Background of AER
Evangelical Alliance of Rwanda was officially accepted by ministerial order No 362/05 December 1992. It has been started by four denominations and one Christian organization. Evangelical Alliance of Rwanda is originated from Africa Association of Evangelicals (AEA) with headquarters at Nairobi. EAR has now 126 members.
Community Bible Study is one of the programs that Evangelical Alliance is carrying out.
THE HISTORY OF CBS IN EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE OF RWANDA (AER)
1. MEETINGS
Evangelical Alliance, The Province of Anglican Church and Bible Society of Rwanda organized a casting vision seminar November 2011. One hundred pastors from different churches met at LLBR in two days. They were trained on the Vision , Mission , Objectives of CBS and the five essentials of CBS.
After few months , we had a follow up day for 30 pastors from those who have been trained.
At the implementation period, the African Director of CBSI” Maury came to visit the partners of CBSI. He visited Evangelical Alliance of Rwanda and the Province of Anglican Church and he shared with the top leaders how the program of CBS I will work . He had an interview with the workers and then he promised that they will work in 6 months and they will evaluate the program to see how it is going .
2. THE STEERING COMMETTEE
The Kigali area had the steering committee composed with five people: Bishop Gahungu Bunini , Bishop Maniragaba Esron from Evangelical Alliance of Rwanda ;Rev. Mashyaka Anastase(was replaced by Rev. Francis Karemera ) and Mme Mukansanga Julienne from The Province of Anglican Church and Rev. Canon Kayijuka from Bible society . The steering committee advice the staff members how the ministry can be improved and they do advocacy wherever is possible. This steering committee became the board of Directors.
After the separation between EAR and AER , Evangelical Alliance of Rwanda has its own board members who are the members of bureau of AER.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD MEMBERS :
- Monitoring the execution of MOU between the two partners: Evangelical Alliance of Rwanda and the Community Bible Study International .
- Advising and supporting the CBS local leaders in the below areas.
- Self led :If CBS is well represented in each area ,the future of CBS will be wonderful.
- Health classes :Ensure that all the classes members follow the five Essentials of CBS.
- Self sufficient financially: Providing different activities that will allow CBS to have its own funds.
3. CBS FOR ADULTS
CBS for adults is operating countrywide. We are in every district of Rwanda and we have a CBS representative.
We have the national coordinators, Provincial supervisors, and field officers.
4. TRAININGS
We have trained more than 20,000 people how to use CBS materials
In each province , the field officers met with their leaders and give some reports on how CBS is carried out
The national coordinator with the provincial leaders meet also every month for evaluation and planning together for the following month.
There are trainings and classes visitation every month.
DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES
- In 2014 , we gathered the different class members with their leaders and we do competition in songs, Poems and memory verses according to the book of Acts.
- A good number of people had received Jesus as their personal savior
- There is a spiritual growth among the members of CBS.
- Because , the ministry of CBS is a ministry led by Holy Spirit , the field officers and members have been dedicated to pray for God’s guidance.
- CBS has distributed more than 5000 books and 2000 Bibles
- The pastors have been trained in Evangelism and different materials for Evangelism were issued such as Bracelets and brochures.
- CBS has reached five provinces of Rwanda : Kigali City , Eastern Province ,Western Province ,Northern Province and Southern Province.