Protestant community in Rwanda will next week celebrate 500 years anniversary of Reformation.

Under the theme, "The Word of God is the only real foundation of the holistic human transformation,” the Reformation anniversary is marked on October 31 every year globally, where Protestants gather to witness the Reformation’s impact on bringing positive change among the world’s community.

In Rwanda, the anniversary will be celebrated on November 11 at Dove Hotel in Kigali.

The ceremony is expected to bring together more than 2,000 believers, including Protestant Council of Rwanda (CPR)’s leaders, schools representatives, heads of health centres, as well as private sector and government officials, among others

Different church members will have their day to celebrate it afterwards so it reaches the entire Protestant community in the country, officials said.

Addressing the media on Thursday, Bishop Alexis Birindabagabo, the chairperson of Protestants Council of Rwanda, said the anniversary is an opportunity for the Christian community to praise the Lord and another moment to remind Christians to build their life around the Holy Bible toward positive transformation.

"As we celebrate the Reformation, Christians are reflecting on spreading God’s message to the world’ s community using the Holy Bible, an important weapon that protects us from evil and leads us to the right path to heaven. We want the church to remain a source of positive transformation and influence people to become new creations,” Birindabagabo said.

"500 years on, the Reformation means something big to us; we will reflect on what we are supposed to do to change the world.”

Besides the role it plays in educating society on the word of God, the Protestant community has made a significant contribution to the country’s development in different domains such as education, health agribusiness and livestock, among other interventions, according to officials.

"We are driven by the Holy Bible in our everyday spiritual services, as a tool that helps us follow the God’s path but we are also committed to continue our collaboration with the government in building the nation in all aspects, by getting involved in different development activities,” Birindabagabo said.

The council has also played a big role in the country’s rebuilding process, by promoting unity and reconciliation in community, as well as fighting HIV/AIDS.

The Protestants Council of Rwanda got official accreditation to operate in the country in 1963.

The Protestant Reformation manifested its success through a movement initiated and declared by German professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg, Martin Luther, back in the 16th Century after Protestants separated from the Catholic Church.

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