Africa New Life - Daniel Knutson

Dream Sunday

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. – Isaiah 1:17

Throughout the Bible we see a calling as followers of Jesus to pursue justice (Micah 6:8, Amos 5:24). In our society, the immediate response we often see to injustice is the asking of, “what do we need to do to fix this?” But at the other end of injustice are real people with faces and stories – there’s rarely a quick solution.

That’s why we’re committed to partnering with local and global organizations that are committed to addressing the injustice we see in our world through systemic change and care-filled relationships with the people they work to serve.

Next Sunday, October 27, we have the incredible opportunity to welcome Pastor Fred Katagwa from Africa New Life Ministries to Hope City. Africa New Life Ministries is just one of the organizations we partner with. Over 20 years ago, Fred and his brother Charles founded this vital ministry in the aftermath of tragedy in Rwanda. Their efforts have since transformed lives, leading to the establishment of hundreds of churches, the sponsorship of thousands of children, and a profound change in public and biblical education across the region. Our partnership with Africa New Life is not just significant for us as a church; it’s making a real, lasting impact on the ground in Rwanda. 

Pastor Fred will share heartfelt stories about the remarkable work taking place in Rwanda. He will inspire us to deepen our faith in what God can accomplish through a united community of believers here in the U.S. I had the opportunity to meet with Fred and his team earlier this week, and his genuine care for all of you truly shines through. I believe that morning will be a memorable experience for every one of us. 

Additionally, we will have the chance to actively participate in the ongoing work in Rwanda through child sponsorships. Each sponsored child is connected to a local church in their village, providing them with access to education that would otherwise be beyond their reach. More importantly, as a sponsor, you’ll provide them with the powerful support of your prayers. 

What makes our engagement even more special is that Hope City, along with our West Linn campus, will be sponsoring children from the village of Nyamirama. This means that our impact extends beyond individual lives; we’re contributing to the transformation of an entire community. One community of faith loving another. 

Nyamirama is a rural area where many families live below the poverty line. With larger family sizes, food insecurity is a pressing issue, contributing to high dropout rates in schools. We have a unique opportunity to foster change in this community by continuing to support Africa New Life's incredible work. 

I eagerly look forward to hearing from Pastor Fred and witnessing how God moves in our hearts to inspire us to use our resources to love and serve others. Together, we can truly make a difference!

Daniel Knutson
Lead Pastor | Hope City Church