History of Partners In Mission
The roots of PIM go back to 1929 when Dr. Joe Church, British missionary to Rwanda, and Simeon Nsibambi, chief health officer with the government of Uganda, met in front of the Anglican cathedral on Namirembe Hill in Kampala, Uganda. Both had been praying for God to renew the fervor of the church. Together they knelt and prayed for God's renewal and forgiveness of sin in their own lives, and for reconciliation among races and tribes.With this the East African Revival broke out. In a small chapel in Gahini, Rwanda, under the direction of Joe Church, the first fellowship meetings were held as the Lord brought penitent believers into fellowship with God and with one another, through the Blood of the Cross. All walls fell, between Tutsis and Hutus, between blacks and whites, between denominations.
From this meeting, many teams were sent to neighboring nations and eventually around the world with a very simple message, the message of the unmerited favor of God offered freely to all who would sincerely follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
From the beginning, fellowship and walking in the light of Christ provided the context for spiritual growth and evangelism. Partners in Mission (PIM) was founded in 1993 by Canon Wolfgang Heiner, from Germany. He and wife Christel have known brethren from the East African Revival since 1961. Because the Elders of the East African Revival were aging, Heiner wanted a way for the younger generation to know and embrace the principles of the East African Revival.PIM focuses on reconciliation among Christians of the Great Lakes Region of Africa (Uganda, eastern Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, southern Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi. Heiner, who served as International Coordinator, worked closely with indigenous Christian leaders. PIM's stated aim was to bring Elders and members of the younger generation together to promote evangelism, reconciliation, networking, and fellowship.
In September, 1997, a conference that included both Elders and Youth was held at Gahini, organized by PIM. The theme was "Walking with Jesus in the First Love," Revelation 2:4-5; and the focus was healing and repentance among peoples, in light of the recent genocide in Rwanda. It was to be an encouragement by the international fellowship of believers to Rwandans.
Missiocamp 2000 was held in Bushenyi, Uganda and targeted training Christian youth leaders. Missiocamp 2004 at Nabugabo Retreat Centre in Uganda addressed the duplication of efforts by Christians working in the same areas and on the same problems. Other smaller conferences continue to be held year-round throughout the region.
In 1999, Canon Wolfgang Heiner asked lay leader John Mulindabigwi to join the team of PIM as Regional Coordinator. Five days following the May 2000 conference, Canon Wolfgang Heiner died of a heart attack while in Tanzania. Mulindabigwi began working full-time for PIM with support from Heiner's widow, Christel, and a small group of committed Germans. Christel Heiner became International Coordinator of PIM.
Rev. Mulindabigwi has since been ordained in the Anglican church as a priest and serves on staff as missions pastor at All Saints Church in Mbarara, Uganda.