The United Methodist Church in Burundi welcomed on Sunday, October 19, 2025, the Head of State of Burundi, His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye, who joined the Christians of Rohero Parish in Bujumbura district in the Sunday service, accompanied by his family and some of the authorities such as the Minister of home affairs, the Governor of Bujumbura Province and others.
Bishop Emmanuel Sinzohagera, the resident bishop of Burundi-Rwanda episcopal area, thanked God for the honor bestowed upon the church, and thanked His Excellency the Head of State for choosing to join the United Methodist Church. Bishop then introduced some of the district superintendents who had been able to attend and some of the members of the executive committee. He took advantage to present to the President of Republic a summary of the work the church has already accomplished and what it expects to do.
He said: “In education field, we have primary and secondary schools and we are also going to open a university in Mweya, Gitega province”. Continuing to support the development of the Burundian community, in the health sector, the United Methodist Church has built hospital and health centers and is constructing the Health Center in Ngozi and Murehe Districts. In order to support citizens, the church has already provided clean water through borehole technology in provinces such as Bujumbura, Burunga and Buhumuza. In the agriculture and livestock field, the church is going to open a factory to transform sunflower products in the Kumoso area, Burunga province via a project called Yambasu Initiative. He added that compassionate activities have been planned to support refugees who have fled to Burundi.
According to the words of God in the gospel of Matthew 7:7-8, Bishop Sinzohagera says that for the Lord to respond one’s concerns, a Christian should stand on three pillars: asking, seeking and knocking, because “the things from God are to be sought” and “God will bless the works of our hands”, added the Bishop. He urges that Christians should be diligent, obey and believe in God.
In his speech, The Head of State said: “First of all, let’s thank God for giving us everything”. He supported the Bishop on the word of God he delivered, admonishing people, asking them to avoid laziness, and calling on them to work hard for the purpose of developing themselves and the country. Combining with the word from Deuteronomy 8, he reminded Burundians that our country contains all the good things that God created. He referred to the types of minerals he recently discovered, the plants that grow in the country, clean water and fertile land. He advised them to stop listening to bad prophets but invited people to always be grateful for what God has given them and pray in faith for what he will be providing.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye concluded by thanking the United Methodist Church for the role it is playing in the development of the country, led by its leaders. He appreciated that the difficult times it has gone through have taught them a lesson and have led them to a progress and become united. He asked the Bishop and the Church in general to consider building a boarding school since it teaches cohabitation between students from different origins.
The day was enlivened by different choirs from the Rohero parish.
