Clerics urge renewed commitment to God

CLERICS have urged Rwandans to renew their commitment to God in the New Year. They delivered the message at different churches during prayers to usher in the New Year.

Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Worshipers leave St. Peter Anglican Church Remera after Prayers yesterday. The New Times/John Mbanda.

CLERICS have urged Rwandans to renew their commitment to God in the New Year.They delivered the message at different churches during prayers to usher in the New Year. During the church service at St Etienne Anglican Cathedral in Giporoso yesterday, Pastor Antoine Rutayisire urged Christians to walk with God this year and to make it a priority among their commitments. He said this was the only way that would save them from many of life’s troubles."A New Year comes with new beginnings but God longs for your hearts and above all to see if you love him despite all the other resolutions you make every New Year. You should therefore transform your mindsets and walk with God every time of this year,” he said.Pastor Rutayisire also asked his church congregation to make it a resolution for each one of them to bring in at least one more believer this year.At Saint Michael Cathedral Church, Father Jean Claude Muvandimwe said that Catholics should start the New Year with Hail Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.He told them that they should start the year knowing that she is with them and walks with them every other day since she is the mother of all.He also urged them to put into action the message of the Pope who called upon all Christians in the world to spread peace."The Pope called upon us to spread peace and be peace makers to the rest of the world if we are God’s children. Christians should take this message seriously and ensure that they live in peace with one another,” he added.Leony Uwamariya, who prays from Saint Michael Cathedral church, said it’s always good to start the year committing it into the hands of the Lord.She called upon all those who didn’t make it to church yesterday to take some time and thank God for taking them through the previous year and also commit the new one into his hands.Camil Musafiri, 28, a member of Restoration Church, Kimironko called upon Rwandans not to only focus on merry making but to also remember to thank God who sees them through every year.Many Christians especially from Pentecostal churches also spent the last night of 2012 in prayers ushering in the New Year.