Audiomission Prayer Focus February 2012

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Philbert Kalisa
The Rev Philbert Kalisa is the founder of REACH-Rwanda (Reconciliation Evangelism And Christian Healing). Philbert was born in 1966 to Rwandan parents who were exiled in a refugee camp in Burundi due to the killings and other serious human rights violations against Tutsis which started in 1959. After accepting Christ as his personal Saviour in 1982, he pursued theological education in Burundi and became an ordained minister of the Anglican Church of Burundi in 1989. He was blessed with further opportunities to pursue his Diploma and BA degrees in the United Kingdom from 1990 onwards.

While he was pursuing his BA degree in theology at Trinity College Bristol in 1995, Rev. Kalisa finally got a chance to visit his home country of Rwanda, which was then still in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. He set his feet for the very first time in life on Rwandan soil. He gladly claimed his citizenship which he had never had since his birth. However, he was shocked at the devastation of his country and learnt about the great suffering of the Rwandan people who were confronting enormous difficulties as they were trying to rebuild their lives. He also observed signs of deep trauma, hopelessness, fears and hatred among the people whom he met during his visit. This unforgettable home visit experience inspired him to seek ways through which the process of healing and reconciliation could be advanced among the citizens of his native land.

Since 1998, the organisation has trained 3,680 people including local religious and government leaders as well as women and youth who belong to different Christian denominations or a Muslim community.


Ann Moore
Ann, a paediatric nurse, is a CMS mission partner working at Kisiizi hospital in south-west Uganda. She is particularly involved in training the nurses on the children’s ward of this Christian hospital. Ann works mainly on the children’s ward and in the special care baby unit on the maternity ward. Both the premature babies and the malnourished children have a special place in Ann’s heart. She is also Deputy Principal Nursing Officer and in this role is involved in the whole hospital.

Originally from Accrington, Lancashire, Ann had always wanted to be a nurse and in 1976 she started training in Manchester. She later trained as a children’s nurse and worked in Manchester before moving to Liverpool to continue working as a children’s nurse. Later, she attended Northumbria Bible College and then trained in midwifery, including six months’ work experience, as this is required of most nurses working in developing countries. She was then accepted for mission partner service by Mid-Africa Ministry (MAM) – now integrated with CMS – and left for Uganda in 1996.

Reflection from Stephen Burgess, CMS transcultural mission manager for Africa

Published: 12:00 AM Wednesday, February 01, 2012  |  219 views
Last updated: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
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