Bishop John Rucyahana | |
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Bishop John Rucyahana in Musanze, Rwanda, 2007 |
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Born | November 14, 1945 Musanze, Rwanda |
Residence | Musanze, Rwanda |
Alma mater | INYEMERAMIHIGO College MAKERERE University Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry |
Occupation | Bishop of Shyira, Anglican Church of Rwanda Founder, Mustard Seed Project Founder, Sonrise School |
Spouse | Harriot (present) |
Children | Grace, Patrick, Hope, Joy, and Andrew |
Website | |
Shyira Diocese, Episcopal Church of Rwanda Bridge2Rwanda |
John Kabango Rucyahana (born 14 November 1945) is a former Anglican bishop in Rwanda.
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Rucyahana was born on 14 November 1945 and lived in Rwanda until 1959 when he went into exile because of the civil war in Rwanda. He became a lay evangelist at the age of 21.
He did his Primary Studies in three primary schools: Butete, Kinoni and Gitare in Bukamba District. He completed his secondary studies in Inyemeramihigo College at Gisenyi and in Goma in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rucyahana started an orphanage in Uganda known as Mustard Seed Babies Home in Bunyoro. It holds the distinction of having been named the best orphanage at a national festival held in Hoima. He was on the national board of planning and development for the Church of Uganda for 9 years and was the chairman of the project committee. He started a heifer project in Bunyoro which provided not only milk but also financial support to poor families.
Rucyahana is the current chairman of the board of Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR), an affiliate of Prison Fellowship International in which Bishop John was elected as a counselor. Through Prison Fellowship in Rwanda, Rucyahana has continuously struggled for healing, unity, and reconciliation. Many prisoners have confessed their sins and received Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Rucyahana has taken a stand against the position on homesexuality taken by the Episcopal Church of America, whose official stance welcomed the ordination of openly homosexual priests. Rucyahana took issue with this idea, as ECUSA had to downplay the applicability of all parts of the Bible today.
Rucyahana is a leader in the Christian faith community known as "Anglican Mission in the Americas," which is supported by both the Episcopal Church of Rwanda and the Episcopal church of South East Asia. After being consecrated, Rucyahana elevated the status of the diocese both spiritually and physically. He has improved infrastructures by building new schools and renovating the old ones. Shyira hospital has been re-opened and a new cathedral has been built. Rucyahana works with various boards in Rwanda and internationally.