Written by Chris Thompson, Tearfund Northern Ireland Director
I visited Rwanda last year and I was deeply moved by the warm welcome of its people. But it is still a place of great need. However, God is at work and, this week, we seek him in prayer for an end to poverty in Rwanda, now the country is enjoying peace.
Sunday 5 January
Pray for the nation and people of Rwanda. Emmanuel Murangira, Tearfund’s Rwanda Country Director, says, ‘There is a difference between a nation that has peace and one that is thriving.’ Give thanks for the peace. Pray too for the many who aren’t thriving, those still caught in cycles of poverty.
Monday 6 January
Last year marked 30 years since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The vast majority of Rwandans carry scars from those days. Give thanks for the church, which has played a key role in reconciliation work. Today, Rwandan churches are still key in speaking of the need for reconciliation and the power of forgiveness. Pray for those still affected after all these years.
Tuesday 7 January
Pray for Pastor Joseph Muhire, who leads a congregation I visited in southern Rwanda. They have partnered with Tearfund to bring about the transformation of their community. They are seeing people lifting themselves out of poverty and then reaching out to bring others into a journey of freedom. The church is growing and thriving – give thanks for God’s power at work in that place.
Wednesday 8 January
Pray for the Tearfund team in Rwanda as they partner with denominations and church networks to reach thousands of churches, and through them, tens of thousands of families and individuals. The vision is people living poverty-free lives and with the church at the centre, equipped by God’s Spirit – it’s possible!
Thursday 9 January
Read Isaiah 61:1–8. Ask God to bring about the renewal and transformation we read about here – in Rwanda and wherever you are. This is a glimpse of what happens when God’s kingdom comes to bear upon a place. Finish with these simple words: ‘May your kingdom come.’
Friday 10 January
Pray for the communities in and around Huye, a city in southern Rwanda. One transformation group has started growing chillies – which bring a bigger harvest and increased food security. Pray for suitable weather, good prices at the market and a bumper harvest this year. I’ve visited this community twice now and the transformation they have brought about is incredible – the physical, social and spiritual atmosphere has changed.
Saturday 11 January
Like many places in Africa, 70 per cent of Rwandans are small-scale farmers. This makes them vulnerable to a changing climate. In Rwanda, the seasons are less reliable than before, leading to longer dry spells and regular flooding during short and hard rainy seasons. Pray for those most vulnerable to damaging weather conditions and for Tearfund’s work in building resilience in the face of these changes.
