For several years now, I have been inspired by my graduate school colleague and friend, Dr. Sid Webb, to focus on “Building What Counts” (buildwhatcounts.com). In 2013, Sid and his family lost everything—including most of his work—to the worst wildfire in Colorado history. The footage of their burning house was seen on the news for the next two years, and the experience forced Sid and Suzy to reboot their lives and to double-down on making investments that matter for eternity.
At Hope Haven Rwanda, we believe that the most significant investments that we can make to our students, staff and families include deepening their relationship with Jesus, strengthening their character and invigorating their desire and ability to serve Him! This is the foundation of everything that we do.
We are working diligently to equip each student and family for spiritual development. Hope Haven Rwanda’s holistic approach enables us to create an environment which facilitates applied, hands-on learning. Many of our educational programs are based on modeling. We equip adults and children with a “See One, Do One, Teach One” model.
This is why it is so significant to implement discipleship training with our faculty and staff. Our Campus Chaplain, Pastor Shema Jean Claude, is beginning a discipleship program which will focus extensively on our faculty and staff. This will involve everyone on the team, from the most highly educated senior faculty member to the cleaners and field workers on our staff. They will work together in this journey of spiritual formation, caring for each other along the way.
The discipleship program at Hope Haven Rwanda is robust! The weekly schedule includes: A Bible class for each student every week, a staff Bible study for each teacher and staff member every week, and a weekly chapel service for faculty, staff and students. Then, to top it all off, we are organizing a monthly community outreach event with lively music and a clear message to invite others in the community to join us on the journey of spiritual growth.
The “Life-on-Life” Curriculum that David C. Cook Publishers has developed enables us to teach 52 lessons each year on spiritual formation, character development and life skills, along with activities designed for an East-African context. Finally, our students recite character trait themes regularly, as they memorize Scripture together.
Our ultimate foundation is Jesus Christ: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). This belief is at the core of everything that we do. As God guides our discipleship efforts, please pray with us that we will never be distracted, and that we will build solid foundations that will last for eternity!