By any standard, Rwanda is a country filled with young people. Just a few years ago, researchers reported that half of the population in Rwanda was less than 18 years of age. The nation of Rwanda is teeming with possibilities and bright futures!
One longtime friend of Hope Haven Rwanda, and pastor to several of our staff, Jimmy Muyango, is capitalizing on this opportunity and ministering across the generations in exciting ways. Seven years ago, God called Jimmy, his wife, Sandra, and others to launch a new ministry. They had a strong desire to go wherever God called them—to be like “clay in the Potter’s hand.”
As they obediently followed God’s direction in their lives, they began Potter’s Hand Ministries, which has flourished into an influential church, with broad impact in the capital city of Kigali, generating dozens of ministries. Their reach extends well beyond the walls of the church into the business and political community through outreaches like “Christian Ambassadors in the Marketplace.” The ministry is based on Five Pillars: Worship, Fellowship, Missions, Discipleship and Ministry. Each of these biblically-based pillars supports the spiritual growth of Rwandese believers—young and old!
Pastor Jimmy and Sandra have five children of their own, and they have specifically designed programs to reach vulnerable children in their community. They have also created a stirring church ministry called C.L.A.Y. This initiative invites children and youth to follow Jesus and to explore “Christ’s Life Among Youth.”
King Solomon wisely observed, “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them”(Psalm 127:4-5). The Potter’s Hand community is richly blessed by an ever-growing group of young people who want to follow Jesus. The ministry quiver is full and God is moving!
Several people in our broader Hope Haven family, including the Whyte, Fisher, and Hollern families were honored to spend some time with Pastor Jimmy during his recent visit to the US. When I asked him about what he was learning, Jimmy said, “It has been a great experience to be in the US, to meet brethren in Christ. I’ve just come to know that the Body of Christ is spread all over the world, we have brothers and sisters all over the world. Also, I have come to know that Jesus is the answer in every part of the world, because we are all human beings, we are all broken, and Jesus came to fix us, so He is an answer everywhere.”
We can learn a lot from this dear Rwandan Pastor as he urges us to be “clay in the Potter’s hand.” May God grant us the wisdom to be malleable, flexible and obedient to whatever He asks us to do!