Vision Conference in Burundi Sparks Church-Led Community Development

Share This Post

 What tangible impact can words of truth have on a broken society? As the recent DNA Vision Conference in Rutana, Burundi showed, the words of Scripture can begin to bring about community transformation.

Burundi, in East Africa, is a poor nation known for witchcraft, sorcery, alcoholism, and HIV/AIDS.
Burundi, in East Africa, is a poor nation known for witchcraft, sorcery, alcoholism, and HIV/AIDS.

In Burundi, about 65 percent of the population lives in poverty, and the life expectancy is only 54 years of age. Despite these unfavorable circumstances, the land is fertile and with over 60 percent of the people living in the rural areas, there is great potential for community development.

Christian organizations like the Disciple Nations Alliance and Harvest Foundation have organized Vision Conferences in Burundi to begin healing the brokenness. Through these conferences, indigenous trainers use the teachings of the Bible to train local pastors in wholistic transformation.

In 2005, the General Chaplain of the Burundi Police, Canon Onesime Nimbeshaho, attended his first DNA Vision Conference. Since then, his heart for wholistic ministry has led him to be involved in several training events and to head up the recent Vision Conference in Rutana. Forty-one participants attended this conference and, afterward, many said it was the most beneficial conference they had ever been to because it gave them practical, hands-on advice on how to bring healing to their nation.

New Picture
“Other seminars give us theoretical knowledge, but this Vision Conference has touched theoretical and practical issues to help us to solve problems in our communities,” said Pastor Pontien Ribakare of the Anglican Church.

The Vision Conference encouraged the participants to put the teaching into action by doing Seed Projects in their local villages. A Seed Project is a small, church-initiated outreach that allows Christians to identify needs in their communities and practically help meet those needs using their own resources. The goal is for Seed Projects to become ongoing initiatives working to bring wholistic restoration.

Because of this conference, local Christians planned 11 new Seed Projects, including:

  • Supporting orphans
  • Visiting 200 prisoners and providing them with food, clothes, soap and shoes
  • Visiting the sick in hospitals
  • Feeding malnourished kids
  • Cultivating lands for poor and elderly people
  • Purchasing utensils for the elderly
  • Building toilets for the elderly
New Picture (1)
As these Christians begin to practically show Christ’s love to their communities, pray for the restoration of the province of Rutana.

Pray that the Church would begin to make positive impacts in every area of society. Finally, the Pastors of Rutana are virtually illiterate when it comes to understanding the Bible, so pray that God would raise up more educated people to train the pastors and further this ministry.

Learned something new? Have a question? Enjoying this post? Let us know!

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
1 Comment
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
trackback

[…] ← Vision Conference in Burundi Sparks Church-Led Community Development Mar 28 2013 […]

Like what you're reading?

Subscribe to the DNA blog and get updates directly in your inbox.

Recent

Podcast Episodes

Easter Part 2: Representatives in a Foreign Land

How does Easter’s message interweave our daily lives? Jesus’ reign is not confined to some spiritual reality. His kingship radically transforms every aspect of our existence. From personal identity to societal influence, we peel back layers of cultural misconceptions to expose a truth that emboldens us to live fearlessly within the victory of the resurrection.

Podcast Episodes

Biblical Worldview’s Influence on Family and Vocation with George Oliveira

Have you ever pondered how an unwavering faith can shape a person’s life and influence entire cultures? George Oliveira embodies DNA’s core values and models transformation through 20 years of integrating biblical worldview principles into every area of life, from family to education and vocation. George reminds us of the potency of Scripture and its relevance to every aspect of creation. You will be encouraged and invigorated by how practical the biblical worldview is as you consider God’s will for your own life.

1
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
small_c_popup.png

Let's have a chat

Learn how we helped 100 top brands gain success.