Healing and Reconciliation

The journey had been long, but the opportunity finally presented itself. Eliya, a genocide perpetrator, was finally being welcomed back to the community. Families and community members all gathered together to witness this rare occasion, 24years after the genocide. But where did it all start? Ten years ago, Eliya got an invitation to attend a Healing and Reconciliation workshop. It is here that he met Gaston, a man who had miraculously survived a gruesome beating (they used a club full of nails, and damped his body in a ditch) by a perpetrator, a man who had lost over 70members of his extended family to the genocide, and a man who recognized Eliya as the culprit who killed 9members of his wife’s family, in that same period. It was here that Eliya saw Gaston, and it broke his heart. All he could do was fall on his knees, and earnestly ask for forgiveness. Through the Lord’s conviction, Gaston embraced him and forgave him. Gaston later on played the significant role of mediating the reconciliation of Eliya, first with his wife, and later on with his wife’s sister, Denise. Prior to their reconciliation and forgiveness, the thought and sight of Eliya disgusted Denise. She hated him for what he had done to her family. The hate was so extreme to the extent that she didn’t want to fellowship with Eliya in the same church! However, all that is in the past now. Recently a ceremony was organized to welcome Eliya back to the community. A ‘cow of forgiveness’ was awarded to Denise’s mother, to mark a fresh start between the two families.

Community Development

When Pastor Karasira attended the Community development training at Rabagirana in 2016, he realized that God’s mandate for the church is to ‘preach the good news to the poor’ as explained in Luke 4: 18-19. The church is called to be the feet and hands of Jesus here on earth and so it has to be transformational and holistic in its approach. Pastor Karasira went back and encouraged his congregation to do that exactly. He told them to leave the four walls of the church, and go out and be practical with their faith. Today his church has come up with initiatives such as kitchen gardens and other financial cooperatives to help the less fortunate. Recently his congregation decided to go and plough the land of a genocide survivor in their neighborhood. This act of kindness overwhelmed the owner of the land and she immediately gave her life to Christ.

Leadership Development

Peter Sengabire is a university student and a strong leader in his own circles. After undergoing a training in leadership, Peter left with a new understanding. He said: “I used to think being a leader is all about bossing people around. I could not tolerate opposition or even a contradicting opinion. However, this training taught me otherwise. I learnt that leadership is all about service and sacrifice.”

Peter went back and practiced what he had learnt and those working with him all noticed the difference in his behavior. Today, Peter has helped over 100 pastors in his region to undergo the same training.