Rwanda Direct, a small Church based charity in Ipswich, has been supporting Scripture Union in Rwanda, which is one of the poorest countries in the world, and where genocide took place in the 1990s. Jean Baptiste the Director writes inspirationally to us here in Ipswich:-
“Dear friends,
I am pleased that the day of Pentecost has been very nice at Ipswich.
The day of Pentecost has been for us a day of fundraising, as we are building a chapel in a parish where I am a catechist. We have been blessed, and in total we collected around¨£2,000. It is a big support for Christians who are worshiping under a mango tree. We have called the chapel "Holy Mango Tree Church". The amount has been collected from other friends of different Churches.
Now I am sending you the prayer requests for SU Ministry:
Children Ministry:
After a children camp held at Hanika last week end, the volunteer leaders are now planning to visit one of the Churches in Kigali. As most of these volunteers are Sunday school teachers, they will take this opportunity to share the word of God with children, but also they will also promote the SU materials for Bible readings. At the end of the service, they are also organising a short seminar for local Sunday school teachers.
Youth Ministry:
Pray for the 54 clubs in Secondary Schools and 5 in Universities, committed to read the Bible every day, and to organise Bible studies.
Pray for the Student’s Bible camp planned at Kibogora in the West of the Country. There will be 300 students from different secondary schools and Universities. Pray for the financial support for this camp. As we have not been able to cover the medical insurance for the staff, I have suggested that a part of the £1,427 you gave us at the beginning of this year be put towards this. Another part will be allocated to the Children’s Ministry. If you agree with this, it is already a blessing as we will look for the remaining amount.
Pray for the week dedicated to SU volunteers' activities planned this year (17th-31st August.) Josué (the youth Ministry coordinator and the team of volunteers) are planning to visit at least 100 secondary schools during August.
Josué, as he is now 40 years old, feels he no longer fits in that Ministry. He would wish to to another SU Ministry, or leave SU. Pray for him and his replacement.
Biblical Ministry and Administration:
We are now starting the period of writing the 2010 Bible reading notes. Pray for the writers to get inspiration so that they may produce meaningful notes which are touching the hearts of the readers.
Pray also for me ( Jean Baptiste) to find a committed volunteer who would help me to edit and revise the notes and produce a helpful daily guide.
Pray for a special SU week planned in August. We will visit our volunteers in different local communities but also we have invited them to visit each other, and to visit schools, health centres, prisons, where they will preach the gospel, will help the needy persons, and will distribute the Bible reading notes.
Pray for the 40th anniversary of SU Rwanda. We are planning a celebration on 4th September 2009. Pray for the funds to be used for the ceremony, and for the guest we intend to invite.
Pray for a Bible camp we are planning in the south of the country from 16th - 19th July 2009. Thank you for your support given for this camp.
Pray for the Executive committee and for the General Assembly we are planning in July. The dates are not yet finalised. Pray for our Centre, the main source of income; for customers, good management, and care.
May our Lord bless you richly. Extend our greetings to all the in Rwanda Direct”.
Jean Baptiste (Director of SU Rwanda)
May we as the church in Ipswich have the same dedication, passion and hard work for the Lord as our brothers and sisters in Rwanda? They work with nearly nothing and achieve so much. We have so much and?
