Partnership | Standalone Sermon | Sep 15th | Toshi Jamang

·55 min·5 clips

Toshi reveals how short-term mission teams often displace locals as the central characters in their own stories.

The episode opens with a scripture reading in Kinyarwanda and English, highlighting the multilingual congregation. Toshi Jamang introduces the theme of partnership, framing it within a Rwanda celebration at Refuge Church. He begins by using literary analogies from Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter to discuss central characters in stories, then applies this to missions, arguing that locals should be central, not short-term teams. Toshi shares his personal background from India and initial caution when contacted by missionary Jordan Baraga in Rwanda. He details how Refuge Church's partnership with Jordan and her Rwandan husband Ivan began in 2021, based on shared values. Toshi recounts visiting Rwanda in January 2022 with Katie, learning about the country's history, including colonialism and the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis, where over 1 million were killed in 100 days. He describes visiting the Genocide Memorial Museum and the profound impact of seeing photographs of victims. Toshi explains how Rwanda, 90% Christian at the time, saw believers turn against each other, with churches becoming massacre sites. He discusses Rwanda's post-genocide recovery, including the gacacha courts, a grassroots justice system where perpetrators confessed to victims for reconciliation. Toshi tells how Ivan and Jordan started Aspire Academy in Bujasera, a region heavily affected by genocide, involving local villagers in building the school. In summer 2024, Refuge sent a 12-person team to Rwanda for a partnership trip, living with the Baragas, visiting genocide memorials, and helping at Aspire Academy. Toshi emphasizes the 'standing in the back' posture, renaming it from a mission trip to a partnership trip to prioritize learning from locals. Team members Ryan and Rachel share their takeaways, with Ryan describing working alongside foreman Teo and seeing common humanity, and Rachel reflecting on the gift of lingering in Rwandan culture. Rachel shares anecdotes, including Ivan stopping to chat with a friend and Grandma visiting the school. The episode includes video reflections from other team members, highlighting experiences like playing soccer, dancing at celebrations, and the emotional impact of genocide memorials. Toshi concludes by discussing the inverted way of God's kingdom, where wisdom comes from the margins, and invites listeners to consider proximity to the margins in their own contexts.

As heard by us

A Rwanda celebration that emphasizes multilingual worship, proximity, and learning from the margins.

Toshi frames Refuge's Rwanda celebration around scripture in Kinyarwanda and English, and the thanks to Danny for the reading gives the piece a warm, communal register.

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Why you'd press play

You want scripture, Rwandan meals, and a church story that stays close to real work and real people.

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