Bujumbura, October 14, 2025 – As Harvest Initiatives, formerly known as Ministères de la Moisson pour Christ, is preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Rev. Onesphore Manirakiza, one of the founding members, expressed his satisfaction with the progress made since the organization’s inception.
During a press conference held at Pearl Hotel this Tuesday, October 14th, 2025, He says that he is encouraged by achieved results whether in evangelisation or in community development.
According to Pastor Donatien Ndagijimana, the current National Director of Harvest initiatives, more than 11,775 evangelists have been trained and sent, 513 partner churches engaged in the work of the harvest, and nearly 900,000 people reached with the Gospel.
In addition, according to internal reports, 411,593 individuals are said to have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.
When The Baptist Chronicle inquired about the methodology used to count these “saved” souls, a subject often challenging to evaluate, the National Director provided clarification:
“Our numbers come from data collected daily on the ground by our evangelists. We consider someone saved if, in full awareness, they confess their sinfulness and accept Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation.”
However, the editorial team sought to understand the connection between professions of faith and visible transformation, especially since some individuals identified as “saved” still exhibit questionable behaviors.
On this point, the Director explained:
“We can not measure the condition of the heart, only God can. We acknowledge that some may relapse or show signs of untransformed behavior. Even Christians are not perfect.”
This is why Harvest Initiatives emphasizes the essential role of local churches, their partners on the ground, in ensuring spiritual follow-up, biblical teaching, and the strengthening of conversions.
“Salvation doesn’t end with a prayer. It must be followed by ongoing spiritual guidance, which we provide together with pastors and local communities.”- He added
From a group of 7 university students to more than 3,000 harvest workers for Christ
Founded in the year 2000 by a group of seven students from the University of Burundi, including two young women, in a post-conflict context, the Harvest Initiatives’mission initially aimed to reignite the flame of the Gospel in a country wounded by war.
“At that time, hearts were broken, and many churches had lost the vision to preach the gospel and the concerns of sending disciples to accomplish the great commission of Jesus Christ,” Rev. Manirakiza recalled.
Since then, the organization has grown significantly. Today, more than 3,000 Harvesters (harvest workers for Christ) are active in the field. Evangelistic missions are regularly carried out, with thousands of lives transformed, disciples trained, and workers sent into the mission field, all in faithfulness to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
Beyond evangelism, Harvest Initiatives is also involved in community development. The organization has established a school and a health center dedicated to supporting the Batwa people, a historically marginalized group in Burundi.
“We believe the Gospel is not only about words but must also be accompanied by tangible acts of love and justice, just as Jesus would do it if He was in our place” Pastor Ndagijimana emphasized.
Finally, the spiritual leader highlighted the importance of raising a generation rooted in biblical truth, to combat false doctrines and equip the Church for faithful witness.
When God calls, He also walks alongside
Among the major lessons learned over these 25 years of ministry, Rev. Onesphore Manirakiza highlights God’s faithfulness to those He calls.
“What I’ve learned is that God is ready to walk with those He calls to accomplish His work,” he shared emotionally during the press conference.
He affirmed that the very story of Harvest Initiatives is a testimony to this invisible yet constant divine hand. The organization, born from the simple commitment of university students with no material support, now has a national and international impact.
“No one could have imagined that one day such results would be achieved by a group of young people without resources. It’s the grace of God and the power of commitment.”
Dr. Manirakiza also emphasized the driving role of youth in bringing change, quoting the idea of a thinker:
“Change is often led by young people under the age of 28. History proves it.”
For him, this reinforces the call to believe in the potential of youth — to mentor them and provide opportunities for their involvement in God’s work and in transforming society.
Related :
Who will represent 7,000 unreached groups with no access to the gospel before the throne?
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