Transforming Churches

In 2024, the Government of Rwanda closed over nine thousand prayer houses and churches that failed to comply with national standards for building quality and safety and the qualifications of pastors. This has created a crisis in many congregations, especially in poorer rural areas.

AEE Rwanda, under her Mission sector and in partnership with the Northland Church of Orlando, USA, is working with church leaders in Rwanda to reimagine their fulfilment of the Great Commission given by the Lord Jesus Christ (Mathew 28:18-20). In July 2025, we kicked off an initiative called Community Transformation Churches with a conference attended by fifty pastors and evangelistic church leaders.

Pastor Augustine Emile Davies, Pastor Joshua Brandon Laxton, Emmanuel Kwizera

Dr. Joshua Laxton of Northland Church and the African Enterprise international missions director Emmanuel Kwizera shared their expertise on strategically engaging in the global mission. Their insights into current church culture and how to change culture were especially appreciated, as they discussed the crucial point that the biblical view on the church in the global mission to bring about the Kingdom of God on Earth starts with local communities.

George Nkurunziza, the AEE Rwanda missions coordinator explained AEE Rwanda’s Church and Community Transformation (CCT) process combines spiritual, social, and economic pillar to enact holistic transformation of individuals, churches, and communities.

The conference highlighted three interlinked aspects: missional, transformational, and multi-generational. These aspects govern the five stages of CCT: Awakening the Church, describing the church and community, gathering information, analyzing information, and deciding the path forward.

The church leaders at the conference resolved to put this plan into action to revitalize their churches, reinvigorate their evangelism, and to give space to emerging leaders who can naturally engage with the online world.

AEE Rwanda and Northland Church were heartened by the enthusiasm and dedication of the church leaders, and the commitment to join with AEE Rwanda mission staff to pass on what they learned to their respective churches and congregations.