Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I would like to thank all of you who prayed over this critical time for Come and See Africa. I could feel His grace covering our steps as we walked through all of the difficult decisions and ministry opportunities that our Father set before us. Your prayers were answered! Great ministry happened to the Africans that we met and loved. And we received great ministry in return from our African brothers and sisters.
First, the Second Annual East Africa Christian Apologetics Conference sponsored by CASR and CASA was a tremendous blessing. The African speakers from Kenya, Congo, and Rwanda greatly impacted the 90 university students from five east African nations. Chris’ and Zach’s explanations of apologetics and the logic in the Logos were greatly appreciated. Chris’ pastors, Mark Mitchell and Neal Benson, quickly understood the African spiritual needs and spoke to them. More controversial was my presentation of what Christians believe. Chris asked me to put a special emphasis on the destructive effect of the heterodox doctrines within the Prosperity Movement on the African church. The pot was stirred!
But even more blessed was the dedication of the Joy of God Bible Institute to the memory of Kim Foreman. The vice-mayor of Huye, the executive secretary for the sector of Tumba, the migration officer of the Huye district, the dean of students from the University, and the public relations officer from the Huye police department sat through Chris’ introduction and gave some short speeches. I attached the brief ending statement that I presented to the dignitaries and a picture of the memorial stone for Kim. Chris’ sons, Zach and Simon, and all the dignitaries were very touched. At the dedication they all heard the story of CASA and Kim Foreman. The vice mayor especially was very complimentary. She repeated several times that, as a Christian herself, this was a great work. Then the dignitaries toured the incomplete building and saw its potential.
Chris’s younger son, Simon, is a professional artist in New York City. Chris tasked him with the joyful duty of creating a large art piece to fill the atrium of the LIghthouse in honor of his mother. He decided to use the classic forms of Rwandan baskets and hang large sculptures for the ceiling. He hired a local artist and workers to make the metal framework of one basket. Then he visualized the space as filled with seven such hanging baskets. (see attached picture)
I believe that at no time during my stay in Rwanda did I feel the Holy Spirit move as on the evening that Simon, Zach, and I brain-stormed the meaning of the piece. As His Spirit led we came to the theme of Rwanda and of Chris’ pilgrimage through the loss of Kim: Forgiveness. 2014 is the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide that took the lives of nearly a million Rwandese. Over the last two decades, the spirit of Christ has moved in the hearts of all in the country; wrestling with how to forgive those neighbors who murdered your family members and how to forgive yourself for participating. They have succeeded far better than I could imagine.
So the Holy Spirit led us to seventy times seven. How many times must I forgive my brother? On each of the hanging baskets will be written the word “forgive” in seventy languages. In 490 languages, the Arabs, the Israelis, the Serbs, the Croats, all the tribes of the earth can read the command of their Father: Forgive. My brother Chris struggled to forgive Franc, who fell asleep at the wheel and caused the crash that took his wife’s life. Pastor Paul reminded him that he had lost his wife in the genocide. He told Chris that: “He must learn to forgive like a Rwandan.” Amen and amen. So must the world!
This project will continue throughout 2014. The local artist and Javin will oversee the fabrication of the seven baskets. Zach will research the translations of the word “Forgive” into 490 languages. Simon will integrate these words into the Rwandan designs of the baskets. Simon plans to return when the building is near completion and oversee the placement of the sculptures. I believe that this artwork has the potential to speak the gospel in a most powerful way.
Also while we were in Rwanda the final papers were signed, notarized, and delivered to the Investment and Mortgage Bank of Rwanda. The scripture verse for CASA in 2014, is: “They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles”. The loan was approved and the first distribution of $150,000 was placed in the CASR account. Praise God! The Lighthouse should indeed be close to fully functional by 2015. A year ago in January CASR agreed to begin the application for the loan. 2013 was the year of waiting. African banks move on African time. 2014 is the year of mounting up with wings.
There are still many questions to be answered about how best to use these funds and complete the project. We need your continuing prayers throughout 2014. Here is a list:
1. My nephew, Javin, will be returning to the US with the executive director of CASR, Franc, in February. They will be purchasing American materials that cannot be obtained in Rwanda. They will be returning in April or May.
2. We are recruiting a second disciple to walk with Javin, two by two, through the next year. He is an old friend of Javin’s, Jermey Johnson. He would be a great help in completing the project. Pray that he will clearly discern the call of Christ in his life.
3. Javin is recruiting work teams from America to go to Rwanda to complete the skilled labor required to finish the building during the summer. Pray that a team can go that will be able to complete the stained cement floors throughout the building. Also he will recruit a team to complete the built-in beds, cabinets, shelves, wardrobes, tables, and other furniture that are to be fabricated from the four hundred laminated cabinet boards that have been donated.
4. It is hoped that the shops in the front of the building can be opened by the summer. Their rent will help to finance the loan payment.
5. Finally, we come to the financial. We need lots of prayer! At this point, I have not received the final figures for what the loan payment would be. I expect it to be several thousand dollars per month more that our present income. I will be busy over the next few months seeking support during this critical year. The advantage of this commitment is that it is short term; one year. Such a commitment would assist greatly in the start-up of these businesses. Then in 2015 the continuing support of the expanding ministries of CASR will be through the Lighthouse’s profits.
So please pray that our Father would bless this endeavor. We will also be seeking longer or larger commitments that would help us pay off the $250,000 loan as soon as possible. As is the case in all African business loans, the terms are African. The interest rate is 16.5% over 7 years. Paying this loan off early would allow the Lighthouse profits to be sown into African ministry needs sooner, rather than into the African bank coffers.
If you feel led to make a monthly pledge, no matter how small, let me know. That can be arranged. If you wish to share this burden with your pastor or mission committee, let me know. We would be happy to support you in such an effort.
I am anticipating seeing God move in interesting ways in 2014. The season of Chris Foreman plowing deeply into Africa’s fertile spiritual soil is ending. His article in Guidepost and his book, when published, will chronicle this work of God. But no one man can take up the extraordinary focus and commitment of my brother since Kim died. I can only hope to step into the leadership role and direct the effort. But others will be needed to complete the vision. Javin has been a God-ordained answer.
We need for you to consider material support. But primarily what we need is your focused prayer for this vision. We need prayer warriors to hold up this need and to bring it before God. The path thus far has not been easy. From a worldly perspective, there have been many misadventures and much grinding. My belief is that Satan really doesn’t want this to happen. If ministry was easy, any wimp could take it up. It isn’t easy and overcoming the challenges is what brings a smile to our Father face.
In Chris, Dr. Frank J. Foreman
President of the Board of Come and See Africa
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