General Blogs
“…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Cor.5:19). After six months of praying, teaching, guiding, facilitating and visiting with and interviewing all the parties, we saw some of the imprisoned perpetrators of the Genocide meeting survivors and also their own families inside the Bugusera Prison. More than 2000 prisoners were watching as we all gathered for this historic event. We had prepared everyone for this meeting of reconciliation, but we had no idea what to expect. The perpetrators had indicated…
Typically people hear from Gerrit about his travels while in Rwanda, but we thought it would be good to have Thabo share his experiences as he films the documentary MBABARIRA. I’m Sorry, Forgive Me. It’s amazing how one’s perspective can change in just a few minutes. This hasn’t been my first time in Rwanda, but it certainly has been the most eye-opening. From day one, when we met Chaplains Noel and Francois, I knew that this project and this trip were much more than what I initially believed. Francois showed us a very recent confession letter from a prisoner who is…
Greetings from warm South Africa! God has been opening many doors for Gerrit to minister in South Africa over the past few months. Gerrit spoke at the YWAM Africa leaders’ meeting this past week and next week he is participating in a session with indigenous leaders doing the ministry of reconciliation in Cape Town. We are feeling blessed by the opportunities to, once again, share God’s word of reconciliation in South Africa. On 19 October Gerrit leaves for Rwanda where he will meet up with Thabo for Project Ubumwe: a reconciliation ministry that will see genocide perpetrators asking forgiveness of victim families for the…
Gerrit sends us this short and encouraging report from “on the ground” in Rwanda: I am very tired but as in Cuba, God has taken over and the people, in this case the prisoners, are running with it. All are excited, spirit-filled and more. So many are saying, “The project has changed my life, the teaching of the project showed me how to repent, it set me free through Jesus, and made me realize the depth of my sins,” and/or “I want to share with others, meet the victims; we pray for our victims…” It’s a bit overwhelming. People are…
[Ed. note: Although this a longer than usual post, you will find some greatly encouraging news and you’ll be able to see the tremendous open doors in both Rwanda and South Africa, where the Kingdom of God is bursting forth, the fruit of many trials along the way. Enjoy the read!] Executive Director’s Report – April 7, 2015 Introduction: Since 2013 many changes have taken place, including moving back to SA with our (recently) adopted children in January of 2014, resettling my family in Pretoria, opening an office for Wordfan. Personal (family) challenges multiplied the obstacles that we faced during…
My recent trip to Rwanda once again worked out different than carefully laid plans. Originally I was supposed to meet up with a ministry investor in SA on my way back from the USA. Unfortunately he had to cancel his trip to Rwanda, and I decided to continue with some of the plans we had made to visit the prisons (Rilima and Ngoma), and the Kimonyi Reconciliation Village. Visit to Rilima Prison We met with the Christian leaders who are in prison to discuss the launch of Project Ubumwe (United, Together) in January. They will be trained to work with the…
Ed. note: This post is long, but it no ordinary post. You will be amazed to hear of a radical change in the hearts of some of the prisoners; it’s so radical that it will affect generations to come! We are birthing Project Ubumwe in Rilima Men’s Prison and Ngoma Women’s Prison. The goal is to bring together the perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi with the surviving families to ask for forgiveness. These perpetrators have confessed their actions, and have become followers of Jesus. They are ready to move forward with reconciliation! On our last visit (April 2014)…
From Rwanda: July 21-25, 2014 What a marvelous, surprising, radical, gracious, loving God we serve! It never ceases to amaze me what God does when we step out in faith to do something he calls us to. Four years ago, in July 2010, I first visited the Kimonyi Village of Reconciliation in Musanze, Rwanda. I was struck to the heart by the abject poverty, and the hopelessness I sensed. Yet the people sang and praised God as they danced for the visitors. Even as I wept when I saw they had nothing in their home, no furniture, no food, just…
When I initially received an email from Guma Alexandre, my co-worker in Rwanda, saying that we have been granted an opportunity to teach for 3 consecutive days at Rilima Prison in Bugusera, I could hardly believe it. It has become increasingly difficult to get permission to teach/preach inside the prisons and it is only because of the reputation and trust of Pastor Deo Gashagaza, the Director of Prison Fellowship in Rwanda with whom we have partnered the past nearly 5 years, that I still get permission from the Prison authorities. We were able to minister there from May 12-14. Teaching…
I had a joyous time visiting the 600 prisoners here, bringing them news that we are able to begin their sewing school with 25 new machines, all the materials, and a paid professional trainer for 6 months. An anonymous donation has made this possible. The ladies remembered that I taught them in March that God loves them, that he has not forgotten them, and that he has a hope and a future for them. So they praised God in dance and song and as usual I joined right in. Needless to say, the Director of the prison was also elated. In…
