The Free Baptist Church in Burundi continues to advance its ministry through both theoretical and practical approaches, with the aim of reaching larger audiences and strengthening its work in different areas.
From September 1 to 4, 2026, the Free Baptist Church in Burundi, in collaboration with the faith-based ministry Evangelism Explosion Burundi (EE-Burundi), organized an intensive training in Bukinanyana Commune, northwestern Burundi, aimed at equipping Sunday School teachers with theoretical and practical skills to nurture children spiritually, physically and mentally.
The four-day training, dubbed “Hope for Kids,” was held at the church’s Ndava branch and brought together at least 23 Sunday School teachers from Bujumbura, Cibitoke and Bubanza. It marked the second joint activity between the two organizations since they signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April.
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Diomède Bintunimana, Operations Coordinator at EE-Burundi, said the training was intended to equip Sunday School teachers with techniques needed to effectively reach children.
“This training is organized to teach Sunday School teachers techniques that enable them to evangelize children. It is not only about having them memorize Bible verses, but also about helping them become witnesses to other children and within their communities,”he explained.
Bintunimana added that Hope for Kids was designed to help children understand the Gospel clearly and easily while encouraging them to surrender themselves to Christ.
Children at the Center of God’s Mission
Bintunimana also criticized some parents who consider children a disturbance during church services, stressing that preparing children from an early age is an important investment.
“Today, children are sometimes considered as people who come to disturb parents who are studying the Word of God. But in reality, children are part of the Church,”he said.
“When children are prepared early, we hope that God will use them to help reduce the evil that is present in the world today, including the sins affecting this generation, because some have not been raised in the Word of God. We hope that God will continue to use them so that evil may decrease in the world until the return of our Lord Jesus,”he added.
Bintunimana emphasized that children are also followers of Jesus and have a role in spreading the Gospel throughout the world, as Jesus instructed in Matthew 28:19–20.
Sandrine Murekatete, a Sunday School teacher trainer, said the skills taught during the training went beyond simply teaching songs to children, emphasizing the importance of helping them strengthen their relationship with God.
“That is why we help Sunday School teachers understand that children are also sinners, just like adults, and that they too need to know the way that will enable them to reach heaven and live with God,”she said.
According to Pastor Anastase Hitimana, head of the Free Baptist Church’s parish in Kayanza and representative of EE-Burundi within the Free Baptist Church, Sunday School teachers play an important role in the growth of the Church.
“This allows the Church to grow and gain children, because children are the Church of today and tomorrow,”he said, while raising concerns about people who train children without having the necessary skills.
“When you teach what you do not know, you risk misleading others. That is a reality,”he said.
Practical Techniques for Evangelizing Children
During the training, participants also learned practical techniques designed to help them effectively reach and engage children. These included teaching songs, playing games and using role-playing activities.
The training also emphasized the development of good character among teachers. Murekatete urged participants to be humble, kind and loving, saying that most children are drawn to people who demonstrate such qualities.
“When you are a humble person, when you show love to a child and draw close to them, they will certainly listen to you,”she explained.
“You must behave like a child and, in your attitude, place yourself at their level so that they see in you a loving heart and not someone who despises them.”
Participants Welcome the Training as a Valuable Initiative
Participants described the training as transformative, saying the skills and materials they acquired would contribute significantly to children’s spiritual development and their journey toward heaven.
Louise Nkorerimana, a Sunday School teacher at the Free Baptist Church of Tenga, said the training changed the way she teaches.
“Before coming to this training, we simply taught based on Bible verses. But now, the books we have been given will enable children to receive appropriate teaching and will also help us make the lessons easier for them to understand,”she said.
Évangéline Tuyisenge, a Sunday School teacher at the Free Baptist Church of Ndava in Bukinanyana Commune, also welcomed the training.
“Before, I would read the Bible and then explain the verses to them. But now, I have many things that I will change by using the tools we were given during this training,” she said.
Jean Marie Nsengiyumva, from the Free Baptist Church of Kansega, said the books provided during the training would make it easier for him to teach children.
“Now that we have received books, it is much easier. When you are teaching a child, you can show them images representing what happened to Jesus Christ when He died for humanity. It is then much easier for the child to understand,”he explained.
Damien Niyobuhungiro, a Sunday School teacher in Gayiro, Bubanza Commune, also welcomed the initiative, saying that investing in children’s training from an early age is essential to preparing a strong Church for the future.
Of the 23 participants, 21 obtained the required score of 42 out of 60 and were eligible to receive certificates of participation.
Pastor Anastase Hitimana, the EE-Burundi representative, said participants who did not achieve the required score would receive their certificates after sufficiently deepening their understanding of the training.
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What a great testimony of how God is using EE Burundi to strengthen evangelism in our churches. May God continue to bless the Free Baptist Church of Burundi and EE Burundi as they equip believers to share the Gospel and reach more children for Christ