Local churches across the island of Ireland have always been at the heart of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s (PCI) World Development Appeal (WDA). This year, churches in local communities across Rwanda are also at the heart of this year’s Appeal, as it seeks to strengthen and support them in the fight against food insecurity.
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Primarily for Irish Presbyterians, the WDA has taken place in the run up to Christmas and New Year for over 40 years. The Appeal normally raises between £300,000 (€362,160) and £500,000 (€603,700) to support life-changing sustainable development projects in some of the poorest communities and disadvantaged places on the planet.
As Rev Liam Rutherford, PCI’s World Development Appeal Agent, who convenes that WDA Task Group explained, for over 40 years PCI’s 500-plus congregations have been assisting the work of PCI’s relief and development partners, Tearfund and Christian Aid, in a number of countries across the globe.
“This year’s Appeal is entitled ‘Hunger pains, scarcity to abundance’ and the lead project is a Tearfund programme in Rwanda,” he said.
“When we think of Rwanda, we automatically think for the genocide that took place there in the 1994. Since then, it has had to start from scratch and now 30 years on, it is one of the more stable countries in the region. When I went with the Tearfund team to Rwanda in March we found a beautiful greenhouse of a country. However, some 90% of the population are involved in subsistence farming and so as much as half of the population live in poverty. Food insecurity is a big issue. This is not helped by climate change which is making farming more uncertain. On the ground, Tearfund is working to address this issue through the main churches including the Eglise Presbytérienne au Rwanda (Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (PCR)).”
Mr Rutherford continued, “In a country that is 94% Christian, the PCR has more than 4,000 congregations and 2 million members, and this year’s Appeal will seek to strengthen the church through Tearfund’s Church Community Transformation programme. Known as CCT, it gives congregations the vision and training to work for the transformation of the society in which they live, and an additional opportunity to spread the gospel,” he said
As Chris Thompson, Tearfund’s Northern Ireland director explained, each of the CCT projects is improving food security and increasing the resilience of communities. “At the heart of each project is the local church and we are so grateful to PCI for its faithful partnership with us through the World Development Appeal.
“Through their generous support, Presbyterian congregations across Ireland are able to play their part in helping communities to move from food insecurity to having enough food for everyone - and into a future that is filled with hope. The Appeal will have a significant impact in places where Tearfund works, especially in Rwanda, Malawi and Bangladesh. Our partnership with local churches across the world means that communities can break free from poverty, for good," Mr Thompson said.
The Butare parish of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda in the country’s Southern Province, identified many issues, including malnutrition and homelessness. One of those affected was Delphine, a mother of four children who has been helped by the CCT project. Speaking on a video produced specially for the Appeal she said that having met local CCT facilitator, Serapie, who invited her to a prayer group and training her life hasn’t been the same since.
The community also established a self-help lending group. With a loan, Delphine was able to buy construction materials and with the help of the community she was able to build her own home. You can listen to her story in the video above.
During Mr Rutherford’s time in Rwanda he was able to pay a courtesy call on the Moderator Eglise Presbytérienne au Rwanda, Rev Dr Pascal Bataringaya. Speaking about the Appeal, PCI’s Moderator, Right Reverend Dr Richard Murray, said that it would greatly improve food security – and therefore, hope.
“Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:11 that ‘You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.’ The annual World Development Appeal is an important opportunity to look beyond ourselves, to reach out and support those in need. For many years we have been able to respond with generosity which can only lead to increased hope.
“It also demonstrates that we are not only part of something bigger than PCI, but we are at one with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Rwanda, and at the same time, letting the power of God’s word transform lives. It is my prayer that we will play our part in showing that generosity of spirit to those in need, as we have done so in the past,” Dr Murray said.
While the lead project focuses on Rwanda, this year’s World Development Appeal is a further opportunity to equip the local church to be a change-maker in farming communities, ensuring families have enough to eat in Malawi, Bangladesh, Uganda and Burkina Faso. The Appeal will also assist the work of PCI’s relief and development partner, Christian Aid, with projects in Honduras, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and also Burkina Faso.
Full details on all of the Tearfund and Christian Aid projects can be found on the World Development Appeal section here. As in previous years, a proportion of PCI funding is also set aside for international partners’ development projects.
Speaking on the WDA video, local minister Rev Joseph Muhire said, “The first thing we do is that we proclaim the love and salvation of God. We also try to change men and women to become an agent of change in this community.”
Thanking PCI for its support, he continued, “As the Presbyterian Church, especially in Butare parish, we are sending our greetings and love to our fellow friends in the Presbyterian Church of Ireland. May you please pray for the church in Rwanda to have everything needed to reach those people in the community, therefore the Church can live for them.”