How can English transform a life?

For one man, learning English was the next step in a radical life transformation...

At this year’s Growing HOPE dinner in November, we had the privilege of hearing from Yamuragiye Cyprien, a refugee from Rwanda who attends one of our HOPE sites, Southcliff Baptist Church. Please enjoy an excerpt from his speech.

“While born in Rwanda, in Africa, I am now a citizen of the United States of America, but most importantly I rejoice in being a citizen of heaven...

I was born in the small village in Rwanda with a severe disability. We lived in a very remote village. My family and people in my village were scared by my appearance. Because of my deformed limbs and body shape, people considered me as some type of animal or a demon. 

My earliest memories are of inexpressible pain. I was greatly depressed by the way I was treated.  I was rejected by people. My father named me, YAMURAGIYE which means ”UNKNOWN”. Since there was no agreement about what kind of animal I was, I simply became “UNKNOWN. I would become an outcast to my family and village that feared me. 

Between the age 8 and 10, I was hopeless and found no purpose in living a life like that. I attempted to commit suicide. But God protected me from harming myself”

Soon after my suicide attempt, a Muslim prostitute woman showed compassion on Cyprien took him in. He was later taken to a Catholic orphanage, then cared for at a hospital, where he met a woman named Rosalie who shared the gospel with him.

“A woman who was regularly in the hospital with her disabled child stopped to speak to me about the love of God and His desire to offer me eternal life. She spent much of her time sharing the gospel with patience and kindness to many in the hospital, including me...

Through Rosalie’s acts of kindness and commitment to share the good news with me, the Holy Spirit radically changed me, and I was spiritual resurrected by the living God. I believed and repented to the only one who could save me. Jesus is the only one who can provide redemption.”

Cyprien found new purpose and joy in life and began preaching the gospel to others, even to his former village. This lead to swift persecution. Soon after this he found himself fleeing to and preaching in other countries. Cyprien says, “Preaching salvation in Jesus Christ to all people is not foolish even though it is costly.”

He eventually landed in Israel, where he was able to study the Bible. He met friends there from Fort Worth, TX who encouraged Cyprien to go to the United States to continue his studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“God placed people at strategic places along the path who were instrumental in getting the information I needed to meet the demands to attain US. Status. Before I moved to America, God miraculously provided everything I would need to follow His wonderful plan and he even provided people who helped me with my English.

After, I arrived in America, my fellow students were instrumental in my success at the seminary. For all those who immigrated to the United States of America, based on my experiences, I can say that ESL Ministry played a significant role in the life of many refugees and immigrants in DFW area and beyond. I learned that through Hope Literacy, many refugees and immigrants were able to successfully pass the Naturalization Test and then became a U.S. citizens.

Praise the LORD Jesus Christ for this Christian organization that is providing educational opportunities to all those who are in need and sharing the gospel with refugees and immigrants in DFW area and beyond...”

Today, Cyprien, once a child on the streets who could not read or write, who had no opportunity to go to school, no hope, is now studying for his Masters at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, on track towards his Doctorate. He who was called “unknown” is now “known”. This would have not been possible without the support of people like the teachers in our sites who every day equip students with the skills they need to be successful in this country.

To read more of Cyprien’s story, you can purchase his book, Christ My Only Hope here.

Proceeds go directly towards Christ My Only Hope Ministries, which is now building a medical clinic to serve the spiritual and physical needs of people in Cyprien’s home country. Read more here.