This month in Rwanda we are hosting visitors from all over East Africa, US, Bolivia, Taiwan and Hungary as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rwandan Friends Church. There are all kinds of activities planned for this celebration. We see this celebration as an important step in the history of the Friends Church in Rwanda. As our special gift to the church we are making a one-hour video of the church’s 25 years of history. It’s been quite the project!
We started working with our leaders months ago to make a script for the video. Of 25 years, how do we choose what is most important? Do we only talk about the things that went well, or do we also talk about things that didn’t go so well, and lessons we learned? It was interesting (and very encouraging) to find woven throughout the video script themes that we have taught over and over through out the years. For example, the importance of whole life transformation. This is at the very heart of who we are and what we do, but has it penetrated the hearts of the church leaders? If the script is any indication, yes, whole life transformation is important to them now, and they have a vision of moving more in that direction in the future. We have also been encouraged by the leaders’ desire to highlight ministry that went well, and to discuss and learn lessons from ministry that didn’t go so well. They are willing and able to learn from the past, and to cast vision into the future.
So, as David works hard to get this video done for the special celebration we are praying for God’s spirit of blessing to come through the video; for Rwandan Christians to be encouraged to see all God has brought them through as a denomination, to celebrate together the highs and lows, and to look forward to God’s vision for their future together.
Contributed by Debby Thomas, Rwanda, Africa
I love the concept of “whole life transformation.” In making and showing the video may you be very blessed. Ken and Jo