Government leaders supported the evangelistic meetings. The governor of the region, Norbert Kantintima, lent his support to crusade organizers. The STM team was invited for lunch at the governor s mansion, even though the governor was out of the region at the time. The governor s wife, along with the vice governor and mayor of the city, hosted the team. Governor Kantintima phoned during the lunch and told Tippit he appreciated him coming to Bukavu at this critical moment.
Many people are afraid to come here because of the war.
But we need your message very much, he stated. Vice Governor Benjamin Serukiza said he had attended the Sammy Tippit Crusade in Kigali, Rwanda shortly after the genocide in 1994. He said, The people of Rwanda were very depressed and felt hopeless during the time of Sammy Tippit s crusade. But he brought a message of hope and peace. I believe God used his message to begin a healing process in the nation.