Emmanuel Academies, local organization, welcomed in Rwanda

Emmanuel Academies, Inc., a Collier County organization, recently traveled to Rwanda, one of fastest developing countries in Africa, to join the Lutheran Church of Rwanda in celebration of their 25th anniversary of the founding of their church and, to also help lay the cornerstone for their new seminary and college for theological education.
Bishop Evalister Mugabo, the presiding Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda (LCR), invited Emmanuel Academies to join in the celebration to honor the growing relationship which began in 2018 when Emmanuel Academies, on a mission to Africa, recruited their first international seminary student.
Together, the Emmanuel Academies team and their Rwandan hosts, celebrated laying the cornerstone of their Lutheran Theological – Leadership College and Seminary which will equip their future pastors as leaders of their churches and communities. Emmanuel Academies was also joined by the leadership of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Global Mission, as well as the Secretariat General of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and his team.
Emmanuel Academies has been asked to provide technical assistance and guidance to the new Rwandan seminary based upon their leading competency-based Theological Education models, delivered in conjunction with Sioux Falls Seminary, the Luther House of Study and Luther Seminary.
“We learned and shared much,” said Isaacson. “Emmanuel Academies’ mission is to equip leaders for Christian service within diversified communities, as well as provide opportunities for theological development, vocational training, and understanding God’s Grace. Reaching out to Rwanda and working with them to ensure their success is very important and gratifying to us all.”
Pastor Steve Wigdahl and Rev. Dr. Rick Bliese of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Naples, along with Emmanuel Academies’ CEO Howard Isaacson, met with community leaders, government officials, and visited ministry sites. They were reminded how similar, rather than different, are the needs, goals, and dreams of the respective communities. They also returned with new ideas to complement the vision of Emmanuel Communities to build a community park with community services and fellowship centers on Oil Well Road in Collier County.
For more information about Emmanuel Academies, please visit https://www.EmmanuelEd.org.