Of Rwandan parents, Parisian born, raised in Nairobi, educated in Kampala, now an Aussie national, Edgar Butare likes to think of himself as a very simple man.

He has called Melbourne home since 1996 and has completed his high school and university education here and is now working for the Federal Government.  He attends Richmond Assembly of God where he’s been a young adults’ cell group leader since April 2006.

Having lived in four countries before moving to Melbourne at the age of fourteen, I can honestly say, I’m happy to be here, a young professional making a small contribution to the community I live in.  I maintain strong links with all things Africa – her people, her food, her music, her stories, her charm.

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he said that we are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for we are all one in Christ Jesus.  It’s this doctrine that I ascribe to and my identity as a Christian supersedes my identity as an African.  I believe that in its true sense, as Paul described, Christianity does not tolerate racial, ethnic or tribal hatred because we are all brothers and sisters.

May the bonds of peace and unity be formed within the body of Christ and may we reach out to the world with the ministry of reconciliation that’s been entrusted to us.  As they say in Swahili, tuko pamoja kwa Yesu! (We are one in Christ)

Edgar attends Richmond AOG in Victoria.