DOVE International

Clashing Tribes Forgive in East Africa
Diane Omondi

The nations of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have suffered immensely from civil war, tribal clashes and genocide. Forgiveness and healing are certainly needed, and this was the theme of the first-ever conference for DOVE leaders in this region—the Great Lakes of Africa.

The government of Rwanda emphasizes that it population is comprised of only one people group; all are Rwandans and should not be identified by their tribe. But lives are still wounded. Certainly unity cannot be legislated. Real transformation will only come from a divine work in the hearts of men.

At the June 2017 DOVE conference held in Kigali, Rwanda, Ellel Ministries taught several sessions and laid out the biblical basis for forgiveness and reconciliation. One young man from Ellel explained that after his father and uncle were killed in the genocide, he joined a gang of young men from his tribe. They planned how they would take revenge on the killers. But soon after that he received Christ, and things changed for him. He abandoned those plans. Several years ago when the killers were released from prison, he extended forgiveness to them even though his mother and sister thought he had lost his mind.

This was followed by repentance: one tribe confessing the atrocities they carried out against another; one tribe repenting for the hatred they have harbored against another; even Rwandans asking forgiveness from the Congolese, whose land they plundered. Forgiveness was extended in every case. Participants are still talking about how significant this open acknowledgement of wrong and forgiveness is for them.

The DOVE Africa Apostolic team and Steve Prokopchak also taught about transformation, church planting and DOVE values.
Ibrahim and I then headed to Bukavu, just across the Rwandan border in DRC. The DOVE leaders rushed back from the Great Lakes Conference in order to have another seminar there. The security situation in DRC is not good. Kidnappings, prison breaks, rebel groups marauding through villages and unleashing violence on innocent civilians... all these are much too common. But DOVE continues to expand; there are now 40 DOVE churches in DRC.

In Bukavu we taught on the role of women, DOVE vision, tithing and biblical transformation. We had a powerful time of repentance after the team of leaders listed various strongholds in the culture and confessed them one by one. It is clear that God is at work, not only to heal, but to extend His Kingdom in this region of Africa.