ROC added two staff on site in Rwanda in September 2007

ROC is managed by an Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) board of directors. The board members can be seen at http://www.rocfoundation.org

Additionally, ROC added two staff on site in Rwanda in September 2007. Bryan Hixson, who formerly served with Oklahoma Christian University as the director of its educational technology group, is now serving as the Executive Site Director. Bryan oversees site operations, projects, partnerships, staff, and public relations.

Dr. Holly Hixson, who formerly served at OC as Assistant Professor of Chemistry, is serving part-time as the director of ROC Education Center, and part-time with Kigali International Community School (KICS). Dr. Hixson’s efforts are intended to bolster substantial educational needs in Rwanda by hosting a variety of workshops, seminars, lectures, and classes on site.

The Hixsons are funded through personal fundraising efforts and they welcome your partnership with them and ROC Foundation.

For more information or images see the following websites:
http://www.rocfoundation.org
http://hixson.smugmug.com    http://blogs.oc.edu/ee/?/bhixson

ROC is blessed to have these partners who are serving Rwanda

The church hall was occupied by Christ’s Church in Rwanda (CCR) which hosted its first service on March 4, 2006. CCR is preparing for its one-year anniversary. The building that was initially identified for a nursery began being utilized by Kigali International Community School (KICS) in April 2007.  In just one year’s time, KICS has grown from 44 to 95 students (K-12) representing 23 nationalities.  The third facility is being occupied by KICS secondary students, Food for the Hungry International (FHI), a computer laboratory, a chemistry/biology laboratory, a developing library, a kitchen shared by KICS and FHI, the ROC Education Center, and a few other offices.

Additionally, ROC is partnering with Oklahoma Christian University (OC) on two projects. The first project is the third year of the OC/Rwanda Presidential Scholars Program where ten students from the top in the country are selected for education at OC. The second project is with OC’s Academy of Leadership and Liberty and Peace through Business.  This program is designed to select and to bring women to the U.S. for business training. Both groups are then expected to return to Rwanda to share what they have learned and aid in the development of Rwanda.

ROC is blessed to have these partners who are serving Rwanda because of their love for God and their desire to see others enjoy the hope He provides.

Rwanda’s Vision 2020

In March of 2006, the Rwanda Outreach and Community Foundation took ownership of one of the most prominent facilities in Rwanda, Africa. These facilities included a planned church hall, nursery school, and primary school that are all part of Rwanda’s Vision 2020. Vision 2020 is a forward-thinking plan for development in Rwanda through growing a middle class. The pillars of this plan are education, technology, and human capacity development. ROC is proud to support the efforts of Vision 2020.

Please join us in Transforming Community by Transforming Lives.

Just over two years ago my wife and I became involved with Rwanda through our congregation’s support of Dave and Jana Jenkins as they moved to serve in Kigali. We sent them to plant a church and in time discovered that God had bigger plans in mind. While registration efforts were underway we began to explore options for a church location. The options that were presented to us initially were not attractive, as they were either located too far away for convenient foot traffic, or they would require displacing many people from their homes in a slum area (which we did not feel was a good way to begin a church).

God put before us an opportunity that seemed to be “too good to be true.” After lots of prayer and discussion with others, it became clear that denying this opportunity meant denying God’s generosity. Upon this realization, a number of people came together to form an Oklahoma non-profit foundation in order to raise funds to purchase this property for God’s work.

God has used many wonderful individuals and organizations to carry this effort through the first payment requirements. ROC lacks $556,000 to complete its obligations in this purchase. We are confident that God will continue to provide, as He has thus far. We welcome your partnership in prayer and/or giving knowing that you, like us, are simply stewards of God’s rich blessings.

We look forward to seeing what else God will accomplish with His people in this effort. Please join us in Transforming Community by Transforming Lives.

Tom Gooch
ROC Foundation Vice President

ROC Webblog

Welcome to the ROC Webblog where you will find occasional posts related to the work of Rwanda Outreach & Community Foundation. To view other ROC related sites go to:

• Rwanda Outreach & Community Foundation Website
• Personal Blog of Bryan Hixson
  Executive Site Director – Rwanda Outreach and Community Foundation
• Photo gallery of ROC Property, Rwanda children, families, homes, landscapes and memorials.