In a community overcome with grief and distrust, Pastor Joel Sengoga had a passion and a purpose to care. The genocide left a life of emptiness and isolation for so many Rwandans, and few local churches remained that were a place of comfort and trust. But Joel realized God’s purpose for his life, and he decided to plant a new church that would bring PEACE to his local community. His goal was to fulfill the needs of caring, compassion, and love that were not being met. Joel approached a local bar owner and asked if he could turn the building into a church. An unusual location for a church, the landlord was confused by the request, but finally consented to the change. She then became a baptized member of the congregation and left the bar business to run a grocery store.

In the summer of 2006, a Saddleback Church PEACE team came to assist Pastor Joel’s church. When he saw that the team consisted of college students, he skeptically asked himself how a bunch of teenagers could help him conquer the five giants his community was facing? His question was quickly answered when he saw how the PEACE team was able to reach community citizens and leaders in ways that he could not. The team challenged Joel to confront the issues they encountered — AIDS, education, and poverty. Facing these issues head-on, he was amazed that the limited resources available within his community could make such a difference. Not only were individual lives impacted, but the community as a whole began to transform. Joel says he now uses “bridge” events through The PEACE Plan to bring people to his church. “All of the small activities and projects the church does have touched the hearts of the people,” he says. As a result, Joel saw his church grow from 30 people to over 400 in a single year. In talking about all that God has done in his church, Joel smiles and says, “It has truly, truly been amazing, and I know that God is able to do even greater things.”

Currently, Pastor Joel is a member of The PEACE Plan Board of Directors, Country Coordinator for Hope Rwanda, and Pastor of Divine Destiny Church. He is also ready and willing to ask every bar owner across the country of Rwanda, “Can we start a church here?”