Major Global Church Initiative Focuses on 'Forgotten' Rwanda
The self-described ''forgotten'' country of Rwanda will be the focus of a major global church initiative involving some of the most well-known churches in the world, leading Christian figures, and respected Christian organizations.
The self-described “forgotten” country of Rwanda will be the focus of a major global church initiative involving some of the most well-known churches in the world, leading Christian figures, and respected Christian organizations to bring hope and healing to the country known for its massive genocide in the ‘90s.
Hope Rwanda – founded and directed by Mark and Darlene Zschech of Hillsong Church, Sydney, Australia – is a project to replace the nation’s painful memories of its 100 days of genocide with those of hope by coordinating projects to help rebuild the country and people. The project of hope next year will coincide exactly with the 100 days of genocide, April 7-July 15.
"We are excited about God's heart for this nation," said Darlene Zschech in a statement. "We sense the call of Heaven to host Hope Rwanda and are confident that as we gather the strength of the global church to serve this great nation in need that we will see it changed at its core forever".
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Churches and Christian organizations during the 100 days will help address a wide-range of needs including the building of schools, homes, wells, orphanages; medical care such as immunization, open heart surgery, and dental care; supplying food, bicycles, Bibles, and everyday essential items; education on nutrition, hygiene, micro-enterprise development, leadership; training teachers, nurses, Pastors, youth workers, musicians; and caring for widows, orphans, prostitutes, prisoners and those without hope.
“The work we want to do spans from being in the prisons with the 800,000 that are incarcerated to teaching woman about AIDS,” said Mark Zschech during an interview with Leadership Now, an Assemblies of God resource provider on leadership.
“It’s about the Church working together and having a major impact.”
In 1994 for 100 days, the capital city of Kigali “ran red with rivers of blood, but no one came to help." In spite of the fact that 10,000 innocent men, women, and children died each day, 400 each hour, and seven each minute - according to figures published by Aegis Trust for the Kigali Memorial Centre – there was no international intervention in Rwanda or forces that came to help stop the massacre. Instead, news reports referred to the genocide as “tribal warfare” or another “third world” incident.
As a result, the Rwandans themselves call the 100 days of genocide, “the time the world forgot us.”
“There is definitely an atmosphere of sadness wherever you go, in a country of 8 million people everyone has been affected by it one way or another,” said Mark Zschech to Leadership Now.
Yet Mark and Darlene Zschech believe this is an opportunity for Christians worldwide to show that the Rwandans are not forgotten.
“The Rwandan people may have been forgotten in the past, but Hope Rwanda is a great opportunity for the Global Church to take action and bring hope in Christ,” said the Zschechs on the Hope Rwanda website.
Among those who have committed themselves or expressed interest in the initiative are Hillsong Australia, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Saddleback Church, Bill Hybels and Willow Creek Church, Book of Hope International, Operation Open Heart, Rwanda for Jesus Revival Centre, Integrity Media, Ken Duncan of the band Third Day, Habitat for Humanity, and International Justice Mission.
In addition, Hope Rwanda will partner with UNICEF in immunizing children and work with Compassion and World Vision in sponsoring children and feeding the hungry.
“Our aim is to see the church worldwide united and bring the God-answer to the people of Rwanda,” said the Zschechs on Hope Rwanda’s website.
“Join us as we work together, to serve Rwanda and its future generations with the Hope of Christ. We serve the potential of this great nation. This is our chance to rewrite history.”
For more information on Hope Rwanda, visit www.hoperwanda.org
