How To Change A Country

When you train a pastor, 

you change a church.

When you change a church, 

you change a community.

When you change a community, 

you change a country.

One of our biggest ministries that we are involved with here in Rwanda is Africa College of Theology. It began in January of this year to provide theological education and solid Biblical training to current Pastors here in Rwanda as well as students that want to go into ministry. 

Pictured with me in this photo is one of my students. His name is Hassan Isaac. He is 29 years old and from Uganda. Both of his parents are Muslims. Isaac began business school at the urging of his parents but when he realized that it was not the right fit for him, he quit school. He is a Christian and believed that God was calling him to go into full time pastoral ministry. He shared this with his parents and they kicked him out of the house. 

He came to Rwanda to live with his uncle and began attending a local church. He told his pastor of his calling and his pastor raised the money for him to become a student at Africa College of Theology. He started the first term when classes began on January 28th and is absolutely loving every minute of it. 

One of the assignments in my New Testament Survey class was that each student had to give a 10 minute sermon. Isaac preached for 14 minutes and it was POWERFUL! This young man has a gift for understanding God's Word and being able to proclaim it to others. I could have listened to him preach for an hour (however, I had 25 other students to listen to that night). 

Our motto at our school is, "Training Redemptive Servant Leaders." When you train a person you are giving them tools. God wants to take those tools and change churches, change communities and change countries. 

90% of pastors that are living in Rwanda have no formal theological training or education. This is wrong and it needs to change. 

Through the ministry of Africa New Life (www.africanewlife.org) we are providing training for men and women that are called to ministry. 

Will you pray for them? 

True change will take place when more leaders are given the tools to do what God has called them to do. This is how you change a country!

Grace and Peace to you,

Matt, Jeana and Emma Nash