Interview: The Zschechs on Hope Rwanda’s Success, Acceptance, Impact
“Hope Rwanda” ended this past weekend after uniting Christian leaders and churches worldwide for a massive 100-day cooperative effort in Rwanda. The project’s goal was to replace the memories of horror of the 100 days of genocide with “the Hope of Christ.”
Awarding-winning songwriter and worship leader Darlene Zschech and her husband Mark, founders of Hope Rwanda, informed The Christian Post in an email interview of the “overwhelming” success of the project and the embrace that it received from Rwandan churches, Christians in Africa and around the world.
CP: What expectations did you have for Hope Rwanda and how did they compare to the actual events that took place during the 100 days?
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Darlene: What has been happening during Hope Rwanda has far exceeded our expectations. Mark and I have been overwhelmed by the fact that Rwandans themselves have embraced Hope Rwanda as their own.
From the opening ceremony onwards, I have truly seen the power of God at work in so many ways. God is definitely on the move in Rwanda.
During the official opening ceremony back in April, my husband Mark, to whom God first gave the vision of Hope Rwanda, gave a simple account of how the Lord had touched his heart for Rwanda, and many were soon in tears. He ended with a prophetic word for the nation from Isaiah 62:1-2, which brought a hush of awe as the implication of the words dawned. Rwanda would no longer be called 'Deserted' or 'Forsaken by the Lord,' but would be known as the Lord's Delight. 'As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you,' Mark prophesied.
There has been such a wonderful display of unity. Hope Rwanda truly has caught the imagination of the Rwandan people. Mark and I are thrilled that the local churches have taken ownership of the vision. As Mark has stated so often, this was never meant to be just another event, but the beginning of a big change for this beautiful nation.
CP: Is this an annual event or a one-time event? If it is annual, then what would you like to keep and what would you like to change or improve next year?
Darlene: When God first spoke to us about Rwanda, we knew we couldn’t do it on our own. But we just felt that with a lot of our friends around the globe, if we just concentrated on one nation for 100 days, we could actually change a nation like Rwanda.
Mark and I were invited to speak to leaders in Washington, D.C., last year about Hope Rwanda. Again and again, we were told by several people in Washington that this could really be a template for a realistic way of bringing about change—and that’s just amazing to me.
Since that time onwards, Hope Rwanda has just taken on a life of its own. Many of those who have traveled to Rwanda have been so impacted by the people that they have forged life-long friendships with them and they are committing themselves to going back again. The awesome team of builders and tradesmen will be continuing their work with the building of an orphans village over a long period of time. Members of the education team are also talking about going back. So many of the church leaders who took teams over to Rwanda are saying that they plan to return to Rwanda to continue what God began during Hope Rwanda.
So Hope Rwanda ended on July 15, but the hope for Rwanda will go on. God has begun something in the hearts of everyone who took part in Hope Rwanda, and that effect will continue well beyond Hope Rwanda.
CP: How was Hope Rwanda received by the people of Rwanda and the government of Rwanda?
Mark: Right at the very beginning, after the vision was clear to us and beginning to generate lots of support, I knew I needed to go back to Rwanda and find out if 100 Days of Hope was really what the Rwandan people wanted. I was introduced to about 20 church leaders from different denominations. These men had been meeting for the last 10 years and I began to share the vision with them. As I spoke, I could see some of these old men with tears in their eyes. They told me, ‘This is what we have been waiting for – where the Church in Rwanda will help lead the nation.’
Darlene: According to an article in the 'New Times’ newspaper in Rwanda, leaders from around the nation are speaking of peace, prosperity, reconciliation and new beginnings. Hope Rwanda has ignited a vision and a passion in the Rwandan people for a better future.
Even the President of Rwanda called it “Our Hope Rwanda”. And the Prime Minister has told some of our team members about the impact Hope Rwanda is having in his country.
The Rwandans themselves call the 100 days of genocide “the time the world forgot us.” The feeling over the last 12 years since the genocide has been that the rest of the world had forgotten them, that we had ignored their plight, that we had turned our back on the over 800,000 Rwandans who were slaughtered over 100 days in 1994. Our aim was to convince them that they are not forgotten. Today Rwandans are telling us that they now feel like they are a part of the global community. I love hearing that.
CP: Were other African nations involved?
Darlene: Yes, we had teams of people from churches in South Africa, Uganda and Kenya go to Rwanda to take part in Hope Rwanda. Also, the 1st lady of Burundi has attended many of the more public gatherings…. It is certainly an incredibly exciting project to be a part of.
CP: Can you tell us a little about how the Rwandan churches and Rwandan Christians helped, were involved?
Darlene: They have been involved from hosting international teams, interpreting for us and the many others from around the world who have traveled to Rwanda...; young men are helping the builders, and they have provided venues and transportation for us. They have been supporting us in prayer... even financially. The Rwandan government has contributed to the medical work.... The list goes on and on.
CP: What were some of the reactions from Christians around the world who helped? How did they respond to the situation in Rwanda?
Darlene: Many have been overwhelmed by the need… and after you have visited the memorial site in Kigali, the reality of the absolute hell that took place becomes so incredibly confronting that it is hard to even start to understand what we could possibly do. But the Hope Rwanda project has been having an impact on everyone from western nations going to Rwanda. Ongoing, lifetime relationships have been established. Many people are now planning how they can go back to help their Rwandan friends even more, over an extended period of time. They have seen the real needs over there and their hearts are embracing these beautiful Rwandan people. Joyce Meyer, Delirious?, other church leaders and worship teams, medical teams etc have committed already to long term relationships.
CP: What is your reflection? What did you learn from this experience?
Darlene: My heart is actually still completely overwhelmed, but I have learned that people are people – same kinds of dreams, same desire to live a life of some sort of eternal value, mums want their children to flourish, dads want their children to be educated and immunized … and fed more than once a day. And the basic cry of humanity is the same – we all want to be loved and valued. But so many on the earth have to fight each day just to survive, rather than live, and we are desperate to be part of bringing the answer. 30,000 children are dying every single day of mostly preventable disease. It is an injustice of insane proportions and needs to be addressed now!
