Greetings!

If you are new to our site or returning, thanks for checking us out! We hope you find information about our team, who we help, what we are doing, and the current status of our project helpful! We invite you into our project through this blog and welcome any ideas or support you may have. Cheers!

O U R T E A M
We are a group of four people that attended Church of Wrigleyville in 2007. At that time, our church leaders, went on a mission to Rwanda and brought back possible ways that we could partner with efforts already existing there. Of the potential projects, a desire to supply a theological library rose to the top! From there, informal meetings began and through that, our team was solidified. This project took a life of its own outside of the church and for the last two years has been the United States branch of what Tim and Jessica Brubaker strive to accomplish.

W H O W E H E L P
Tim Brubaker and his wife Jessica are full-time educators working with WorldVenture in a grass-roots level modular Bible school geared for pastors in ministry. While not teaching, he spends a lot of time writing books and materials in the Kinyarwanda language and preparing relevant curriculum materials. Most recently, Tim has assumed responsibility for planning and leading a team of Rwandans serving with New Creation Ministries (NCM) to begin a bachelors degree level Christian leadership training school. We are helping NCM to build out their library resources and to receive accreditation.

The bachelors degree program will be training these people. Rwanda is the most stable country in all of East and Central Africa – a great place to invest time and energy! The government is currently pushing for more education, especially in churches, in an effort to further educate their people. NCM has tremendous experience and a reputation for being the best at leading pastors and churches to transformation.

W H A T W E A R E D O I N G
When we started we had nothing: no money, no books, and no idea where to start. We were bequeathed $20,000 by a librarian to build the library. Books are expensive and so is shipping. (People got us discounted books, then actually had their congregations pay for them. Saddleback Church agreed to a partnership in which their missionaries carried our purchased books over in their luggage.) Currently, we have received donations of 10,000+ books from the Theological Bible Network and others. In addition, the Catholic Theological University (CTU) recently donated metal shelving units. The estimated cost of acquiring and shipping those books is well over $300,000 and God has done it with $20,000. We see God at work in the little trials. Obstacles always pop up, but we were reminded of Luke 16:10-11 “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much" We were all drawn to this by the spirit of truth's call. We had little, we now have much, and could easily have little again. The point is this: God works in His time and our responsibility is to be faithful to the Spirit's call!

C U R R E N T S T A T U S
We are hoping to ship a container in April, if the container is virtually full. We are also looking for computers to be donated or to find a way to receive them at a discount! According to a new Rwandese law, all computers brought into Africa must be new, nothing refurbished. We are currently estimating $10,000 for that effort, but whether it is $5, $10, or $0.30 we accept ANY amount that you feel compelled to give. You can donate through this link at World Venture. (Once there, click on the dropdown section for "Give to Projects." Scroll until you find "New Creation Ministries University Library.)

C O N T A C T I N F O
Thanks again for checking us out! If you would like to know more, there are three ways to do that:
1. You may write to Tim for monthly prayer updates (tim@ncmrwanda.org)
2. Request to join the Facebook group called “Brubakers in Rwanda – Ministry Updates”
3. Email our team at rtlpcow@gmail.com

In addition, you may want to add this blog to your Google Reader as we will be updating this regularly!

Our warmest regards,
The Library Team

Alicia Loucks
Cele Sachs
Jessica Kuras
David Kepley