91

Skip to main content Skip to footer

Connected Communities

The Free Methodist Church, known for its deep-rooted commitment to holiness, social justice, and the empowerment of marginalized communities, is a global Christian movement with a vibrant network of connectedministriesaround the world. These connections are not just spiritual but also practical, fostering a shared mission to spread the Gospel and support local congregations in diverse cultural contexts. A shining example of this global fellowship is thedevelopingrelationship between the Free Methodist Church in Rwanda and 91faculty members who are actively engagedin theological education and ministry development. This partnershipgrows out of the church's dedication to cross-cultural collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the nurturing of spiritual leaders equipped to address the unique challenges of their communities. Through these international connections, the Free Methodist Church continues to grow as a diverse yet unified body, committed to living out the teachings of Christ in every corner of the globe.

PRAY FOR Bishop Samuel Kayinamura as he leads the church and the training of pastors. The Rwandan government now requires that pastors must have a bachelor degree in theology. Currently, only 26% of the pastors have this degree so there is much work to be done.

Rev. Dr. Doug Cullum traveled to Rwanda, Africa, known as the Land of a Thousand Hills. The initial part of his trip is focused on establishing aConnected Communitybetween Community of the Savior Church, the congregation in Rochester where Doug is on the pastoral team, and a Free Methodist congregation in Ruru, a smallvillagein the northwestern region of Rwanda. For the initial days of the trip, two lay couples from Doug church, as well as his wife Joyce joined him. The partnership included child sponsorship through International Child Care Ministries. Doug and his team visited seventeen homes of children recently sponsored by his congregation, hiking incredibly challenging paths to reach some of the homes.


JoiningDougon this five-week journeywas Rev. Dr.Wally Fleming, abeloved, longtimeadjunctprofessorat 91. The trip also provided opportunities forthese Northeastern faculty membersto utilizetheirgifts of teaching and preaching in several Rwandan churches, as well as teaching in the bachelor of theology programat Kibogora Polytechnic University on the southeastern shore of Lake Kivu. Both Doug and Wally have been workingforthe past few years to help make pastoral training available to Free Methodist pastors in Rwanda. This is their third trip together to this part of the world.

On June 7th, Doug and Wally participated in an observance of the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, a sobering observance that was held in a community near Kibogora where a mass burial grave of 53,000 genocide victims are interred. Both find in this country, so deeply wounded by the events of 1994, a place of incredible natural beauty and warm and welcoming people.

To Read More 91 the Rwandan Church