KIGALI, RWANDA – Africa New Life began extending its hands of evangelism and compassion to the suffering nation of Rwanda in 2001. The country was just beginning to recover from what has been described as “the swiftest genocide in history.”
Over 800,000 Rwandans had been slaughtered over a period of 90 days. More than 600,000 children had become orphans. An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 women had been raped during the crisis.
It was into this “long, long road of mourning, healing, rebuilding, and reconciliation” that the Lord called Charles Mugisha to lay the foundations for a ministry in his native land. While still in seminary at Multnomah University, Mugisha developed the ministry plan for Africa New Life.
There are many ways to tell a story. Perhaps the best way to describe Africa New Life’s is by highlighting a few of the many marvelous blessings the ministry has experienced over the past two decades.
The School in Kigali
New Life Nursery School opened its doors to 29 children in Kayonza in 2002. The school was so well received that it expanded to become New Life Christian Academy (NLCA) just a year later.
Within four years, the Grace, New Life, and Mercy Children’s Homes were opened on the campus of New Life Christian Academy to accommodate the 1,000 children now being sponsored. The Timothy Children’s Home was added to the campus in 2007, the same year that NLCA became recognized as “the top school in Rwanda’s Eastern Province.”
In 2008, NLCA produced three of the top 10 national sixth grade scholars in Rwanda, and Orchards Children’s Home was opened on the campus. By the next year, more than 2,000 children were under sponsorship.
By 2011, New Life Christian Academy’s secondary school ranked as the top school in Rwanda, and the primary school rank first in the province for the fourth year in a row. Two years later, sponsorships had grown to more than 5,000 children.
By 2019, the number of sponsored children doubled to more than 10,000.
Elsewhere
As amazing as these results are, they are only a few of many at the Kigali campus and elsewhere across the country, including
- Partnering with the Palau Association beginning in 2008 to reach more than 120,000 people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Partnering with Living Water International to repair, dig, and maintain safe drinking water wells.
- Establishing the Africa College of Theology in Kayego. More than 500 students and pastors are currently enrolled in the ACT.
- Accepting control and management of several schools previously run by the Rwandan government.
- Creating the Dream Kids Program to provide care for children living on the street, including building the Umucyo Home on the NLCA campus for former street children.
- Taking ownership of the Kibenga Primary School in Bugesera, The school was gifted to Africa New Life by UNICEF.
- Adding a 20,000 volume library at the Africa School of Theology.
- Building a solar-powered well and clean water delivery system running for nearly a kilometer from its source to the Kageyo Primary School.
- Opening the Dream Beauty Academy and Vocational Sewing Program.
- Constructing and opening the Dream Medical Center, “a sustainable health care model of compassionate excellence in which patients are served through their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, for the glory of Jesus Christ.” It is the second-largest private hospital in Rwanda.
- Placing trained, skilled nurses in facilities in six communities.
- Providing over two million meals to students every year.
- Planting New Life Bible Churches in each community where it serves. These churches minister to and disciple all sponsored children, their families, and the greater community.
The Lord has blessed Africa New Life’s model of evangelism and compassion to bring healing in Jesus’ name to the hurting people of Rwanda. Pray that He will continue to bless as abundantly as He has been.
Learn more about Africa New Life by visiting their Facebook page or their website.
Read more news on Africa and World Missions on Missions Box.
Sources:
- Africa New Life, Official Website
- ECFA, Africa New Life