Challenges for Prayer

1Pray for reconciliationbetween Tutsi and Hutu and for peace to come to the land

2 Revival in the 1950sbrought blessing and great church growth, but a generation later the land has been physically,

3 Both Protestant and Catholic leaders have been prominent in opposing ethnic hatred and 'cleansing', but many Hutu and Tutsi church leaders have been killed or driven into exile

4 Leadership for the churches is in short supply

5 In the midst of suffering, evangelical Christians have continued to grow

6 Areas of greater spiritual need:

a) The Twa are relatively less well evangelized

b) Refugee camps in Tanzania and Congo where spiritual life is tough

c) Displaced refugees within Burundi

d) The Muslim community which, though small, is growing because of the bad witness of the many 'Christians' involved in the killings

7 Young people and children

a) Children are suffering, many are orphans, and few have the chance of schooling or employment

b) SU has had a good impact in the past — pray that this ministry may be resumed

c) A small GBU(IFES) group continues in the one University, but student numbers have dropped drastically

8 Missionary involvement is small. A former regime expelled nearly all missionaries

9 Christian media

a) Literacy programmes — the vast majority of the population is illiterate

b) Bibles — there is such a dearth that some reckon 4 million are needed

c) Radio

d) The JESUS film has been viewed by most Burundians

Geography

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Area: 27,834 sq.km. A mountainous, fertile country on the north shore of Lake Tanganyika, south of its 'twin' Rwanda.

Population (2000) 6,695,001 +1.69%AGR

Capital Bujumbura 600,000.

Peoples

Rundi-speaking 97%.

Other African 2.8%.

Other 0.2%.

Literacy 19%. Official languages kiRundi, French. All speak kiRundi. All languages 4. Languages with Scriptures 2Bi.

Economy

One of the world's poorest states in 1990. HDI 0.324; 170^th/174. Public debt 44% of GNP. Income/person $250 (0.8% of USA).

Politics

For 400 years, Tutsi lordship over the Hutu majority has dominated the political life of Burundi.

Religion

Freedom of religion.

Churches in Burundi

Missionaries from Burundi

36 in 3 agencies all in Burundi.

Missionaries to Burundi

49 in 13 agencies from 9 countries

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