Monthly Archives: January 2011
Gerrit sends this powerful testimony of God’s work in the prisons of Rwanda: On January 18th, 2011, my 3 South African friends, Nico van der Merwe, Francois van Niekerk & Pieter Faure went with Deo and I to the Rilima Prison to experience firsthand what the Lord is doing here in Rwanda. The prison sits on about 40 hectares and we saw many prisoners working outside the prison walls. The head of the prison received us warmly and shared with us their philosophy of restorative justice – an approach which seeks to help the perpetrators of a crime to be…
On Monday January 17th, Gerrit writes of a powerful move of the Holy Spirit on Sunday. Please continue to uphold Gerrit in prayer as he will be ministering in the prisons this week: Today I had the privilege to preach in Pastor Deo’s Church outside Kigali. Peggy Henjum spoke at the early English(!) service and brought a striking message she illustrated with hand gloves: they are patterned after the hand, but the glove can do nothing when it is not filled by the hand. It cannot reach out, touch, hold or receive anything. It is just an empty piece of…
A third report from Gerrit in Rwanda – January 15, 2011 I am so grateful that God still has a ministry for me here in Africa. I am amazed at what is going on here. I need to write a report about today’s visit to the Kimonyi Reconciliation Village in Ruhengeri. In short, we met a few perpetrators of the genocide living in forgiveness and harmony with the people whom they greatly harmed. There was a frail, tall, dignified woman who had forgiven the men who repeatedly raped her, ravaged her body and killed her family. I could clearly see…
Gerrit sends us this inspiring word from Rwanda on January 12th: I am sitting in my room with a heart bursting for the work of God in Rwanda. Every day brings new and wonderful things that just take your breath away. I am convinced that God is pouring out His Spirit on this nation and is working in the hearts of people like I have never experienced before. Two of the workers I met at the Prison Fellowship Offices were involved in the Genocide. One of them killed 45 people. They came to know Christ under Pastor Deo’s ministry in…
Ed. note: Gerrit sent the following report on January 8, 2011 I have survived my first 13+ hour work day here and what a ride! It felt like I had never left in August as the Lord continues to astound me with his planning of our meetings, the right people to meet and the right prison to visit. After some special meetings to prepare for visitors from South Africa, we drove to the Nsinda Prison in Rwamagana District where more than 8000 prisoners are incarcerated. As it was Friday, there were thousands of visitors bringing food to their friends &…
