General Conference

• Organized Free Methodist Churches: 152
• FMC Membership: 116,233
• Ordained Ministers: 230
• Ministerial Candidates: 2
• Bishops: Philemon Munyagisaka and Samuel Kayinamura

Origins

Pioneer missionaries Frank and Hazel Adamson, coming from Burundi, established the first Free Methodist mission at Kibogora in 1942. A great revival broke out in the area within a few years, resulting in thousands of conversions. This revival was part of a larger movement known as the East Africa Revival. Medical work and an elementary school opened soon after the first missionaries arrived. Later a Bible school was started. The Rwanda conference developed an aggressive church-planting program and now has churches in every province of the country. In August 1985, Rwanda became a General Conference.

In 1994 Rwanda's ethnic conflict erupted in a period of genocide. Missionaries were evacuated. Hundreds of thousands lost their lives. Millions more fled to refugee camps in neighboring countries.

Present Ministries

The wounds of open conflict are slowly mending. The medical ministry remains strong. Kibogora Hospital is a primary referral center in southwestern Rwanda. Health care is also provided in neighboring health centers. The church continues to reach out.

Opportunities to support Rwanda ministries

Learn about Kibogora Hospital

Learn more about Rwanda