Our Rwandan brothers and sisters are not asking for political advocacy. They are not calling for international outrage. They are asking us to pray.

Across Africa today, the gospel is advancing with a quiet, steady strength. Churches are being planted, leaders are being trained, and communities are being transformed by the Word of God. But the advance of the gospel has never come without opposition. Sometimes that opposition is subtle; at other times, it is direct and costly.

In recent months, our brothers and sisters in Rwanda have entered a season of deep trial, one that calls the entire Body of Christ to prayer, solidarity, and biblical hope.

A Crisis Few Are Talking About

A friend from Rwanda shared with me the reality his church and many others are facing. His words are sobering:

“Since June of last year, the Rwandan government has closed over 70% of churches, revoking their licenses and prohibiting them from gathering or carrying out any ministry activity, including Sunday worship, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.”

Publicly, these closures have been linked to a sweeping set of new regulations. But as he explains, the requirements placed on churches are far beyond what most congregations anywhere in Africa could reasonably fulfill:

• Pastors must possess at least an undergraduate degree in theology
• Churches must have a minimum of 1,000 registered members
• Buildings must meet high, often commercial-level structural standards
• Churches must provide parking for at least 100 vehicles—requirements nearly impossible in communities where few people own cars

These standards alone would cripple thousands of churches across the continent.

But an even deeper concern has emerged. As my friend reports:

“…a recent statement from the president emphasized that the issue goes beyond regulations, framing it as a need to protect the nation from ‘colonialist brainwashing’ associated with Christianity.”

This is no longer just a logistical challenge. It is an ideological one.

Read More