The 8th Ordinary Session of the Burundi Annual conference of United Methodist Church officially opened on 6 August 2025, with a vibrant worship service held at Nyabugogo Parish. The service was presided over by His Excellency Bishop Emmanuel Sinzohagera who preached from Isaiah 60:1 “Arise and shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you”.
The sanctuary was filled with delegates from across the country, representing church members from various districts. Reverend Lazare Bankurunaze, the superintendent of the Gitega District, warmly welcomed the attendees and extended his best wishes for a fruitful and spiritually enriching conference. The worship service included heartfelt prayers for the conference session, the sharing of a compassion offering, and the celebration of Holy Communion. All of which marked this gathering as a moment of spiritual significance.
In his sermon, Bishop Sinzohagera reflected on Isaiah 60:1 along with Romans 13:11a and Ephesians 5:14, emphasizing the prophetic meaning of the number eight in the Bible, symbolizing new beginnings and spiritual renewal. He encouraged participants not to take this eighth session for granted, but to embrace it as a divine invitation to rise up and shine both as individuals and as a church body. “The church cannot shine unless its people rise first,” he stated.
Before administering the Holy Communion, Bishop Sinzohagera concluded his homily by outlining five key characteristics of a church that has truly risen:
– A passion for prayer
– A spirit of repentance
– Bold testimony about Jesus Christ
– Committed and visionary leadership
– A compassionate heart
