Burundi is in crisis again! Eight of our Burundian men met me in Rwanda last week as we hosted a leaders training conference. At that time they asked for prayer for their country. The crisis has arisen because the seated President has served his constitutionally allowed two terms, but acting like the dictators many African leaders are, he announced last week he will serve another term regardless of the Burundi Constitution. Violence broke out as thousands tried to protest.
Our staff fled the country with their families. President Pierre Nkurunziza has used force to arrest over 600 protesters. What I find most interesting is that President Nkurunziza has repeatedly declared he is a born again believer, yet his faith does not seem to impact his politics nor his sense of democracy. Yet, before we run to criticize or condemn let us here in America acknowledge how we twice elected a man president who has promoted gay marriage, abortion, and many other anti-biblical policies. His politics do not reflect his so called Christian faith. Yet, we the people voted him President.
I call this to attention because God cares deeply about how leaders lead. As a nation’s leaders go – so goes the nation. The church for far too long has been passive in the political arena. As the saying goes, “You get what you tolerate.” Thankfully, in America, we can still protest against our leaders through free speech and the power of the voting booth. That is seldom true in Africa. Those in power in Africa still act like kings and refuse to relinquish power once they have it. So, join me in praying for the church in Burundi and intercede for peace that the Gospel can dispel the darkness in what is still a dark continent.