Members of The Free Methodist Church in Rwanda will on Sunday gather at Kibogora Parish, Nyamasheke district to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the church mission in Rwanda.
For a style celebration, Bishop Joab Lohara, the President of World Free Methodist Church Council is in Rwanda to celebrate their achievements.
Meanwhile, Bishop Lohara is expected today to visit Kigali Genocide memorial where over 250 000 bodies of Tutsi are laid to rest.
The Free Methodist Church in Rwanda commonly known as Eglise Methodiste Libre au Rwanda (EMLR) was granted legal personality No 92.08/11 by Rwanda Governance Board on 17/04/2013. The revised statutes of EMLR have been published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda no 35 of 02/09/2013.
According to Bishop Samuel Kayinamura the EMLR President, the church has a lot of achievements to celebrate after 75 years.
“Our mission is to proclaim Good News of Jesus Christ, and to extend the kingdom of God through: Evangelism, Education, Health, Community development and social welfare and I think we have done a lot in every sector within 75 years that the church operates in Rwanda,” said Bishop Kayinamura.
So far, EMLR works in all districts of Rwanda with 181 parishes and 675 local churches and has now over 21 parishes in Uganda as part of their evangelism mission.
In Education, the church possesses around the country 69 nursery schools ; 63 primary schools; 23 secondary schools ;two special need education (Amizero Center Gikondo in Kicukiro District and Rushahi Center in Gakenke District), which help children with mental and physical disabilities); 4 technical schools and Kibogora polytechnic , the only higher learning institution.
While in Health, the Church has built one hospital in Nyamasheke district; 7 health centres in Nyamasheke, Rusizi and Karongi districts and 12 health posts in the same districts.
The celebration event will take place at Kibogora Parish because ‘it is where the church mission started’ according to a communiqué.
