In 2007, God opened doors for us, Burundian, Rwandese and Congolese refugees, from different asylum African countries, and we were qualified to be in the United States of America. This became our third time fleeing to a foreign country. Before coming to America, many of us were living in refugee camps in different foreign countries for instance, Tanzania since 1972. Through United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), God made it possible for us to find homes in U.S.A. The 23rd of January 2008 was the inception of our arrival in U.S.A especially in Houston, Texas. Among us, were mothers, fathers, elders, youth, and children. Many were Christians from different churches. Among those Christians were pastors, evangelists, and choir members. In those refugees, the majority did not speak English. Those Christians had a problem and that was not having a church to pray in because of language barrier.

As servants of God, we felt urged by the Holy Spirit, just like it’s written in the book of Acts 2:1-13, to gather Burundian, Rwandese and Congolese refugees so that we could start preaching the word of God and remind them of God’s promises. We as servants of God, wanted to remind the refugees that although we have arrived in U.S, we have a greater journey to achieve and that is the Heaven. We wanted to preach in languages they could understand such as Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili. Just like Moses reminded the Israelites the promises that God was going to give them the promise of new land just as we read in Deuteronomy 8:1-15. Starting then, we began to worship God in a rented apartment only on Sundays.

The month of February 8th – 9th 2009 is when we began our first fasting and prayers service and there we humbly asked God to help us get a church that we can call our own because it written in Mathew 7:7-8 “ask and you shall receive.” We continued fasting in hope of getting an answer from God.

On August 19-20, 2009 we rented a building that offered bigger space and our monthly payment was $400.00. There, is where we selected people to officially become leaders in the church. The selected pastors were Bucumi Andrea and Byamungu Lukata. The chosen evangelists were Nimenya Celestin, Bihoringere Willison Gisagara, Biryanguze Ezroni.

October 3rd 2009 – the pastors chose their helpers such as counselors and administrations. October 10th 2009, We, the pastors, hosted a seminar consisted of only leaders. Pastor Bucumi Andrea gave advice regarding that seminar. He read the book of Numbers 13:16-19, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Acts 20:28-30, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-5, 2 Chronicles 19:1-11.

In October 17th 2009, we hosted a seminar about church choirs. Pastor Bucumi Andrea also read the book of 1 Samuel 16:14-18, 1 chronicles 15:1-24, Amos 5:21-23, 8:3.

December 27th 2009, the church held the first communion and baptism.

January 30, 2010, the church got its name, Restoration of Bible Fellowship Church in Houston. The reason we chose that name is to restore what has been neglected in the bible. In the same month, a pastor name John Benarty, who led a Hispanic church came to see us, we asked him if he can provide us with a church to pray in. He answered saying “rather than provide you with a church, I can direct you to an organization known as The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI).”

April 17th, 2010 – As a church, we were accepted in the UPCI organization and at the same time the US Government permitted us like other churches, to work publicly.

May 24th, 2010 – The church identification forms were given by the US Government and the pastors, Bucumi Andrea and Byamungu Lukata, became licensed.

November 7th, 2010 – We continued to welcome new families and Evangelists coming from Africa. These were Semana Alexis and Kaminwe Kapera.

After becoming a licensed church, the devil was not pleased. In the month of March 6th, 2011, the devil attempted to corrupt the church through the leaders who had the desire to start their own church. Once those leaders made the decision to depart from us, almost half of the congregation followed them. We then separated ourselves from those who betrayed the church. Although the division occurred, the remaining congregation stood strong. This situation caused the remaining congregation the motivation to do greater things. The congregation contributed money in order to buy a church van because most of our church members have transportation means

December 30th, 2012 – We had a meeting on how expanding church by planting our church in Des Moines, Iowa. Then on March 9th-10th, 2013, we traveled to Des Moines, Iowa for the official opening of the Restoration of Bible Fellowship Church in Des Moines, Iowa. There is where we assigned Habonimana Jeremiah, Bukuru Essau, and Kabura Erasto as pastors (leaders).

June 7th, 2015 – An evangelist, Nyiragakera Perusi, deacon, Butera François, and their family joined our church. The very recent also we were so blessed to welcome new refugees came from Tanzania Nyarugusu refugee camp.

In fact, we continue to face some challenges because we do not accomplish our  most  weekly  activities in full time and freedom for what we have is a rental building , we rent only  3 hours for 800$ every single Sunday.

That money is coming from offerings and tithes which are given every Sunday service, we save them in church bank account and use them for that payment and church’s small needs. We believe that with God everything is possible, we keep our goals in prayers so that one day we get our own building dedicated to the Almighty God.

Contact

Email: alex.sema@yahoo.fr

​           andreabucumi@yahoo.com

Phone: (832) 338-4490

             ​(832) 352-2926

             ​(832) 310-9899

Address:

Restoration Fellowship Church in Houston

7900 W. Fuqua Dr. Missouri City, Texas, 770489