Rusasa Pathway

Multiplier
Niyitegeka Jean Marie Vianney

Categories
International, Prevailing Model, Revitalization, Africa Hub

Pathway Status
Pending Funding

Pastor Jean Marie Vianney, a faithful Rwandan leader and farmer, faced a crisis when the government shut down his church due to building conditions and lack of certification. Forced to decentralize, he began discipling under trees and in homes, but lacked resources and training. Multiply stepped in with the 3F Training system to equip Jean and his leaders, helping the church not only survive but multiply. Now, discipleship is spreading, leaders are emerging, and the church is thriving without walls. What could have ended in collapse is now a growing movement of faith, resilience, and transformation.

The Multiplier

A Faithful Shepherd at a Crossroads

If you were to walk the hills of Rusasa in rural Rwanda, you might meet Pastor Jean Marie Vianney—a man with soil on his hands and Scripture in his heart.

For over three decades, Jean has served faithfully as both a farmer and a pastor. A survivor of Rwanda’s genocide, he completed his theological training against all odds and has since pastored in some of the most under-resourced areas in the country. He lives simply, farming to feed his family and congregation, since the people are too poor to pay him a salary. His church once gathered 240 members—many of them children and youth—on church land, worshipping and growing in faith together.

But today, Jean is at a breaking point.

His church building was condemned by the government. Without recognized credentials, Jean has no legal authority to operate the church. The bathrooms are unusable. The meeting place is shut. What was once a thriving hub of worship is now silent.

And yet—Jean remains. With courage. With a calling. With hope.

If Jean receives the training, resources, and support he needs, he could shepherd this moment into something extraordinary. If equipped, Jean could lead his people into a new era of discipleship—one no longer bound by buildings, but multiplied across homes, villages, and hillsides.

But that future depends on the support of those who believe in what’s possible.

The Challenge

A Church Without a Building and a Pastor Without Support

If no help comes, Pastor Jean could watch the church he built for decades quietly dissolve.

The problem is urgent: because the church building was condemned and Jean lacks government-recognized certification, he cannot legally lead his congregation in a centralized setting. The few rooms that once served as study areas are now filled with children. No bathrooms. No official gatherings. No place to grow.

And while Jean has started holding Bible studies under trees and in homes, the shift to decentralized ministry brings massive challenges. Most congregants can’t read, and few Bibles exist in the Kinyarwanda language. Jean’s five trainees have no materials—just their Bibles and their will.

If no one steps in to train Jean or supply him with contextualized resources, his congregation may drift. Without strong leadership and discipleship, they may fall prey to cultural pressures or conversion attempts from other sects like the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Worse yet, a generation of young believers—many of the 130 children and youth who made up more than half of Jean’s church—could be lost to spiritual apathy or isolation.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

If Multiply receives the funding to equip Jean and his leaders, this closed church could become the launchpad for a thriving decentralized network of believers. What feels like the end could become a new beginning.

The Partnership

Multiply Could Empower Jean with Tools to Flourish

If partners like you step in, Multiply could walk with Pastor Jean through this transition—not as a rescue team, but as a guide.

Multiply’s 3F Training System—Focused Discipleship, Formation of Leaders, and Foundations for Multiplication—is designed for exactly this kind of challenge. We’ve seen what happens when buildings close but the mission continues. With this training, Jean could reimagine church—not around a pulpit, but around people.

With the right funding, Multiply could:

• Help Jean achieve government-recognized certification so he can resume ministry legally.
• Train his five current disciples to become disciple-makers and group leaders.
• Provide resources like audio Bibles in Kinyarwanda to bridge the literacy gap.
• Multiply decentralized house churches across Rusasa and beyond.

This wouldn’t be a temporary fix—it would be a long-term, sustainable plan for growth. With proper training, Jean could catalyze a movement that doesn’t depend on buildings. He could raise up local leaders from within the community who understand its culture, language, and needs.

Multiply has the tools. Jean has the calling. If we can fund the mission, we could empower a new wave of discipleship in one of Rwanda’s most underserved areas.

The Plan

From Centralized to Decentralized—One Household at a Time

If this plan receives the support it needs, here’s what could unfold in Rusasa:

1. Legitimacy: Jean could receive the theological training necessary to gain legal recognition from the government. This would restore his ability to pastor officially and open the door to future facility use.
2. Leadership Multiplication: His five disciples—three men and two women—could receive structured training through the 3F system. These leaders could then plant and lead Bible study groups in their own homes and neighborhoods.
3. Decentralized Gatherings: With Multiply’s support, Jean could multiply home churches and open-air gatherings across the community—transforming every living room and tree into a sanctuary.
4. Resource Access: The church could receive Bibles and audio materials in Kinyarwanda, ensuring that even non-literate congregants could be discipled deeply in the Word.
5. A Vision for the Future: With time and additional funds, Jean’s building could be restored and reopened—not just as a meeting place, but as a training center for discipleship and church multiplication.

None of this will happen unless the plan is funded. But if it is—Rusasa could become a model of resilience and revival for rural churches everywhere.

What’s At Stake

Church Access

If nothing changes, the consequences could be tragic.

Jean could remain uncertified, unable to officially pastor. His congregation could slowly drift, lacking leadership and direction. Young believers could be drawn away by spiritual confusion or rival sects. The years Jean spent building this church could fade into quiet loss.

His five emerging leaders may never receive the training they need. Discipleship groups could stall. A whole generation of Christians—many of them children and teens—could be spiritually orphaned.

Without contextualized tools and training, Jean could burn out. The dream of multiplying the Church in homes and villages could vanish.

But that’s not the only possible outcome.

If this mission is funded, that future is avoided. Instead of decline, we’ll see discipleship. Instead of drift, we’ll see growth. Instead of a closed building, we’ll see a growing, mobile, Spirit-led movement of believers empowered to be the Church—wherever they are.

A Church United and Alive

A Movement That Could Multiply Across Rwanda

Imagine a rural community in Rwanda—once silenced by regulation—now alive with prayer, worship, and multiplication.

If Multiply receives the support to walk with Jean, this could be the story of Rusasa.

We could see house churches forming across the hills. Children and youth encountering Jesus. New leaders preaching, praying, and baptizing. Villages once dominated by poverty and spiritual confusion could become centers of transformation.

And one day, with enough funds, we could even see the church building reopened—renovated and filled not only with worshippers, but with trained leaders ready to be sent out.

This is the potential before us. It’s not a dream—it’s a decision. A decision to invest in a faithful pastor, a hungry community, and a proven strategy.

You can help Pastor Jean turn this crisis into a catalyst.

Will you give?

The Opportunity

A Much Needed Part You Can Play

When you give toward Pastor Jean’s pathway, you’re not just meeting a need—you’re helping build a multiplying movement of the Church that is thriving, decentralized, and deeply rooted in Jesus.

Here’s what your support helps make happen:

✓ Leadership Coaching & Development – Personalized coaching to strengthen Jean’s pastoral leadership, with ongoing support that helps him grow in confidence, skill, and impact.

✓ Followership Formation Tools – Resources and training that help new believers mature in their faith, embrace discipleship, and actively live out their calling.

✓ Emerging Leader Systems – Practical, reproducible training for Jean’s five key leaders so they can lead discipleship groups and shepherd others effectively.

✓ Training Materials & Content – Contextualized lessons, leader guides, and discipleship resources created specifically for house church and rural settings.

✓ Virtual Training Sessions – Live digital coaching that supports Jean and his team wherever they gather, minimizing barriers due to distance or access.

✓ Catalyst Visit Support – On-the-ground visits from Multiply’s experienced leaders who offer encouragement, coaching, and strategy for implementation.

✓ Multiplication Strategy – A clear framework for launching new discipleship groups and church gatherings across homes, hillsides, and communities.

✓ Ongoing Mentorship & Growth Support – Long-term investment in Jean’s journey—leveling up his capacity to lead with health, vision, and sustainability.

This is more than funding—it’s fuel for transformation.

You’re investing in a pastor’s potential, a community’s future, and a movement that could multiply across Rwanda and beyond.