President of Burundi Visits Forest Hill

Added 10.03.2011

President of Burundi visits Forest Hill

This past Sunday, Burundi’s president Pierre Nkurunziza, along with the First Lady, joined Forest Hill’s South Park congregation to speak about the transforming power of Christ and personal integrity in spiritual leaders.

President Nkurunziza has led Burundi, a small country in Central Africa, since 2005 following more than ten years of civil war and genocide between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. After a near death experience on the bank of a river during the fighting, Nkurunziza pledged his life and his leadership to glorifying God. 

Now, in his second term as president, Nkurunzia openly declares his faith and the transformational power of Christ to his country. He has made many advances throughout the country and is still working to bring reconciliation and healing to this war torn and impoverished nation.

Burundi has been at the heart of Forest Hill’s global outreach since 2008. Every year, we send multiple outreach groups to help with reconciliation, training and care for local, indigenous pastors and organizations. 

 A year ago, our congregation pledged $165,000 to build the Chadwick Center for Leadership and Reconciliation in the country’s capital, Bujumbura. The center is designed to be a catalyst for reconciliation and forgiveness between the Hutu and Tutsi people. Construction is under way and is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2012.

Be on the lookout for the video of the President’s testimony on www.foresthill.org. For more information on how you can serve in Central Africa or abroad, email Laura Snow.