Rwanda is facing a new wave of spiritual turmoil as more than 10,000 churches have been forced to close their doors.

In 2018, the Rwandan government announced they would be closing churches that didn’t follow a set list of qualifications. This included theological degrees for pastors, buildings to meet fire codes, and churches to follow noise regulations, among other things.

Henry Wynn, Director for Church Renewal International (CRI) Africa, explained that this move was, at best, unrealistic for churches in a third-world country, and at worst, deliberately designed to damage the Rwandan Church. Many pastors did all they could to improve church conditions at the time, but over 8,000 churches were shut down.

Later, in September 2024, Henry came to Rwanda for a roundtable. While he was presenting, he watched pastor after pastor stand up and leave the room. He later learned what had happened: A new wave of government shutdowns had begun.

“I'm concerned the world is not aware of this,” said Henry. “So much happens in Rwanda, and the world doesn't know.”

Today, fewer than 300 churches are left in a country of 14 million people. Most of those remaining are traditional Catholic or Anglican churches.

Fueling the fire: Rwanda’s history of genocide and church hurt

To understand the climate in Rwanda, you have to go back 30 years to one of the darkest times in Rwanda’s history — the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Over the course of 100 days, over one million Rwandan people were massacred in a brutal ethnic cleansing. Ethnic Tutsis were branded as sub-human and murdered and raped by people they knew personally — neighbours, family members, and fellow congregants.

Tragically, some churches participated in these terrible crimes. The last time Henry came to Rwanda, he visited a memorial for genocide victims. As he walked through the building, he saw countless videos and pictures of people killed in churches. Priests would welcome Tutsis and moderate Hutus seeking refuge; lock the doors; and set the building on fire or call for others to come and kill every man, woman, and child.

Whether this emphasis on church participation is the result of deep-seated church hurt or propaganda designed to control modern churches, Henry couldn’t say for sure. Likely, both are true.

“So, when the president comes in the name of controlling religion, that's why nobody's raising their voice; nobody can go against it. The law is law,” said Henry.

Henry is also seeing signs of other East African countries like Uganda and Burundi following suit with this church regulation. There are multiple political and economical factors at play, but he warns that Rwanda serves as a model for the rest of the continent.

Starving for spiritual nourishment and fellowship

There’s an incredible spiritual hunger in Rwanda. Henry visited one of the remaining churches, and this small auditorium packed about 300 people into each of the three services. The room was so full, no one could enter or leave once the service began.

“I think being hungry is an understatement. They are starving,” said Henry. “You cannot underestimate the power of fellowship.”

If Christians attempt to have even a small spiritual gathering at an unapproved church, they can be arrested. Some pastors have kept up a rotation of home visits, but for fear of government spies, it might be months before they return to the same place. Henry himself faces intense government scrutiny every time he visits.

Not having a place to worship has been devastating for Rwandan Christians, many of whom don’t have the knowledge or resources to feed themselves spiritually. As one pastor told Henry:

“For many people, the only place they could hear the Word of God or read the Bible was during church gatherings. Now, without fellowship and public worship, thousands of believers are left without spiritual nourishment.”

CRI: A vital source of encouragement for pastors

Of course, these shutdowns have also been extremely difficult for pastors who are now left without a spiritual flock or financial livelihood. But amid these challenges, CRI online mentoring has been a beacon of hope.

Around 80 pastors currently participate in online mentoring, provided they have a cell phone and can join virtually. They receive weekly encouragement and discipleship materials to help believers learn to abide in Christ on their own — to self-feed when they cannot be fed by their pastors.

“The bottom line is that Church Renewal is there to mentor and equip people to stand in the storm, and to prepare the body of Christ even when Zoom is no longer there,” said Henry. “We are strengthening the body, whether they give them a green light or not.”

More than ever, Rwandan believers need Bibles in their homes and discipleship tools to help them self-feed. Henry explained that many people don’t have cell phones and can’t access online tools like TheWay app, so CRI Africa needs funding to print copies of TheWay Discipleship Pathway. Henry is also working to help pastors get the education and funding they need to meet government requirements and reopen their churches.

October prayer requests

1. For Rwandan pastors to continue to receive training and mentoring in these difficult times.

2. For spiritual protection and energy for Henry, who has a demanding travel schedule, often in dangerous countries.

3. For the Church to be a beacon of hope and renewal for the people of Rwanda and beyond.