In this sermon, Dr. Bishop James, the Senior Pastor of the Revival Palace Church in Rwanda, gave it on the last day of the conference, that is, on Sunday, August 18, 2024, he came back to the words found in the first letter of Peter 5:2-3 says that the shepherds should shepherd the flock of God they are responsible for protecting, not doing it forcibly. Instead, they do it willingly, not because of the love of treacherous gain, but they do it willingly, they do not oppress those who are God’s inheritance, but they become examples of the flock.

After reading these words several times and emphasizing them, he gave the example of a cowboy with a cow. If that cowboy is milking, and the cow steps on him and injures him so much that even the fingernail comes out, the cowboy does not beat the cow, but instead he pinches the cow’s leg and moves it to the side, and go on milking after healing the broken toe.

If the cow is not his, he immediately hits it with a stick and almost breaks its back.
Many pastors are like the cowboy who beats the cow. Bishop Dr. James Mulisa said: “Shepherds who shepherd God’s flock include those like that. The Christian speaks, and the pastor prepares a lesson to hit him in the church. At that time, he is neglecting that he must shepherds the flock with love.”

He said this because the leaders of the church have problems with the Christians they lead. He told the shepherds: “You will not find people who are speechless, who have no mouth. He who does not speak well of you speaks ill of you. That is the reason on which he gave a solution that will make no pastor angry with a Christian because he speaks ill of him, and no Christian who will follow the teachings of Bishop James and speak again ill of a pastor.

The Bishop explained: “Peter asked the leaders to shepherd God’s flock and not look like those who were under pressure. The reason why he asked the shepherds to look after the flock not forcibly, is because there was something that would make them do it that way. On this point, the pastor should not get angry when a Christian speaks ill of him, to lead him by heart, as if under duress. He should know that no one is well spoken of by everyone, and he should know that the one he serves (God) is watching.

Regarding the Christians, he said that they are the ones who make their leaders sometimes look like those who are under pressure. He gave an example saying: "One thousand and five hundred pastors leave what they are doing (in the pastorate) because they talk about the works God is doing, they get home alone because they don’t have someone to talk to about normal things. Instead of receiving phone calls to thank them, they receive criticisms and reprimands.” Christians should also avoid speaking ill of those who lead them, because they spend the night praying to them without knowing it.

However, he focused on the leaders of the church, telling them that they should not at all confront Christians who are badmouthing them, because as Peter said, they should set an example for others, who are badmouthed and continue to lead each other calmly and lovingly, instead of doing it like those who are appointed forced. He mentioned the consequences if it does not happen and thus he said: "It affects their lives (church leaders), and it also affects Christians who are not strong in faith."

The Revival Palace Church Thanksgiving Conference was held in Bugesera from Wednesday to Sunday. Those who taught were Bishop Dr. Daryl Forehand (USA), Pastor Dr. Inam Tumusime who leads the Revival Palace Church in Bugesera, Apostle Dr. M. Rueal McCoy, Sr (USA) and Bishop Dr. James Mulisa, Senior Pastor of the Revival Palace Church in Rwanda.

Bishop Dr James Mulisa preached in "Thanksgiving Conference"

Tanzania Bella Kombo who sang "Ameniona" and "Mwungu Ni Mmoja"

Bishop Dr James awarding Revival Palace Church Bugesera

Bishop Dr James Mulisa is an Overseer of Revival Palace Church mu Rwanda (Foto: Archive)