The Rwanda Mission Team of Kiskiminetas Presbytery safely returned from their September trip to Africa where they were introduced to Rwanda and  our partnership churches. The Rwanda Team consists of Kay Smith, Chair of Diaconal Committee on Ministries and Chuck Bollinger, members of Indiana/Graystone Church; Jack Loucks of Blairsville United, Rev. Marty Cartmell, Presbytery Moderator and pastor at Northern Cambria, St. Paul's and St. Benedicts, Sally & Fred Carrier from St. Marys/Shiloh, Betty Grunstra of Brookville, Rev. Boyd Edmondson of Marienville and Sigel/Mt. Tabor churches, and Donna Doutt, from the office staff at Kiskiminetas Presbytery.
 The members of the group were hosted in Presbytery guest houses and in the private homes of members of families of the Partnership. They found great joy and a warm reception from these new friends. Their worship was spirit and song-and-dance filled and churches were packed to the doors. People walked many  miles to come to church and once there were immersed in the spirit of the Lord. The reception everywhere was one of love and welcome.
Their time was spent visiting some of the 100+ churches and parishes and a few of the 115 church-sponsored schools of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda. In addition to opportunities for prayer partnering and church partnering, some of the needs are funding to complete churches because the Presbyterian congregations are growing rapidly. The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda has increased their evangelism budget by 350%, and much of this goes toward church growth.
The government of Rwanda realizes that the churches are the communication lifeline to the people, and works hand in hand with them. Churches that build classrooms get government-funded teachers. Churches that offer support and assistance for HIV/AIDS victims and families, gets medicine from the government for their afflicted congregation members.
In addition to schools, health and evangelism, other projects of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda are a homeless children's shelter, adult literacy programs; supplying sewing machines and/or craft supplies for skills training; support genocide widows in their entrepreneurial endeavors, and support programs for some of Rwanda's one million orphans.
The Team has been on the road since the first week of October presenting programs in churches and to groups about their trip and the Partnership, and have covered more than 30% of the churches in the Presbytery to date. One church partnership is already confirmed and several more are in the works.
Because so many have asked how they can help, the Presbytery office has prepared a catalog of suggestions for our churches to support. You may view a copy of the catalog online or by contacting the Presbytery office at
724 -783-7196 to have one mailed.
Our detailed travelogue is available on the Presbytery website by clicking here.
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