There are two main tribes in Rwanda: the Hutu, and the Tutsi. Pastor Frances is a Tutsi, and grew up in a small Rwandan village with his family. But in 1994, Hutu militia groups declared war on the Tutsis. Everyone in Pastor Frances's village was murdered, including his parents, brothers and sisters. In fact, there were at least 500,000 Tutsis killed over the course of 100 days. At this time, Frances was in a Catholic seminary to become a priest. He said that normally Rwandans have an i.d. on them that declares their race, but seminary students would only keep their institution's card on them. So when the militia groups came through the seminary with their guns, they took a good look at Frances and decided he didn't look like a Tutsi. "We're usually taller with longer noses," according to him.
He said he knew that God had a plan with keeping him alive that day. And I'd have to agree. Frances dropped his pursuits of becoming a priest, and after a long period of depression and anger, came to Christ and has since graduated from a Presbyterian seminary here. He's currently pastoring a Ugandan church here in Kampala, but hopes that someone will take it over one day so he can return to Rwanda with his wife and child where he hopes to train pastors and plant churches, even among the Hutu tribe.
People have many times asked me why God allows bad things to happen to good people. I don't really have the best answer, but I think that Frances's story sheds some light: two tribes that have rejected God and the Gospel engage in Civil War. Many people die, but one man lives that will later bring hope to the entire nation...... the hope of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb.
Frances asks for your prayers-- for his current church, and for Rwanda.
Jeremy
1 comment:
I sit wiping tears from my eyes after reading Frances' story. I will pray for him and the work being done over there. Thanks for sharing! I also will continue to lift up the team. Blessings!
Post a Comment