KIGALI, Rwanda, Aug. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Famous American evangelist, Pastor Rick Warren is scheduled to preside over what could be the biggest thanks giving crusade in Kigali, Rwanda's capital, on August 17, 2014.
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140813/135832
The event dubbed – "Rwanda Shima Imana" (Praise God Rwanda), is organized by his Global Peace Plan initiative, with a presence in most Christian churches in Rwanda.
Groups from over 30 African countries are expected to attend, said Pastor Warren at a press briefing on Monday in Kigali. "I am bringing with me over 100 international church leaders from 30 African countries, including other leaders from China, Russia, America, and India."
He has held two similar events previously in Rwanda; in 2012 and 2013. The crusade will be held at Rwanda's biggest 30,000-seater Amahoro National Stadium.
"It is my prayer that this day becomes a national holiday just as it is in some parts of the world," Warren told reporters.
Nathan Gasatura, from the Rwanda Anglican Church, said; "Rwandans have many reasons to thank God, who worked through others to stop the Genocide and guide the country's growth."
Patrick Sengabo of Restoration Church stressed upon the crusade's importance, "it brings all Christians together to reinforce a sense of reconciliation in Rwanda."
This year's theme is; "A new legacy," taken from the book of Isaiah 61:4. It says, "They shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall rise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations."
Pastor Warren commands a wide following in Rwanda. As part of the commemoration of the genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda, there was an event at Saddleback church as part of activities marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide. Rwanda's president Paul Kagame spoke at the event.
He is the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical church in Lake Forest, California, said to be the eighth-largest church in the United States.
He is the author of, "The Purpose Driven Life" (2002), an evangelical bestseller.
Through The PEACE Plan in Rwanda project, 3,200 pastors have completed a three-year intensive training. Next year, Saddleback will conduct the first continent-wide Purpose Driven leadership training in Rwanda, bringing in more than 1,000 leaders from 54 African countries.
For Media Enquiries, please contact
Jean de la Croix Tabaro
Reporter, KT Press
+250 788 800 987