Positioned just south of the equator, Rwanda is one of the smallest countries on the African mainland. Known for its coffee and tea, it is an elevated country full of mountains in the west, savanna in the east, and numerous lakes throughout. The population of 11.5 million is young (almost half the population is under 18), largely rural, and speaks a mix of Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili.

After the horrific Tutsi genocide of 1994, there has been a commitment to progress and growth, with the church at the forefront of regional peace and ethnic reconciliation efforts. Over 90% of Rwandans identify as Christian, and the evangelical church is growing quickly here. That said, although Traditional African religions are officially followed by a very small percentage of people, they retain a significant influence in the lives and beliefs of many people. (For example, many Rwandans believe the God of the Bible is synonymous with the traditional Rwandan God Imana.)

ITEM’s Rwandan team is mature, active in local church ministry, and passionate about ITEM’s distinctives and impact. They have started mentoring and are begging to do more seminars. Additional trainers and funding are needed to enable this team to reach more pastors and strengthen churches across Rwanda.