My name is SINZOHAGERA Emmanuel. I am the bishop and the legal representative of United Methodist Church in Burundi [ also the speaker of the Burundi Senate]. From the very bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the leadership, the staff, and the partners of United Christians for Change and Development for organizing this retreat which gathered all the pastors of our church in Burundi. It was a wonderful retreat. As iron sharpens iron so the spirits of the pastors who have attended it sharpened each other. Those Who were weak and discouraged were encouraged by their fellow pastors and the wonderful and talented speakers who taught us. The time of prayer we enjoyed strengthened our hearts.
At the end of this retreat, we are very strong than never before. We understand more the mission of the church. Therefore, we are going to share with those under our leadership who didn’t come here what we learned from this retreat. We believe then, that our churches will get stronger and our communities and country will benefit from this.
This is why I believe that if these retreats which intends to strengthen the leaders of churches continue, they will strengthen our churches and then quicken the development of Burundi. The development of Burundi will not wait 2040 or 2060 as it is written in the vision of the country. The development will be reached earlier than expected. I believe that because history has proved it to be right. The western world was developed because Christianity was strong in those countries then. Burundi will not be the exception.
To conclude, I would like to reiterate my gratitude, and to ask you to keep organizing such retreats. If it is possible, organize two other retreats for our church this year. Next year invite us together with our wives and husbands because a pastor’s wife or husband is also a pastor. Thank you very much! May God keep blessing you.
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