Editor'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 ,

God is opening the way for you to serve Him in the setting of increased religious liberty and freedom of conscience. Remain focused on Christ in all you do…..people are watching you and they will carefully note your faithful love for God and others. We are grateful to God for those in government who are responding to God’s touch in their lives to provide freedom to God’s church to do its important spiritual and humanitarian work. We thank the Lord and the government for helping the churches to open their doors for worship and service to others pointing people to Christ’s soon coming. By God’s grace, we will see more and more progress in religious liberty activities for God’s church in Burundi. We will pray for you and the government. Stay faithful in studying the Word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy. We are living in the end of time and are grateful to proclaim the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ and His three angels’ messages announcing Christ’s soon return.

As you reach out to your neighbors and friends with the marvelous Advent message that encompasses all of the biblical truths including God’s love, the seventh-day Sabbath, the sanctuary service, the three angels’ messages, the sanctuary service, and other wonderful Bible truths, may God use your talents to be part of Total Member Involvement. Participate in the worldwide church’s strategic plans of “Reach the World---I Will Go.” God is calling you to be part of the last-day proclamation of the Advent message. Tell the Lord, “I Will Go,” and encourage your church members to do the same as you allow God to open doors for your evangelistic outreach to everyone around you in Burundi. We will pray for you, your church leaders, your country’s leaders, and the country of Burundi.

Let the following message from God’s Word bring you encouragement…….. Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth for in these I delight,’ says the Lord.”

In the “Christian Service” compilation of writings of Ellen G White, we read the following words on page 254----“There is no limit to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.” God will use you in a powerful way as you place yourself in His hands.

May God make you a tremendous witness to all those with whom you come in contact as we face the challenges around us and the soon coming of Christ. We will pray for you as you keep your eyes focused on Christ and the mission He has for you in Burundi. Jesus is coming soon! Maranatha! 

With kind Christian regards and sincerely yours,

Ted N C Wilson
President
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists