Internship with Breakthrough Partners!

July 7, 2010 in Internship, Reconciliation, Rwanda | No comments

Stephanie Muncy, 2010 InternI am finally in Rwanda! I have experienced many of the emotional highs and lows of initial culture shock, but I am finding that each day I feel a little more adjusted. When I have woken up missing some insignificant things (like my sink) and some important things (like my family), I walk outside to brush my teeth and I am greeted by the thousand hills with their thousand red roofs, of which I am living right in the middle. I just can’t get enough of it and I know there is no place I would rather be. . .
 
My time spent with CARSA’s (Christian Action for Reconciliation and Social Assistance) staff has been equally as enriching. I can’t get over how I have this opportunity to be here, learn from and work with these people. They have set aside time to sit and talk with me, both sharing and listening. When I ask how they began working with CARSA, they laugh and say it is a long story.  I then get to hear some of their lives. One of the staff members shared with me how his family hid Tutsi’s in their house during the 1994 genocide, but then his father was still accused of murder and taken to jail (he has since been released). My friend said he dealt with great guilt for wishing he could have done more. He wanted to do something to stop the hatred and violence. Today, he works with CARSA, facilitating trauma healing workshops and allowing victims and perpetrators the opportunity to reconcile. I sat with my eyes and ears wide open in awe. I know no other way to describe them but as heroes. 

There are many more stories I am sure I will share in the near future. For now, I just wanted to introduce you to my summer. I know you are praying and thinking about me and I am beyond grateful . . . Please pray I have the ability, energy and teachability to fulfill my role as intern here as I help with updating their website, taking photographs, participating in seminars and everything else that may come up.

Amahoro. Peace. 

Stephanie Muncie
Breakthrough Intern, June 2010

Blessed are the Peacemakers

May 19, 2010 in Ivory Coast, Reconciliation | No comments

Koffi praying at a church serviceJesus welcomed a group of followers up on a hillside, and he began to speak to them. One profound statement, “Blessed are the peacemakers. . .”

This last month, our leader and representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Koffi Tehua, was present in Washington D.C. with religious leaders representing Muslims, the Catholic Church and other major denominations. Koffi represented the Evangelical Protestants of the nation. The purpose of the meeting was to analyze the cause of the civil war that has kept the country divided for more than eight years. In hope, this group met to build relationships and create a plan to stop the killing and bring the people together to forge a democratically elected government. Read the document that emerged from this strategic meeting.

This past January, I asked Koffi what was the number one need of his nation. Immediately he wrote back, and in bold capital letters declared, “PEACE. Without peace we cannot raise families, educate our children, plant new churches, and develop our economy. Without peace we live in a constant state of tension, fear and conflict.” Koffi has asked me to thank all of you for the role that you play in seeking peace for the nation of Côte d’Ivoire.

To read more about Koffi and his work in Côte d’Ivoire, click here.

Gary Edmonds

Mothers Matter

May 6, 2010 in Children, Financial Responsibility, Transformation | No comments

Mothers making and selling necklaces.

Mothers making and selling necklaces.

They raise children, tend to household chores, heal wounds, provide stability for families, educate the next generation, listen to dreams, pray for the sick, work to provide daily sustenance, laugh with the joyful, love tirelessly… I am grateful for my mother. She gave and sacrificed much for the sake of our family.

The mothers that I meet in Africa matter, too. Their lives are difficult. Yet they give and sacrifice just like our mothers do. 

From my most recent trip to Cote d’Ivoire to train people for community transformation, I met Bertine. She is a dynamic mother caring for her children and grandchildren in one of the poverty infested neighborhoods of Abidjan. Two years ago she caught a vision for transformation to come to her community.  She prayed about what she could do to make life better for all. After some searching, she learned how to start a neighborhood savings and credit association. Her conviction was that if the people pulled together to save of their meager income, they could create an investment fund.  With the pooled resources, they would be able to work to make their community better. Today, 2,000 people participate in a community credit association run by Bertine and her team of 10 others. Jobs are being created. Children are being immunized. The schools now are filled with students. Unity and trust is being fostered among the citizens. Churches are becoming self-supporting. Crime is declining. Bertine matters.

This month thank mothers for the enormous role they play to make life better. And if you are able, contribute to an organization that strengthens mothers to impact impoverished communities in ways that will never be reported in our newspapers. Mothers matter!

 Gary Edmonds

God Is Good!

December 8, 2009 in Building Leaders, Ivory Coast, Transformation | No comments

As they love to say in Africa “God is good!”

CEDIDay3This week the local Breakthrough Partners Team, the organizers of the seminar on Christian Economic Development have been overwhelmed with the response.  There was an expectation of 150 participants from different regions of Ivory Coast and 11 other African nations.  However, there have been 207 men and women in attendance.

During the past two days we have visited some of the most sacrificial and gifted works of young Africans served by the Breakthrough Partners Ivory Coast Team that we have seen in the world.  Let me tell you of Dominique, a vibrant young Christian woman, who has established a savings and credit association for some 1,300 people.  This past year she worked with the pastor of the local church to see it have a roof for the church building and provide care for widows and orphans.  The result is that the church is growing dramatically, widows and orphans are brought out of a vulnerable and destitute state and the region is observing the creativity and love of Christ.

Thank you for walking with us to build leaders for rebuilding communities,

Yours truly, from Bingerville, Ivory Coast,

 Gary Edmonds

 [You may our work in the Ivory Coast through Breakthrough Partners by clicking here.]

Coach Is With Us

December 1, 2009 in Building Leaders, Ivory Coast | No comments

This is the announcement we have received from Koffi in COTE D’IVOIRE – IVORY COAST of the arrival of Gary Edmonds with his wife Tricia and Kevin and Renee Napier.

BtPCI TeamKoffi shared the joy of having Breakthrough Partners with him in worship on Sunday. “Wonderful!” Koffi expressed thanks for gifts received and promised us further reports with pictures.

“I will send you a report every day.  Great thanks!”

If all the technology works between Africa and Edmonds, WA, we will be sharing the promised reports and pictures each day.

To follow us on FACEBOOK and read the updates, click here. Become a fan of Breakthrough Partners and send an invitation to all you friends. Great things are happening in Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast Trip

November 25, 2009 in Building Leaders, Financial Responsibility, Ivory Coast, Transformation | No comments

EdmondsNapiers2Please pray for us as we depart Friday, November 27 to the Ivory Coast.  In the 10 days that we are there, we will train people in Christian Economic Development and the dignity of womanhood.

Our objective is to move some 15,000 men, women and children out of vulnerable and destitute poverty to stability and self-sufficiency.  We will impart knowledge, skills, attitudes and relational connections to help them achieve this goal.  With God, this will happen in the year to come as the darkness is pushed back in the communities of these lovely people. 

 Thanks for standing with us as we build leaders to rebuild communities. 

Yours truly,

 Gary & Tricia Edmonds
Kevin and Renee Napiér

Godly Local Leaders

October 20, 2009 in Building Leaders, Reconciliation, Rwanda, Transformation | 4 comments

Christophe Mbonyingabo of CARSA

Christophe Mbonyingabo of CARSA

During the past two weeks, we hosted Christophe Mbonyingabo, Founder and Executive Director of CARSA of Rwanda. He is a courageous and Spirit-anointed leader set apart for rebuilding Rwanda out of genocide. Click here to check out the website of CARSA which is an affiliate partner of Breakthrough Partners. Christophe and his team are instrumental in the incredible healing and transformation of lives that have been traumatized by the wounds of genocide.

Again I was reminded that the rebuilding of broken communities and nations is built on the backs and from the convictions of Godly Local Leadership. Outsiders will never be able to lead a process of transformation. It takes those with moral and spiritual credibility who are relationally connected to the populous. It takes those who are in the culture of the local setting, but not of it. It takes those who are prepared to suffer and serve for the glory of God, even unto death.

This is where Christian mission, donor and development work so often goes astray. Those who come from the outside with money, messages and materials naively believe that they can bring about profound and lasting change. It simply does not work that way. And so often we let those with money, technological equipment, and educational degrees determine the priorities and strategies for the local mission. Then we wonder why there is no sustainable change.

The key for change to nations like Rwanda is to identify those who are morally credible, Holy Spirit anointed and filled with the vision of the Kingdom of God coming on earth like in heaven. Listen to them, follow them and support them. For culture change and rebuilding of nations is a job for insiders!

Gary Edmonds

[You may support Christophe and CARSA through Breakthrough Partners by clicking here.]

Moving from Genocide to Justice

September 9, 2009 in Building Leaders, Reconciliation, Rwanda | No comments

justice1How do you move from despair, fear, and suspicion to hope, peace and equitable prosperity?

 

This week I was invited by the Rwandan government to attend the International Summit on Unity and Reconciliation, October 15-16, at the 10th anniversary of the operation of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission. Based on my involvement and partnership during the past eight years in the process of bringing healing and life to a broken people and nation, I am asked to offer feedback of the past efforts and insights for future progress. I count this a real privilege to be used as a peacemaker in friendship for the rebuilding process of a profoundly traumatized nation.

 

Reflecting on the issues that needed to be addressed in the nation and the pathway to a peaceful and prosperous future, I wrote a brief paper of my observations. (Click here to read.) 

 

Today, let me leave you with a leadership thought that underscores my convictions for all nations and societies. Leaders must be willing to face uncomfortable truth, create a culture of truth telling, and ruthlessly examine destructive patterns of belief and behavior in an environment of forgiveness, equality, and hope. They cannot pretend, cover-up, fear truth, and lie about self or their constituency. Paul the apostle wrote, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” (1Timothy 1:15-16)

 

Rwanda, or any nation for that matter, will only move forward to display justice for all by the mercy of God which is offered to humble confessing leaders and people.

 

Gary Edmonds

Mu Amateka Mashya – Rwanda, the New History

July 30, 2009 in Reconciliation, Rwanda | No comments

Wall of Names at the Kigali Genocide Memorial

Wall of Names at the Kigali Genocide Memorial

In Rwanda, a land marked by animosity and killing, church leaders from Germany, UK, Netherlands, France, Belgium and the USA met with more than 150 pastors, church leaders and government officials from Rwanda and surrounding African nations July 7-12, 2009 in Gitarama, Rwanda. These clerics came together to confess the role of their respective countries in the events of the 1994 genocide. Together they acknowledged that their nations and churches had been instruments in planting seeds of hatred and division in Africa, and they had failed to respond as peacemakers during and after the killings.

 

Executive Secretary Fatuma Ndangiza of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission called upon church leaders to take responsibility of what happened in 1994 and fully participate in the reconciliation process. “The state embarked on the reconciliation because the church failed.  If the church had done what it ought to, this commission would be left with little to do because you have access to the population,” remarked Ndangiza. “If reconciliation is to be achieved, everybody has to acknowledge their responsibility in the divisions that culminated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.”

 

Today Rwanda is moving towards Mu Amateka Mashya which literally means “the New History.” Church leaders from around the world are recognizing that the brokenness of the land is first and foremost a spiritual problem. They are examining themselves, owning their sins, confessing before God and others their culpability, and striving to turn from their wicked ways to obey God’s word and promises. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 was used as the guide throughout the days together in Gitarama.

 

Will you join the process of reconciliation and healing of the lands and nations? This is the call to those who follow Jesus the Reconciler. You may read the confession that I offered publically on behalf of international delegates before a stadium-filled audience on July 11(click here). Own it for yourself and share it with others. 

 

With God’s mercy and grace, we will live to see a New History of healing and life for the land and people of Rwanda and beyond – even in our own communities and nation. 

 

Gary Edmonds

 

Confession is Linked to Peace and Prosperity of the Nations

July 2, 2009 in Building Leaders, Reconciliation, Rwanda | No comments

Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda

Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda

Rwanda will experience an historical and history-making event July 7-12, 2009.

 

Fifteen years after the 1994 genocide and fifty years after the Hutu-Tutsi conflict, leaders of churches from Rwanda, neighboring African countries, Europe and North America will gather for representative repentance and healing. Leaders of diverse church denominations will identify with the sins of their people and nations and confess to one another, and seek forgiveness from each other and God. In humility steps will be taken to walk the way of the cross and break the power of evil in the land. After the church leaders confess, they will meet with the government leaders again in acts of confession.

 

Nehemiah, the rebuilder of Jerusalem, prayed the following prayer, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.”  (Nehemiah 1:5-7)

 

There are spiritual realities that shape our communities and nations. When we break trust with God and each other, there are consequences in the land. A biblical model for Christian leaders is to bear the guilt of the people, confess to God and one another and seek the forgiveness and mercy of the Lord.

 

I’ll send you reports as I have been invited to attend, identify with the sin of our past, and seek the mercy of God. Dr. Chris Hall, Chancellor of Eastern University, will join me from the USA.

 

Stand with us in humility and pray for us and for this historic meeting. Africa, Europe, North America and our world depend on God’s favor! 

 

Gary Edmonds

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