Rwanda

The International Anglican Church is a missionary outpost in Colorado Springs of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, where Christian orthodoxy and missionary zeal are combined in ways reminiscent of the early church.

We gladly follow Rwandan church leadership out of our desire to learn from these brothers and sisters whom God has used in the remarkable work of reconciliation after the 1994 genocide.  In 1994, Rwanda was devastated by genocide, as one-tenth of the population–roughly one million people–was slaughtered in 100 days of violence between Hutus and Tutsis (the violence continued in the northern part of the country for several years as members of the Interhamwe would cross the border into Rwanda and wipe out entire villages).  In the aftermath, Christians began working for forgiveness and reconciliation throughout the country, including in refugee camps and prisons. As people heard the good news about Jesus, victims and perpetrators were reconciled and became friends and family through Him. Today, more than 1 million people gather every Sunday in Anglican churches in Rwanda to worship the God who saves and makes enemies friends -- groups which were separate are now one.

Our affiliation with Rwanda is a reflection of the new global reality of Christianity and a foretaste of the world to come when people will be gathered from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

A letter from Bishop John Rucyahana

To the Reverend Kenneth Erik Ross, Anglican Priest,

Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ.

On behalf of the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Rwanda, the Most Reverend Emmanuel M. Kolini and our House of Bishops, I, the Rt. Rev. John K. Rucyahana, Bishop of the Shyira Diocese, hereby authorize your work of planting an Anglican Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.

I commission you to proclaim the Gospel, to raise up a faithful and biblical church devoted to evangelism and discipleship as our Lord Jesus Christ commanded in Matthew 28:18-20. Your congregation is meant to be a part of the Anglican Mission in America and an authentic and biblical representation of our true Anglican heritage. It has both our full support and our prayers.

I commend you to the grace of God and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to bless you, your leaders, and your church members to reach many people in the Colorado Springs area with the saving Gospel. I ask you to also remember the international community represented in Colorado Springs.

In His Name,

The Right Reverend John Kabango Rucyahana
Bishop of Shyira Diocese, Rwanda