03/01/25 GBTF Advancing in Western Rwanda
We hardly know where to start to give you a first-hand view of what we experienced in Western Rwanda and Burundi! The work of Global Baptist Training Foundation is moving at the speed of light and quickly multiplying!
This class in Western Rwanda has been amazing for the past 2 1/2 years! You may remember that one man walked 15 hours to get to classes and then walked 15 hours home! He did this for more than two years every three to four months. Another pastor sold his goat to have transportation funds to get to the GBTF classes! A third man rode a bicycle for several hours each way up and down winding mountain roads!! We were able to meet and congratulate these men and so many others.
Overall, here are the things that stand out about this graduation:
•This is truly a “nationals training nationals” graduation. They have been trained entirely by other national GBTF trainers who have, we can affirm, done an AMAZING job in their teaching and training.
•Thousands attended the graduation ceremony in Western Rwanda! The crowds were packed inside and outside of the building. Look at the windows in the pictures and videos to see how people crowded outside who could not fit into the building.
•74 pastors and church leaders completed the entire GBTF curriculum and were rewarded with a diploma!
•The spirit of the graduates, their families, and all who attended can be described as electric. Make sure you watch the videos below!
•The leaders among these pastors testified that they have made many changes to the way they operate their churches and even in their marriages as a result of GBTF training. You may remember that a revival broke out the week that Fidele Shinga, GBTF African Director, taught Pastoral Administration and Church Leadership.
•This class yielded 7 new GBTF trainers who will now move on to GBTF Trainer Training!! We were able to give equipment like phones, GBTF shirts, table runners, banner stands, iPhone 8s, etc. to these new trainers. We even took their leader a laptop to assist as he is working on government registration for GBTF!
•These new trainers already have 640 pastors registered for GBTF training classes! Yes, you read that correctly. 640. The next class begins in March with 87. Many other classes are scheduled for this year in different regions of Western Rwanda throughout this year!
•The leadership of this group of pastors have made a strong commitment to plant many churches ONLY with GBTF-trained pastors!
So, overall, this was an amazing experience to attend this graduation. We also had three extremely meaningful personal experiences surrounding this graduation!
First, we attended the naming ceremony for the new daughter of African Director Fidele Shinga and his wife, Alice. Both Fidele and Alice work full-time for GBTF. This new baby is the fourth daughter of Fidele and Alice: Success, Successful, Successor, and baby Succeeded. Succeeded’s full name is SHINGA Succeeded Snavely Keisha. She will be called Succeeded! We are honored to have her as namesake and all of the girls as adopted grandchildren!!
Secondly, we were able to meet with our trainer who was recently extracted from a very dangerous political situation! What an amazing family! For their safety, we cannot say more or post pictures, but we are taking good care of this family!
Finally, Grace was surprised when our trainer, Francois, and his wife brought with them granddaughter, Grace, to attend this graduation. Ten years ago, they surprised us when they named their grandbaby Grace in honor of Grace. We had seen her as a baby, as a two year old, and now as a nine year old! We love this sweet girl!
Watch for an update from Burundi in the next few days!
Bruce and Grace Snavely
Global Baptist Training Foundation
Videos:
Crowds attend GBTF Graduation in Western Rwanda
GBTF Graduation Procession in Western Rwanda