| Chosen Generation Fellowship Centre - History and Beginnings With 8.9 million people, Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa. Subsistence agriculture is practiced by 90 per cent of the population. As most export earnings come from agricultural products, the economy rises and falls according to commodity prices. The 1994 genocide completely destroyed Rwanda’s economy, severely depleted the work force and forced the population deeper into poverty. As a result Rwanda, with an average per capita income of $220 per year, relies heavily on international aid. Ngoma, Eastern Province includes the villages (called “sectors”) of Nyamugari, Zaza, Mugasera and Karembo and is arguably the poorest area in the country. Located approximately 30 miles east of the capitol city of Kigali, Ngoma is largely rural and over 95% percent of the residents are subsistence farmers; living hand-to-mouth on whatever they are able to grow on their tiny plots of land. While Rwandan citizens (as a general rule) earn an average weekly income of $4 with over 60% of the population considered to be living in abject poverty Ngoma finds over 90% of its’ population living below that poverty line. The main health issues in Ngoma are HIV, malnutrition and malaria. The number of households who have lost someone to HIV is increasing, as is the number of orphans and vulnerable children. In fact, Rwanda has a mortality rate of 203 out of every 1000 children under the age of five. Because many people have only one meal a day, malnutrition is rife. Not only is the quantity of food inadequate, it contains few nutrients. Water sources are a serious issue. Many people must walk up to 4km to obtain water and nearly 60 per cent of the population doesn’t have access to a safe water source. While spirituality is very real in Ngoma there are few Christians. The only church in the area is a Catholic church and many in the area are Catholics. However, witchcraft is quite prevalent in the entire region and keeps the community living in fear and bondage. Around four per cent of households are made up solely of children. Only 34 per cent of children in Ngoma attend school as many children are involved in baby-sitting or agricultural activities during school hours. Although primary education is free, parents are expected to provide stationery and uniforms for their children. There are not enough places for all children in schools, and classrooms are in poor condition. This has resulted in an adult literacy rate of less than 50%. Of the children able to attend school, 2007 statistics revealed that in Mugasera alone, at least 78 students dropped out of school at the primary level while 123 failed to cross the bridge to begin secondary school and at least 34 students didn’t join senior four (S4) due to poor test scores or the inability to finance their education at that level. These statistics were from one sector alone and the other sectors share similar problems. Because connectivity and informational capacity will determine wealth and power in our time, these rural poor risk being even more marginalized and impoverished. Their poverty will not just be measured by their income or assets but also by their ability to generate, process, receive and disseminate information. Obviously, many people in Ngoma struggle to make ends meet day-to-day. However, there are people who are fighting to bring change and opportunity to the people in Ngoma. Sometimes all it takes is a few resources and skills training. Chosen Generation Fellowship Centre began when a small group of people in Kigali, Rwanda joined together in prayer seeking the Lord’s will for the people of Rwanda. We joined them in prayer from Denver, Colorado and together in one Spirit the Lord birthed a vision in our hearts for a church and vocational training center. As we would pray in Denver, Stephen Muhwezi (from Kigali) and Katusabe Emmanuel (from Uganda) would go to Zaza each weekend and began to pray in the area and share the love of Jesus Christ with the citizens of Zaza. There was much curiosity from the people but they kept asking where the church was meeting. So…we decided to find a place for prayer meetings and church services. We were able rent a house with three rooms. The large room would be for church services, the second room for a prayer room and the third room would be used as a pastor’s home. Pastor Emmanuel then moved from Uganda to live in the house and Chosen Generation Fellowship Centre was born. On the day Stephen and Emmanuel went take possession of the church, they shared the gospel with the “taxi bike drivers” all the way to Zaza. Upon arrival one of the taxi drivers, Mr. Bizimungu, got down on his knees and received Jesus Christ as his savior. What a glorious beginning! Since finding the church building in April, the Lord has provided for us to purchase a small generator, microphone and a PA to help with outreach efforts. We have also been able to buy a laptop and a projector. These have proven instrumental in showing movies for outreach and communicating through email between the U.S. and Rwanda. Other pastors and friends from Kigali and the surrounding areas have joined in prayer meetings. Each Friday evening Pastor Rajan from Kigali prays all night in Zaza for the Lord’s presence and to break the power of witchcraft in the area. The Holy Spirit is moving in a mighty way in the hearts of the people in the area and we have found great favor with the government officials in Mugesera. Stephen presented the idea of a church and vocational training center to the Executive of Umurenge wa Mugesera and the government agreed to grant us 15 hectares of land on a main road right next to a primary school. The only condition for the free land is that the training center be build as soon as possible. Consequently we are now diligently working on plans and proposal for the school. Chosen Generation vocational center will be composed of 5 different trainings and vocations: 1. English Language learning 2. Tailoring 3. Carpentry 4. Salon/Hair Styling 5. Modern Farming Chosen Generation Fellowship Centre stands as a beacon of light bringing the Good News and hope of Jesus Christ to the people of Rwanda; focused on developing people spiritually, physically, psychologically and economically through sound preaching and teaching of Biblical principals and emphasis on family values. CGFC believes in training and equipping people with a vision to preach the gospel and reach out to the community, and country at large. We will educate young people about HIV/AIDS and also teach about prevention through abstinence and moral values. We also believe in empowering people through teaching people to read and write, creating jobs and self help projects including small scale industries. Our goal is to continue to assist people in various ways to begin small scale businesses that would change their future. Completing construction of the church building will ensure that CGFC can continue to fight against the evils of poverty and social exclusion; that we can bring education and skills training to those who would otherwise have no opportunities. Securing funds to contract builders will create jobs for hundreds of community members, and when the building is finished, we will need permanent, fulltime workers for the church and school; this will be a monthly financial injection into the economy hence development of the country. The greatest need we have is prayer. We covet your prayerful support of this amazing work God is doing. The second need we have is funding. While the financial needs may seem overwhelming; a gift of any amount will go a long way toward development, building and education. It will also bring hope and encouragement to this faithful group of people fighting to overcome poverty and bring change to their community. Thank you for taking time to read through this information and thank you for any prayerful consideration you may give to help this wonderful ministry reach the poor and marginalized people in Rwanda. For further information please contact: Pastor Jan Eitel Denver, CO Phone: (303) 946-0146 Email: Jan@HeartsForTheWorld.org or Pastor Stephen Muhwezi Kigali, Rwanda Phone: 011(250) 78-830-6570 or 011(250) 78-850-5493 Email: muhsteph@yahoo.co.uk |
Located in Zaza, Eastern Rwanda - Pastor Stephen Muhwezi & Associate Pastor Emmanuel
Recent work and projects:
Current & Future Plans & Projects: Student/Teacher sponsorship program, further development and
expansion of school, new church in Kamate this year, 2010 July crusade and ordination of pastors and
leaders, women’s conference.
Recent work and projects:
- Opened New Church last year in Zaza – Chosen Generation Fellowship Center and Vocational
Training School (2 pastors and 2 teachers) - February 2009 Crusade & Door-to-door outreach distributing 250 malaria nets, over 600 saved, many
healed, new church opened with over 300 people attending - Received 65 acres of land and a building from Rwandan government, remodeled building and
purchased 15 sewing machines and have 20 head of cattle; opened vocational training school (41
tailoring students and agricultural students, 80 students learning to read & write) - Added Room to Church/School and put new roof on building
- Provided Laptop Computer, Projector, Piano/Keyboard, PA system & Camera for church/ministry
Current & Future Plans & Projects: Student/Teacher sponsorship program, further development and
expansion of school, new church in Kamate this year, 2010 July crusade and ordination of pastors and
leaders, women’s conference.
| Chosen Generation Fellowship Centre |
| Update October 25, 2009 |
| HeartsForTheWorld International Bringing Hope and Help to the Developing World in Jesus' Name |
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