Rwanda

Free Methodist Church of Rwanda

The Free Methodist Church of Rwanda’s mission is ‘to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, and to extend the Kingdom of God through: Evangelism, Education, Health, Community development and social welfare’.

It seeks to live out its mission by serving 214 parishes in 645 churches organised into 10 Conferences. Through its many ministries, from running schools and health clinics, to a Polytechnic university and upcoming leadership capacity building centre, the church is contributing to social development.

With a vision ‘to be a healthy church growing holistically, multiplying in numbers, and extending the Kingdom of God in Rwanda and beyond’, the church has set an ambitious Vision for Growth (2017 – 2042). The phases to achieving this are grounded in Biblical scripture and demonstrate FMCR’s commitment to upholding the Word of God. There are ten phases underpinning the vision:

• Phase 1: Spiritual Growth -Scripture focus: Eph 4: 14
• Phase 2: Quantitative Growth -Scripture focus: Acts 2: 47
• Phase 3: A decent headquarters & Worship places Buildings -Scripture focus: Deut 23:15
• Phase 4: Peace, Unity and Reconciliation -Scripture focus: Mat 5:9
• Phase 5: Connecting Partnerships -Scripture focus: Eccl 4:9
• Phase 6: Decentralization -Scripture focus: Exod 18:21
• Phase 7: Self-Reliance -Scripture focus: Acts 20:34
• Phase 8: Opening new field in and out of the Country -Scripture focus: Isaiah 54:2
• Phase 9: Spirit of order, method and good governance - Scripture focus: 1 Thess 5:14
• Phase 10: Sustaining effectively and efficiently our socio-economic and spiritual achievement - Scripture focus: Rev 3: 11

The Free Methodist Church of Rwanda (FMRC) started in 1942 with missionaries from the USA led by Revd Frank Adamson. The first church was planted in Kibagoro in Western Province where the Church runs an important College and Hospital.

The Church acquired its legal status in 1962 and full status as a General Conference in 1985 led by the first Rwandan Bishop. Since then, the church has grown in membership, infrastructure and spiritually.