
Biography - Evangelist Mberabagabo Mathieu
Evangelist Mbera Mathieu was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and raised in Rwanda. He is a missionary author and minister of the Gospel, holding a bachelor’s degree in Rural Development and currently pursuing postgraduate studies. He is married and the father of three children.
Since 2006, he has served in various leadership capacities within the Evangelical Restoration Church (ERC), including youth ministry and as Head of Evangelism. He currently serves as a member of the ERC board in Rwanda. In 2009, he co-founded the Rwanda Christian Youth Forum and later, in 2021, co-founded The World for Jesus Mission Ministry (WJMM), a regional initiative dedicated to equipping churches across Eastern Africa for evangelism, discipleship, and mission engagement.
With over 10 years of humanitarian experience, Mathieu specializes in Child Protection and has extensively supported refugee communities through international NGOs in partnership with United Nations agencies. He is also the author of The Omission of the Great Commission, a compelling work that calls the Church to renew its focus on evangelism, intentional discipleship, and the fulfillment of the global mission.
The Church
should intentionally invest in training believers to share the Good News. When
believers are well disciple especially through the Disciple Maker Movement and
make personal commitment to being witnesses as part of their daily lives, they
become obedient to the Word of God and active witnesses. Such believers carry
the gospel wherever they go and reach unreached people in their Lifestyle. This
reflects the core mandate Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:18-20.
However, the
contrast is clear: some churches are not investing in training their members.
Those who are trained often do not disciple younger believers to continue
spreading the gospel to the next generation due to ego, busyness, or lack of
commitment. Even though believers attend weekly services, many unreached people
groups remain unreached. Moreover, we see a decline in the number of church
members willing to go out into the world, often because they attend church
repeatedly without truly encountering Jesus or being equipped to serve Him.
The Church
must, therefore, refocus its efforts on training believers in discipleship,
evangelism, and global mission, as Jesus entrusted to us. He has promised to be
with us to the very end of the age.
That is why we,
as The World for Jesus Mission Ministry, are committed to supporting
the Church throughout Eastern Africa especially in Rwanda by training
evangelists within local congregations and equipping them in the
Disciple-Making Movement and Global Mission with the Purpose of reaching
unreached People Groups in the region.
By Missionary Mberabagabo Mathieu
Church
leadership is a calling to influence nations with the Gospel and raise
disciples who transform communities, not merely a position or title. Biblical
leadership, modeled by Jesus and the early church, is rooted in spiritual
intimacy, integrity, humility, courage, and a clear vision for God’s global
mission. To develop church members into leaders who can shake nations, the
church must teach a biblical understanding of servant leadership, cultivate a
culture of discipleship, and provide hands-on ministry training through
evangelism, mission outreach, small-group leadership, and mentorship.
Leadership is caught more than taught, so pastors must model mission-driven,
Spirit-filled leadership that inspires others to follow. By creating clear
pathways for selection, training, mentorship, and deployment, the church equips
believers to plant churches, reach unreached groups, and disciple others with
boldness and love. A church that invests in developing leaders becomes a
sending center that influences families, communities, and nations for Christ,
extending His kingdom and advancing the Great Commission with power and
purpose.
By Missionary
Mberabagabo Mathieu
ARTICLE: GOD’S
KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT OBEDIENCE
“Knowledge without obedience is like a lamp covered in dust
it gives no light.”
Throughout Scripture, God makes it clear that knowing His truth is never the
same as living it. James 1:22 (NIV) states plainly: “Do not merely listen to
the word… Do what it says.” When believers accumulate information without
practicing it, they create the appearance of maturity without the fruit of
transformation. One may attend Bible studies, memorize passages, and even teach
others, yet remain unchanged if obedience is absent. Knowledge is valuable, but
without action it becomes spiritually unproductive.
Scripture
also underscores that knowledge brings responsibility. James 4:17 reminds us
that to know the right thing and fail to do it is sin. Jesus affirmed this
principle in Luke 12:47-48: “From everyone who has been given much, much
will be demanded.” God expects that what we learn will translate into
faithful action. True biblical knowledge is authenticated not by information
retained but by obedience expressed.
Why Disciples and Movements Stagnate
When
truth is heard but not applied, several consequences emerge:
Faith Becomes Merely
Intellectual:
Truth remains in the mind but does not shape character or conduct.
Disciple-Making Slows: Movements grow through simple
obedience and immediate sharing. Without this, groups become discussion
circles rather than multiplying communities.
Pride Replaces Humility: As 1 Corinthians 8:1 warns, “Knowledge
puffs up, but love builds up.” Knowledge without practice can easily
lead to self-confidence instead of Christ-likeness.
The
result is stagnation disciples who have learned much but accomplished little,
and ministries that gather regularly but bear minimal fruit.
Obedience: The Key to Transformation
Obedience
is the essential link between revelation and transformation. Jesus declared in
John 14:23 (NIV): “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” God’s
presence and blessing are tied not to our level of knowledge but to our
commitment to live out what we have learned. Transformation begins with simple
steps sharing our faith, forgiving those who wronged us, or serving with
humility. Each act of obedience invites God to work through us in powerful and
lasting ways.
Making your obedience the Central Goal
1. Redefine your Success
Success
is not measured by attendance, curriculum covered, or verses memorized. The
essential question is: “What changed in my life this week because of God’s
Word?” Even one step of obedience is genuine progress.
2. Integrate your obedience
Questions
Whether in Discovery Bible Study or
any ministry setting, end with:
What will I do in response to
this passage?
Who will I share it with?
This shifts your focus from hearing
to doing.
3. Lead by Personal Example
Leaders
must model obedience openly. Share your own steps of action and celebrate
others who do the same in your team. This builds a culture where obedience is
normal, valued, and joyful in the team.
4. Keep It Simple and Practical
Encourage
specific, simple commitments, such as: “I will pray for my two colleagues, ___
and ___, and check on them this week to see how they are doing,” rather than
simply thinking about them and stopping there.
5. Connect Obedience to God’s
Mission
Your
obedience must be grounded in God’s Word, and from that foundation you will
discover your mission in participating in God’s work. Every small step of
engaging with God’s people contributes to the transformation of individuals,
families, and communities aligning with God’s mission. When disciples act on
God’s Word, movements are born that can change the world.
6. Cultivating a Lifestyle of
Obedience
Start personally: Before teaching others,
determine your own step of obedience.
Use accountability: Share and follow up on
commitments with a trusted partner or group.
Celebrate obedience stories: Highlight testimonies that
demonstrate faith in action.
Repeat consistently: Make hearing, obeying, and
sharing a weekly rhythm.
By Missionary Mberabagabo Mathieu
Walking Forward in Hope, Grace, and Obedience
to God
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be
established.”-
Proverbs 16:3
Christmas stands as a sacred reminder that God is faithful
to His promises. In the fullness of time, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as
the ultimate gift of love, hope, and salvation to humanity. The birth of Christ
proclaims a powerful truth: God is present with His people Emmanuel, God
with us. As we celebrate Christmas and transition into the New Year 2026,
we are invited to reflect deeply on God’s grace and to intentionally align our
lives with His divine will.
The New Year represents far more than a change in the calendar.
It is a divine opportunity a season for spiritual renewal, strengthened
obedience, and purposeful living according to God’s plan. Scripture reminds us
in Lamentations 3:22–23 that “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases…
His mercies are new every morning.” This assurance gives us confidence that
2026 begins not by human strength, but by God’s sustaining grace.
A Year Anchored in Hope
Hope in Christ is not wishful thinking; it is a confident
expectation grounded in God’s unchanging faithfulness. As we step into 2026,
believers are called to live as people of hope, even amid uncertainty. This
hope must shape our attitudes, guide our decisions, and influence our daily
conduct. When our trust is firmly placed in God, fear loses its hold, and faith
becomes our constant guide.
Walking in God’s Grace
Grace is God’s unmerited favor that both saves and empowers
us to live righteous and fruitful lives. Entering 2026, we are called to depend
not on human wisdom, but on the grace of God that leads, corrects, and sustains
us. God’s grace cultivates humility, patience, forgiveness, and love. It lifts
us when we fall and enables us to extend mercy to others, just as Christ has
shown mercy to us.
Living as God Requires in 2026
To fulfill the year 2026 according to God’s will, believers
are encouraged to:
Walk
in Obedience: Align daily life with the Word of God, choosing
righteousness over compromise.
Commit
to Prayer and Scripture: Maintain a consistent life of prayer and engagement
with God’s Word, allowing Him to direct every step.
Live
in Love and Unity: Reflect Christ
through compassion, forgiveness, and peace within families, churches, and
communities.
Serve
Faithfully:
Steward God-given gifts in service to others, especially the vulnerable,
for the glory of God.
Practice
Integrity and Excellence: Honor God through honesty, diligence, and excellence
in ministry, work, and education.
Raise
the Next Generation in Faith: Intentionally nurture children and youth to know,
love, and follow Jesus Christ.
Looking Ahead with Faith
As we move forward into 2026, may we carry the message of
Christmas throughout the year: God is with us, God is for us, and God is at
work within us. Let our lives be living testimonies of His grace and truth. May
we enter this New Year with hearts fully surrendered to God, hands ready to
serve, and eyes fixed on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith. With God leading us, 2026 can be a year marked
by spiritual growth, renewed hope, and lasting impact for His Kingdom.
By Missionary MBERABAGABO Mathieu
The
World for Jesus Mission Ministry (WJMM)
Rwanda
Country
ARTICLE
Rwanda
experienced a tragic period in 1994 known as the Genocide against the Tutsi,
during which more than 1,000,000 people were killed by the FDLR (composed by
some Hutu Tribe), associated with the former regime of President Habyarimana
Juvenal. After 1994, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) took over the
government, and the nation began the process of rebuilding. Today, Rwanda
promotes unity and reconciliation, moving beyond ethnic divisions among Hutu,
Tutsi, and Twa. Under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, the concept of
“Rwandan citizen” (in Kinyarwanda, Ndi Umunyarwanda) was introduced,
and after more than 30 years, citizens live in peace, unity, and harmony.
Since the
country’s redevelopment, most sectors in Rwanda have modernized and developed
rapidly. However, the church sector lagged behind because it was not initially
part of the government’s modernization programs. In 2018, the government
consulted pastors across Rwanda and established standards (Laws) that churches
should comply with to align with national development plans. Churches were
given five years to meet these requirements, but due to poverty and limited
resources, most churches could not comply.
By July 2024,
the government implemented these standards, resulting in the closure of
approximately 9,800 churches that failed to meet the requirements. Some of the
key regulations included:
·
Alignment of church buildings
with the National City master plan.
·
Provision of adequate
sanitation facilities (modern toilets, air conditioning, soundproofing, etc.).
·
Location on sufficient and
isolated land (minimum ½ hectare, away from residential areas).
·
Pastors and church leaders
holding recognized theological qualifications.
·
Engagement in active social
development programs within communities.
·
Legal registration and full
compliance with all relevant local laws and administrative requirements.
The closure of
many churches has discouraged church leaders, youth, and congregants, weakening
enthusiasm for the Great Commission. While some members have joined other
churches, others have not engaged in online services or any church activities.
The churches that meet government standards will be reopened after
verification.
What is
needed?
1.
Pray for the churches of
Rwanda, that they may continue in faith and hope.
2.
Pray for financial resources
for churches to comply with government standards.
3.
Pray for me, as I continue
training and equipping Rwandan churches to fulfill the Great Commission,
despite the closures.
4.
Pray for renewed passion among
church leaders and members to embrace God’s calling and spread the Gospel.
Prepared by Missionary MBERABAGABO Mathieu
MY ARTICLE
God as the Only
True Master, Not Money
Matthew 6:24 presents one of
Jesus Christ’s clearest teachings on loyalty and devotion. Jesus states, “No
one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.” This
declaration confronts a central spiritual truth: life is shaped by what the
heart seeks and ultimately serves. While money itself is not evil, Jesus warns
against allowing it to replace God as the center of one’s life.
Many people choose the pursuit
of wealth over obedience to God’s calling, believing money will provide
security and fulfillment. Yet peace, purpose, and true life do not come from
full bank accounts but from wholehearted devotion to God. One may lose money
and still live a meaningful and peaceful life when God remains the supreme
Master. Answering God’s call, such as dedicating one’s life to missionary
service, may involve material sacrifice, but it does not lead to misery.
Instead, it leads to a life rich in purpose, especially as others are reached
with the Gospel and come to salvation.
Jesus’ invitation to “Follow
Me” (Matthew 10:17-31) underscores this principle of total devotion.
Following Christ requires prioritizing God above worldly comforts, safety, and
material possessions. The story of the rich man, who could not part with his
wealth when Jesus asked him to sell all he had, illustrates the challenge of
surrendering possessions that compete with God for the heart. By contrast, the
Bible records inspiring examples of those who gave everything to serve the
Kingdom. Luke 8:3 mentions Joanna, a woman who devoted her resources to support
Jesus’ ministry, and Acts 4:34-37 highlights early believers who sold property
to meet the needs of the church, demonstrating sacrificial obedience and trust
in God’s provision.
In the first-century context, a
servant belonged entirely to one master, relying on him for provision and
direction. Jesus uses this imagery to show that God does not share His
authority with any rival. Serving God is not one option among many; it is a total
commitment that shapes values, priorities, and daily decisions. When money or
worldly pursuits become masters, they compete with God for the heart, leading
to divided loyalty and spiritual instability.
For believers today, this
teaching calls for intentional choices in how time, resources, calling and
talents are used. When God is acknowledged as the only true Master, wealth
becomes a tool for stewardship and service rather than an object of trust.
Following Christ fully, like Joanna and the early believers, brings true
freedom and lasting fulfillment, aligning our lives with His eternal purpose.
Matthew 6:24 remains a timeless
invitation to freedom: true peace, purpose, and fulfillment are found in
serving God alone.
By Missionary MBERABAGABO Mathieu
Salvation
and the Humanity and Divinity of Christ
Salvation as Past, Present, and Future
For me,
Christian salvation unfolds across time. In the past, it began
with justification: the moment I believed in Jesus, I was declared righteous
before God, fully by grace, not by my own effort (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9;
Titus 3:5). In the present, salvation continues as
sanctification. Even though I am justified, I am daily being transformed
through obedience and the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:18;
Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). In the future, I
anticipate glorification full redemption, the resurrection of my body, and
complete freedom from sin (Romans 8:30; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Peter 1:5).
Salvation is a journey of grace, transformation, and hope.
Implications in a World of Distress
The brokenness
of today’s world, with wars, disasters, and suffering, reflects human sin
(Genesis 3; Romans 8:20-22). Salvation brings reconciliation with God,
restoring relationships and empowering me to model forgiveness, humility, and
love (2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:14-16). Sanctification shapes my moral
life, encouraging justice and compassion (Micah 6:8; Galatians 5:22-23), while
the promise of glorification sustains hope, perseverance, and active engagement
in mission (Romans 8:23-25; Revelation 21:1–5). Salvation calls me to serve as
a visible sign of God’s redemptive work (Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 5:13-16).
Jesus as Fully God and Fully Human
Jesus is fully
divine and fully human, united in one person without confusion (John 1:1,14;
Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6-8). To grasp this, I sometimes think of a
smartphone: hardware and software work together, distinct but inseparable. Yet
this is limited, as Christ’s natures are eternal and cannot be separated (1
Timothy 3:16). His humanity allows Him to empathize with my struggles, while
His divinity gives Him authority and power to save.
Influence on My Christian Walk
Christ’s
humanity reassures me that He understands my weaknesses, encouraging confident
prayer (Hebrews 4:15-16). His divinity strengthens my faith and obedience,
showing me that transformation is God’s work, not my own (John 20:28;
Colossians 1:15-20; Philippians 2:5-11). Together, these truths guide my daily
walk, deepen worship, and inspire faithful living.
By Missionary Mberabagabo
Mathieu