NCM PARTNERS WITH ABC
Near Nyarutarama, a well-known neighborhood in Kigali City, a new library continues to grow and to serve many in the area of theological studies and Christian education. It has 36,000 books processed and shelved and a goal of 100,000 books. Two more containers with 50,000 books are on the way. The library has received 300 patrons coming in often for reading or borrowing a book. The library has active engagements and involvements that promise to make it a learning venue for many.
Resources include: book readings, where a book is chosen to read and discuss together, C.S Lewis Museum and the ‘Introduction to an Author’ program, where the librarian introduces a new author to the active members each week. Volunteers came from nowhere, perhaps from God, and they are working hard to make the library flourish. Its germination is owed to a partnership of ABC ministry and the New Creation Ministries.
The library is progressively growing, on a momentum that the two mentioned partners never anticipated. What would have taken five years and more for ABC or many for NCM, is being realized almost now in only a year. The journey is still long, but God is already shinning in the outcomes or as C.S. Lewis would say, “Aslan is on the move”.
The dream of ABC was to realize the largest Theological Library in East Africa. The dream was very good but its realization was another thing. With many things in place and long plans on paper, ABC sought for the library location. The task being big, she advised herself to start small. The first step was a home library that was opened at the librarian’s house, in a place called Gahanga. The weight of the dream gradually pushed the walls of the house, so hard that the librarians could see on the walls of the house written, “Find another place”, a bigger space to hold the dream.
After prayers and a gathering of information, the dreamers were forced to move around Kigali City to find a location to expand. The God of seekers, made one of the seekers stop by a big campus owned by NCM, a place where people came for Christian formation, discipleship classes, and other growth opportunities. NCM is dedicated to this service since 1992 in Rwanda. The plan now advanced to asking whether there is a room in the campus for expanding the big dream: the largest library in East Africa
The vision of ABC being to wipe out all the Bible illiteracy in the community, and that of NCM being to help the church in Rwanda function as the body of Christ. The closeness of the visions, the good talks between the members of each partner, and the God who grows good ministries in Rwanda, made it possible to agree on a partnership to realize the dream together, each contributing significantly towards the realization of the library.
When we see the library growing, we borrow Paul’s words and play a sweet song that says: ABC planted, NCM watered and God made the library grow. NCM planted, ABC watered, and God gave the increase! Hallelujah, praise be to God. But to end, what is ABC but good people who have sacrificed a lot financially, donating books and many other gifts for the realization of the library? To all those supporting and to those planning, we are grateful. Live long Central Theological Library to serve Rwanda and all her curious Christians.