From 28 to 29 December 2022 a pastor’s retreat was organized at Isano/Kigali. Around 150 pastors of 250 parishes were present. It was the first gathering organized by the Church after COVID 19 which weakened the institution in all sectors of activities. Between 2019 and 2020, churches, businesses, and transportation systems were closed. The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated deep-seated social inequalities within our societies. Women, low-income households, children and young people, as well as low-skilled, part-time, temporary and self-employed workers, have all been disproportionally affected. Prices of all products increased and the number of people in extreme poverty raised. The Presbyterian pastors retreat was an opportunity time to evaluate the post COVID 19, to remind and to assess the church ministry goals in strategizing and refocusing spiritually. 

It is in that difficult context of post COVID 19, Rev. Dr Pascal Batararingaya, president of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda opened the pastors retreat in reminding to stand today because all pastors are followers of Jesus Christ who raised from the death and he still alive today and forever. Presbyterian pastors are not the opium of people; they are the hope of millions of people, states the church leader.

For being resilient there is a need, first to be united for working together and improving lives of people that why unity and reconciliation were the key in rebuilding the church completely destroyed in 1994. At that time the Presbyterian Church apologized publically because we offended the elementary Christian law written in Galatians 3: 28 In Christ there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Wherever you are and in anyplace you will be, avoid anything which will want to divide and to disunite you and your church. This is the secret of being strong and resilient. Unity is a fuel for innovation and creativity.

Having resilience means to recover quickly from difficulties. It is a certain type of enduring toughness. Rev. Dr Pascal Bataringaya believes that Presbyterians in Rwanda are not allowing to fall down again and disappoint our God as it happened in 1994, it is unacceptable. They have a duty to remember and to repent that failure all the time. That why the Remera-Rukoma memorial of genocide against Tutsi was built on the entrance of the church for all worshippers to remember and to repent.

To be united is the prayer of Jesus that all may be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. When we are together that is our strength. We need to create and to reinforce in cultivating trust amongst each other. A successful team understands the importance of trust. Trust is created not only by what is said but what is done and how it is done, how we behave towards one another. In the pastors retreat three big achievements were highlighted and appreciated:   

1)    The Community Based Rehabilitation Project                                                                          

The Presbyterian General Synod of 2019, recommended that people living with disabilities should be respected and should have a voice in the Church. They must feel welcomed and comfortable. Now they are represented in the General synod and in all 7 presbyteries. The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda created a Community Based Rehabilitation Project for helping and assisting children and youth with disabilities.

          2)  The gender equality in Presbyterian church in Rwanda 

From 1994 the gender equality and women’s empowerment have become a success long way in Presbyterian Church. Evidences show that women are involved in all activities of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda. It continues to be more and more an inclusive system for building hope, peace and development within the church and the country.

  3)    Access to health assurance for all Presbyterian pastors

All pastors in Presbyterian Church in Rwanda are accessing to health assurance which covers directly their medical expenses. Promoting good health of pastors and their families is a central protection mechanism for long term church development and resilience.                                                                                                                                                                

Rev. Dr Pascal Bataringaya reminded John 15:7 that if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. The opposite is also possible if you don’t remain in me and my words don’t remain in you, you are risking and you are in trouble.

Inclusion, unity and cohesion will remain the Presbyterian priority. To strengthen it, the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda will continue to open an honest communication, accountability, participation and ensuring that no one is left out. A church that isn’t resilient is weak and inflexible. Jesus wants us to unit and to cooperate, of course, with God’s work in our lives for being resilient. The Presbyterian Church must redefine the ability of its members for responding to different shocks it crossed over the years like the genocide against Tutsi in 1994, COVID 19, economic crises, and natural disasters by strengthening unity and inclusiveness in all area of activities, also by reinforcing the spirit of cooperating with God’s work in our lives through long-term development projects and long-term commitment for each Presbyterian minister.