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The Free Methodist Church in

Rwanda

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People in Rwanda
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Pray For

  • Bishop Samuel Kayinamura as he leads the church
  • the training of pastors; a new law states that pastors must have a bachelor’s degree in theology; this must happen within four years, and currently, only 26% of the pastors have this degree
  • the work of Kibogora Hospital
  • partners for ICCM-sponsored schools
  • Christians to live out the message of love, forgiveness and reconciliation needed in this nation

PRESENT MINISTRIES

There is a growing number of annual conferences in the church, and they see steady growth. Education is a priority of the church in Rwanda. Currently, they have 40 nursery schools, 45 primary schools and 29 secondary schools, along with a small university, Kibogora Polytechnic. ICCM sponsors more than 800 children in Rwanda, including those in two centers for special-needs children.

The medical ministry also remains strong with Kibogora Hospital as a primary referral center in southwestern Rwanda. Health care is also provided in neighboring centers. Current projects at the hospital include the construction of a more functional Emergency Room (ER) and the destruction of the building housing the previous Maternity Department and the present ER. (Scroll down to Extra Mile projects for more information on this hospital project.)

ORIGINS

Pioneer missionaries Frank and Hazel Adamson, coming from Burundi, established the first Free Methodist mission at Kibogora in 1942. A great revival broke out in the area within a few years, resulting in thousands of conversions. This revival was part of a larger movement known as the East Africa Revival. Medical work and an elementary school opened soon after the first missionaries arrived. Later a Bible school was started. The Rwanda conference developed an aggressive church-planting program and now has churches in every province of the country. In August 1985, Rwanda became a general conference.

In 1994 Rwanda’s ethnic conflict erupted in a period of genocide. Missionaries were evacuated. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives. Millions more fled to refugee camps in neighboring countries.

Country Leader

Bishop Samuel Kayinamura

Bishop Samuel Kayinamura

Rwanda General Conference

Missionaries

Emmanuel & Rachel Nzungize
Emmanuel & Rachel Nzungize

Rachel and Emmanuel are serving as associate missionaries at Kibogora Hospital in Rwanda. Both are nurses working at the hospital, teaching at the local nursing school, and assisting with responsibilities at the mission guest house. Children: Noella, MatayoPray For...

Prayercast | Rwanda

Filling the Gap

Heartbeat | Rwanda

Hope in Rwanda

Hope in Rwanda

Allain is a pastor at Kibogora Free Methodist Church, located in a rural village on Lake Kivu in western Rwanda. He is busy serving the church in youth ministry, working as the coordinator for Rwanda’s Youth for Christ (YFC), and serving with Compassion International. When I asked Allain why he feels called to youth, he told me it was because he remembers what it was like to be young and encounter the challenges youth face.

read more

COUNTRY STATISTICS

General Conference

  • Population: 12,830,000
  • Evangelical Christians: 26.23%
  • FM Work Opened: 1942
  • FM Churches: 645
  • FM Membership: 170,728
  • Ordained Ministers: 301
  • Ministerial Candidates: 60
  • Bishop: Samuel Kayinamura
  • Ecclesiastical Accountability: Free Methodist World Conference
Rwanda highlighted on a globe

Photo Credit: TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Join the ministry in Rwanda

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Church Planting & Development

Funding Rwanda Church Planting and Development (CPD) will help resource the following people and strategic initiatives:

  • Spiritual ministry to patients at Kibogora Hospital through Christian literature, home visits and special evangelism weeks, including special speakers and teams. The head chaplain of the hospital, with two other chaplains, oversees this ministry.
  • Scholarships for pastors attending the Free Methodist Church’s university.

Extra Mile Projects

Kibagora Hospital Operation

Kibogora Hospital encounters many expenses that impact patient care. The Operations Fund helps support the hospital in covering these expenses. Whether repairs to hospital equipment, the purchase of critical medications, or the provision of teaching materials for staff to use in various trainings, these funds are available to assist necessary costs. When resources impacting day to day functions of a hospital are sparse, it can be challenging to provide patients with adequate care. By giving to the Kibogora hospital Operations fund you can serve as a supportive partner in helping the hospital overcome these challenges.

Kibogora Hospital Building Project

In the past, this fund has been used to contribute to the construction of new buildings at Kibogora Hospital. Most recently, funds were used to aid in completing the new maternity building, which opened in January 2023 and provides better care for mothers and infants. Current projects at the hospital include the construction of a more functional Emergency Room (ER) and the destruction of the building housing the previous Maternity Department and the present ER. Deconstruction of the old building will include reimagining the grounds to provide safe and efficient access to the new ER. The total budget for this new project is $33,000. More than 50% of the costs have already been covered by hospital partners, leaving a deficit of $13,300. This project is vital to improving rural Rwanda’s healthcare infrastructure and access to healthcare services.

Kibogora Malnutrition Project Fund

Kibogora Hospital administers a program caring for malnourished persons. FMWM partners with the Rwanda Free Methodist Church to help malnourished people back to health. This account provides some support for this program.

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