
Who could possibly have imagined the calling and destiny that God had for a young boy from the jungles of central Africa? Father? Church-planter? Pastor and teacher with multiple college degrees? Author? World-changer?
In war-torn Uganda, a deadly snake bit 7-year-old Canisius Gacura. Eighty miles from the nearest hospital by bicycle, Gacura suffers for three agonizing weeks before receiving medical care. Within the year, he also suffers a near-fatal bout of measles and finally, a severe case of polio—leaving him a pain-riddled cripple in a country unfamiliar with care for the disabled.
Born to a cattle-herding family that only knew the indigenous religion, his father took him to several witch-doctors for healing. But they beat him and left him feeling as if life had no purpose. Three times he attempted suicide thinking that he had no future until he heard a voice repeatedly telling him: “You need Jesus!” He crawled on hands and knees using an old pair of rubber boots to the nearest church two miles away. And then everything changed.
Despite his limitations, he finished his education and became a pastor. But God called him to leave everything he had known and start a church in neighboring Rwanda, a country that suffered a devastating genocide, where one million people were slaughtered in 100 days. With no money, no support, and no friends, he answers the unmistakable call from the Lord.
Fast forward and today Canisius Gacura is married with four beautiful children, pastor of a church in the most Muslim area of Kigali and encouraging radical forgiveness in Rwanda. His church has planted three daughter churches throughout Rwanda. He has a weekly radio broadcast that reaches the whole nation and has seen hundreds of Rwandi’s pray to receive Jesus as Savior. He is building a new Ministry Center that will be able to accommodate 1500 people for services and is the first completely wheel-chair accessible church in the country.
Can a pastor who crawls make a difference for Rwandan people suffering from the 1994 genocide? Can God use him to reach Muslims in Kigali? Can God use him to change a nation?
YES, HE CAN!