New Around the Mission
Mayoral Proclamation for Rwandan Bishop
February 27, 2011
The people of All Saints Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, joyfully received Rwandan Bishop Augustin Ahimana to their church and city on February 16-20. He began the visit with a mid-week sermon to a packed audience from a number of congregations in the city, speaking on what it means to be a disciple.
“When he finished you could have heard a pin drop,” reports the Rev. Charles Vensel, Rector of All Saints. “It was a life changing message for many.”
Bishop Augustin and wife Claudine
Bishop Augustin toured Total Ministries, a faith based ministry helping people in need; spoke to a group of 60 Converse College students at STAND, a student anti-genocide coalition meeting; strategized with one of the directors of Global Bike to get bikes to Rwanda through church partnerships; met with a city councilman about adopting a sister city partnership; rallied ten people from All Saints to do their first mission trip to cultivate a sister church partnership; and spoke to record breaking numbers of people at All Saints for Sunday morning worship where two visitors decided to join the church.
“Bishop Augustin’s visit with us was truly transformational,” reports Charles. “We are all on a spiritual high from his visit. This is a milestone in the life of All Saints – he is a tangible presence drawing us into the bigger picture of the body of Christ beyond the boundaries of the local church.”
Bishop receives mayoral proclamation by city councilman.
A highlight for the bishop came at a special lunch planned with six Rwandan students at Wofford College, all recipients of the Paul Kagame Presidential Scholarship. The students, one from the bishop’s hometown, led him on a personal tour of the campus while the bishop challenged them to remember why they were there and that God is in their midst.
The whirlwind trip ended with a mayoral proclamation, declaring Friday, February 20 as Bishop Augustin Ahimana Day for the city of Spartanburg. In the days following, church leaders continue to cultivate the seeds planted by the Rwandan bishop, making plans to do more together to reach the city for Christ.
Want More?
Read the Bishop's testimony in Go Upstate.
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Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories: Rwanda
