Rwandan President Paul Kagame joined with US pastor Rick Warren in a special celebration service at Saddleback Church in California last Saturday to honor the victims of the Rwandan genocide on its 20th anniversary and to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the country’s partnership with the church.
“This moment is important for me, personally, and for Rwanda because it brings us to remember the more than one million individuals who lost their life and honor the strength of survival and resilience of Rwanda that has kept our nation alive,” said President Kagame.
“During the genocide, almost every church betrayed its divine mission. Rwandans sought refuge in the church only to be betrayed. But today, things are different. Thank you, Saddleback members, for providing a meaningful partnership. Faith in God is once again a sense of comfort for many Rwandans.”
President Kagame, who said the relationship with Saddleback had “contributed to the renewal of our country”, first invited Saddleback Church to form a partnership with Rwanda 11 years ago after reading Pastor Warren’s best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Church. Under the banner of its PEACE Plan initiative, the church has since sent more than 21,000 of its members to serve in Rwanda.
The PEACE Plan is aimed at promoting reconciliation, equipping leaders, assisting the poor and sick and providing education to the next generation. In Rwanda, Saddleback members have been implementing this through working with the public, private and faith sectors of the community to help lower the poverty rate, empty orphanages, provide healthcare and education, and training for pastors.
“God tells us to remember the past,” said Pastor Warren. “More than 2,000 years ago, another nation by the name of Israel was torn by war and everyone thoughts its days were over. But God raised up a business leader, government leader and spiritual leaders to restore the country. God knew it would take all three sectors to rebuild the nation. In this same way, Rwanda has been rebuilt.”
During the service Pastor Warren announced that Saddleback will host the first continent-wide Purpose Drive leadership training in Rwanda in 2015 with the aim of bringing together more than 1,000 leaders from 54 countries across Africa.
