Last year, thousands of churches were closed throughout Rwanda due to a government campaign to enforce new building regulations. The result is that numerous Christians throughout the country have been unable to meet in their church buildings for worship. While this has understandably been a source of discouragement to our fellow believers in that part of the world, it has also presented an opportunity for God’s people to come together to help these brothers and sisters in their time of need.  World Witness (the mission sending board of the ARP) has been working with their national ministry partner in Rwanda to methodically and strategically reopen churches so that more and more people will have access to a place of worship.  While progress has been made, there is still much work to be done.

This year’s Sacrificial Easter Offering will be committed to “Helping the Churches of Rwanda.” Not only will we be raising funds to give to the work that is being done there, we will also use part

of the offering to send short-term mission teams to come alongside the churches in Rwanda.  We are hoping to send out three types of teams to help in the work: one medical, one construction, and one to help with theological training.  The medical team is scheduled for August 21-30; the construction team is scheduled for the following week, August 28-September 6; the theological training team will go out in shifts of one or two at a time alongside World Witness’ mobile theological team to continue the work of equipping pastors and leaders in the Rwandan church.  Our goal for this year’s Sacrificial Easter Offering is $125,000. While this is a small portion of the total need that exists, we trust that it will go a long way to "Helping the Churches of Rwanda."