{"id":1438,"date":"2025-10-31T13:53:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T13:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/?page_id=1438"},"modified":"2025-11-14T15:40:39","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T15:40:39","slug":"burundi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/burundi\/","title":{"rendered":"Burundi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Church of the Brethren Burundi was founded in 2015 by Expert Bukene after another Burundian put a book in his hands that changed his life. This book was from the <em>Dunker Guide <\/em>series on Brethren history and Expert found himself in that story. He quit his job working for World Vision and planted 50 congregations in Burundi. There are approximately 6000 members. He has since found planters to plant Church of the Brethren congregations in four other African countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Burundi Church of the Brethren\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lvgQmAQ64bM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Members of the Rushima Church of the Brethren in Burundi send greetings to the American Church.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Church of the Brethren Burundi is characterized by active care for those on the margins of the community\u2014single mothers, orphans, widows. They have a micro-bank, a nursery and primary school up to grade 2, a pastoral training institute and agricultural programs. Global Food Initiative has provided agricultural grants to further the work of the church and they sell and give away \u201cBrethren Porridge\u201d as a result. They follow Jesus in the context of material poverty, with over 50% of children being malnourished and 70% of the population living under the international poverty rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read a story about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/10\/Get-Up-and-Walk.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">micro-loans in Burundi<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"619\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/microfinance-Burundi-leader-Nadine-in-green-w-staff.jpg\" alt=\"Four women behind a table full of produce\" class=\"wp-image-1461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/microfinance-Burundi-leader-Nadine-in-green-w-staff.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/microfinance-Burundi-leader-Nadine-in-green-w-staff-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/microfinance-Burundi-leader-Nadine-in-green-w-staff-768x528.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/microfinance-Burundi-leader-Nadine-in-green-w-staff-560x385.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Nadine (right), a young widow, is a Brethren church member and one of the first microloan clients. Beginning her business two years ago with a Get Up and Walk loan of 50,000 BF, Nadine quickly paid it back, allowing her to borrow at the second (100,000), then the third (200,000) level. She is now in the process of paying off the fourth level of 400,000 BF. She says the loans have greatly helped: she and her family of six children are eating better, they are clothed, and their school fees are paid. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-grounds.jpg\" alt=\"Buildings and tropical trees\" class=\"wp-image-1447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-grounds.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-grounds-300x149.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-grounds-768x383.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-grounds-560x279.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Brethren school in Burundi. All photos by Chris Elliott<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-teacher.jpg\" alt=\"Woman standing in classroom with children witting at tables\" class=\"wp-image-1448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-teacher.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-teacher-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-teacher-768x349.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-School-Burundi-teacher-560x254.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Classroom in the Brethren school in Burundi<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-school-principal-Burundi.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling man sitting in front of a computer\" class=\"wp-image-1449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-school-principal-Burundi.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-school-principal-Burundi-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-school-principal-Burundi-560x379.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Athanasus, principal of the Brethren school in Burundi. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-school-Burundi-classroom.jpg\" alt=\"Children sitting at wooden desks\" class=\"wp-image-1446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-school-Burundi-classroom.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-school-Burundi-classroom-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Brethren-school-Burundi-classroom-560x379.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Classroom in the Brethren school in Burundi. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"519\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-in-Burundi.jpg\" alt=\"Church building\" class=\"wp-image-1453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-in-Burundi.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-in-Burundi-300x152.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-in-Burundi-768x389.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-in-Burundi-560x284.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Church of the Brethren in Burundi<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"429\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Burundi-buildings.jpg\" alt=\"Buildings\" class=\"wp-image-1451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Burundi-buildings.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Burundi-buildings-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Burundi-buildings-560x400.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Burundi-group.jpg\" alt=\"Group of people\" class=\"wp-image-1452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Burundi-group.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Burundi-group-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Burundi-group-560x420.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"618\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-Makongeni-Kenya-near-Thika.jpg\" alt=\"Group of people around an altar\" class=\"wp-image-1464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-Makongeni-Kenya-near-Thika.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-Makongeni-Kenya-near-Thika-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-Makongeni-Kenya-near-Thika-768x475.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2025\/11\/Church-of-the-Brethren-Makongeni-Kenya-near-Thika-560x346.jpg 560w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Church of the Brethren congregation in Makongeni, Kenya, near Thika<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Church of the Brethren Burundi was founded in 2015 by Expert Bukene after another Burundian put a book in his hands that changed his life. This book was from the Dunker Guide series on Brethren history and Expert found himself in that story. He quit his job working for World Vision and planted 50<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-1438","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1438"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1465,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1438\/revisions\/1465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}