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.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Burundi ,

As you face the new year of 2021 with all its unknown situations, may you and all of us put ourselves and God’s work in His hands! Whatever you face in your service for God, He will create miraculous openings for your testimonies to others of God’s goodness and salvation. The everlasting gospel message announced by the first angel of Revelation 14:6-7 is to be proclaimed with Holy Spirit power in Burundi to every corner of the country. Thank you for being a “light on a hill” as you let others know of your love for Jesus and His power in your life to remake you into someone more and more like Him. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to sharing God’s precious truth including the powerful announcements of the three angels’ messages in Revelation 14 and the fourth angel of Revelation 18. We are grateful that you have greater religious freedom to share the good news of Christ’s soon return utilizing your role in Total Member Involvement.

As you share your faith and the full Bible truth as Seventh-day Adventists understand it, lift up Christ in all you do and remember as Ellen White indicated that the greatest sermon that can ever be preached is the life of a loving and lovable Christian. As we see world events pointing to the soon coming of Jesus, share the message with a happy heart and a good smile with those around you as you participate with the world church in strategic plans of “Reach the World---I Will Go.” God will use you in a powerful way to touch the lives of people as you humble your hearts before the Lord every day. We will continue to pray for you as members, for the spiritual leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Burundi, the government leaders of the country, and for Burundi as a nation.

Claim the wonderful promise found in John 6:45, 47, and 48 where Jesus said: “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.” What a blessing to share the Bread of Life with others in Burundi!

In “Last Day Events,” a compilation from Ellen G White’s writings, we see that we are living in the last days of earth’s history and Jesus is soon to come as we read on page 11: “The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude. The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.” 

May God encourage you during these last days of this earth’s history as we plead for the latter rain of the Holy Spirit so the work will go like “wildfire” through heavenly power. May God strengthen you during this new year of 2021 in Burundi as you proclaim the Advent message with Holy Spirit power in every corner of the important country of Burundi lifting up Christ, His righteousness, His sanctuary service, His three angels’ messages, and His soon coming!

With kind Christian regards and sincerely yours,

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