Rwanda

Answer to Prayer

Evangelicals emerged from the ashes to grow rapidly post-1994. Today, they are present in great numbers in political leadership, education and health and nation-building. While the spike of Protestant/Independent growth has plateaued, the consolidation of evangelicals as a force in society is to be lauded.

Challenge for Prayer

Rwanda’s longer-term future must eventually move past the events of the 1990s. A development programme called Vision 2020 intends to transform Rwanda’s economy, infrastructure and values. Other challenges loom large on the horizon, most notably:

a) Political stability is achieved, yet greater freedoms could still be achieved. Political leadership is strong, but a healthy political opposition movement and a more independent press could make Rwanda even stronger. The government is very sympathetic toward Christianity, but is not without its critics, especially in the areas of freedom of expression, human rights and foreign policy toward the DRC. Righteousness exalts a nation; pray for such a dynamic to characterize Rwanda.

b) The military-political conundrum of relationships among Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-DRC and Uganda remains a challenge. With the activities of rebels and militias, relationships are often strained and rise and fall regularly. Pray for patience, understanding and cooperation to work together for justice and to root out those who would destabilize the region.

c) Rapid population growth and limited land promise to intensify the issue hidden at the root of the massacres. The traditional habit of parcelling out inherited land to all offspring created tiny parcels of farmland insufficient to even feed a family. Jealousy and greed were behind countless local episodes of murder and theft during the dark days of 1994-95. The terrible loss of life depopulated much land, but this same issue will inevitably resurface – Rwanda is already Africa’s most densely populated country. Pray that wise solutions might be found to this deep-seated and long-term problem.

     For an additional 6 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.