The Timothy Project: Joining Hands to Build Leaders

During the last week of October, I (Darrell) was able to be a part of an exciting example of international cooperation.  The Timothy Project is an effort which is currently training 100 church leaders in the western part of Rwanda called Kibuye.  Our Rwandan partner, the AEBR, also work with the Danish Baptists (BUD), and Timothy is one of their projects that comes out of that partnership.  When the project began, since its focus was church leadership development in the AEBR, I was invited to be a part of it (with CBM’s blessing).  The first Timothy Project ran in the southern part of the country from 2015-2017.  The next phase (which in the office we like to refer to as “2^nd Timothy” J) is in the western part of Rwanda on Lake Kivu, in a village called Bumba in the area called Kibuye.  It is wonderful to see Rwandans, Danes and Canadians all joining hands and working together to build up and encourage the Baptist church leaders in that part of the country.

The church in Bumba, Kibuye (yellow building) nestled high up in the hills
(the edge of Lake Kivu on far right)

Each time they meet, there is a different emphasis on leadership.  The third module, which just took place, was focused on communication.  We discussed such things as “Why is Communication Important?”, “Communication and the Bible”, “Conflict and Difficult Communication” and “The Five Love Languages”.  Besides myself, the other faciliators were Jonas Mortensen (BUD) and Nathan Ndyamiyemenshi (the project manager from AEBR).  

Leading a morning devotion

Jonas (BUD), Nathan (AEBR) and Enias (Sub-Regional Pastor for the area)

Teaching about the 5 Love Languages

Jonas teaching about adapting your communication style

Each church that participates sends four or five leaders as a team.  Usually that includes the pastor and the heads of women’s ministry, youth ministry, and deacons.  For two-and-a-half days we sang, learned, discussed, danced, shared and prayed.  

Enjoying a moment of fun

A spontaneous dance of joy by some of the women

It is always so rewarding to see people who are willing to travel long distances (often walking), stay in less than ideal accommodations, and sit and learn for many hours in order to take advantage of an opportunity to grow as a leader.  They are always so incredibly grateful.  And it is so exciting to hear how they are taking what they are learning back to their churches and using it as they seek to be faithful leaders of God’s people.

Practicing some new communication skills

Everyone taking a few minutes to try new techniques

The only thing that makes training leaders more exciting is to join with others to do it!  One of the great blessings of serving internationally is the opportunity to be reminded of how wonderful it is to be a part of God’s family which extends around the world.

Protectors of Hope

What would you do if you received news that radically changed your life for the worst?  How would you respond if you were teetering on the edge of despair, when any hope for the future was reduced to the tiniest flickering flame, ready to go out at any moment?  That was precisely the situation that a woman named Donata found herself in, back in 2005.

Living in the little Rwandan village of Kigusa, when her husband died she discovered that it was due to AIDS.  He had contracted the deadly disease through an amateur dentist, and then had unknowingly passed it on to her.  At that time, HIV/AIDS was not only a death sentence which would slowly destroy a person physically.  It was also a disease which carried with it a terrible stigma, isolating a person from all friendships and relationships.  Even Donata’s doctor at the time advised her against telling anyone!

She felt like her life was over.  And what about her children?  She was terribly fearful that the deadly virus had also been given to her youngest, who was breastfeeding at the time.  What was she to do?  Despite being encouraged to stay silent, she made the decision to talk about it.  She joined a small group being organized by the local Baptist church, fittingly called Guardians of Hope (GOH).  The members were all people who were battling HIV/AIDS.  Donata admits, “It took a lot of courage to join the group and be open.”  But it was the best decision she could have made.  That tiny bit of hope she had been clinging to was safely protected.  She truly experienced the Guardians of Hope.

Visiting Donata and two of her children (R) in their home
with some members of a team from Westview Baptist Church, Calgary.

Before the GOH groups were formed, AEBR (CBM’s Baptist partner in Rwanda) gave training to their pastors about how AIDS works and how to address the needs of those who have been infected, which included treating them as people who are loved and valued by God.  According to Jean Marie, the pastor in Kigusa, when their GOH group started, people in that village with HIV/AIDS were extremely isolated and lonely, suffering both physically and emotionally.  They reached out to those throughout the community who were infected and began bringing them together.  They were provided with health kits and taught how to care for themselves.  They were encouraged not to be ashamed of making use of the medication being provided by the local health clinics.  Training was provided to help them learn skills for generating income.

The GOH group members in a meeting under the trees
- a traditional sight in Rwanda

Today, life is very different in Kigusa for the members of the GOH group.  Their health has improved so much that they have only had two of their 32 members die, and those deaths were not due to AIDS.  What a contrast to the way it had been.  Pastor Jean Marie says, “Without GOH’s help, they would all have been dead by now!”  There has also been a radical change in the way others view them.  For most people, there is now no longer any stigma with the disease.  In fact, there are now people wanting to join their group who don’t even have HIV/AIDS! 

Ildephonse (L), GOH Project Manager for AEBR, speaking to
the group members in their pineapple field

As a group, they currently own about 30 goats.  From that flock, each member has been provided with a goat.  And whenever new people have joined, they also receive a goat.  Their dream is that eventually they can build up to the point where each member will have their own cow!  They have also worked together to buy two pieces of land.  One of the plots is used for growing pineapples.  The money from the crop goes toward helping the members.  On the other piece of land they are building a house.  Once it is finished, they will either sell it for a profit, or they will use it as a location from which to start a business.

The house being built by the GOH group - and their cassava planted next to it.

Group member Concilia:  At first she thought her life was ending and was so scared
of others finding out about her AIDS that she would skip her meds.  But today she is
confident and strong, raising animals and pineapples, helping her children go
to school and even vocational school.

Group member Xavier: Because of the disease and its stigma
he despaired that he would be able to send his children to
school.  But the group supported and challenged him.  They
ended up paying for half the school fees and Xavier, through
skills learned as part of the GOH group, was able to pay the
other half.  He is grateful to the GOH group as well as CBM
which made it possible.

For this group of people, there once was a time when the future looked dark and despairing.  But God’s people chose to extend love to the vulnerable and suffering by starting a Guardians of Hope ministry with the help of CBM.  And today hope is burning brightly in the village of Kigusa!

In front of the Baptist church in Kigusa (L to R): Pastor Japhet, head of
AEBR's Dept. of Evangelism & Church Life; Pastor Dayle & Dawn Medgett 
from Westview Baptist Church; Pastor Jean Marie from Kigusa