The faith-based ministry Evangelism Explosion Burundi (EE Burundi) continues to advance evangelism across the country by expanding biblical training through its practical approach, dubbed the Five Fingers Method, while fostering interdenominational relationships.
Over the past month, the ministry organized a four-day training for 26 church members representing 15 congregations of the Free Baptist Church in Kayanza Commune, northern Burundi.
The training, held from July 21–24, 2026, aimed to equip participants with practical skills to share the Gospel through personal relationships using the Five Fingers Method, an innovative approach that is fostering one-on-one evangelism , strengthening faith, and contributing to church growth.
Diomède Hakizimana, National Director of Evangelism Explosion Burundi (EE Burundi), described the Five Fingers Method as an effective evangelism tool that explains the Gospel while making the message of salvation easier to understand.
He said each finger represents a key element of the Gospel. The thumb symbolizes Grace, the index finger represents Man, the middle finger stands for God, the ring finger represents Christ, and the little finger symbolizes Faith.
“The message is simple,” Hakizimana explained. “Heaven is a gift offered by grace. That grace is extended to humanity by God through Christ and received by faith.”
Hakizimana further said the training is deeply grounded in Holy Scripture and supported by several biblical passages. He referred to Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8–9, saying both passages highlight God’s grace, while Romans 3:23 and Matthew 5:48 address humanity’s sinful condition. He added that 1 John 4:8 and Exodus 34:7 reveal God’s character, while John 1:1 and John 1:14 provide the foundation for teaching about Christ.
“These teachings help churches grow spiritually and numerically because those we train become equipped to share the Gospel wherever they are. As more people are transformed by Christ, both the church and the wider community are changed,” he emphasized.
Participants Welcome the Training
Participants described the training as transformative, saying it renewed their confidence in their faith.
Josias Manishimwe, a leader at the Free Baptist Church in Kinyana, Ngozi Commune, described the approach as new and said it helped him understand the importance of building relationships with people before sharing the Gospel with them.
“It was a completely new lesson for many of us,” he said. “It helped us recognize where we have come from and where we are today in our faith. It also helped us understand our own need for eternal life through Christ Jesus.”
“We learned how to build relationships before sharing the Gospel,” Manishimwe added.
Lewis Niyonababije, a member of the Free Baptist Church on Kibati Hill in Kabarore Zone, said the training strengthened both his personal faith and his ministry, expressing confidence that it would have a greater impact on the church’s growth.
“We were very satisfied with the training,” he said. “It has already helped us in our communities, where we continue to use it, and we are also applying it in our church. Many people will repent, and the church will continue to grow,” he stressed.
A Continuing Mission
The Free Baptist Church joins several other denominations that have signed memoranda of understanding with EE Burundi. They include the Anglican Church – Diocese of Bujumbura, the Union of Baptist Churches of Burundi, the Burundi Assemblies of God Fellowship, El Shaddai Church, God’s Way Church, and the Free Methodist Church in Burundi.
When selecting church partners, Hakizimana said EE Burundi considers whether churches share the same biblical vision and doctrinal convictions regarding evangelism.
“We thank God for the way He is using EE Burundi to strengthen evangelism in accordance with Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19–20,” he said.
Discover more from THE BAPTIST CHRONICLE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
