Senate President commends role of Anglican Church in national transformation

Senate President François Xavier Kalinda has praised the Anglican Church of Rwanda for its role in national development and called for closer collaboration with the government to tackle social challenges. Speaking at the church's 100th anniversary celebration on Sunday, August 24, in Gahini, Kayonza District, Kalinda highlighted the role of the Anglican Church in Rwanda in supporting the government to promote citizens’ socio-economic development, good governance, education, healthcare among other sectors. “The Anglican Church has played a significant role in reconciliation, healing wounded hearts, and building unity and resilience after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, contributing to the creation of a united and progressive Rwandan society,” he said. He noted that Rwanda regards religious organisations as key partners in transforming citizens’ lives and urged them to continue cooperating in preventing and addressing ongoing challenges. “To ensure that religious institutions serve as a catalyst for unity among Rwandans, there is a need for collaboration in preventing and addressing the misuse of freedom of worship, which seeks to involve vulnerable citizens in activities that adversely affect their wellbeing and national cohesion, he said. We must also work together to find sustainable solutions to family conflicts, safeguard children’s development with a focus on nutrition, tackle school dropout, and combat drug abuse among the youth. The state calls on churches and faith-based organisations to partner with it in addressing these challenges.” The centenary service, led by Archbishop Dr Laurent Mbanda, drew thousands of Christians, government officials, and international visitors. Mbanda emphasised the church’s mission of evangelism, education, and healthcare. “We are grateful for the three pillars upon which the Anglican Church has been built: evangelism, education through schools, and healthcare through the establishment of clinics and hospitals he said. These have been instruments through which God has proclaimed His word in this country. We shall build on what has been achieved, focusing now on improving governance, deepening the faith and teaching of Christians, and promoting accountability and transparency in all that we do.” From its beginnings at Gahini mission station in 1925, the Anglican Church of Rwanda has grown into 13 dioceses nationwide. Today, it runs over 1,300 institutions, including 853 early childhood centres, 258 primary schools, 137 secondary schools, 21 TVET schools, three universities, three hospitals, and Gahini Rehabilitation Centre, which has treated more than 872,000 patients. The Gahini Diocese, where the centenary took place, is the fourth generation of churches built since 1925. Known as the East African Revival Cathedral, it remains a historic site in the Great Lakes revival movement. A monument recognising the site’s religious significance and attracting Christian pilgrims has been built nearby the cathedral. The site is considered by believers as a place of miracles, where personal wishes and prayer requests receive answers. The church traces its roots to 1922, when Church Missionary Society missionaries from Uganda arrived in the region. By 1925, the Gahini mission station was established, later becoming the cradle of the East African Revival movement, which spread across Uganda, Kenya, Congo, Burundi, and Tanzania.

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Senate President commends role of Anglican Church in national transformation