The so-called “prosperity gospel” – which promises wealth in return for faith – has long been a problem in Africa but now, in Rwanda, the government has shut 10,000 churches.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame announced a crackdown last year, saying of the churches, “Many are just thieving… some churches are just a den of bandits”. While the government’s intentions may reach beyond the prosperity gospel, in order for churches to open, regulations mandate that preachers must be theologically trained.
“Africa is the continent with the most Christians in the world. But the question is, what kind of Christianity are we talking about?” says Emmanuel Kwizera, a Rwandan who is international missions director at African Enterprise International. “People are becoming actually confused about Christianity and these messages about prosperity gospel.”
Enter a strategic partnership between African Enterprise, Moore Theological College, and several Sydney rectors – including the Rev Dr Stephen Liggins (Springwood) and the Rev Shane Dirks (Figtree, now Windsor) – who have been teaching the Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) to eager but untrained pastors in Kigali.
“The better trained the leaders are, the better they can combat these things,” Dr Liggins says. “It was a truly mutually encouraging experience to be back in Africa providing theological training.
“The church in sub-Saharan Africa is large and growing, and one of its greatest needs is for their leaders to be well grounded in God’s word. However, the benefits flow both ways. I learn a lot from them in terms of Christian commitment, prayer, hospitality and outreach, as well as simply enjoying the fellowship.”
The Rev Greg Ball (Cronulla) and the Rev Dan Bidwell (Robertson) also taught in Kigali, while the Rev Nigel Parker (Shellharbour) and the Rev Chris Jones (formerly at Windsor) have travelled to Zimbabwe, another country where the prosperity gospel is widespread.
“In one sense, Rwanda is a strategic location for teaching PTC,” says Mr Bidwell, who has been a visiting teacher for more than 10 years.
“African Enterprise Rwanda has had stable leadership for many years, is well organised, and has cultivated strong connections across many denominations.
This means we have been able to train over 100 pastors, university staff workers, evangelists and Sunday School teachers during the last decade.
“When I returned last year, after an absence of six years, it was so encouraging to have former students visit and share about their current ministry, and how their teaching has been reshaped by what they learned through PTC. Many of these leaders are in influential positions, overseeing large ministries.
“In that sense, it feels like the PTC program has created long-term positive gospel influence.”
For Rwandan pastors, seeing God’s big picture unfold through the PTC course has a massive flow-on effect.
“People come to me with lots of questions, especially about the Old Testament,” says one participant, Pastor Noel Kwizera, who heads up a Bible reading ministry. “They don’t understand how those details of the Old Testament fit together and because the course has helped me I’ve been able to answer a number of questions.”
Grace, another participant, says “I kept on learning a lot of things, which has touched my spiritual heart and really strengthened my faith. Of course, when my faith grows, even the faith of the people I disciple grows.”
African Enterprise has launched an appeal to sponsor upcoming training trips, with the next Sydney-led PTC intensive scheduled for this September. See africanenterprise.com.au
