Burundi

The Free Methodist Church in Burundi has been growing at a rate of 9% a year, in a country known to be one of the world's poorest. Burundi is home to Hope Africa University, a Free Methodist liberal arts college.

Partnerships are being sought to assist with work based in Mweya and Kibuye. The Mweya Theological Institute, founded in 1950, has trained a steady stream of leaders year after year. This school has a somewhat different focus from Hope Africa University, and currently has need of teacher and student support, as well as materials. Ministry in Mweya also includes primary and secondary schools, in addition to a church. The Busoma Factory, located at Kibuye, produces a nutritious cereal used to feed thousands of children, saving them from starvation.

Kibuye Hospital, widely respected throughout the country, has an overflowing ministry in its childbirth and nursery section. This hospital serves patients from a wide area and will soon become a teaching institution for students from the medical program at Hope Africa University. 

Democratic Republic of Congo

The Free Methodist Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as Zaire) ministers over a large area comprised of 38 different tribes, speaking many different languages. Much of the work is rural, but churches are located in six provincial capital cities, as well as in Kinshasa, the nation's capital. Free Methodists in Congo number twice as many as the North America General Conference. Yet, instead of three bishops, they have only one, Rev. Joshua W’Elongo. This means high demands on his leadership and resources.

Ministry initiatives in Congo include church planting, medical outreach, training seminars, and the four Bible institutes which are training pastors for the many FM churches in Congo. A significant need is means of travel for the bishop and leadership team over the large expanse of the country.

Rwanda

A key ministry of the Free Methodist Church in Rwanda is Kibogora Hospital, which was recently made a regional referral hospital. Kibogora’s excellent staff provides the only hospital service in a district of approximately 250,000 people. Christian witness is an integral part of the hospital's ministry, with chaplain leadership given by Rev. Wakana.

Ministry training seminars are also a key strategy for growth in the Rwanda FMC. Currently only 18% of the 217 pastors have Bible or theological training.

Between the medical outreach and leadership development needs, many opportunities exist for partnering churches to come alongside Rwandan Christians in significant ways to expand the kingdom of God in Rwanda.

Explore partnerships with ... Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, or through Bible distribution.