The new measures, which were introduced to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus led to the cancellation of church services, suspension of prayers and daily activities at mosques as well as weddings and funerals. “We found ourselves in the middle of the pandemic and to adjust,” says Wilberforce Musoni, the Bishop of Community Church of God in Central Africa. Before the Covid pandemic, Musoni and fellow religious leaders were accustomed to physically congregate and fellowship with other faithfuls. However, with the new Covid guidelines religious gatherings and services are suspended. The New Times sought to find out the lessons leant from previous lockdowns and the new measures that have been introduced by religious groups in order to connect with their audiences. According to Musoni, adapting has not been easy for some churches and their members. At Community Church of God in Central Africa, every month they upload six sermons on their YouTube channel and Instagram account with some message of comfort and hope to their audiences. “We pre-record our Sunday sermons on Fridays, both in Kinyarwanda and English,” Musoni said. Some churches have also turned to legacy media, radio and television, in order to connect with members who don’t use these digital platforms. “Our Kinyarwanda sermon is sent to Isango star while our English sermon is relayed on KC2 television every Sunday,” said Kellen Mugabekazi, a member of New Life Bible Church. Mugabekazi noted that other activities that used to be held physically have since been moved to zoom, including Friday prayers and sessions of ministers. To further reach more people take pictures from their homes, caption them and post them on the church’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Revered Pastor Antoine Rutayisire of Anglican Church of Rwanda Kigali Diocese- Remera Parish said that in a period like this comes leaders have to find out ways to keep in touch with people. “Online platforms have been of a tremendous help,” he added. Emma Karegyesa pastor at Saint Peter’s Parish said; “To keep up with our constant outreaches, our worship service is held on our YouTube channel every Sunday at 11 a.m.” Should physical church services continue to be suspended, he said, they will consider syndicating services on Inkoramutima radio and television. Karegyesa noted different forums like home cells, fathers union, choir meetings and more are active 24/7 on WhatsApp groups “to remain connected and to meet our needs both physical, emotional, material and spiritual.” Celestin Hakizimana, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese-Cyangungu, said “As a cathedral in Gikongoro the new guidelines haven’t been hard on us.” He said that they were granted permission to meet twice a week “as we continuously follow the guidelines.” Hakizimana said the challenge is that fact that many people, mainly the elderly, don’t have phones and computers to follow and watch sermons online. So the church has approached radio Maria to relay their sermons. For the Muslim community, according to Suleiman Mbarushimana, the Advisor to the Mufti of Rwanda, the National Islamic Council uses WebEx to meet twice a year for 4 hours. In addition to Voice of Africa radio, the Muslims also use social media platforms to reach their members.
