KIGALI - Rwanda in the past existed with no purpose which resulted to a shameful history. now the country has chosen to live with a purpose for prosperity and faith, President Paul Kagame has said. The President was speaking at a gathering that brought together thousands of Rwandan Christians during the launch of ‘40 Days of Purpose’ at Amahoro National Stadium last evening. The launch was blessed by among others, the influential evangelical preacher and author of the Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren who was accompanied by his wife.

Kagame said, "we have lived in our history without a purpose and we can not afford that anymore, we have chosen to be a country with a purpose.”

He added that three years ago, the same congregation met at the Stadium to launch the Global PEACE Plan, which Warren officially unveiled.

The initiative tackles five of the largest problems facing the world today namely spiritual darkness, lack of servant leaders around the world, poverty, disease, and ignorance.
"The Peace plan is a partnership between churches, public and private sectors under the driving force of Pastor Warren,” Kagame said.

President Kagame said that since the launch of the Peace Plan, there had been great success from the initiative especially in the Western province where peace partners have worked closely with the Ministry of Health.

He called on other sectors in the country to replicate the Western province model. "…more importantly all Rwandans should embrace this initiative,” he added
 He promised Warren that the 40 days of Purpose will not fail, saying that there was no better place to launch the initiative than in Rwanda.

"This comes at a critical stage in our country when we are undergoing transformation to prosperity of which other countries have taken for granted.

He told Rwandans that for the country to stand firm, it needed to have a church with faith, and firm private and public sectors.

Kagame also told the 200 pastors who had graduated in purpose driven life that they are the foot soldiers of transformation during the 40-day exercise. The pastors were drawn from different churches and are supposed to lead the 40 days of purpose initiative after completing a two year course.

Warren who is in the country for the 10th time in three years,  talked about qualities of good leadership saying that seeking God’s guidance makes a good leader.

He said that majority of the Rwanda churches have adopted the 40 days of purpose and the first phase of churches started implementing the initiative this last weekend.

He said that the next vision is to have all churches adopt the initiative and that so far close to 100, 000 churches across the world have adopted the initiative and implemented it.

"So far hundreds of churches in Rwanda have adopted this initiative which is so impressive,” Warren said.

Speaking about his Global Peace Plan, Warren said that he was confident the plan would spread from Rwanda to all parts of the world, caring about those in need.
The colourful function which was characterized by gospel songs and prayers was attended by top government officials.
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