Joyce Meyer Delivers Message of Hope to Rwanda
Renowned evangelist Joyce Meyer assured the people of Rwanda that their country shall rise again during a massive gathering last week at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali.
Renowned evangelist Joyce Meyer assured the people of Rwanda that their country shall rise again during a massive gathering last week at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali.
"Satan wanted to steal the future of Rwandans but because of God's grace Satan was defeated," Meyer said Friday at the three-day gospel crusade organized by Hope Rwanda – a large joint effort initiated by Mark and Darlene Zschech of Hillsong Church in Australia.
"You will get double blessing from your trouble," she said, according to The New Times.
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Meyer, who arrived in Kigali last Wednesday for the event at Amahoro Stadium, said prior to the gathering, "What makes me confident that the message of hope I have brought will make a difference to the life of hurt Rwandans is that it's the message of God that changed my life, after my father hurt and abused me during my childhood."
At the event on Friday, Meyer retold the story of her past, advising Rwandans to repent and to reconcile with one another.
"When I was 12 to 15 years, my father sexually abused me. He made it a habit because he was feared by both my mother and brothers. My father was a drunkard and that's why he was feared. This affected me, but due to God's grace I managed to forgive him," The New Times quoted her as saying.
Meyer added, "All this happened because God was trying me and the trial gave me victory."
According to the Kigali-based news publication, Meyer’s dream in Rwanda is to create an impact with God's Word, feed 25,000 people, clothe the poor and minister to the elderly, widows, orphans, visit prisons and reach out to people of all walks of life.
Meyer is one of several prominent Christians who are taking part in Hope Rwanda. The project helps bring together Christian churches and ministries – such as Book of Hope International, Hillsong Australia, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Saddleback Church, Willow Creek Church, Operation Open Heart, Habitat for Humanity, and the Rwanda for Jesus Revival Centre – to bring hope back to the country through construction projects, medical assistance, and educational aids among other efforts.
Between Apr. 7 and Jul. 15 this year, Hope Rwanda will cover the same 100 days as the 1994 genocide in which almost one million Rwandans were murdered. Hope Rwanda is aimed at reminding the world of this year’s 12th anniversary of the genocide.
“This is the beginning of everything,” Pastor Joel Sengoga, the Coordinator of Hope Rwanda, told The New Times. “We hope and believe that each and every Rwandan would benefit from this project since God is for us all."
"Hope Rwanda … has brought together all churches in the country for the sake of reconciling Rwandans with God after the 1994 Mayhem which left the country in ruins," he added.
In his opening remarks for last week’s three-day event, the President of Hope Rwanda, Bishop John Rucyahana, told those gathered that Hope Rwanda belongs to Rwandans and that it would give the nation lots of blessings.
He hailed Hope Rwanda initiator Mark Zschech, who said the project would be a success story, and urged the gathering to emulate him in a bid to save mankind.
"Now, the Americans, Rwandans and other nationals sing together and speak the same language of hope and love. We are one and equal before God. We are on the same level because of God's grace, unlike in the colonial era," Rucyahana said, according to The New Times.
The bishop, who lauded Meyer for her preaching, also advised Rwandans to embrace unity and love, saying the two virtues are prerequisites to peace and harmony.
Meyer said earlier that with prayers and God's mercy, Rwanda had already started a way for unity and reconciliation. She believes the Gospel message will encourage people to forgive and ask for forgiveness.
