AMAHORO AFRICA: Our friend, Jane Kanyange, leaves us.

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Our friend, Jane Kanyange, leaves us.

Posted by Claude Nikondeha on October 01, 2009 at 6:26 PM

Her work... Jane was once a middle-class banker in Kigali, a faithful church going woman. And then she started sensing God's heard for Remera, the red light district in Kigali. She thought the church should have an outreach to this neighborhood, but her pastor told her God was not interested in those people. She was unconvinced. So she started spending time in Remera, getting to know the prostitutes, brothel owners, bartenders and bouncers. She started a Monday night gathering at an apartment she rented in the area, and she would invite the prostitutes over. Monday nights were the nights the brothels were often closed, so it was a good time to share a meal with the women and get to know them. Soon the meal grew into a Bible study and women started changing their lives because of Christ. Eventually she had to rent a larger space to accommodate more people wanting to hear about Jesus from a woman who did not judge them, but loved them. She started Prayer Palace. Now the former working girls lead worship. The one-time bouncers are greeters. People are learning to worship, to welcome, to serve and follow Jesus - people often overlooked by 'respectable people.' And as a result - brothels and bars are shutting down on almost every street in Remera. They are simply going out of business as workers and clients are coming into contact with a living demonstration of Christ's love in their neighborhoods. The once seedy street is now respectable - and now the city leadership is developing the real estate with hotels and storefronts - due to a woman who simple followed the example of Jesus! Jane helped the women, in particular, find other work to make a living. They have started a local business - garbage collection. Not only are the cleaning the city, they are making a wage and turing a profit! There are also other skills she is training the women in, so that they do not need to return to old ways to pay the rent. Amazing transformation!
Jane left a church that refused to follow Jesus into the red light district and ended up starting a congregation in the heart of Remera. Her congregation is a living testimony to the good news of Jesus that transforms lives, communities and even the real estate in the red light district. Her congregation changed the face of their community with a faithful witness to Christ - streets are clean, vandalism has nearly vanished, brothels are shutting down. Her legacy... Jane passed away on September 27th, losing her battle with cancer. Jane was a unique woman, so deeply committed to following in the footsteps of Jesus, keeping the company He kept and turning neighborhoods upside down with His good news and goodness. She opened her heart to all those that Jesus loved and created a home and place of worship where He was honored. Jane understood that the Good News of Jesus changed hearts, lives and communities. Her work in Kigali is evidence that salvation comes to communities - and that Jesus wants to redeem entire streets and districts for His glory. We will remember her every time we walk the streets of Remera, knowing her work ushered in such transformation and newness. Jane will be remembered as an innovator, leader, ardent follower of Jesus and dear friend. We miss her today, we will miss her always, we look forward to a sweet reunion on the other side of eternity. Amahoro Africa friends send their deepest condolences to her beloved community, The Prayer Palace. A special thanks to Philip Lesniweski who shared this photo of Jane taken in 2008 at The Amahoro Gathering. He captured both her inner and outer beauty.

Her work...
Jane was once a middle-class banker in Kigali, a faithful church going woman. And then she started sensing God's heard for Remera, the red light district in Kigali. She thought the church should have an outreach to this neighborhood, but her pastor told her God was not interested in those people. She was unconvinced. So she started spending time in Remera, getting to know the prostitutes, brothel owners, bartenders and bouncers.

She started a Monday night gathering at an apartment she rented in the area, and she would invite the prostitutes over. Monday nights were the nights the brothels were often closed, so it was a good time to share a meal with the women and get to know them. Soon the meal grew into a Bible study and women started changing their lives because of Christ. Eventually she had to rent a larger space to accommodate more people wanting to hear about Jesus from a woman who did not judge them, but loved them.

She started Prayer Palace. Now the former working girls lead worship. The one-time bouncers are greeters. People are learning to worship, to welcome, to serve and follow Jesus - people often overlooked by 'respectable people.' And as a result - brothels and bars are shutting down on almost every street in Remera. They are simply going out of business as workers and clients are coming into contact with a living demonstration of Christ's love in their neighborhoods. The once seedy street is now respectable - and now the city leadership is developing the real estate with hotels and storefronts - due to a woman who simple followed the example of Jesus!

Jane helped the women, in particular, find other work to make a living. They have started a local business - garbage collection. Not only are the cleaning the city, they are making a wage and turing a profit! There are also other skills she is training the women in, so that they do not need to return to old ways to pay the rent. Amazing transformation!

Jane left a church that refused to follow Jesus into the red light district and ended up starting a congregation in the heart of Remera. Her congregation is a living testimony to the good news of Jesus that transforms lives, communities and even the real estate in the red light district. Her congregation changed the face of their community with a faithful witness to Christ - streets are clean, vandalism has nearly vanished, brothels are shutting down.

Her legacy...

Jane passed away on September 27th, losing her battle with cancer.

Jane was a unique woman, so deeply committed to following in the footsteps of Jesus, keeping the company He kept and turning neighborhoods upside down with His good news and goodness. She opened her heart to all those that Jesus loved and created a home and place of worship where He was honored. Jane understood that the Good News of Jesus changed hearts, lives and communities. Her work in Kigali is evidence that salvation comes to communities - and that Jesus wants to redeem entire streets and districts for His glory. We will remember her every time we walk the streets of Remera, knowing her work ushered in such transformation and newness.

Jane will be remembered as an innovator, leader, ardent follower of Jesus and dear friend. We miss her today, we will miss her always, we look forward to a sweet reunion on the other side of eternity.

Amahoro Africa friends send their deepest condolences to her beloved community, The Prayer Palace.

A special thanks to Philip Lesniweski who shared this photo of Jane taken in 2008 at The Amahoro Gathering. He captured both her inner and outer beauty.

Comments

I returned to Rwanda later that year with my dad to help Jane's church convince the local authorities to allow them to continuing their worship services on their property. Jane invited us to live in her home and we stayed there during our time in Kigali.

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Posted by: Nike Shox | October 28, 2010 at 09:34 AM

Idont know hw a can express this. Only God who rewards is gonna reward my beloved mum.

Posted by: Dusabe | June 18, 2010 at 08:26 PM

I saw Jane's face for the first time in 2006, on a slide in a class at seminary in the USA. My professor was teaching on women in leadership in the church.

He later invited me to Uganda for the first Amahoro Gathering in 2007 where I had my graduation ceremony alongside Jane. It was a symbolic moment for both of us, receiving 'the cloak' where African reality meets the Kingdom of God - with or without the academic society's permission :)

We prayed together, ate together and had her excellent African tea on her roof looking out over the beautiful city. She even got her tailor to make a special traditional dress for me. She surprised me the one morning with a sponsored visit to her hair-dresser who spent almost two hours detangling this muzungu's long hair :)

Jane: you showed me how to love the discarded, you graciously served in God's authority where men often made your life very difficult. Whenever I feel intimidated by ministry as a woman in Africa , I think of what the Lord's done through your life and I find new strength and courage to persist.
Enjoy His holy presence!!

I want to join Pontus in thanking You Heavenly Father, for sharing Jane's life with us for a while. Help us to continue her vision for your Kingdom here in Africa...

Posted by: Leani Wessels du Toit | March 16, 2010 at 08:37 PM

I got to know the woman of God pastor Jane for a short time while i was in Rwanda in 2006. My four children who are Canadian born and were visiting Rwanda for the first time, were very delighted and impressed to hear pastor Jane preach.
We felt right at home at Prayer Palace, it was a place you felt the presence of the holy spirit. I was touched by the people pastor Jane had brought to the lord Jesus. She went to the least, unloved and most hurt individuals and gave them confidence and boldness of knowing the power they have in the lord Jesus. Thank you pastor Jane for being the hands and the feet of Jesus on this earth. Rest in peace true servant of God. You truly left a legacy.

Posted by: petronilla murisa | January 26, 2010 at 11:53 PM

I am deeply saddened by the loss of Jane, Amahoro has trully lost a fearless influencer. But we'll carry on the work remembering the lessons learnt from her.

Posted by: likoko | January 18, 2010 at 07:34 AM

I didn't know Jane but my heart grew warm as I read her story. What an inspiration! We need more people like her, simply following Jesus and showing people an alternative way of life.

Posted by: Andries Louw | December 03, 2009 at 10:26 AM

thank you, Jane.
Jesus love you and your family.

Posted by: Chloe Ho (Hong Kong, China) | November 03, 2009 at 09:43 AM

I am in tears. You were/still are such an inspiration to me. A wonderful woman, leader, pastor, friend,... that made such a profund difference to many, to me. I felt the precence of the holy Spirit in your life and the church were you and your friends worship. In Remera, Kigali. I had hoped to invite you to Sweden one day. To help us worship. Now that won´t happen. When the time comes for me, we will meet again. Thanks God for letting me know this woman!
Pontus

Posted by: Pontus Karlsson | October 18, 2009 at 01:44 PM

I met pastorjane once. for a week we experienced her love and leaadership when we visited on mission to Rwanda (Remera) From Makerere and Kyambogo Universities in Uganda.
May her soul rest in peace.
If you can post pictures of the funeral especially of her I will surely be grateful. God Bless and keep you. I hope we meet some day to celebrate her life.

Posted by: Kiiza Caleb | October 11, 2009 at 12:46 AM