Rwanda: Biblical Principles Illustrated

[Number 3 in my posts about Rwanda. Start here.]

Ten men from five churches traveled to Rwanda at the request of an indigenous African ministry to teach and encourage pastors in the skills of conflict resolution. My role was to act as illustrator, using what I like to call SketchCraft, as a medium to convey Biblical concepts across language barriers.

What is conflict? One way of looking at it is to consider two people with opposing goals or methods. They may struggle together to achieve something, but they will always be at cross-purposes.

In serving God, the reconciliation of broken relationships always trumps other actions. Matthew 5:23-24 says that we should leave our gift at the altar, reconcile with our brother, then come back and offer.



Ken Sande's The Peacemaker describes the slippery slope of dealing with conflict, from avoidance on the left to aggression on the right. Reconciliation occurs in the middle.

Reconciliation can be tricky because we focus on symptoms, events, without dealing with buried issues that seethe beneath the surface like pockets of lava.

Sande's 4 G's of conflict resolution start with Glorify God. Instead of "me" at the center, how can I give God glory in this conflict?






The second G is Get the Log Out. Matthew 7:5 tells us that we can't see another's faults clearly if our own faults blind our eyes. What is my part in this conflict? Are my hands stained as well?






The third G is Gently Restore. Galatians 6:1 sets a context of humility and love for our attempts to resolve conflict.






The fourth G is Go and Be Reconciled. It is time to forgive, which brings freedom, not just for the one I forgive, but myself as well.






True forgiveness promises four things: not to dwell on the incident, keep digging it up again, spread it to others, or let it stand between us and block our relationship.







Instead of resorting to the courts, there are alternatives. We can negotiate, introduce a mediator to advise, or bring in an arbitrator to develop and impose a solution.





The mediation process involves several steps to assure a thorough and genuine resolution to conflict. 

Rwanda Through The Lens

My previous post describes my recent trip to Rwanda, with a few pictures and a lot of verbiage. This post is just the reverse. Remember that you can click on images or videos for a larger view.

We held two conferences in parallel. The General Pastors' Conference took place under tents, with a stunning view of the hills around the city of Kigali.

On the first Sunday we served at a Methodist church. The kids were irrepressible! they did not speak our language, but that didn't stop them from having fun with us.

At the Methodist church they had plenty of choirs and special songs, but this one caught us off-guard. That tough guy on the left: was he really carrying a machine gun? It turned out that he was a "prop" for a song about being a soldier in God's army. (What a relief!)

Twice, at the start and end of our stay, we ate at the elegant Bamboo Restaurant. Situated on a rooftop with a pleasant breeze and a wide variety of Asian fare, it was an unmatched culinary experience.

Our breakfasts at ALARM were always fresh and delicious, and on top of fruit and toast, they gave us omelettes. Once, though, I asked for sunny side up eggs, and though that was a special request, they gladly provided it.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial was an unforgettable introduction to the dark stain on the Rwandan soul. Long, featureless concrete slabs covered mass graves. The main building described, in stark detail, the grisly events and their aftermath. Painful, but a necessary part of comprehending what these people carry as they seek healing.

ALARM provided each of us a separate room and bath in a comfortable two-story facility. Like typical Westerners, we complained about the uncertain hot water and the intermittent wi-fi, but in reality we felt like honored guests.

We got to see a lot of Kigali and the surrounding towns. Motorcycles were the order of the day, as well as foot traffic. We saw people carry a lot of things on their heads, even furniture, in sun and rain.

Rwanda's fertile soil seems to be able to grow anything. We saw large rice fields and, of course, tea and coffee fields. 
The hills of the countryside were all terraced with growing things. The work appeared to be manual, with minimal machinery.

On one of our outings we were right near the hotel that was featured in the movie Hotel Rwanda.

The visit to the IWE girls' school was a high point. These girls were full of spirit and hope. We toured their rooms, labs and dorms, and they put on a show for us. Their teachers are doing amazing things with minimal resources.

We made friends at ALARM and with the pastors. We discovered afresh that the Body of Christ is not limited by geography or language.

Conference sessions usually began with singing, often accompanied by tall drums struck with wooden clubs.

Someone suggested that I join in, so I did. I had no drumsticks, but my hands managed to keep up.

Here is beautiful Lake Burera, next to an agricultural project that ALARM oversees.

On the way to the coffee plantation, the road was blocked. Apparently a truck had tried and failed to negotiate a winding curve. A team of men hooked up some chains and ratcheted it back onto its tires.

The house that we stayed in during our stay at the coffee plantation was right on the shore of Lake Kivu. Deep, placid water, breathtaking mountain scenery. 

At the church service in Cyimbili, several different choirs came up and sang and danced. The Rwandan believers have no hesitance in expressing their praise to God!