Rema
Ministries
The
first week was spent in working
through ECLEA's foundational course on Biblical Stewardship with eight
of the leading staff members of Rema Ministries, in Bujumbura, the
capital of Burundi. Rema is an indigenous ministry in Burundi that, like
ECLEA, focuses on training church leaders. Frederic Harerimana, Rema's
deputy director,
serves as ECLEA's Burundi national coordinator. Consequently, Rema and
ECLEA have entered into a memorandum of understanding whereby Rema will
use its personnel and contacts to teach ECLEA's courses in Burundi and
to identify good candidates among those who participate at ECLEA
training sessions to become part of the ECLEA teaching team. I hope to
be able to go to Burundi twice each year and spend at least one week
each trip training the Rema staff people. Frederic is also drafting a
protocol for following-up with the church leaders after there has been a
training session. I am very encouraged by the level of organization, expertise, and commitment of Rema and think that ECLEA's work in Burundi is beginning on a good basis and, God willing, will bear much fruit.
Jonathan and the Rema Ministries team
MINEVAM
The
second week in Burundi was spent in the Bujumbura suburb of Gatumba
where we taught Biblical Stewardship to approximately 48 leaders of the
MINEVAM (Ministère International dEvangélistion en Afrique) denomination. MINEVAM is
headquartered in Burundi but also includes churches in a number of
other countries. Bishop Peter Barihzigo had requested this training and
was present and active throughout the course. The MINEVAM church leaders, who came from all the regions of Burundi, slept on mattresses on the floor of the church. Although most of our
courses are typically taught over 2 1/2 days, we spent 4 1/2 days
teaching this time. This allowed us to have extended periods of Q&A and several small group discussion periods.
MINEVAM Bishop Peter Barihzigo and his wife, Maggie
Where the MINEVAM pastors slept
As always, good African teachers taught alongside
me. For this course Frederic Harerimana both taught and acted as my
interpreter, and Rema staff members Pacifique Inamahoro and Francois
Nitunga also taught a number of the sessions. They will also be
following-up with selected church leaders to assist with application of what was learned.
Frederic teaching at MINEVAM
Looking Forward
After spending three days in
New York City visiting our youngest daughter, Julia, I am now home until about
October 24. I will then be leaving for Rwanda, where I plan to meet with
the Rwanda ECLEA committee, and for teaching sessions in Tanzania and
Kenya. That will be the last trip to East Africa for this year. I hope to see many of you while I am home.
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