{{Thank you very much pastor Rick Warren and Kay Warren
Saddleback Church Members,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,}}
No words are adequate to express the gratitude that we Rwandans feel to see so many of you gathered here to mark the 20th commemoration of the genocide.
But Let me quickly say am grateful to Rick Warren for inviting me to come and be with you even if it was at short notice. I definitely could not miss to coming to join you and express this gratitude.
Rick and Kay warren and members of Saddleback church have made me and Rwandans feel at home whenever we are visiting and we have done that before visiting saddleback church centres.
We want to appreciate that. I personally want to appreciate that and we always feel whenever we are visited by Rick and Kay Warren that they should also feel at home whenever they come to Rwanda.
This moment is important for me personally and for Rwandans.
It brings us to remember the million lives we lost in the genocide and to honour the strength of survivors as well as the resilience of Rwandans that has kept our nation alive.
The Genocide in Rwanda destroyed the social fabric and this had been damaged for many years before the genocide from colonial times and unfortunately this coupled with some negative efforts by some in the church as well, most especially the catholic church and the post colonial administration of the extremists made everything worse and that’s how we came to have a genocide in Rwanda because of the divisive ideology that had been preached by post colonial officials.
But after the Genocide we have been rebuilding and through efforts of reconciliation and of justice mainly through restorative justice programs like Ndi Umunyarwanda (I’m Rwandan) are carried out and have entrenched a new thinking about who we are as Rwandans.
Today we are able to celebrate our common identity as Rwandans as we harness our diversity in pursuit of a national vision of unity development and prosperity.
Dear friends,
During the genocide almost every church betrayed its divine mission. Many sought refugee in houses of worship only to be delivered to their killers by religious leaders they trusted.
Rwandans were not only traumatised by loss and grief, many also felt spiritually betrayed.
Today, things are different and again thank you Saddleback members for providing this meaningful new partnership.
Today, faith in God is again a source of comfort for millions of Rwandans.
Saddleback’s decision to accompany Rwandans on their journey has played an important role.
More than 2000 members of this church as already mentioned have served in Rwanda as part of the peace plan. We thank you.
You served in every part of the country; you lived and worship with Rwandans from all walks of life. You have seen the new Rwanda both our achievements and our struggles. You know what we have gone through and you are still with us.
Saddleback partnership with Rwanda is a real testament, the kind of people to people relationships that have contributed to the renewal of our country.
Thank you for being with us, for working with us in our endeavour to recover and rebuild.
As we Commemorate what happened in Rwanda 20 years ago we will continue to work together with our friends to ensure that the future for all our children and grandchildren no longer holds fear but opportunity.
I thank you once again Pastor Rick and Kay warren, I want to appreciate your invitation for me to be here on this particular occasion.
Thank you very much
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