Website: Prison Fellowship Rwanda
Ministry overview:
Prison Fellowship International (PFI) is the world’s largest and most extensive criminal justice ministry, with a global association of over 100 national organizations. Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR) is one of these indigenously led organizations and has worked with over 30,000 genocide prisoners to date, engaging in ministry in all 17 of Rwanda’s federal prisons. Led by Pastor Deo Gashagaza, PFR is engaged in a variety of important reconciliation projects, including the Umuvumu Tree reconciliation workshops. These workshops are a place where genocide perpetrators are invited to confess and ask for forgiveness from their victims’ families; in response, survivors are offered counseling and mediation if they choose to reconcile with the perpetrators. The Umuvumu Tree project also makes it possible for ex-genocide prisoners to build houses for their victim’s families as a practical sign of reconciliation. Watch a video overview of PFR’s work here (righthand side of the page).
What is TFC’s connection to PFR?
The Falls Church (TFC) has partnered with the Anglican Church in Rwanda for a number of years, first sending Global Engagement Teams to spend time at The Sonrise School, which was started under the direction of Anglican Bishop John Rucyahana. Over time, Bishop John has introduced us to other work taking place in Rwanda, Prison Fellowship Rwanda being one such example. Since 2006, TFC teams have spent part of their time in Rwanda with Pastor Deo Gashagaza seeing the work PFR is doing across the nation.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- participate in The Living Bricks Campaign
- apply to participate in a TFC Global Engagement Trip to Rwanda
Events: none at present
Donate to PFR via:
- The Living Bricks Campaign – this campaign was designed specifically to provide funding for PFR’s house-building efforts in reconciliation villages.
- Mustard Seed Project – Mustard Seed is the US arm of the work of Bishop John Rucyahana, who serves as Chairman of the Board for PFR. Funds for general PFR expenses can be sent to Mustard Seed and will then be disbursed to Pastor Deo/PFR.
Purchase Options:
Baskets from Kayonza, one of PFR’s reconciliation villages, are available for purchase via Indego Africa.
Have questions about PFR? Contact Julianna at: julianna dot hutchins at gmail dot com.
