EE ditor’s Note: Since May of 2019, the Adventist Church members in Burundi have endured ongoing persecution from the country’s government. On October 24, 2019 the president of the Burundi Union Mission, pastor Lamec Barishinga, was arrested. This arrest was part of an escalating series of threats and attacks on the Seventh-day Adventist Church by the government of Burundi. For further reading about the situation of our Adventist brother and sisters in Burundi, please visit the Pray for Burundi website.
Below is a letter to the Adventist Church in Burundi from Seventh-day World Church President, Ted N.C. Wilson
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Burundi ,
As you face challenges every day, stay close to God as He will care for you every moment of the day. We are grateful for the Lord’s continued watchfulness over you. We thank the Lord and the government in helping church groups to meet on Sabbaths. May there be continued progress in the religious liberty activities of God’s church as you continue to be gracious and helpful citizens of Burundi. Your world church family is interested in your activities and in the progress being seen in your spiritual lives. We will pray for you. Maintain your careful study of God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy. What a privilege to proclaim the final Advent movement messages of Revelation 14 and Revelation 18 calling people to the true worship of God and sharing His everlasting gospel and righteousness.
Let us continue to pray for the country of Burundi and its designated leaders. God will guide as every one of us submit to His leading in our lives and the life of the country of Burundi. We are grateful for the helpful progress in religious liberty and freedom of conscience for citizens of Burundi and certainly we want that for any country around the globe. Religious liberty is one of the foundations of prosperous and progressive countries in the world. Continue to stay close to the Lord in the future and He will bless you and Burundi in a wonderful way.
Ask the Lord to help you in your local and countrywide evangelistic outreach during Total Member Involvement. What a privilege to be involved in Total Member Involvement through personal outreach and public evangelism. Let us pray for the latter rain of the Holy Spirit so that God’s work on earth can be accomplished and we can see Jesus come and take us home with Him to heaven. Maintain your connection with the Lord as you engage in the world church’s strategic plans called “Reach the World—I Will Go!” Personally, I am happy to respond to the Lord, by His grace, saying, “I Will Go,” and I encourage all of you to do the same as you evangelize your neighborhood and bring God’s blessings to the country of Burundi. Be assured of our prayers for you as we come closer to Christ’s soon second coming. We will pray for you, our thousands of church members in Burundi, your church leaders, and your country’s leaders.
Be encouraged with what Jesus said in Revelation 22:20, “…..Surely I am coming quickly.” Jesus is coming soon and it is our privilege to live for Him every day in our personal witness for Him!
In the helpful compilation of writings of Ellen G White in “Christian Service,” we read the following encouraging words on page 78—-“Church members…..are to be ever ready to spring into action in obedience to the Master’s commands. Wherever we see work waiting to be done, we are to take it up and do it, constantly looking unto Jesus…..If every church member were a living missionary, the gospel would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to all peoples, nations, and tongues.”
In your daily connection with the Lord, may you be a powerful testimony for God in your family, your neighborhood, and your nation. The Lord will use you in a wonderful way to point people to the foot of the cross and Christ’s power to save us through His blood and grace……and His high priestly ministry for us in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. Keep your eyes focused on the Lord in your loving service to others in Burundi as you happily announce the Lord’s soon return.
With kind Christian regards and sincerely yours,
Ted N C Wilson
President
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
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