Dastardly Deeds in Rwanda

It's been often said that the Church does itself no favours when it is seen to be riven with in-fighting. How true this is, and how difficult to explain to non-Christians that Christians are flesh and blood, and do not always behave as they should. This is not God's fault - He's certainly not pleased with us when we misbehave.

I've just come back from Rwanda (see my November blog), where I went to teach at Pastor Eneas Nsengiyumva's church. Eneas is leader of the Methodist Church in Rwanda, pastor of the church in Kigali, the capital city. Since the genocide in 1994, the authorities have been nervous of assemblies and organisations which are not registered with them. Even the churches have to have Legal Representatives, and in Rwanda Eneas is it.

Just before I set out, I was regaled by a pastor I had met and liked during a previous visit with details of Eneas' misdemeanours and with the information that he had been dismissed by a church assembly. Would I now kindly deal with the new Legal Representative and his colleague.
The new LR was non other than the pastor I had met and liked. "How could this be," I asked, "when you and Eneas were such good friends?" "Ah, "said the pastor, "he has gone bad." This pastor also obligingly sent me a link to a Rwandan newspaper which displayed a photograph of the "assembly" and a full-blown account of Eneas' many crimes, for which, the newspaper said, he was being prosecuted.

Great! Here I am about to commit a week to this villain in clergyman's clothing, and now I learn that, despite my high opinion of his integrity, he is a common criminal. Asked to explain himself, Eneas merely said the authorities would not listen to lies. A fellow pastor confirmed that the two disseminators of this lurid story wanted to take over the leadership of the Church, and were not to be trusted. So, with not a little trepidation, I left for Rwanda.

Now I don't think this sort of "heist" could be pulled off in the British Methodist Church, but in Rwanda, where there is no such thing as an investigative journalist, you pay the media to publish a story. Joseph (for that is the name of the pastor I had met and liked) and his sidekick Ildaphonse, who had put him up to it, had paid something like $2000 to the Rwandan TV news and the newspaper to publish this spurious story. The "assembly" he had called mysteriously included among its delegates some poor people from Eneas' own congregation, who were glad of the bribe money. The "dismissal" of Eneas and the "promotion" of Joseph were pure illusion, designed to draw funding and NGOs to the latter. The expectation was that ministries such as mine, and others who didn't understand Rwandan church politics, would simply fall into line with Joseph's so-called take-over of the Church, and cut Eneas out. However, I have seen the official documents which prove that Eneas is still very much in control, and Joseph is yesterday's man. Believe it or not, having failed to stop me seeing Eneas during my visit, he is now writing to me (or, at least, his sidekick, who can write in English), is writing to me, pretending to be Eneas with a new email address. Unfortunately, the real Eneas wrote to me with his usual email address just after the "false Eneas".

This is like something out of a poor man's James Bond. The pity of it is, it damages the Church and Christians in general in the eyes of the world, and given that it's becoming increasingly difficult for Christians to have a voice in the world, it's something we could do without.

It's fortunate that we have a big God who knows the truth about His people, good or bad. He's the ultimate judge, and that's good enough for me.

It's that time again

Yes, it's nearly Christmas, season of cheer, high spending, and hard work. It's sometimes difficult to stay focussed on what Christmas really means, so the nativity plays and carol services are essential.

The book's finished, and looks quite good. One or two parts of the overall design are a bit wonky, but I'll get it right next time. For all aspiring authors who, like me, haven't a hope of getting professionally published, Blurb is wonderful. Check out their website.

And, yes, there will be a next time. I've started the novel. That's all I'm prepared to say at the moment.

At church we recently had a fantastic evening, which we, the ministry, organised and hosted. We looked at the biblical dimension of God's covenant with Israel, and the Land, and we were privileged to have a guest speaker from the local Jewish community. The next such evening will, hopefully, be next Spring.

I'm currently preparing to make my third trip to Rwanda (in January) to teach at a church in Kigali. The pastor has planted several small churches this year, and is an inspirational man. I'm greatly looking forward to seeing him, his family, and his congregation again. It'll be nice to have a week in warmer climes, too.

May you have a blessed Christmas.

Time's short

Having just realised I haven't "blogged" since August, I'd better get on and say something.

The last few weeks have been pressured, as I juggle various projects, including the teaching material for Rwanda in January, the book, which is nearing completion, and preparation for various prayer meetings. Then there's the website to keep up to date - I could really do with a PA (unpaid, of course!). This sounds like a moan, but it's not. Better than vegetating and being bored.

Had a good few days in Dudley, the main reason for this being an Equipping Weekend at Revival Fires, but we also got some sight-seeing in. On the way back from Gloucestershire on the Thursday, in an otherwise clear blue sky, we saw an anvil cloud ahead, with lightning flickering inside it. Never seen anything like that before - no rain, couldn't hear thunder because of traffic noise, but when we got back to Dudley they said there'd been a thunder storm for several hours. We then heard one clap of thunder, then nothing more. Awesome sight, that cloud!

Off to London next weekend for a conference on Israel and the Church. Heard it advertised on Premier Christian Radio this morning, so I hope that draws extra people.

Today I read in the local newspaper the horrifying news that synagogues are to be provided with police posts during the High Holy Days. I know that the local rabbi lives in constant fear of attack, and it is not that long ago that mounted police accompanied worshippers on their way to another synagogue a few miles down the road.

Who are these people who threaten the safety of law-abiding Jewish people? The problem is that the identity of these figures is blurred in the general miasma of resurfacing antisemitism. This anti-biblical attitude towards the Jews has never gone away; certainly it was blunted by sympathy in the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust, but the Devil's resistance to God through His Chosen People, Israel, is still all too real. Satan has put into the mouths of men various reasons why the Jews should be destroyed, but he is apparently too stupid to realise that God will forever protect them. From a biblical perspective those who oppose Israel and the Jewish people should begin to realise this. I am not concerned with politics - that's a man-made thing. Israel as a political entity may arguably make mistakes, just like other nations fighting for their survival, but according to God's promises in the Bible, she will never be destroyed. How I wish other nations would latch on to this!

New Website

Yes, it's up and running! 'Tis a poor thing, but 'tis mine own.
Check it out on http://olivetreelifeorg.moonfruit.com, and please feel free to leave a message or an entry in the guest-book.

The photos have no captions yet, but will do eventually.

Thanks very much to everyone who contributed art-work and editorial skills.

Jewish Jokes

I've always loved Jewish jokes, principally because they ably demonstrate the Jewish tendency to poke gentle fun at oneself. It is not, of course, true that Jewish people are mean (any more than that Scottish or Yorkshire people are mean), but Jewish jokes often reinforce this erroneous view.
Example: Father: "Ikey, are you reading?"
Son : "No, father."
Father: "Ikey, are you drawing?"
Son: "No, father."
Father: "Well take off your glasses, you wasteful boy."

Another tendency displayed in Jewish jokes is the element of self-pity, such as that displayed by Mr. Cohen in hospital. One morning, during the consultant's ward rounds, Mr. Cohen is hurt to note that the doctor misses him out completely. Cohen calls a nurse, and complains, whereupon the consultant apologetically returns to him, and asks how he is.
"Don't ask!" replies Mr. Cohen.

I suspect this last joke was not Jewish in origin, but it's funny nevertheless. Who is the most famous Scottish Jewish poet? Answer: Rabbi Burns.

The Thursday night meetings are gaining momentum, with more attendees and good discussions.
Last Thursday we looked at the Book of Nehemiah, and compared the opposition he faced with that facing modern-day Israel. He tells his enemies that they have no part in Jerusalem or anything he is doing, because the city never belonged to them. The weapons used against him - harrying, propaganda, and attempts to make him lose his sense of rectitude and thus to sin ( so that this can be used to incriminate him) are so reminiscent of today.
The new website is still under construction, with a fresh new logo. Hopefully it will be launched in the not-too-distant future.