World Partners staff Theo and Bri Makombe serve in Rwanda, East Africa. With COVID-19 restrictions recently lifted, they have been able to start opening up their home to visit with disciples more. 

Recently, disciples of the Makombes and members of a ministry partner pastor’s church were able to be baptized at the Makombes’ home. Theo was able to travel to Kigali and some of the harder-to-access outlying areas to connect with new disciples and disciple-makers. 

The Makombes state, “It has been so long since [Theo] has been able to meet with and encourage ministry partners around Rwanda. We are so grateful that he was not only able to connect with old partners, but to meet many new ones!”

Theo and Bri are involved in a radio ministry with shows of their own. Recently Bri and Margret, a ministry partner, were able to use this medium to speak out about the way Rwandans often mistreat each other, and how God calls us to love one another instead.

All of these ministries are ways the Makombes are shining the light of Jesus into darkness that still covers Rwanda. The month of April is when Rwandans enter into Kwibuka, which is the Rwandan time of remembrance of genocide against the Tutsi. Theo is a survivor of this genocide and stands as a living testament of how Christ can change a life.

Bri states, “[During Kwibuka] the country shuts down and stops to meet and remember. Every local sector holds meetings where people gather to hear testimonies and stories of pain. 

“This is a somber and painful time in Rwanda. The pain of the people is felt in the air and on the streets. Wounds are reopened. Survivors and perpetrators mourn. The younger generation witnesses and often stands helplessly by.

“It is our joy and our burden in this time to continually share the love and healing of Jesus. Day after day we urge the hurting to come to Jesus, forgive those who shattered their lives, and step into healing and redemption.”

Pray for Theo and Bri as they speak about the love of Jesus to a hurting people in a hurting land.