Amazing stories of forgiveness and grace

Hundreds of African Christian leaders gathered for the African Christian Leadership Initiative (ABLI) conference in Kigali, Rwanda last week. 

Now in its ninth year, ABLI aims to bring together leaders from the Church, politics and civil society to hear top speakers reflect on how the Bible can speak into Africa's needs. 

This year – the 25th since the Rwandan genocide that saw around 1 million Tutsis murdered by extremist Hutus – the theme was 'From Trauma to Triumph'. 

Speakers included Prof Jerry Gana, recently a candidate in the Nigerian presidential elections, Prime Minister of Rwanda Edouard Ngirente, and Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life. Warren is a joint US and Rwanda citizen and has had a deep involvement in the country. 

Addresses and seminars focused on the issue of trauma healing, promoted by the Rwanda and other African Bible Societies using material originally developed by the American Bible Society. 

Powerful addresses from genocide survivors testified to how the Bible is changing lives across the continent. 

Rwanda has been transformed during the 25 years since the genocide, with the government focused both on reconciliation and development. Churches are valued partners in the task of reconstruction and national progress.