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Reimagining the Church’s Image: Building a Strong Christian Ecosystem in Rwanda

To be honest, there are moments when I feel a deep sadness—sometimes even shame—at what I see portrayed on Instagram, YouTube shorts, and viral videos in the name of Jesus Christ. The image of Christianity in Rwanda has taken painful blows: from the wounds left by the genocide, in which some Christians and clergy were tragically complicit, to the present flood of self-proclaimed prophets who trade divine truth for cheap theatrics.

We must admit it: the moral and spiritual credibility of the Church has been weakened. Rwandans—Christian and non-Christian alike—expect better from us. And though we are not called to live by human applause, we are called to live by Christ’s example. The world should see in us what Jesus meant when He said, “You are the light of the world.”

But our light has dimmed.

It’s not enough to point fingers or lament from a distance. We need to reimagine, rebuild, and reinvest in a strong Christian ecosystem—a living network of believers, institutions, and initiatives working together to restore the public witness of the Church.

There are institutions to strengthen, new ones to create, and a holy fire that must awaken within us if we are to reflect the glory of Christ again. Here’s where the rebuilding must begin:

1. Sound Preaching and Teaching

Weak pulpits lead to weak believers. Many of our congregations have been fed a steady diet of motivation, emotion, and empty promises rather than the living Word of God. The result? A generation unable to discern truth from error, ripe for manipulation by false prophets and prosperity peddlers.

When the pulpit is sick, the whole body suffers. Without sound teaching, our believers cannot think biblically, lead courageously, or serve faithfully. The Church loses her prophetic voice in society, and our youth drift toward skepticism or shallow faith.

We must raise a new generation of preachers and teachers who handle the Word rightly—men and women burning with truth, trained in Scripture, and bold enough to confront error with love. Let us support theological training, invest in faithful pastors, and demand depth in our pulpits.

 2. Christian Apologetics

Because our pulpits have grown silent on the deeper questions of life, our classrooms, campuses, and online spaces have become battlegrounds of confusion. Many young Rwandans are walking away from the faith—not because Christianity is untrue, but because they have never heard it explained clearly or defended intelligently.

Without apologetics, our faith is easily mocked. Without apologists, our beliefs are easily dismissed. But imagine a Rwanda where trained defenders of the faith speak in schools, media, and policy forums—answering doubts, confronting falsehoods, and showing that faith in Christ is both reasonable and relevant.

We need to raise, fund, and deploy apologists who will engage the nation’s mind for the Gospel. Because when faith stops thinking, it stops influencing.

 3. Christian Media and Creativity

Yes, we have Christian journalists, radio stations, and worship songs. But where is the industry—the robust creative movement that tells our story beautifully, truthfully, and powerfully?

Right now, much of what goes viral in the name of Christ or about Christians is noise without substance—entertainment without sound doctrine. The Church’s image online is shaped not by our best minds or artists, but by our most outrageous performers. Of course, there is a remnant, but we are missing out on what could be: documentaries that inspire, films that tell redemptive stories, music that heals, podcasts that disciple, and visual art that speaks truth to power.

Imagine if we were creating training spaces for Christian creatives. Imagine churches fund filmmakers, writers, designers, and digital storytellers who can use their craft for Christ’s glory. Because if the Church does not shape culture, culture will shape the Church.

4. Christian Education and Intellectual Engagement

A nation’s future belongs to the classroom. If our schools fail to form godly character and biblical worldview, we are raising a generation that can code, debate, and lead—but cannot discern right from wrong.

Yes, Rwanda has Christian schools and a few theological colleges, but many are underfunded, underdeveloped, and disconnected from society’s pressing needs. Our theological institutions should not just train pastors; they should train thinkers, advocates, researchers, and leaders who engage the world from a distinctly Christian lens.

When Christian education is weak, the Church loses her influence in government, business, science, and the arts. We end up reacting to society instead of shaping it. But when Christian education is strong, a nation begins to see what it looks like when truth and wisdom kiss each other.

We must strengthen these schools, fund their research, and encourage Christian intellectualism that is both Rwandan in context and biblical in conviction. The biggest battle ground for shaping our society is within the schools and universities. Our presence in education must be felt!

The Cost of Doing Nothing

If we continue to ignore these needs, we will keep losing our sons and daughters to cynicism, secularism, and superficial religion. We will keep watching the name of Jesus dragged through the mud by frauds and false prophets. We will keep being spectators while other worldviews fill the cultural and intellectual vacuum we have left behind.

But if we rise—if we decide to build, support, and sustain a Christian ecosystem rooted in truth, beauty, and integrity—the story can change. Rwanda can once again look at the Church and see not a scandal, but a sanctuary. Not a stage for self-promotion, but a community of hope.

Let every pastor commit to preaching sound doctrine.
Let every teacher sharpen the minds of the next generation.
Let every creative tell stories of redemption.
Let every believer support those who labor to strengthen the faith.

This is our calling, and this is our moment.

The future image of Christianity in Rwanda will not be decided by our critics, but by our courage to live, build, and create for the glory of Christ.