1/4/2018 UPDATE: WE MET THE GOAL!!!! THANK YOU TO ALL!!!!
Curious as to how mud bricks are manufactured in Rwanda? Click HERE
Weather-Protected Shelter
The Kongsvinger congregation has an opportunity to provide financial support for two young confessional Lutheran congregations in Rwanda (Africa). The congregations are led by Pastor Jean Claude Maniragaba, President of the newly-formed Reformed Lutheran Church of Rwanda.
Our Need
Pastor Maniragaba has a very specific request – funds are needed to construct metal roofs under which his congregations can hold worship services out of the rain. Between the two sites, the current attendance of 100 adults and 66 children will benefit from these new structures.
A minimum of $2,750 US is needed to complete the project. One structure is 54 square meters (581 sq. ft) and the other is 78 sq meters (840 sq. ft). The plans and materials are readily available, and the work can be completed in approximately two weeks.
The LCSA (Lutheran Church of South Africa) has long-standing church-fellowship with the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK, Germany) and with the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA), with which it shares a common liturgy and lectionary, church order, and ways of Christian living. Since 1980, the LCSA has also worked together with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, which resulted in church fellowship agreement between these churches. It is also a founding member of the International Lutheran Council (ILC). The American Association of Lutheran Churches (TAALC), of which Kongsvinger is a member, have supportive relationships with several of these same Lutheran groups.
Pastor Maniragaba downloads sermons from the Kongsvinger website for personal encouragement and use within his two congregations. Therefore, we are confident that this young confessional Lutheran church body is of sound doctrine and worthy of our support.
Presently, these two congregations meet in outdoor settings without church buildings. Rwanda has two rainy seasons (February–May and September–December) during which heavy downpours occur almost daily making worship services very difficult.
A minimum of $2,750 US is needed to complete the project. One structure is 54 square meters (581 sq. ft) and the other is 78 sq meters (840 sq. ft). The plans and materials are readily available and the work can be completed in approximately two weeks. Pastor Maniragaba has indicated that photos of the construction will be provided upon completion.
The Kongsvinger Council has allocated $500 to start a fund-raising drive to provide the necessary $2,750. You are invited to join with us and contribute toward this worthy project to enable these young Rwandan Lutherans to meet and worship under a weather-protected shelter.