Rwandan Pastor to Speak on Reconciliation in San Diego

April 15, 2008 (San Diego) Pastor Simon Pierre of Rwanda will be speaking at Point Loma Nazarene University’s Brown Chapel on Wednesday, April 16, at 9:30 a.m.

Pierre’s life is an ongoing story of reconciliation in the face of great odds. A pastor in the Church of the Nazarene in Gisenyi, Rwanda, Pierre and his wife, Caritas, are survivors of the Rwandan genocide.

In 1994, after the death of Rwandan president Habyalimana in a plane crash, Hutu extremists slaughtered members of the Tutsi minority, as well as many moderate Hutus. In less than 100 days, approximately 800,000 people were killed.

While Pierre is Hutu, his wife is Tutsi. Simone had to endure the ordeal of trying to hide her and his son throughout the massacre. There were several occasions on which both were nearly killed. Yet, once their horrific ordeal ended, Caritas’ response to her former attackers was forgiveness. The couple is now committed to helping victims of the genocide.

Their dream is to build a sort of super-orphanage that includes a preschool, elementary and secondary school, and job training school, as well as a chapel, clinic, and recreational complex. Welcomed at the orphanage will be both Hutu and Tutsi children, including those with HIV and AIDS. It’s a big dream for bringing reconciliation to their home country. But it’s a dream they are bringing into fruition.

For each of the past two summers, groups of students from Point Loma Nazarene University have worked with Pierre as part of the university’s LoveWorks short-term mission trips. Inspired by Pierre and his vision, the students bought 1,000 greeting cards made from banana leaves that the orphans already under the Pierre’s care had created and sold them in the U.S. as a fundraiser. Other fundraising events followed, and with a total of more than $25,000, the students and their Nazarene church partners were able to help Pierre secure a site for the orphanage.

After speaking on April 16, Pastor Simone Pierre will be available for interview from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Interview appointments can also be scheduled for Wednesday afternoon and early evening, as well as for select times on Thursday. For more information, please contact Christine Spicer at (619) 849-2925 or cspicer@pointloma.edu.