PRAYER LETTER NO.41

“Either we wake to tackle our ‘to do’ list, get things done, guided by our morals and whatever clarity we may at the moment have. Or we wake in the midst of a dangerous Story, as God’s intimate ally, following him into the unknown. If you’re not pursuing a dangerous quest with your life, well, then, you don’t need a Guide. If you haven’t found yourself in the midst of a ferocious war, then you won’t need a seasoned Captain. If you’ve settled in your mind to live as though this is a fairly neutral world and you are simply trying to live your life as best you can, then you can probably get by with the Christianity of tips and techniques. Maybe. I’ll give you about a fifty-fifty chance. But if you intend to live in the Story that God is telling, and if you want the life He offers, then you are going to need more than a handful of principles, however noble they may be. There are too many twists and turns in the road ahead, too many ambushes waiting only God knows where, too much at stake. You cannot possibly prepare yourself for every situation. Narrow is the way, said Jesus, how shall we be sure to find it? We need God intimately, and we need him desperately.” (John Eldredge in Waking the Dead)

Dear Tigers,                                                                                                 21st February 2006

What’s the Story? Because although we know that for us it will end happily every after, it’s no fairy tale. It’s too messy, painful, ugly at times – be it in Burundi’s literal ‘ferocious war’, or in your own struggles to live out a relevant and impacting faith in a culture obsessed with Mammon, sex, political correctness, and relativism. But I guess if we choose to enter into the Story that God is telling rather than insisting on writing our own story, then we won’t be sucked and bled dry, and we’ll have more than a fifty-fifty chance of surviving to tell the tale.

The above quote makes me think of my friends Tim and Maz, who live in a village near Aylesbury. God recently directed them to give away their most valuable possession, their car, even though they needed it for work and taking their boys to school. In obedience they have given it away to a needy family, and are living a raw, exciting and dangerous journey of faith, trusting Him to script His Story in their lives for His glory. I love it! Yes, you can live radical lives of faith in the West – it just means seeking God and stepping out in unsafe uncomfortable faith, taking risks, daring to believe that God is faithful to His children, because that is His character.

Well, back to Burundi. What’s the story here? Few of us had the faith to believe all sorts of whacky prophecies that were being given in the last few years: the next president was going to be a full-on Christian. Peace would come. Poor little Burundi, at the heart of Africa, would end up being a blessing to the rest of the continent. Hmmm, all a little far-fetched... But back in 1999, a rebel soldier of ordinary rank was shot by the national army in a jungle attack and left for dead by his fleeing companions. He says that he was sure he was going to die, but somehow pulled through after four months of being at death’s door. During that time, he had a powerful encounter with Jesus, and a pastor came and prophesied over him that one day he would become President of Burundi. Well, just a few months ago, that random former rebel soldier was chosen in democratic elections as President of Burundi!

The second deputy president also gave her life to the Lord last month. Can you get excited with me?! Now whether she or the President stay on track, or subsequently get killed or corrupted, it’s hard to deny that God is on the move and playing his part in response to the years of intercession arising from this blood-stained nation. And please, you can have a part to play in this story by praying for Peter Nkurunziza, that he stays alive (several attempts have already been made on his life), wise and discerning (he is still a young Christian), uncorrupted (in a land of institutionalized corruption), and on track spiritually (a number of African heads-of-state have professed faith in Christ but ended up as evil tyrants).

Stable elections and transition to democratic rule were an incredible blessing, and the answer to many many prayers. But things are far from perfect. Although nearly every province is now peaceful, around Bujumbura the one remaining rebel faction continues to wreak havoc. Daily there are shootings, people are murdered or raped, their houses looted. Odette, who works for us, lives up in the hills and comes in each day with fresh stories of woe from the previous night. She tries to muffle the cries of her traumatized baby so that they are not attacked themselves. Following on from those rebel incursions, reprisals by the army seem arbitrary. A friend’s brother was taken as a suspected rebel a few days ago with another young lad. The latter was beaten to death, although innocent. We’ve a long way to go in this land.

There is also famine, as bad as it’s ever been in my seven years out here. The response to the urgent needs has been slow and inadequate, and many are dying daily. People will resort to eating bark off trees, or inedible roots and leaves, just to fill their stomachs. It’s a sick world where I can stuff my face and throw away so many leftovers whilst others will pick through the mud to collect a few grains of discarded rice - as I once saw to my shame after wiping away the last remains of what I considered my ‘empty’ plate.

Petro-dollars from Libya and the Middle East are being pumped in to promote Islam. The Minister for Education is a fervent Muslim, and Islam is growing at a staggering rate. Meantime the Church recently is largely apathetic, complacently rejoicing in having a Christian President. The group which GLO supports in reaching out to Muslims has for all intents and purposes imploded over the last year, and a lengthy reconciliation initiative is struggling to bear fruit. Please pray for breakthroughs at APRID with Onesphore as mediator, or wisdom for us if we are to give up and start again. The needs in this area are absolutely urgent. We can’t just watch passively from the sidelines as Muslims evangelise so aggressively and effectively. Once converted to Islam, it is very hard to leave again. I deal with a number of former Muslims who have had death threats, have been disowned and kicked out by their families, and have lost their livelihoods. Saying ‘Jesus is Lord’ is a costly decision…

Last week the fifth generation of Guillebauds arrived in Burundi. Little Zac is settling in slowly, and hopefully adapting to the heat. Yesterday the delighted band at Youth for Christ joined hands in a circle round him to praise the Lord for him and commit his life to God. Do pray for both him and Lizzie particularly, as they get used to this new phase. As well as being a Mum, Lizzie is keen to know what other role she is to fulfill.

That’ll do for now. God bless you all. Thanks for all your prayers, encouragements, money, interest. God’s Story is an exciting one. Here’s to you and me being His intimate allies, living recklessly, passionately and dangerously for Him!

Simon Guillebaud