On the 23rd of May 2005, Samson Mokaya returned to Kigali from Nairobi, to take up the leadership of our church in the Rwandan capital.This comes five years after he completed an initial stint in Kigali, and represents a return to a people who have always remained close to his heart. "In the course of my being in Kigali the first time, I truly fell in love with the people here and their culture," he says. "I feel extremely happy to return here."

Of his six months in Kigali from November 1999 to May 2000, during which period the church experienced considerable growth, Samson adds, "I came to Kigali immediately after entering the service of God's church in a full-time internship capacity. However, due to sin in my life, I would painfully leave the ministry shortly after leaving here."

Samson continues, "My return therefore communicates to me several things, but most importantly, God forgives our sins and remembers them no more. He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve! It also communicates to me the sense of a calling from God according to his purpose and will. Glory and praise be to him."

At the time that Samson left Kigali to return to Nairobi in 2000, "God was adding to our number here in Kigali those that were being saved," and now, "My vision for the church is to see it united, convicted, committed and growing. I am specifically dreaming for the leaders of the church that our Loving God will raise them up, culminating in a church that is led by nationals."

It is natural to have reservations when called by God to answer the missionary call. Of those which he experienced, Samson says, "I spent long hours of prayer asking God different questions and derived great courage from that. Spending time with different people and seeking advice was quite helpful as well."

On arrival back in the Land Of A Thousand Hills (as Rwanda is known), experiencing a mixture of a thousand reservations and questions, "The welcome that I got from the church here helped me to see the uselessness and futility of my thinking." Inspired, Samson knew for sure that it was the time and place to dream again and to continue the transformation of Rwanda into becoming not just the Land Of A Thousand Hills, but a land of thousands upon thousands of faithful, radical and joyful disciples. "How do I feel now? I am encouraged!"

"Please continue praying for me and the church," Samson concludes.