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. In different churches, the night was filled with worship, joy, dancing, thanksgiving, and sermons. Congregants were encouraged to trust in God, and step into 2026 with renewed purpose and hope. Religious leaders prophesied that the new year would bring praise, blessings, and transformation. ALSO READ: Rwandans begin 2025 with thanksgiving services, entertainment Cardinal Antoine Kambanda delivered a message on peace at Saint Michel Cathedral. He advised believers to become peacemakers in a divided world. He said peace must surpass silencing weapons to include inner calm, reconciliation with God, and harmony with others. Referring to Pope Leo’s New Year’s message, he encouraged people to champion peace without weapons and disarm hearts before arms. “The peace of Jesus Christ carries no weapons, His strongest weapons were kindness and calmness,” he said. 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. “What makes a crossover successful is not anything else, but He who is going with you; the future is unknown to humanity, but fully known to God,” he said. Katagwa described 2025 as a year marked by victories, worries, laughter, and tears, explaining that while some prayers were answered, others are still unanswered. In his sermon, which centered on Deuteronomy 31:3–8, he noted that it is God Himself, not a messenger, who goes ahead, assuring believers that He will never leave nor forsake them. Referencing Joshua 3 and Joshua 1:9, Katagwa encouraged believers to face the new year without fear, even as many cross into it tired, grieving, hopeful, or grateful. He acknowledged the hardships of the past year, including loss, illness, financial pressure, and emotional strain, but told them that God’s presence remains constant, even in the valley. He called on the church to crown the year with praises, quoting Psalm 65 and Habakkuk 3:17, and urged worshippers not to carry bitterness into 2026 but to cross over with gratitude. “Praise is not the denial of pain; it is confidence in the character of God,” he said. 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. “We misunderstand what it means to live, however, many people think dying is simply losing breath, yet so many are alive while living lifeless lives filled with shame and regret,” Rutayisire said. He challenged worshippers to reflect on the impact of their lives, noting that living only for oneself benefits neither the individual nor the community. Basing his message on Isaiah 43:1–7, Rutayisire explained God’s promise of protection, identity, and purpose, especially verse 7, which supports that believers were created for God’s glory. He urged Christians to place their hope in God, noting that divine love is not determined by public opinion. “God knows you, loves you, and cares for you regardless of what others say or believe,” he said. As believers entered the new year, Rutayisire encouraged them to hold onto God’s promises rather than fear uncertainty. “The Lord never said we would avoid fire or deep waters. He promised to be with us through them. Let us enter 2026 without fear, knowing the Lord watches over and guides us.” Apostle Mignonne Kabera, founder and leader of Women Foundation Ministries and Noble Family Church, led a crossover service at the Kigali Convention Centre, delivering a message of gratitude, perseverance, and renewal. She named 2026 “The year of refreshing oasis, preaching from Exodus 15:27, where the Israelites arrive at Elim and find 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees after a difficult journey through the wilderness. Referring to the bitter waters of Marah in Exodus 15, Apostle Kabera likened life’s hardships to water that is present but undrinkable. She explained that sometimes opportunities, such as a job or a salary, exist, yet the circumstances make them difficult to enjoy. Even in such moments, she told believers that God does not abandon His people but continues to guide them forward. “This is your night with God, your night with the King. The Lord is with you. Do not condemn the year you are leaving behind. I know 2025 was filled with sickness, loss, hardships, and financial pressure, but God preserved you and brought you through before others even knew what you were facing,” Apostle Kabera told congregants. She declared 2026 a year of restoration and encounters with God. She said the year would bring both spiritual and tangible blessings, promising that God would restore homes, health, education, and dignity. Kabera encouraged Christians to enter the new year without fear, noting that strength, provision and renewal await those who remain close to God. Apostle Yoshua Masasu, founder and overseer of Evangelical Restoration Church (ERC) Masoro Parish, declared 2026 a year of supernatural faith, calling on believers to receive the gift of faith through the Holy Spirit. In his sermon, he described the year as part of a four-year journey of empowerment, equipping followers with spiritual gifts before being sent to fulfill their missions. “Every year, we are given a tool for our journey, the first year, we focused on the Holy Spirit, He enabled us, not by might or power. The second year, we spoke about the eyes, because no soldier can defend a battlefield while blind. The third year, which we have just entered, is about wisdom and discernment. This year, the gift is supernatural faith. Faith that comes from God, not what we naturally possess.” Masasu explained that this faith empowers believers to trust God even in seemingly impossible situations, noting that true faith comes from heaven, not from what is seen or heard, and pointed to Mark 9:14 as a guiding scripture. He urged worshippers to act on God’s word even when it defies human logic or personal experience. He pointed to Peter, who, despite his expertise as a fisherman, cast his net into deep waters at Jesus’ command and caught an abundance of fish. He also referenced the Roman centurion, whose trust in Jesus’ authority allowed him to see his servant healed without doubt or hesitation. These examples, he said, show that faith requires obedience to God, even when circumstances seem impossible. “Every challenge, whether sickness, financial struggles, family issues, or delays, can be overcome through faith. Everything is possible for the one who believes; the problem is not the size of your challenge, but the lack of faith. I urge you to face your challenges, act on God’s word, and trust Him to heal and transform your circumstances,” Masasu said. At Christian Life Assembly (CLA), Bishop Nathan Gasatura told the congregation to trust God’s purpose for their lives. He quoted Jeremiah 1:4–5, heartening believers that God knew them before birth. “God knows why you were born, why you are alive, and why you are here tonight. He preserved your life so His promise could be fulfilled,” Gasatura said. He encouraged youth to live with direction, confidence, and hope.
