First Quarter 2010

This quarter features the East-Central Africa Division, which includes the countries of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. The division is home to more than 286 million people, more than 2.4 million of whom are Seventhday Adventists. That’s a ratio of one Adventist for every 119 people.
Burundi and Rwanda are the two smallest countries in continental Africa. They also are the most densely populated. Although both countries have a high Adventist-topopulation ratio, significant regions are underserved or have not yet been reached with the gospel. Burundi has one Adventist for every 78 persons. However the majority of members live in rural areas, leaving the capital city, Bujumbura, with fewer members. Bujumbura is home to leaders in business, education, and government. These people must be given a chance to hear God’s final message. A small clinic serves the people of Bujumbura and has introduced the Adventist Church to the people of this city. A proposed hospital built on church-owned land will go far in spreading the gospel message in this capital city.
Rwanda has one of the highest ratios of Adventists to population in the world: one Adventist for every 22 people. The country suffered greatly during the genocide of 1994. The Adventist Church’s Adventist University of Central Africa (AUCA) lost its campus following the violence. The government has given the church a parcel of land in the heart of the capital city, Kigali, on which to build a new campus. With only a classroom block and administrative offices, the school is serving 2,200 students, most of whom are not Adventists. The most pressing need is a large hall to serve as a church and lecture hall. The building already is progressing. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help complete this building and bring together the students of AUCA for worship services, chapel, Weeks of Prayer, and other important gatherings as well as regularly scheduled lectures. The church is blessed with a large population of children. But children’s leaders lack the training they need to teach the children for eternity. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help train and equip
children’s leaders for ministry.

Yours for the kingdom,
Charlotte Ishkanian
Editor, Mission

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