Rwandan Connections
Bishop, Gahini Diocese, Rwanda
In 2007 Bishop Alex, his wife Grace, and their six children came to Columbia, SC to study at Columbia International University. During this time Bishop Alex served as Bishop in Residence at Church of the Apostles until his return to Rwanda in December of 2009.
In the post-genocide reconstitution of the Anglican Church, Bishop Alexis was appointed Bishop of a new diocese, Gahini, in the center of the worst killings of Tutsi people. He is leading the rebuilding of the church, its schools and hospitals. He was appointed by the government to the Board of the National Committee for the Survivors of Genocide, which has been a channel of international and national funds to assist victims. He is also the founder and president of three national, interdenominational organizations: Moucecore (which works toward reconciliation and peace-building), Aprid (an outreach to Muslims), and the Barakabaho Foundation (a family approach to providing for orphans). His personal story of remarkable rescues during the genocide are told in his book Rescued by Angels (with Alan Nichols, Acorn Press 2001). The story has been featured in a BBC Worldwide radio documentary series, and he has been featured many times in the main media as a spokesman on peace and reconciliation.