By Tania Assigbley
July 13, 2024 will be forever etched in the memories of the members of the Ururembo Seventh-day Adventist Church. On that day, this group of Rwandan and Burundian Adventists, affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church-Quebec Conference (Quebec Conference), took the decisive step of becoming a church. This change in status marks a long-awaited achievement after many years as a group.
The ceremony took place in their church at 3670 Boulevard Rosemont in Montreal, in a festive atmosphere full of gratitude to God.
Among the many distinguished guests, the presence of Paul Musafili, Treasurer and Vice President for Finance of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada, and Pastor Marc Bouzy, Executive Secretary of the Quebec Conference, was especially noteworthy.
During the celebration, Paul Musafili’s message reminded everyone in his sermon of the importance of the church’s role as the light of the world, as taught by Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:14-16.
Pastor Bouzy then had the honour of officially recognizing the Ururembo church.
The celebration continued in the church basement, where a delicious feast awaited everyone. The day ended in style with a memorable concert.
Some highlights of the Ururembo’s history
- In January 4 Rwandan families attending the Maranatha French-African Church had the idea of creating a Kinyarwanda/Kirundi prayer group to overcome the language barriers faced by the Rwandan community in Montreal. The group quickly grew and began the process of organizing with Paul Musafili as advisor.
- On March 8, the first official meetings were held at 8949 Boulevard St. Michel, attracting many members of the Rwandan and Burundian communities. The worship service in Kinyarwanda was a source of great joy for them.
- On May 9th, the group applied to the Quebec Conference for recognition as a Seventh-day Adventist group, and Pastor Valiamé Hébert was appointed as pastoral advisor.
- The group was officially named Ururembo, which means “Portal”.
- On April 25th, the first baptism ceremony took place, where 8 young people received Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.
- On December 17, Ururembo was officially recognized and inaugurated as a group by the Quebec Conference, in the presence of Pastor Émile Maxi. This historic moment made Ururembo the first group organized by the Rwandan and Burundian diaspora to be recognized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America.
- Under the leadership of several pastors, Ururembo has continued to grow. These include: Daniel Razakaria, Abner Théodore, Georges Ulysse, Believe Agboli. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, God preserved this community, and new members came to strengthen the group.
- With God as our foundation, and thanks to the sustained efforts of our members under the leadership of Pastor Believe Agboli, all the criteria required for church status have been met.
- On April 13, Ururembo officially applied to become a church and was accepted.
- Today, the Ururembo church has over 80 baptized adult members, as well as many children and youth.
The Quebec Conference gives thanks to the Lord for sustaining the Ururembo church over the years. May God make it a community that blesses and influences those around it and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, leads many to Christ.
