From the mission field: Rwanda

Participants at the Lutheran Mission in Africa—Synod of a Thousand Hills “Means of Grace” conference in Rwanda learned about confessional Lutheran doctrine for five days in November. (Selestine Seburikoko)

The Lutheran Mission in Africa—Synod of a Thousand Hills (LMA-STH) is a young Lutheran church body that began in Rwanda about six years ago.

In November, the church held a conference, “The Means of Grace in the Midst of a Growing Church,” led by Bishop Selestine Seburikoko. The purpose of the conference was to bring together pastors, students and other potential church leaders from different doctrinal backgrounds to learn more about confessional Lutheran doctrine.

For five days, conversations centered around Holy Scripture, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. It was a fruitful time, and the deaconesses in attendance asked if such a seminar could be available for pastors’ wives and women from the parishes.

In December, seven ladies gathered together in Rwamagana for the first-ever LMA-STH women’s retreat. Topics included marriage, being a pastor’s wife and the role of family in the ministry. Additionally, the women studied the Bible, prayed and spent time in fellowship. Seburikoko and his wife, Ruth, shared about the church’s achievements and challenges and helped facilitate the retreat.

Since not all of the wives could attend, future retreats are being planned, with the hope of meeting at least three times a year.

Read more stories about LCMS international mission work at international.lcms.org.

Posted on March 31, 2021