Baptist churches across Burundi are grappling with how to better care for believers with disabilities and ensure they feel valued and fully involved in church life, despite growing international calls for disability inclusion and support for people with special needs.
Pastor Dieudonné Irambona, Vice Legal Representative of the Free Baptist Church in Burundi, highlighted numerous challenges facing churches, including a limited understanding of disability ministry, a lack of trained personnel and appropriate materials to serve people with disabilities, and inadequate church infrastructure.
“Many church buildings themselves show that little thought has been given to welcoming people with disabilities,” Irambona said.
The challenges come at a critical time following the adoption of Resolution 2026.1 by the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), which urges Baptist denominations worldwide to strengthen their commitment to people with disabilities.
The 2026 BWA Annual Gathering, held from July 6–10 at Tyndale University in Toronto, Canada, brought together Baptist leaders from more than 60 countries, including pastors, theologians, students, ministry leaders, and representatives of Baptist churches worldwide.
The Baptist Church in Burundi was represented by two delegates, including a young ministry leader.
The conference focused on several key initiatives, including the review and adoption of new resolutions, among them one on Empowering and Caring for People with Disabilities and Special Needs.
Commenting on the resolution, Pastor Irambona, a theology researcher, said translating it into practical action remains difficult in Burundi because of challenges such as limited financial support.
However, he described the BWA resolution as an opportunity for church leaders to rethink their approach to disability ministry.
“This resolution should encourage church leaders to invest in learning and practicing holistic ministry among people with disabilities,” he said, calling for more supporters and laborers in God’s Kingdom to serve people living with disabilities.
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He also urged Baptist churches to embrace the resolution as a call to action rather than merely a statement of intent.
“We are one body, serving one God, and we share the mission of leading everyone to know Jesus Christ. God has blessed us with gifts, talents, and local resources that can be used for His glory. Let us work together in unity, practice faithful stewardship, and take practical steps to serve our communities,” he concluded.
Call for Greater Care for People with Disabilities
According to Pastor Irambona, Scripture clearly teaches that all human beings were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–30), emphasizing that “Christians have a responsibility to uphold the dignity of every person, including those living with disabilities.”
“Baptist churches in Burundi should reaffirm their calling and strengthen their efforts to promote dignity and defend the rights of people with disabilities,” he said.
Pastor Irambona also referred to the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, where he wrote “There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3:11, KJV)
“Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all believers , including people with disabilities,” he said.
Based on these biblical principles, Irambona believes the Church has a vital role in restoring the dignity of people with disabilities, who are created in God’s image.
“God created them as the crowning work of His creation. Every believer should support, protect, and advocate for people with disabilities in our churches and communities,” he emphasized.
Urgent Actions Needed in Burundi
To address the issue, Pastor Irambona urged churches to place the genuine inclusion of people with disabilities at the center of their ministry, while proposing five urgent actions for Baptist churches in the country.
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Among them, he emphasized the need to train church leaders and volunteers in holistic disability ministry, focusing on the principles of dignity restoration, belonging, disability awareness, and the use of appropriate language.
The theologian also called for disability-friendly church buildings, accessible teaching materials, and inclusive church communication for believers with disabilities, noting that these efforts would create spaces where they feel valued and actively involved in church ministry.
Irambona concluded by calling for partnerships with organizations that support people with disabilities in order to strengthen ministry and advocacy efforts.
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