HOW CAN WE ALL COME TOGETHER AS ONE IN BURUNDI AND IN AFRICA By Ephraim Manirakiza, Josimar Salum & Paul Taylor

HOW CAN WE ALL COME TOGETHER AS ONE IN BURUNDI AND IN AFRICA:

AN ESSAY FOR ONE UNIVERSITY FOR AFRICA

 By: Ephraim Manirakiza, Josimar Salum & Paul Taylor

 

If you are hurt, embittered and harbor hate inside of you, let the Love of Jesus heal your heart, your soul and your spirit. Do not rush to get involved in what we call "ministry" because this "ministry" only serves to keep people from getting healthy.  

 

There are so many of us who hide behind our "ministries" instead of embracing the Light of God to show us who we really are, so we must confess our sins, truly repent, be born again in fact, enter the Kingdom of God and let the Kingdom of God ENTER US in order to transform us into the image of Christ Jesus.

 

Is your heart bitter, hurting, and frustrated? Are you harboring any un-forgiveness in your soul?

 

You must not "minister" to the church, preach or simply strive to not continue your “Christian" life the way you are! Be still! 

 

Let the Lord love you, give you a shower of love through the people who love you; let the liquid fire river of Jesus' love pass through you until nothing but only love flows from your inmost being.

 

In fact, in Christ Jesus there are not "many ministries", only ONE; THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. 

 

"Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ, love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has passed away, behold, the new has come! 

 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting peoples sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 

 

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 

 

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

 

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—” Colossians

 

We dare to try to give a fair picture of Burundi as we humbly attempt to find solutions for its problems.

 

We should not ignore the contextual realities of Burundi if we are to find a durable remedy for the problems of Burundians. If we want to have good fruits, we should cure the tree from its roots. Treat the disease; not the symptoms.

 

Burundi has experienced many problems, ranging from horrific killings to poverty due to ignorance based on ethnic ideologies. 

 

It is amazing that Burundi claims to have more than 80℅ of Christians, and yet many of them kill one another because of stupid differences. It is absolutely evil and inconceivable that Christians participate in these heinous crimes. How can we expect positive change when some church or political leaders who call themselves Christians are corrupt and harbor selfish desires? 

 

Let us be clear on this; it is beyond our understanding to hear or see Christians involved in the crimes against humanity that are commonly committed by "pagans". Countless people have been oppressed, marginalized and killed by both "pagans" and so called "Christians". 

 

Though these words may seem harsh we are writing them in LOVE.

 

Past Burundian colonialists and leaders have been using ethnic divisions for power and not for the well-being of citizens . 

 

There are tragic dates of ethnic massacre that remain and will be forever etched in the minds of Burundians: 1965, 1972, 1988, 1993-2005. Since 2015 until now, the unrest is not apparently based on an ethnic aspect, but ethnic influence is still evident in many Burundians' actions. Hutus are the majority, about 80℅ of the population, Tutsis are about 14℅, and Twas make up the remaining 1℅. 

 

On a historical note, Burundi was led by Tutsi kings and presidents before and after its independence in 1962 until 1993. Hutu presidents were in government from 1993 to 1996, Tutsi presidents resumed the rule (It was one Tutsi president this time) since 1996 to 2003 and finally, Hutu presidents came again to power in 2003 up until now.

 

During the rule of Tutsis, some Hutus were unhappy, and vice versa. This has resulted in the creation of rebel groups to this very day. 

 

Though children and women are not given a good place in the community, and mentioning the fact that Twas are marginalized by Tutsis and Hutus, the government of today is involving Hutus, Tutsis, Twas and women in its leadership. It is also pleading for children. Private associations should take this good governmental example and include all people in their services. We should not see each other by groups, but as one people, as one Body, as individuals who are members of one another. 

 

In retrospect, Burundi was not even supposed to have an ethnic problem when you consider that all Hutus, Tutsis and Twas live together, use one language (Kirundi), have one culture, etc. 

 

So why are we saying this? It is because when we do something in Burundi, the first thing that pops into the observer’s mind is ethnic concern; who is the leader, a Hutu or a Tutsi? How many Hutus or Tutsis are in the board? Twas are not considered much because they usually don’t get chance to gain an education like Tutsis and Hutus. If we want to do anything for the goodness of Burundi and other neighboring countries, we must level ourselves as equals and be open to lovely work with everyone, with one another, for everyone!

 

Burundi needs a total healing in “oneness”. If we want our vision of a new Burundi to succeed, we must consider ethnic, gender-based, educational, regional, political, religious, and age group aspects. We may not do it at a hundred per cent, but we can still try our best. 

 

What if all board members of ONE are only Hutus or Tutsis, men or women, adults or youth, people of the same region or religion and exclude Twas and immigrants in the country? We need to go beyond our own “perspective bubbles” and be generous to one another, facilitate our own relationships and make a conscious decision to make all efforts at becoming bridges of reconciliation and peace, to see others as God sees us, one people; an undivided kingdom. We need board members, seen only as people of God, who can work beyond ethnic, political, religious, regional, gender-based and generational boundaries. 

 

True Christians are supposed to be good models in behaving decently. If we are true disciples of Christ, we should be open to work with anyone from inside and outside of churches. Remember, we are kings and priests of the King! This is not about the church. This is about the Kingdom. And for the kingdom, it is required that all citizens maintain a Kingdom-based mindset instead of a church-based mindset. Like Jesus, we are inviting all people to sit at His table!

 

Our prayer is that God may guide each of us to choose or select people to work with and assign them different roles. Why? Because the only cause we have is to bring success to this vision of a new or transformed Burundi. 

 

This is why ONE must be fully understood; in order to really impact Burundi and all of Africa Great Lake’s countries, nations, tribes and languages. 

 

Many people only want their own dreams be fulfilled, but not us. ONE will only happen when we pursue the Golden Rule and care about others as we care for ourselves and even above ourselves. We will strive to treat others the way each of us wish to be treated.

 

We perceive that the lack of TRUST among Burundians is disappearing because God is raising forgiving people from all groups who are trustworthy and build relationships with one another.

 

So, we propose this principle of IMITATION. Paul says to the Corinthians: ''Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ, or Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.'' 1 Cor.11:1

 

We need people whose words and deeds are worthy of being imitated and followed. People who serve others fairly, humbly and in love. We speak of people embodied with Servant Leadership principles. We foresee people whose projects are for the good of all citizens, including foreigners who live within the country. People who make the difference simply by being who they are. People whose words and deeds are uncontradictory. 

 

Burundi needs to be re-evangelized. Actually, Burundi needs to be evangelized with the Gospel of the Kingdom. Fellow citizens will follow the good example of true Christians. 

 

We appeal to all, insiders and outsiders, all friends, to encourage all people who are working for a change or transformation in Burundi for God's glory. While Burundi is being transformed, other African Nations will follow. Why? We know that God is at work with all the nations in Africa. 

 

This should be done in a concert (covenant) team work. One individual can fail to bring this positive change in Burundi, but more than one, AS ONE, may succeed. 

 

We have heard already the sound of a heavenly trumpet and loud voices coming from heaven! Heaven is descending! It is inside of you and me. The King is here! His Kingdom is established!

 

“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and we all are reigning with Him.”

 

Thank you for your daily efforts at bringing us closer to our goal, which is a NEW BURUNDI. A NEW AFRICA. A NEW WORLD. God is on the making of a NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH. God bless you deeply.

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