Q. What does the world Amahoro means and why did you choose that word?

Amahoro means peace. It is a word of Bantu origin used widely across Africa . It has special meaning in places like Rwanda , Burundi and Congo , where violence and genocide have inflicted such pain and suffering. When people from various tribes embrace, shake hands or kiss, and say "amahoro," they are expressing a deep hope for a better future.

Amahoro is a precious word. For me, Amahoro is a reminder of the profound Biblical message of justice, peace, and reconciliation in this life on earth. By choosing the word Amahoro, to name this emerging African network, we are expressing our shared commitment to seek to understand, live, and communicate the good news of Jesus Christ in an integrated, holistic way. We are affirming our belief that people who follow Jesus have a special bond with the poor, and with those who suffer from injustice and poverty and disease. We are communicating our commitment to a post colonial conversation, friendship, and partnership among Christian leaders and emerging churches across Africa and globally.

Q. What’s the vision of Amahoro Africa?

The vision of Amahoro Africa is to see a vibrant and effective network of African leaders working together throughout Africa to further God’s Kingdom on behalf of those suffering from physical and / or spiritual poverty. We hope that these leaders will be able to join their strengths together, combine their learning and pool their resources to release the justice and mercy that Jesus spoke of and exemplified in His life.

We have established a network of viable indigenous Christian leaders across East Africa ( Burundi , Congo , Kenya , Rwanda , Sudan , Tanzania and Uganda ) who are doing Kingdom work (mercy and justice) in their communities with some measure of success. Currently this network consists of over 200 leaders representing 200 communities.

Q. Why Amahoro Africa?

19^th and 20^th century western missionaries came to Africa with vision, love, and sacrifice. However, along with the gospel of Jesus Christ, many unintentionally brought the additional luggage of their culture. They came with an assumption that their culture was more redeemed than ours, so Africans were made in their Western image. This included a dualistic approach to the world which was in conflict with the holism African culture embraced. The spiritual was considered to be high and holy, while the physical was low and worldly. Instead of building on the holistic worldview already present in Africa , this dualistic worldview unintentionally supported colonialism and was complicit in its injustices.

By focusing primarily or exclusively on “saving souls” for heaven without seeking justice and reconciliation here on earth, this colonial version of Christian faith became part of a system of injustice that still afflicts the African church and therefore the community at large.

In recent years, in many places across Africa, groups of thoughtful and innovative leaders started exploring what it means to be the church in postcolonial Africa and have been reaching a similar conclusion: the modern colonial Africa is giving way to an emerging postcolonial Africa .

The methods, values, ideas, strengths and weaknesses of Western Christianity have dominated for many centuries. But now many of us believe that a new day is here - a time for emerging leaders from South, North, East and West Africa to learn and work together in unprecedented partnership and dialogue. This is how Amahoro Africa was born.

Q. Which countries are you in so far?

We are mainly in East Africa ( Burundi , Congo/DRC, Kenya , Rwanda , Sudan , Tanzania and Uganda ). We also have friends in Liberia , Ivory Coast , Nigeria and South Africa .

We are developing friendships in other countries and we hope to extend the network across Africa .

Q. What’s unique about Amahoro Africa network?

Africa is often symbolic of despair. When we want to point to an extreme case for poverty, disease, or political corruption, Africa is frequently our image of choice. While there are enormous challenges facing the continent of Africa , there is a tremendous sense of hope that is rumbling just beneath the surface, just waiting to emerge.

Africa has entered what historians and sociologists are calling the Post-Colonial Era. The future of this era is uncertain, but there are voices from throughout Africa calling for an era of innovation, of creativity, of justice, of peace, of hope.

What’s unique, I believe, is that we are looking for African voices, African leaders, African methods and solutions to address African issues. We have a high view of African cultures, we know that Jesus can redeem and empower them for good. We want to collaborate, not compete with other leaders across the continent. We are eager for Western friends to join us in partnership, not only fiscal support, aid or expertise but in friendship. We are Africans working together for the good of Africa , and we want to see God’s kingdom come to our countries.

Q. What are the ways western Christian can be involved with Amahoro Africa?

I would say first consider be part of Amahoro Africa Community (see details on Get Involved page) and also here are few things that you can do to be a partner in this adventure:

1. Prayer Calendar:
2. Consider joining a discovery trip and see what God has in store for you.
3. Consider joining an emerging indigenous leader for a year. See Inhabit Africa program for more information.