MISSION MINUTES
Charles Omollo and Janet Waweru
Kigali, Rwanda
Charles Omollo and Janet Waweru
Kigali, Rwanda
For generations, men and women who were willing to leave behind their homes and go to distant foreign lands among peoples of foreign languages have played a major role in advancing the cause of God Almighty. In East Africa, brothers and sisters with that same heart of missionary zeal and revolutionary faith are helping to lead churches and to serve God in the various countries of this geographic region.
In a series of interviews with those guiding the congregations in East Africa, we get a closer look at who they are and what they are learning. Even if we may not be in the same missionary position that they are, as disciples of Jesus who seek to live out his mission, prayerfully we all will be inspired and called higher in our walk with God.
This week we spend time with Charles Omollo and Janet Waweru (photo) from the Kigali church in Rwanda.
Q. Prior to being called to go to Kigali, was it your dream to be a missionary?
Charles Omollo: It has always been my goal to lead a church. From the day I became a disciple, all I wanted to do was to start a business, then, as I grew, I wanted to join the full-time ministry while supporting myself financially. I wanted to simultaneously start projects serving the poor, like starting an orphanage with self-supporting projects. When I was asked to come to Rwanda, especially given that the country has faced a lot of problems, I was happy and looked forward to coming here.
Janet Waweru: Previous to being asked to come to Kigali, it was the last or shall I say the most remote thing in my mind; in fact I always promised myself that being on staff in Nairobi was okay, but I didn't want to be in the ministry anywhere outside Kenya!
Q. What have been the most rewarding things for you in your time in Kigali?
CO: I have learnt to rely on God, and not my leaders, through the different challenges I have faced. I feel that I have matured as a result, and my main goal has been to be pleasing to God. Hence the challenges have helped me grow, as far as I see it. That has been very rewarding.
JW: Most rewarding thing? There are many rewarding things about being here. Being able to deepen and stand on my convictions in God. I have learnt to rely on God in a way I hadn't learnt while in Nairobi, because in Nairobi I could always talk to someone to give me a solution instead of really relying on God. It has helped me understand God better, love God more and trust God deeper. It has done so much for my walk with God. I think that is the number one reward.
Being in Kigali has helped me grow in many different ways spiritually and emotionally. Also I have fallen in love with Rwanda, I love the people so much and they are very dear to me. I have made lifetime friendships and memories here, learnt a new language, seen people become disciples, been through challenges (!), and learnt to go back to God in everything.
Q. What are the major difficulties that you have faced in being in Kigali?
CO: The most difficult things have been the new language, the cost of living, which is twice what I was used to. Walking up and down the numerous hills is very tiring for me (but great exercise!).
JW: Seeing people leave God is the biggest challenge after you try all you can and they walk away. I think it's more challenging in a smaller church than in a big church. Communicating effectively with disciples can be challenging too sometimes (because of the language). I miss my family and personal friends in Kenya and miss being able to get discipled more frequently.
Q. What is the most scary thing for you out in Kigali ?
CO: When the government officials stopped the church from meeting at our Sunday venue. (Officials said that the church must necessarily meet in a building set aside for worship and so banned the disciples, and other churches in the city meeting in similar halls. The Kigali church now has a hall of its own, and continues to meet daily.)
JW: We have had some scary earth tremors that at times get us out of the house. It is pretty scary when they occur every day especially after the eruption of a volcano in nearby Goma on the Congo-Rwanda border last year. We still have them occasionally.
Q. What are the major obstacles, unique to Kigali or Rwanda, that people face in becoming disciples there?
CO:It takes time for men to trust us because of their past experiences, like the 1994 genocide. The Hutu-Tutsi ethnic problem comes up a lot while studying the Bible with people. Most look around to see which tribe is the majority in the church.
JW: I think one of the challenges is trust. To trust God's word and put faith in it. People do love God but are not willing to submit to his word or trust that his word works, I guess because of mistrust and wars of the past. There is a lot of pride also in that they want to follow God but on their own terms, not God's terms and so people tend to go by their feelings a lot. They helped themselves in the war and so sometimes this carries on to the way they relate to God, where there is a lot of pride in themselves and their own opinion.
Also, family approval and family traditions are big obstacles. If family does not approve then chances are one might not want to be a Christian. Also people will look and see we are a small church compared to others, so that too is an obstacle as people want to be associated with more recognised groups.
Q. What has helped you through the difficult times?
CO: Meditating a lot on the promises of God, praying, talking to brothers and my discipler, who trust me so much. The greatest of all, that I do not understand completely, has been God.
JW: I pray a lot. I go to my house and pray and that is a great way for me to deal with things when I am down or discouraged. I have great friends here so we talk and I think being able to communicate a lot with the leaders in Bujumbura is really great.
Q. What do you see as the main difference between being in a small church and being in a big(ger) church like Nairobi?
CO:Being out here calls for creativity on all levels. I must be alert at all times and give my best because I know that the church reflects me. I have also learned to work well as a team with the sisters.
JW: For one, my schedule is different. I have fewer meetings. I feel it is easier to implement or organise things for a smaller church than Nairobi. Again, I am able to have a lot of appointments at home and I feel that I spend a lot more quality time with people here because the church is smaller. Giving individual attention to people is easier. I have lunch at home, or lunch appointments at home.
I guess being here calls you to be a jack of all trades. I have learnt to sing, be hostess at parties, disciple all, organise special Sundays and Women's Days, well pretty much everything. In Nairobi there are a lot more people to do the different things required.
Q. What is your vision for the church in Kigali and also in Rwanda as a whole?
CO: To find land to put up a church building, then to organize seminars to raise up leaders who will be equipped to teach Bible, to preach and to counsel. I would want us also to start an orphanage.
JW: I see great things happening, especially now that we have our own meeting facility, as people really are thirsting for God. I see the women rising up as they grow in their faith to have an impact and create a dynamic ministry that has a lot of married couples. I see a vibrant campus ministry and professionals ministry. So much will be happening here in the years ahead!
Mission Minutes Part 1 - Arusha, Tanzania
For a background on the Kigali church,click here.