Who We Are
How it all started
Rwanda Pentecostal Assemblies of God started in 1990 few years before the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
At this time in Rwanda, it was difficult to start a new church due to the fact that the genocidal regime collaborated openly with the religious community in planning and executing the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Some church leaders were more involved in politics rather than focusing on preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Even though it was not officially documented, the government had prohibited the legal establishment of churches and faith based organisations.
At this time, the pioneer of Assemblies of God churches in Rwanda Bishop Gatabazi sold his property in Rwanda and went to study for a Theology degree at Mbeya Bible College in Tanzania, that borders Rwanda to the East.
It is here that he met his wifePastor Kaligirwa Christine who was also studying to achieve her Theology degree at Dodoma Bible College in Tanzania as well.
They returned to Rwanda in 1987 and started serving in a local church called ADEPR in Kigali. At the time, this church was characterised by divisionism and discrimination based on ethnicity. Both Bishop Gatabazi and his wife were discriminated against, rejected by fellow church leaders and denied an opportunity to serve in church.
In 1989, Bishop Gatabazi and his wife started a home cell weekly prayer meeting, inviting neighbours to fellowship and study the bible study.
In 1991, the congregation enlargened as more people turned to the Lord Jesus Christ and got baptized in the Holy Spirit, witnessing miracles that included healing of diseases.
In 1991, the government of Rwanda at the time accepted a multiparty system in which non-governmental organizations including churches and faith based organisations were also allowed to register officially.
It was then that the process to register the church began and by 1993, Rwanda Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church was officially registered in Rwanda.
At the time of the Genocide against the Tutsis, Rwanda Pentecostal Assemblies of God had twelve local churches across the country. As of now, there are 179 local churches across the country.