Burundi Peacemaker Conference

This is the first in a series of blog entries where I will be discussing details of my recent trip to Burundi. One of my primary objectives on the trip was to teach a 2 day Peacemaking Seminar on July 28-29th based on materials we translated into Kirundi, the local language. The materials were provided by Peacemaker Ministries.

We had more than 70 pastors and church leaders attend the conference. The response from the attendees was very positive, so I'm already looking at scheduling a longer conference and inviting more teachers to join me next year.

About a week before I left for the conference, by God's providence I met up with Ken Sande, who founded Peacemaker Ministries. Ken gave me some tips for teaching the conference and suggested that I contact Karl Dortzbach, who has taught in Bujumburu in the past. Karl helped me significantly in two ways. First, he provided the Peacemaker brochure in Kirundi, which we copied and used during the seminar. Second, he provided me with a syllabus with small group breakout sessions that were very effective in conveying many of the concepts. I'm not sure how I would have effectively taught the material without Karl and Ken's invaluable suggestions.

I could not have done the seminar without Jean-Marie Nibizi's excellent translation skills. Jean-Marie also understood the material well and helped me out of a few difficult situations where I was having trouble conveying information to the small groups. This talented man speaks English, Kirundi, Swahili and French and I had no trouble understanding him.



Here is one of the 11 small groups that participated in the conference.


Following each small group, I gave the group leaders an opportunity to share insights from the groups. Some of the most important points were made during these group wrap-up sessions.



Near the close of the 2 day conference, I asked 3 volunteers to help me with a role play that Karl Dortzbach has used at his conferences. The gist of the role play is that 3 church members engage in gossip over a pastor's salary and in the process literally become entangled in their sin. Only when they discover their sin and specifically confess it do the ropes begin to fall off. These 3 Burundians took the role play to a level I had not anticipated and were able to use humor and dialogue to powerfully demonstrate the effect of conflict in the church. At the end, 11 people came forward for prayer regarding conflicts they had been involved with.



I would also like to thank Prosper Ndabishuriye who helped me organize the conference, invited the attendees and made sure everything ran smoothly. The conference really never would have happened without his leadership.

From left, Rick Robles, who helped me during the conference, Prosper, me, and Jean-Marie.



I felt the prayers of many during the conference and I am privileged to have been part of this opportunity to bring these critical truths to these pastors. I'm looking forward to future opportunities to equip these and more leaders to teach other Burundians these important Biblical truths.

Peace and blessings,
John