gratuitous evil delivering a torrent of unimaginable suffering and death. The horror of mass genocide in this country rivaled—and in some cases surpassed—that of the Nazi death camps.
Today, however, the impact of the gospel is bringing healing and reconciliation to this land ravaged by such pain and death. It's estimated that nearly 90% of the Rwandan population claims to be Christ-followers. Such estimates, of course, can be misleading. Nevertheless, there is a profound hunger for God's Word and an urgent need among the shepherds of God's people ("Shepherds among the hills") to be equipped in the faithful study and exposition of the Scriptures.

Our focus, as in each of the countries where we serve, is to raise up a team of national pastor-teachers who can "take the baton" and multiply this equipping ministry throughout the nation. With that goal in view, I personally taught our first seminar in Kigali where our three teachers-in-training observed and assisted during the three-day workshop. We had eighty pastors and church leaders in attendance at this first seminar. Following this, I spent three days with our teachers, helping them master the content and methodology of this training which focuses on Bible study methods and expository preaching. Following this training, they themselves taught the last two seminars as I evaluated and encouraged them along. We thanks God that during these two weeks 237 pastors and church leaders were better equipped to study and preach God's Word using the Thompson Chain Reference Bible.

One of the greatest challenges facing the Rwandan church at this time is the government closure of more than 7,000 local fellowships. The government has placed stringent requirements upon the church leadership, requiring a certain level of education in order to combat heretical teachings. While this is commendable, it has also resulted in the clocsure of many churches pastored by evangelical pastors who lack the needed training. This only emphasizes the critical need of the training we offer through African Pastoral Training which better equips these faithful men and women to "rightly handle the Word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
What are out next steps? Our aim is to see at least two of our teachers-in-training certified as national trainers. At that point, we will entrust the on-going ministry to them as they in turn train others. I plan (Lord willing) to return to Rwanda later this year in hopes of seeing this objective realized.
Below is a short video that will encourage you in your prayer for these "Shepherds among the Hills" in Rwanda, Le Pays aux Mille Collines.
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