Prayer Bulletin

October 28, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,

It has been an exciting several months with so many things happening that it has been hard to communicate to all of you. We continue to see the Lord do amazing things through answered prayers. In fact, we have never been a part of a beginning urban Africa church plant that has reached the numbers and leadership caliber as Christ’s Church in Rwanda has reached in just 19 months. God must be honored as the results can only be the result of His blessing. We plan our best, work our hardest; but know too well this is God’s work and not ours.

This month we ask your prayers for the following matters;

1. Thanksgiving for answered prayers for new marriages. In 2005 and 2006 when our family first arrived in Rwanda, we met three intelligent and diligent single young men in the Ministry of Local Government as we were registering CCR (Joseph Rurangwa, Fred Mufulukye, and Lawrence Manzi). Dave decided to seek a friendship and begin praying for their future marriages. Joseph and Fred have recently married and Manzi plans to marry next year. We believe one of the key tasks in post-genocide Rwanda is the restoration of family and that God desires to bless new marriages. We thank God for his work in our friends lives and ask his continued blessing upon their new marriages.

2. Thanksgiving for CCR growth. Dave has recently been preaching a series called “From Crisis to Opportunity” that addresses 11 issues that the Rwanda government has raised that must be addressed to promote Rwanda’s 2020 Vision. The series has been a creative and biblical look at issues in developing the institutions of community. It seems that CCR has broken through the “200 barrier.” The last 3 weeks CCR has had 215, 238, and 321 in attendance. Two Sunday’s ago 4 were baptized. This past Sunday to teach about the value of “speed” CCR hosted a 5 Kilometer race and 120 participated in the run. Many were unchurched people who later joined us for worship and we examined biblical texts about running. Rwanda’s Presidential Cabinet Minister of Local Government, Dr. Protais Musoni, joined us for the event.

3. More opportunities to teach widely in Rwanda: During our last 3 years in Uganda, Dave and Jana hosted a popular radio show. Since arriving in Rwanda we have cautiously explored the possibilities of doing radio. There have been increasing discussions the last few months about the possibility of a radio program and also taking our teaching material on “From Crisis to Opportunity” to a national scope. We do not want to rush what God may do, but also do not want to miss an opportunity. We ask that God will clearly open doors for a broader CCR teaching ministry in Rwanda.

4. Greater spiritual maturity, servant leadership, and discipleship at CCR: With our increasing numbers we still are hitting the 10/90 rule (10 percent of the people do 90 percent of the work instead of the standard 20/80 rule). Some of this is just the natural process of building a church afresh with unchurched busy people. CCR has an increasing number that are taking leadership responsibility. However, we want to pray that in the next year 12 will arise who we can personally mentor, and that 70 will arise to be part of a core CCR leadership team.

5. Next week Jana is working with Gladney Adoption Agency to host a conference for many in Rwanda’s government and child care organizations. May this conference bless many. Also, may it open an increasing number of doors to meet the needs of Rwanda’s orphans for a family.

Again, thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement that sustain our family and ministry.

Imana ikurinde (May the Lord Stay with All of You),

Dave and Jana Jenkins

P.S. Our family has recently begun using Face Book and thoroughly enjoyed connecting with many old friends. If you use Face Book please feel free to look us up.