Sunday, June 17th LinkedIn News Feed Reported: “Americans were especially charitable in 2017. Buoyed by a strong economy, donations to charities hit record highs last year, Fast Company reports. Americans gave a total of $410 billion, with religious groups taking the lion’s share ($127 billion) followed by education and human services groups.
The increased giving may soon hit a speed bump, though. The tax reform package passed in December 2017 raises the standard deduction, reducing the appeal of tax-deductible donations for many Americans.”
Pastor Cyndi Higgins, RAB Founder and International Director’s response to these predictions of slower giving: “Likely, the speed bump being suggested will not slow down Christians’ financial gift-giving, but only those who give to receive something from the government!
The truth, however is this, most Americans do not give for a ‘tax credit.’ Most givers give generously because it is in their GNA—Godly Natural Attributes!
God is the biggest giver and none can out give Him! “ He so loves the world (the people of it) that He gave His Only Begotten Son—whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Christians’ generosity far exceeds just giving for religious purposes and way beyond tithes. God puts “desires of justice” in our hearts that inspires us to give to a variety of causes.
We are made in our Creator’s image so we will not stop giving as long as our God remains the same!
My sincere greetings to all RABs Families and friends.
I appreciate all of you for your prayers for this Faith Assignment of bringing back the Run Away Brides of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My journey to Burundi and Rwanda was an awakening call to my beloved brothers and sisters in The Lord. I left Kampala on 22nd of May 2018, and spent 2 days in Rwanda with my beloveds, Pastor Robert Kinyatilo, RAB DRC National Director and Habumugisha Evariste, RAB Rwanda National Director.
I had a good time with the brethren, strengthening them with the word of encouragement. Brother Robert suffered a severe fever which needed serious attention and as a leader, I had to take him to hospital for a thorough examination.
It became challenging, seeing my fellow brother in a bad situation
and leaving without any attention. I had to take Robert to the hospital with the little coins that was left with me. You don’t know how I felt, in a foreign land where no one knows you apart from your host who at the same time was very sick. It was hard to be in touch with pastor Evariste since he was busy teaching at school.
The sickness came upon him a few months ago when the enemy tried to dim the light and Pastor Robert found himself wrongfully accused and in the Rwandan prison. But God Almighty stood with him and after two long months he was found innocent by the hand of the Lord’s intervention and released. It was a real trying moment as he was trying to explain to me how things went on the ground, but our God is faithful He brought into the situation His Justice, Truth! Truth prevailed! Glory be to God!
I however, took time to encourage my brothers and sisters through James 1:2 where he says; “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” We can find joy in the midst of problems only when we recognize their purpose and results.
The enemy is not happy as he sees much happening in the body of Christ, hundreds of reconciled brides of Jesus learning more and joining the faith assignment. We are witnessing many churches becoming so much more effective by experiencing the new growth through this RAB mission ministries and so the devil will try to dim the light but our God always raises the standard.
As Apostle Paul says; “Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of The Lord, because you know that your labour in The Lord is not in Vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.
A new governmental law being consistently enforced has forced the closing of churches throughout Rwanda. Four months ago, the Rwanda government made an announcement to bring down every church which was not permanently built. Any church that cannot reach the government’s standards were closed. Authorities have closed more than 7,000 churches across Rwanda, including 714 in the capital city of Kigali for failing to comply with health, safety, and noise regulations.
The Rwandan brethren said some of the requirements a church must meet is: a church MUST have a parking yard, a large enough parcel of land with all facilities like toilets. It’s true in areas where cars are driven to avoid blocking streets, parking yards are necessary, however, most people attending church walk to their churches because they do not own cars. Additionally, the new regulations include no loud noises especially musical instruments. Interestingly other religions make loud-speaker-noise daily in the Rwandan streets seemingly unnoticed. Let us keep the body of Christ in prayers especially in this scenario of our dear pastors in Rwanda who cannot afford the millions of funds needed to reach the standard the government wants.
I truly felt pity for the saints I visited with and those I encountered seeing the hopelessness of their situation most especially when I saw mega churches and other religious buildings and mosques operating because they have money and are well off because they can afford the necessary requirements the government wants. I do not disagree that unsafe and unsanitary gathering places must be regulated and that some conmen calling themselves pastors need to be stopped for that too was part of the government’s mandate, but one cannot help but see the discrimination in the standards set that most Christian Churches in Rwanda are unable to meet.
Like my pastor friend Emmanuel Mugabe’s church building I visited in 2016 in Nyanza province with bishop Wilfred Barasa, I felt sad when I passed by and saw it closed and the congregation scattered. God have mercy and do something for the body of Christ especially pastors who have the true calling but are under a poor state.
I took my second journey to Burundi Friday the 25th. I could not travel alone on this journey so I took the “sick Pastor Robert” as my companion. We arrived in Bujumbura late evening and welcomed by Pastor David Nsegiyumva, Burundi RAB National Director.
David’s family and friends showed us good hospitality despite the long journey to his home. Burundi roads are full of caves and mountains and so we were very weary upon our arrival that evening. However, all in all, God was faithful! He rendered us journey mercies and we arrived safely.
In Burundi, RAB’s ministry is taking stronger root compared to Rwanda where communication is a problem to most of the people.
Kinyarwanda is the only outspoken language throughout the country of Rwanda according to my investigation. People in Burundi are welcoming and eager to learn. I visited Bishop Bukitwa Kilongo of “Immeasurable Ministries” and Rev. Augustine Omana of “Jesus is the Answer Ministries.” These two servants were special tools to me and good vessels for propagating the Gospel and the message of reconciliation in Burundi. These two men also served us well in their homes.
However, as we all know, Burundi is one of the poorest countries in our African continent which needs a lot of prayers. It is hard for Pastor David who serves fulltime as a Shepherd overseeing a medium-size congregation to do ministry there as a number of people think in their hearts, he has help for them in terms of money. It’s a common belief that pastors are financially secure and able to help the members of the church—if only this were the truth many less people would suffer from such debilitating poverty. This is the only country I witnessed a Christian coming to church bare footed with no shoes or slippers due the poverty.
As you can see in the ‘Article’s Featured Photo even Pastor David does part time work because BURUNDI IS ONE OF THE POOREST NATIONS IN EAST AFRICA:
Pastor David does part time work in Bujumbura, selling boiled eggs and packaged soya beans on the street to bring up his family. David himself is still a hustler with no support of the church he oversees and no sponsors to provide with his family needs as a husband and a wife with three children. A hustler in our African countries is someone who still struggles financially, like a go-getter. They don’t know how the day will be, struggling to get enough money to bring home to your family. This is what I mean being a hustler. I saw this and I felt like oh my God!! 1 Thessalonians 2:9 “Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.”
As we seek together eternal results, let us remember the nations, the churches, and our beloved brothers and sisters, who are not in the same position in their hearts with Jesus Christ as they once were.
The church at large in these two nations I have recently visited needs real Biblical teachings. We need your support as far as GOD’S work is concerned. Please consider making a donation today to RABS. You may specify the donation is for Rwanda or Burundi or for our food programs or purchasing Bibles or training pastors. Let your heart be known this day in your financial gift. Proverbs 19:17 and Proverbs 22:9 “When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord—and he pays wonderful interest on your loan.” “Happy is the generous man, the one who feeds the poor.”
With these few remarks, may the almighty God bless you.
Yours faithfully,
Pastor Milton Wanyama, RABS’ Africa Coordinator
P. O. Box 1151, Kampala
Uganda East Africa.