The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda – October 2022 Update
Rev. Dr. Pascal Bataringaya, EPR President
EPR President Rev. Dr. Pascal Bataringaya recently shared news from Rwanda:
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
It is my honor to share the current situation in Rwanda with you. The three main areas of concern are currently church evangelism and mission, the COVID pandemic, and inflation.
Implementation of the Church's mission in Rwandan society
The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (EPR) is known in Rwandan society for holistic transformation expressed in its mission: "To spread the Good News of God's salvation in Jesus Christ to humanity and manifest the love of God through activities that promote the well-being of the whole creation." In this regard, the EPR is involved in education, community development, church growth, and healthcare. The Presbyterian Church is carrying out its mission in all districts of Rwanda which includes 224 parishes and 3,573 grassroots communities, serving around 1,000,000 church members.
The COVID pandemic situation
The COVID situation has steadily improved to the extent that some preventive measures have been eliminated including wearing face masks and testing for COVID before flying and upon arrival in the country. However, the vaccination campaign continues. The government requests that everyone over 18 who has taken the third dose should take the fourth. The EPR also encourages all young people and church members to take the vaccine.
The COVID pandemic presented many challenges both for the church and Rwandan society:
· family finances have been negatively affected by business failures, especially in the hotel/hospitality sectors
· Rwandan borders closed for a long period of time which caused a scarcity of goods and led to increased prices
· gas prices have increased which also affects the cost of goods
· several EPR temples remain closed due to limited means to help them reopen
· the EPR is still concerned for its personnel whose churches are closed
· inflation in Rwanda is a challenge
Inflation seems to be a problem worldwide, evidenced by price increases, especially gas. The inflation rate in Rwanda increased to 16.1% in June up from 14.8 % in May. The Church must recognize and help people deal with the consequences of inflation because it makes life so difficult.
We continue praying for the whole world to get through this time with the peace that comes from the awareness that God loves us and cares for us. We also keep praying, especially for all families, organizations, and sister churches, with a role to play in these challenging times. I salute the efforts of all of you in standing with us.
Thank you for your attention, may the Lord bless you.
Rev. Dr. Pascal Bataringaya
EPR President
The Outreach Foundation partners with the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda in a variety of ways:
· Christian Education for Presbyterian Children
· Presbyterian Ministry for Reconciliation and Healing
· Presbyterian Street Children's Ministry
· Scholarships for Presbyterians at the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS)
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda. All gifts of any size are welcomed. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.