Faith Missions directly supports Rwandan and Ugandan locals who are fully invested and dedicated to their local communities and economies. We are honored to love and walk beside these faithful followers of Christ.
Bishop Geoffrey and Mary living and working in Uganda
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Bishop Geoffrey Rwubusisi was born and educated in Uganda, East Africa. He has served the Church for over 53 years on four continents, in various languages, and in numerous capacities as a pastor, a vicar, and an evangelist. In 2001, he was called to become the Bishop of the Cyangugu Diocese in the Anglican Church in Rwanda. The 1994 genocide in Rwanda left behind a shattered nation in desperate need of hope, healing and forgiveness. Bishop Geoffrey’s vision was to see the people of Rwanda restored, having the grace and love of Christ poured over them. Working alongside church leaders and government officials, both he and his wife, Mary, worked tirelessly in various ministries helping the people of Rwanda rebuild their lives and their nation. In his passion for the youth of Rwanda, he created a special leadership camp whereby Rwandan youth came from all across Rwanda to learn about servant leadership, purity, forgiveness and reconciliation. The fruits of this labor of love can be seen today, as many of these young people have gone on to become transformational leaders in their own communities throughout Rwanda.
In 2011, Bishop Geoffrey and Mary retired to their home in Kamwenge, Uganda. But their love for the Lord and their passion for others to know the Lord has never stopped. In his retirement, Bishop Geoffrey continues to support the Anglican Church in Uganda and Rwanda in various roles. He is actively continuing to preach the gospel in Africa and around the world. For years, he has been instrumental in training and mentoring pastors. In their community, he and Mary lead the Project Porridge ministry and oversee the day-to-day operations of Prince of Peace Nursery and Primary School which is located on their property. As a father of five and grandfather to thirteen, Bishop knows the special role parents, and especially fathers, play in a child’s life. He continues to pour into the lives of men by teaching and encouraging them to be followers of Christ, committed husbands, and strong, caring fathers. We are honored and blessed to have this faithful man of God part of Faith Missions ministries. |
Mary Rwubusisi was born in Rwanda, East Africa and grew up as a refugee in neighboring Uganda where she received her education and met her husband, Geoffrey Rwubusisi. In 2001, Geoffrey was called to become the Bishop of the Cyangugu Diocese in the Anglican Church of Rwanda. Upon returning to Rwanda, Mary immediately noticed the tragic plight of the women of Rwanda. The 1994 genocide had left behind millions of women who had experienced unimaginable horror and pain, many left alone to fend for themselves and their children. A broken heart prompted Mary to begin what has become a lifelong ministry of helping women find healing and hope.
Over the years in Rwanda, Mary organized and worked alongside others to establish various ministries for widows and single mothers. From making soap to trauma counseling, her efforts to move people toward healing and wholeness have always encompassed every aspect of life; physical, emotional, and spiritual. In 2007, Mary started a nutrition program called Project Porridge. The primary goal was to teach mothers how to provide better nutrition for their families, but it went beyond that to include a demonstration garden and a microfinance program. The results were astounding, and Project Porridge continues to be a thriving, self-sustaining ministry in Rwanda. In 2011, upon retiring to Kamwenge, Uganda, Mary replicated Project Porridge to address similar needs of families in their area. She began by inviting the women and children to their home, cultivating friendships and providing porridge. This later led to establishing a school on their property called Prince of Peace Nursery School which feeds and educates 120 children. In addition, Mary and Bishop Geoffrey provide training in various aspects of childcare and parenting, allowing for increased opportunities for spiritual guidance and fellowship with local families. In addition to being a mother and grandmother to her own children, Mary has helped dozens of orphaned children over several decades. Many have been raised in her care and lovingly call her “Mom” in Rwanda and Uganda. Mary also serves as a Canon in the Anglican Diocese of East Rwenzori in Uganda and holds the same role in the Cyangugu Diocese in Rwanda. With her background in trauma counseling, she has organized several women’s conferences focusing on healing and wholeness. Mary has selflessly devoted her life to hundreds of women and children in Rwanda and Uganda and she is an inspiration to everyone who is blessed to know her. |
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Peter Nemeye
Living and working in Rwanda Peter is the Founder and Director of the Cyizere Girl’s Scholarship Fund, now Cyizere Girls, a non-profit in Rwanda, East Africa. He is passionate about serving the Lord Jesus and about community development, supporting education and empowerment for girls in Rwanda. By providing market-based vocational training, he is working to help young women overcome gender inequalities and promote development and economic growth for themselves and their nation. With his education in Computer Science, he previously worked with the Anglican Diocese of Cyangugu where he served as the General Manager of Peace Guest House and its branches in Gisakura and Bweyeye. Peter’s superb management and communication skills, combined with a strong desire to see the lives of people transformed by the love of Christ, make him a key ministry partner for Faith Missions. He also serves as the Care Coordinator for Faith Missions, providing assistance for growth and development, and using technology to enhance communication between our ministry partners in Africa and the USA. |
Charles and Juliet living and working in Rwanda
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Juliet Kabatesi Semwaga
A Rwandan refugee, Juliet grew up with her four siblings in various Ugandan refugee camps. Raised by her grandparents and with the forest as her backyard, Juliet is no stranger to the struggle for survival. In high school, she committed her life to Christ and went on to get a teaching degree and later married Charles in 1992. In 1994, during the Rwandan genocide, God called them back to Rwanda. There they cared for children desperately fleeing the killings, setting up an orphanage where lost children found shelter and love. It was here that Juliet started the first English school, in a French-speaking nation. In 2000, raising two boys of their own, plus another 18 orphans, Juliet joined Charles where he was working in southwestern Cyangugu, bordering the Congo. Here she started St. Matthew’s Nursery School, her 2nd English school. Working as headmistress and raising children, Juliet finished her Master’s in Education. In 2014, she and Charles left Cyangugu to work as ordained pastors in Faith Center Churches. There they have realized their God-given dream of starting their own school, Faith Academy Nursery School, where Juliet is headmistress. Juliet also oversees the Women’s Development Ministries for their churches, where she gathers women to learn beading, knitting, and sewing. This women’s ministry provides a time of fellowship to women from every walk of life, helping many to heal, as well as developing skills and treasured friendships along the way. Juliet’s heart is for the lost and hurting of this world. Her passionate love for the Lord, combined with her wise, gentle spirit bring inspiration to everything she sets out to do. We are honored to come alongside her in ministry. |
Charles Semwaga
The son of a Rwandan pastor in the Anglican Church, Charles grew up in Ugandan refugee camps where his parents sought asylum. Charles received a rudimentary early education, but a firm foundation in God’s teachings which cemented his faith and thus paved the way for his calling. In 1992, he and Juliet were married. During the 1994 genocide, the Lord called him to his home in Rwanda, which he had never seen. Relying on faith alone, he established a make-shift orphanage which provided a safe haven for children fleeing the violence. For years, Charles and Juliet served as parents and teachers to hundreds of children, always working to reunite them with their families. In 1998, Charles heeded God’s call again by accepting a position in Cyangugu. Working alongside two amazing Bishops, both with a vision to heal and restore post-genocide Rwanda, Charles used his gifts to create and oversee various projects. With a passion for evangelism, Charles studied in the UK, earning diplomas in Discipleship and Evangelism. In 2014, God called him to join Faith Center Churches, where both he and Juliet became ordained pastors. Here their dream of founding Faith Academy Nursery School became a reality. This little school has transformed a poverty-stricken neighborhood into a city on a hill, bringing the promise of a brighter future to many. As a gifted teacher, speaker, and pastor, Charles travels across Rwanda. He is actively involved in overseeing church planting, helping pastors and congregations to flourish. With his passionate love for God’s church and his people, Charles brings a message of hope to everyone and every situation he faces. We are blessed to be a part of his work in God’s kingdom. Charles and Juliet have four biological children, all grown now, plus eight adopted children and 16 grandchildren. |