Refined in Rwanda — Why Stories Spark Movements
- Rhonda Mincey
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
Writing a memoir is one of the most vulnerable things you can do. It’s not just telling stories — it’s opening your soul. It’s letting people see your scars, your doubts, your questions, and your faith stretched thin alongside the breakthroughs.
That’s what I set out to do with Refined in Rwanda.
This book is raw and revealing. I didn’t write it to impress; I wrote it to be transparent. Because when leaders pretend they’ve never struggled, they rob others of hope. But when we tell the truth — when we admit the fire, the waiting, the unexpected call — people realize they’re not alone.
That’s where transformation begins.
A Memoir with a Mission
On the surface, Refined in Rwanda is my story. It’s about how one act of obedience turned into a journey I could never have planned. It’s about how fire refined me into someone I barely recognize compared to who I was before.
But underneath, it’s something more.
It’s a call.
A call for leaders to live with transparency.
A call for women to rise with boldness.
A call for ordinary people to realize that their yes can create extraordinary change.
That’s why I believe this memoir isn’t just about me — it’s about all of us. Because leadership isn’t a title. It’s a mission. And whether you’re leading a household, a classroom, a company, or a community, your story is shaping others.
We are always on mission. The question is whether we’re willing to embrace it.
From Story to Spark
Stories move people in ways facts and figures never can.
A statistic might inform the mind, but a story touches the heart. Do you hear me?
When I first shared what was happening in Rwanda — the walk for water, the strength of women and men carrying loads up steep hills, the radiant hope in children’s eyes — something shifted in those who listened. They didn’t just hear about Rwanda. They felt it. In their bones.
And once you feel it, you can’t unsee it. That’s the power of story. It turns passive listeners into active participants. It sparks movements.
The Ripple of Transparency
I didn’t set out to write a book. In fact, I hadn’t planned on it at all. But as I lived the stories, I realized something important: my transformation wasn’t mine to keep. I am exhaling as I type that.
I got still enough to listen — and the words came. Chapter by chapter, what happened to me and through me in Rwanda unfolded on the page. It wasn’t about crafting a polished story. It was about yielding. Another yes. Another surrender.
That’s the heart of transparency. It’s not about exposing weakness for the sake of it, but about sharing transformation so others can find their own.
When leaders open their hands and hearts, they don’t lose respect — they multiply courage.
And the ripple effect is this: your story becomes a spark that helps someone else say yes, too.
Tangible Takeaways: Turning Story into Movement
Here are three ways you can turn your own story into a spark that fuels something greater:
Tell the truth. Share the parts of your story that surprised you, not just the parts that inspire others. Authenticity is magnetic.
Connect the dots. Don’t stop with “this is what happened to me.” Ask: “What does this mean for us?” That’s how your story becomes a movement.
Stay on mission. Remember: leadership doesn’t clock out. Every conversation, every choice, every moment is shaping legacy.
From Memoir to Movement
Refined in Rwanda is more than just pages between covers. It’s an invitation into a larger story — one where obedience sparks overflow, fire refines leaders, and transparency builds trust that transforms communities.
Refined in Rwanda is now available to you. My hope is that as you read, you’ll see not only my story but the seed of your own movement.
Because the world doesn’t need another polished leader. It requires a transparent one. The world doesn’t need more noise. It wants your story, lived with courage.
And together, our stories will spark a movement that outlives us.
📖 Signed copies are available — I’d be honored to share this journey with you.
💭 Reflection question for you: What part of your story, if shared with transparency, could spark courage in someone else? I’d love to help you write and share it. Let me know in the comments.
For legacy, love, and lasting change.
#ProsperOnPurpose | #WomenOfFaith | #LegacyBuilders
– Rhonda G. Mincey
This is powerful.
Transparency like this changes the way people see leadership — not as perfection, but as obedience. Your willingness to share the refining process, not just the results, gives others permission to believe that God can use their broken pieces, too.
"Refined in Rwanda" feels less like a memoir and more like a mirror — reflecting what happens when we say yes and let God write the story. Thank you for leading with authenticity and reminding us that our vulnerability can become someone else’s victory.