Grassroot Churches

A grassroot church is a group of people gathering in someone’s house on a weekly basis (other names known in other countries are cell/home/small groups). Most of the country is classified as Christian, but this proofed to mean little as a vast number of ‘Christians’ partook in the genocide killings. Naturally, after the genocide, there was much division, hatred and conflict between people in the same community as neighbours and believers turned against each other during the massacre. Reconciliation between people is attempted by the government through grassroot courts, held every Tuesday, where suspect genocide participants are trialled by their community, people are given the opportunity to ask forgiveness and people are encouraged to forgive. Though, this process proofs slow success. RDIS introduced the grassroot church concept to facilitate real spiritual growth of Christians which naturally leads to fruits of reconciliation, forgiveness and unity. A group of people meet once a week at someone’s house to read and learn from the bible, pray for each other’s needs, talk about issues in the community, share testimonies of God’s work and, of course, sing as only Africans can. During our field visits this week, people brought up the topic of grassroot churches frequently and expressed the impact it has had on their lives. One group specifically impressed me. We visited them while they were meeting on the grass/gravel on a hill. Mainly women and all barefoot. Once these women were united by a grassroot church, they realised that they can work together to achieve more and started digging as a group in each other’s land. They also started a savings and credit group which enables them to take out small loans to finance items which could assist them to increase their income. Now to me, this speaks a great deal of the level of reconciliation that the grassroot churches have brought!