The Stadium Named 'Peace' Becomes Launchpad for Pastor Rick Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan:

The Stadium Named 'Peace' Becomes Launchpad for Pastor Rick Warren's
P.E.A.C.E. Plan:
Nearly 20,000 Gather in Rwanda's Amohoro Stadium to Participate in National 40
Days of Purpose Campaign Kick-Off

KIGALI, Rwanda, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Rick Warren, pastor of
Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., began a nine-day trip to Rwanda --
his 10th visit -- with an event at Amohoro (translated "Peace") Stadium,
celebrating the first three years of the P.E.A.C.E. Plan and the initiation of
the first national 40 Days of Purpose campaign at the invitation of His
Excellency President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and the Rwandan Purpose Driven
P.E.A.C.E. Plan steering committee.
"We are launching a biblical way of living in Rwanda -- we call it, 'The
Purpose Driven Life,'" Dr. Warren said to nearly 20,000 gathered from all
provinces of Rwanda. "What matters in life is your relationship to God and
His purpose for you. The first 500 churches will start this weekend. When
they finish, they will train others -- your church -- and then your church
will help even more churches."
The program, highlighted by the appearance and comments of President
Kagame, included a ceremony for the first of 200 Rwandan pastors who completed
a three-year Purpose Driven and P.E.A.C.E. training program.
"I want to say to Rick and Kay Warren that they could not find a better
place than Rwanda for the Purpose Driven campaign, for good and bad reasons,"
President Kagame said. "The bad reasons are related to our history -- in our
past we have lived a life without purpose. The good reasons are related to our
future -- that we have a chance with the Purpose Driven Life.
"What is unique about this initiative is that the P.E.A.C.E. plan combines
the talent and energy from three sectors of society -- public, private and
faith," President Kagame continued, affirming Saddleback Church's Western
Rwanda HIV/AIDS Healthcare Initiative Project that is reinventing healthcare
management and distribution by using churches as clinics. "This model can be
replicated in other parts of our country. More importantly, more Rwandans of
faith need to adopt this mindset."
The P.E.A.C.E. plan -- Promoting reconciliation, Equipping servant
leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick and Educating the next
generation -- is an effort to mobilize 1 billion Christians to attack the five
global giants of our day.
The Warrens participated Monday in the White House Office of Faith-Based
and Community Initiative Conference (WHOFBCI) on Public-Private Partnerships
and Economic Development attended by President Kagame and hosted by WHOFBCI
Director Jay Hein.
"Never sacrifice sustainability for speed," Dr. Warren said to U.S.
business, government and NGO representatives in what Director Hein described
as the quote of the day. "This conference is about partnership, not
paternalism. The No. 1 problem in international development is not lack of
money, but lack of trust in local leaders to know what to do. Real
partnerships say, 'How can we serve and support you,' not, 'Let us direct
you.'
Note to Editors: For more information about the Warrens, please visit
www.RickWarrenNews.com.
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Larry Ross 972-267-1111
Whitney Kelley +250 036 18157
Media@RickWarrenNews.com

SOURCE Rick Warren

Larry Ross, +1-972-267-1111, or Whitney Kelley, +250-036-18157,
Media@RickWarrenNews.com, both of A. Larry Ross Communications for Rick
Warren