Dave and Lynn have the great pleasure to introduce Jean Paul Seneza. In May 2009, Jean-Paul Seneza left Rwanda to pursue his dream of a life in America. After spending a few weeks in the US, Jean Paul managed to come to Canada. He met Dave through a Rwandan couple at Calvary Chapel and thus began the journey of a lifetime. Jean Paul lived with David and Edith Hiebert during his time in Canada. They became Jean Paul's dad and mom, and the Hiebert family is his family. They spent family holidays together and went on trips together. The Hiebert's, including children and grandchildren, initiated fundraisers for health cards for poor families in Rwanda. This family is a main ingredient in Jean Paul's ability to flourish while in Canada. David and Edith have gone to Rwanda to visit Jean Paul and his family every year after their short term missions on Mercy Ships.
David and Edith during one of their regular visits to Rwanda, with Jean Paul and his family.
During his seventeen months in Canada, Jean Paul and Dave developed a deep father/son relationship through mentoring, Bible study, repenting, forgiving, and so much more. Individually, Dave and Jean Paul each had a dream in which they were working together in Rwanda. Neither Jean Paul nor Dave and Lynn could see how this was possible, but they trusted God would do what He wanted to do.
Jean Paul became a much loved part of Calvary Chapel where he made many friends and continues to communicate with them today. In October, 2010, Jean Paul felt compelled by God to return to his home country of Rwanda. When he returned home, he reconnected with his church (ADEPR - The Pentecostal Church of Rwanda with over 2 million members), and was eventually appointed as an evangelist and began the International Chapel at Kicukiro Shell. Jean Paul became the Administrative Assistant to Bishop Jean Sibomana (Legal Representative of ADEPR). Shortly after, he began to work as the International Ministry Liaison for ADEPR and later was ordained as a Pastor, and is still leading the International Chapel while going to university in the evenings.
He has a heart for the people in his chapel, for the poor, learning about Godly, servant heart leadership and then training others in the same way he was trained. He is a voracious reader and devours almost any book Dave gives him especially those to do with Godly leadership. He was the predominant reason Dave and Lynn were invited to Rwanda to share with ADEPR what they shared with Jean Paul during his time in Canada. Dave, Lynn and Jean Paul continue to work closely together, making plans for future conferences, scheduling the leadership trainings, and where Dave will preach each Sunday.