In 2012 the National Executive of the Swedish Pentecostal Church in Rwanda asked me provide a resource for Rwanda. Many pastors and preachers had no formal training or understanding on how to read and interpret Scripture and as a result much of what was taught was very wrong. I was thinking to have them translate Gordon Fee’s excellent book on How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, but realized there are too many cultural differences and assumptions made so this work would not serve them well.

How could Rwanda, in 1994, be called the most Christian Nation on the planet and also in 1994, in 100 days (https://reliefweb.int/report/rwanda/rwanda-protestant-churches-and-genocide-press-release) 100 days have over a million people killed? Something is very wrong in a world where this can happen. And the root of the problem is in what we believe, and our belief is informed by someone.

Together with a few of my Rwandan brothers we wrote, The Christians Life, God’s Word. What if we do like Ezra?  “Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra 7:10

In 2013 the book was published in English and Kinyarwanda.

However, at time of publishing, the enemy sowed a weed, and this has made this book deeply offensive. On the cover it should look like this:

Ubuzima Bwa Gikirisito

Mu Ndorerwamo Y’ijambo

Ry’I mana

“Imana” being Kinyarwanda for God—but all the books were printed with a small “i”. If this was in the English it would look like this; “The Christians Life, god’s Word.

I wouldn’t even open such a book.

It seems the African proverb is proven true, “If you want to hide something, put it in a book.” Only the Lord can redeem this work as it sits in a warehouse in Rwanda.

We are best served if we always assume there are weeds sown in every word. Ask the Lord to guide us and give us understanding. Submit to one another.

If you like, you may download the English or the Kinyarwanda version for free—use it as your own.