A magnificent Cathedral named for John the Baptist was officially opened by dignitaries and visitors from Rwanda and around the world who had gathered for a major evangelistic campaign and dedication in which over 1,000 came to Christ. All told, over 7,000 celebrated in the proclamation of the Gospel and the inauguration of a new spiritual center for the diocese of Shyira. “Rarely, if ever, among Anglicans in the modern day, has the Gospel been so clearly and passionately articulated as it was here this past week,” declared the Rev. John Richardson, a participant from St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Birmingham, Alabama, an Anglican Mission in The Americas congregation. Rwanda's President Paul Kagame was among thousands of Anglican faithful who attended the official opening and blessing of the cathedral, hailing the Episcopal church of Rwanda for its significant role in spearheading spiritual and economic development in the country. He further thanked Bishop John Rucyahana for fostering economic and spiritual development in the region. The President told the gathering that the Episcopal church of Rwanda has done a commendable job of rehabilitating the hearts of the Rwandans after the tragedy of genocide that befell the nation ten years ago.

The dedication of the cathedral was preceded by several days of energetic and focused evangelism. The Crusade opened Wednesday evening with an address by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, Primate of the Episcopal Province of Rwanda. Thursday morning Archbishop Yong, Primate of the Anglican Church of Southeast Asia, opened the day with an exposition of John 12:20-21 and set the tone for a series of sermons following the crusade's theme, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."

Thursday's preachers included Bishop John Rucyahana, Shyira Diocesan, John Richardson, Sr. Pastor, St. Peter's Anglican Church, Birmingham, Rwandan Evangelist Pastor Masasu Joshua, and Bs. Geoffrey Rwubusisi who closed the morning with an altar call that led to hundreds coming forward. The consistent theme throughout the talks was faith in Jesus that leads to transformed lives as opposed to the mere practice of religion. On Thursday afternoon the crowd of over 3,000 was divided into three groups: men, women and young adults/youth, who were challenged by an even deeper level of teaching. The people gathered again in the afternoon for yet another powerful sermon by Rwandan Evangelist Antoine Rutayisire and a second altar call.

Friday morning followed a similar pattern with preachers including Archbishop Yong, Bs. Ntahoturi Bernard of Burundi, and Evangelist Antoine Rutayisire. Archbishop Yong referenced his church's vision to first win the 24 million people of Southeast Asia to Christ then turn their attention to larger countries which hold 500 million souls. He called his people to 1:1:3, each Christian bringing one other person into a discipled relationship with Jesus every three years. This, he said, should have led to doubling and doubling again within his first seven years as Primate. However, attendance only doubled and for what would have been phenomenal success in the west, the people of SE Asia repented. One observer noted, “Would that Christians in the US would take mission so seriously.”

On Friday afternoon the masses took to the streets of Ruhengeri visiting a prison, the mayor's office, a university and other strategic locations. Each team had a coordinator, a preacher, at least one choir and a mass of faithful men and women. Many more people came to faith in these outreach venues. Just as it was at the crusade, there were teams prepared to counsel immediately and follow up with those professing faith. The people gathered back at the crusade site and reported on the work of the Holy Spirit through these teams, a last sermon and yet another altar call.

The closing sermon on Saturday was electric with the Holy Spirit and challenges to see Jesus for all of who He is as opposed to some lesser pale imitation. During the event, Bs. John Rucyahana had those associated with the Anglican Mission in The Americas to stand. In front of all those assembled he declared that the people of AMiA were "part and parcel of the Church of Rwanda, his spiritual children, indeed Rwandese living in America as missionaries." The Anglican Mission in The Americasn was formed in the summer of 2000 by the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, with support from the Archbishop of South East Asia, to be an orthodox Anglican missionary movement in the United States.

The crowd grew each day with seven to ten thousand being present for the brief dedication on Sunday. The Master of Ceremonies was the Mayor of Ruhengeri. The Governor addressed the assembly, praising the crusade efforts and honoring Bs. John, paving the way for the President of Rwanda, his Excellency Paul Kagame. The President congratulated the 1080 person who had come to saving faith in Christ Jesus and challenged them to continue in the faith that the message of reconciliation with God and fellow man would continue to produce fruit for the church and the nation. He exhorted all to continue the partnership of church and government in the development of the Rwandan people.

Pastor John Richardson was overwhelmed with the opportunity to participate: “The Gospel was preached. The Kingdom was advanced. To God be the Glory!”

(Contributors to this story included Mugabe Grace in Rwanda and John Richardson in Birmingham.)

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