A Christmas Gift for a Community in Need

Turi kumwe - “we are together” - is a Kinyarwandan word capturing the spirit of Rwanda’s mission. After the Hutus, a Rwandan ethnic group, massacred nearly a million of their fellow countrymen from the Tutsi ethnic group in the 1994 genocide, it is inspiring worldwide to witness a nation healing and coming together.

This Christmas, Grace Capital Church has an opportunity to say “Turi kumwe” to Rwandans as they continue to heal and rebuild.  In partnership with Rwanda Children Education Foundation (RCEF) and with Global Benefit, founded by Pastor Mark in 2000 to help mission’s organizations raise funds, we are building “Grace House” - a two-bedroom residence for one of sixty-five RCEF families who lost their homes in recent floods. 

Give your Christmas gift contribution toward the "Grace House"

RCEF, founded twelve years ago by Jeanine Mukarubega, a genocide survivor and individual sponsor of ten students, is committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ through making a way for children to complete grades 1-12.  But defraying school expenses is only a piece of how RCEF helps children succeed through education.  Stability at home is essential for children to thrive. That is why RCEF provides vocational training and business microloans to parents, enabling them to become more self-sustaining.

120 students are sponsored by RCEF, “setting a new course for a new generation”, said Alan Graustein, an elder at Laconia Christian Fellowship and volunteer Executive Director of Global Benefit who began partnering with Jeanine twelve years ago.

So, in the spirit of their mission to give hope and bright futures to vulnerable children and youth in Rwanda, when floods washed away the homes of sixty-five students, RCEF had to take action.  Without a roof over their heads, focusing on school would be nearly impossible.  RCEF responded to the need by purchasing land and began building.

Two homes attached side by side. A model that encourages a sense of community. 

$13,000 covers the cost to construct a home complete with two bedrooms, an attached kitchen out-building, and a lavatory outhouse.  For this year’s Christmas Giving Campaign, we are being invited by the GCC Mission’s Team to come alongside RCEF by supplying funds to build one house. It will be named “Grace House”. You can help us achieve our goal.

Being a generous church that cares for marginalized people, previous investments in Rwanda by GCC have included clean water projects, starting a church in Rwanda’s capital of Kigali, training pastors, and taking missions trips. And now after several years since our past investments, we are renewing our relationship with Rwandans by being the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Latrine and storage area  

Christmas is a time to rejoice in our Heavenly Father’s gift to us in Jesus Christ.  He makes His home in our hearts.  Through our gift to Rwandans in need, we can say “Welcome home.  You have a place in the Family of God”. 

Join the Mission’s Team by making a gift to support this worthy cause - simply select the "Grace House" fund.  The goal is to receive gifts totaling $6,500.  GCC’s Mission’s Fund will match contributions up to $6,500.  Together with you, we look forward to giving our best gift this Christmas, in the name of Jesus Christ!

Blessed is he who is generous to the poor. - Proverbs 14:21