‘RWANDA MU MATEKA MASHYA’ CONFERENCE - JULY

(literally Rwanda's new history)

Last time I visited Rwanda was four years ago in May 2005, so it was a special pleasure to be invited by our friends Joseph and Esther Nyamutera to return for two trips this year. There have been changes; within the healing and reconciliation organisation and within the country itself. Joseph now heads up a separate organisation that’s dedicated to the work of healing and reconciliation with a wider brief to reach out to some of Rwanda’s neighbouring countries. Rhiannon is still very much involved, but the organisation is now directly linked to Le Rucher in Switzerland who provide much of the funding. Rwanda seems to be growing in prosperity and Kigali the capital now boasts a small european style shopping mall! My brief this year was to lead a song-writing seminar week in March, which was attended by around 25 young people from Rwanda, Burundi and Congo. The aim was to write 4 new songs, with a view to recording them and presenting them live at the July conference to take place in Gitarama. Despite the language problems, the songwriting week went very well, with new friendships emerging and some powerful healing ministry times together. Four brilliant new songs were also written, Tubabarire (Forgiveness), Harira mana (Lord, forgive us), Mapendo (Love), and Dore Ndaje, a rwandan song of thanksgiving, set to a traditional dance rhythm. On returning to the UK, I spent some time in the studio recording the backing tracks to these new songs in June and then returned to Rwanda in July. Now the challenge was to work with the same singers and try to pull together some strong performances of all the songs, with choir and soloists. This is something quite unique, a kind of ‘Great Lakes’ choir formed just for one event; also a very significant statement of healing, as Rwanda’s neighbouring countries were also deeply traumatised by the 1994 genocide.

The conference itself was a powerful time, with many pastors attending from Rwanda, Burundi and DRC. An overview of Rwanda’s history was presented, and the need for a kind of national repentance stressed, especially among church leaders who failed to resist the ‘tide of evil’ that swept the country in 1994, and even in some cases colluded with the government of the day. Also present were representatives from several european countries, and some from the USA. At the final event, these presented powerful ‘confessions’ that related to our own nations shortcomings, in that we neglected Rwanda in her time of such need. It was awesome and a real privilege to take part in such a gathering. You can probably imagine that the songs themselves were designed to add another powerful worship perspective to this agenda. But would it work? I had just 2 days to introduce the choir to the tracks and train them but in the end, despite various language problems, the choir performed brilliantly and were totally awesome. I ought to say right away that this had as much to do with their own natural talents, as my choir directing! Some of them had truly amazing voices and such a wonderful feeling for harmony, they were very keen and quick at learning everything. In fact, they made such a strong impression that I now have several invitations from pastors wanting me to come and train their own chuch choirs, including an offer from Pastor Liliose Tayi who personally offered me a job and free accomodation in a church house they would rent for me for 6 months anytime I wished to return! Well, well; all very gratifying for my ego I’m sure!

The 3rd annual childrens conference, held in Mabelreign, Harare was certainly our biggest yet, with around 320 children attending between the ages of 7 and 14yrs. This time around, I took a team of young people with me and they were all excellent; a real asset to have around. Joel came with me this year, and Sophie Burn (she was part of the team 2 years ago), and two newcomers to Africa, Ollie Ayling and Jerome Hasler, both school leavers attending Malmesbury Abbey. Sophie took charge of the games, with Ollie doing some drama items, and Jerome (guitar), Joel (bass) and Dave (keyboards) featuring as the worship band. Joel also filmed a daily 4 minute ‘video diary’ with a camcorder, which proved highly popular. The overall theme was ‘Living the Lord’s prayer’ and there were prizes for games and Bible memory verses learned.What an amazing week! The best I’ve experienced yet and certainly the most organised and effective in terms of ministry outcome. ‘Forgiveness’ was again a focus on our second day and it was memorable as it had been the previous year. The readings and talk laid the groundwork, but during the worship time the Holy Spirit seemed to move powerfully through the room, as the leaders moved in amongst the children to pray for them.

Our local contacts Debbie & Jane had advised us that this year there were many new children coming from outside the main five church congregations, some not yet christians. On the third day, we focussed on the basics of the gospel and challenged the children to take this opportunity to commit their lives to Jesus as His disciples. Some 70 children raised their hands and went out for prayer and counselling; we divided them up into small groups with their local leaders who later reported back that most genuinely understood what they were doing, and they planned to follow them up later with further help should they need it. On the 4th day, there was a powerful challenge to the young teens at the conference, to take their Christian faith to the ‘next level’. We asked them to line up at the front and prayed for them all before also sending them out in small groups. Later, Jane told me that the groups led to some very ‘worthwhile’ prayer times and counselling sessions. Quite apart from the ministry side, the ‘Heal Africa!’ songs were again hugely popular, and it was fantastic to see the children enjoying themselves so much with the new games and outside activities. Once again the local church mums excelled themselves by providing each child with an excellent lunch. We finished by taking part in a church service at Highfields, a ‘high-density’ housing suburb of Harare. Later, we had a de-briefing meeting with some of the local leaders and Langton Gatsi (senior pastor). Langton explained he now wants to set up a permanent childrens ministry team in his church to develop and organise these annual childrens conferences with a view to expanding them, possibly into a larger venue.

Next year’s challenges look like they may include a new healing and reconciliation worship album in Burundi (adding to the songs we already have), and the possibility of taking another, perhaps larger UK team to Zimbabwe in August for the childrens conference. Several of the songs from ‘Saviour of Nations’ CD are now being used regularly as part of Mercy Ministries seminar programme, so we are considering how to make the CD’s available to them.

Love from Dave & Jean Bankhead