Some described 2025 as a year marked by victories, worries, laughter, and tears, explaining that while some prayers were answered, others are still unanswered.
Believers during a praise and worship session at Zion Temple Celebration Centre's crossover services at former Camp Kigali playground. All photos by Kellya Keza
On New Year’s Eve, thousands of Rwandans gathered in churches and places of worship across the country to usher in 2026 with prayer, thanksgiving, and praise, committing the year into God’s hands.
At the former Camp Kigali playground, thousands of believers from Zion Temple Celebration Centre assembled for their annual crossover service, creating an atmosphere filled with worship, songs of praise, and joyful celebration. At New Life Church in Kicukiro, the transition into 2026 was marked by sermons and exhortations drawn from Scripture, offering spiritual guidance for the year ahead.
Meanwhile, at the Kigali Convention Centre, Apostle Mignone Kabera of Women Foundation Ministries led the congregation in prayer and worship as they welcomed the New Year 2026. At CLA Nyarutarama, believers engaged in heartfelt praise and worship, while congregations at ADEPR and the Anglican Church (EAR) gathered for thanksgiving services.
Across the services, the crossover prayers focused on giving thanks for God’s faithfulness throughout 2025 and seeking His guidance, protection, and blessings for the year ahead.
The New Times photographer Kellya Raissa Keza visited different churches and places of worship and captured the highlights of the services.
Members of the worship team during a praise and worship session.
At the former Camp Kigali playground, thousands of believers from Zion Temple Celebration Centre assembled for their annual crossover service.
Worshippers engaged in heartfelt praise and worship.
Thousands of Rwandans gathered in churches and places of worship across the country to usher in 2026 with prayer, thanksgiving, and praise, committing the year into God’s hands.
Rwandans gathered in churches and places of worship across the country to usher in 2026 with prayer, thanksgiving, and praise, committing the year into God’s hands.
An atmosphere of worshipping at the crossover event.
Pastor Fred Katagwa, Senior Associate Pastor at New Life Bible Church in Kicukiro, urged congregants to focus less on how the past year unfolded and more on who is going with them into the new one, noting that God goes before His people.
The evening of December 31 led to traffic congestion in several areas of Kigali as people traveled to places of worship to usher in the new year.
At the Anglican Church of Rwanda (EAR) Remera, retired Reverend Antoine Rutayisire, a prominent figure in the Anglican Church of Rwanda, called on Christians to reject selfish living and embrace lives that serve God and society.