The First Lady, Mrs Jeannette Kagame, has said that fellowship and sharing will foster peace and unity in the current world, which is marred with violence and various threats of humanity. 

Mrs Kagame made the remarks, yesterday, while officiating at the meeting in Kigali, for American and Rwandan representatives of the National Prayer Breakfast.

"This kind of gathering, which fosters fellowship and sharing, is truly relevant in the current world we live in; a world that sees senseless violence on a regular basis, affecting the lives of too many people, across many parts of the globe,” Mrs Kagame.

She added that, of recent leaders have been forced to rethink of the new world order, while challenging their ability to spread again values of respect and brotherhood, across world.

These threats to humanity, she said, forces leaders to re-evaluate how they relate, and treat, one another, as they aim to find a sustainable solution to put an end to them.

"While countering these threats requires us to anchor, teach, and emulate positive values around us, I believe we must also nurture strong relationships across the board; relationships that will stand the test of time and the challenges our nations will face along the way.

"It is my belief that in these fellowships, we are cultivating a fundamentally positive practice of bringing together diverse leaders to reflect on the right path for their nations,” the First Lady reiterated.

The meeting brought together over 30 guests, including US congressmen and their spouses, and representatives of the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship.

The US congressional delegation, which was led by Senator James M. Inhofe (from Oklahoma), are in a tour across various countries, including Australia, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.

These Congressmen also held a meeting with President Paul Kagame and later visited Gisozi Genocide Memorial before departing for Ethiopia.

Mrs Kagame added that through the National Prayer Breakfast forum, leaders are able to reaffirm their choices; of being, united, accountable, hence, being a source of inspiration, encouragement, accountability, and shared vision.

"This fellowship reaffirms our choices of allowing people to identify their needs, carry burdens for one another, and become one again, as stated in Amos 3:3, ‘Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”, Mrs. Kagame said.

The First Lady also challenged leaders to trust and be guided by their faith and seek the kind of friendships that provide, mutual guidance, encouragement during difficult times and support in times of crisis.

Rev. Antoine Rutayisire, the chairperson of Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, explained that the prayer gathering teaches everyone the right way of living together, in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

"The reasoning behind the gathering allows leaders to devise the different ways they can make lives better in our communities,” he said.

Senator Inhofe, who has been to Rwanda on several occasions, talked about the inspiring story of the rebirth of Rwanda.

He went on to emphasise the importance of the fellowship, saying that, "It grants leaders, regardless of their political affiliations, a higher purpose and opportunity to accomplish great things through this fellowship spirit.”

Members of this delegation, many of whom were in Rwanda for the first time, expressed their gratitude for the warm welcome they received since their arrival, and pointed out that just as 'iron sharpens iron', this kind of meeting opportunities leads to people becoming more enriched by the fruitful exchanges held.

editorial@netimes.co.rw