Blessings in Burundi
SOMA have been back in Burundi at the invitation of Bishop Pontein from Rutana diocese. The team of three SOMA UK trustees a doctor and the former Alpha Coordinator for Burundi, were such a blessing that the Bishop of Makamba came to join in.
The mission began with a blessed day with the clergy of the diocese of Rutana and their wives. The team were teaching on the Holy Spirit, on forgiveness and our ministry. They reported ‘significant ministry’, particularly to the women and prayed with each couple in turn. God was undoubtedly ‘in the room’ and touching lives and marriages.
This was followed by a leaders day for clergy, pastors and some key lay leaders which felt like a significant day. Movingly, when a large number of the leaders indicated that are in personal pain and responded for prayer there was an immediate lightening of the atmosphere and openness to more.
A final day conference focusing on healing and deliverance ministry, with teaching on spiritual gifts. There were some powerful times of ministry in groups and collectively and some personal ministry around words of knowledge for some of the folk. Kevin Roberts, team leader, recorded that ‘The team was brilliant in every way, working in sync and ministering out of vulnerability.’
By this third day the team were delighted to see the Bishop of the neighbouring diocese of Makamba who joined them for the day with two his senior team to get a flavour of a SOMA UK conference. The final session ‘emerged’ in true SOMA fashion, with some moving testimonies from the last few days. Only time will tell what impact these days have had, but the team have seen God at work in mighty ways and we sent delegates back to their parishes in a lighter spirit than when they arrived.
The diocese worked them hard, and after these three day conferences more ministry and activity followed, to couples, young adults and church congregations. We look forward to more reports and stories from this misison in the coming weeks.
As Kevin concluded to the SOMA Community of Prayer, ‘God has been good to us from start to finish. He is alpha and omega. The one eternal God. We worship Him.’
