Churches in the East African nation of Rwanda are in crisis.

In 2018 the Government of Rwanda mandated that all pastors and religious leaders must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology or a certificate in Theology with their current degree. They were given five years to accomplish this, and time has run out. Because most pastors don’t hold these credentials, nearly 10,000 places of worship have closed in 2023 and 2024! Most pastors don’t have the funds for this training.

The “Thousand Pastors Training Project” is designed to meet this challenge. We want to give 1000 pastors the opportunity to study either at the Protestant University of Rwanda or Thousand Hills International University over the next 4 years.

The pastors were interrupted while living out a call to serve, and they are eager to return to it. They are excited for the opportunity to use this time to develop a deeper understanding of Scripture as the whole word of God so they can better lead their congregations to be renewed by the transformation of their minds and to be better equipped for the works of ministry.

These two schools are respected institutions and will fully equip the pastors to return to their call.

“I was admitted into the Bachelor of Theology program at the Protestant University of Rwanda in the 2024/25 academic year. I’m continuing with my studies as a result of assistance from a benefactor who is assisting with accommodation and subsistence without which I should have been out of school by now. Any financial support to enable me and the many others in a similar situation to complete our courses and return to the ministry would be greatly appreciated.” – Jean Christophe NIYOMBAZARWEMA.

A gift of $1,000 will allow one post-graduate leader to complete his studies and return to his life’s calling in one year. A gift of $3,000 lets a student earn his Bachelor of Theology degree in three years.
Yet, whatever you can give allows pastors to return to the work they long to continue!