Progress Report on GLO’s Partners as of June 2007

 

Scripture Union – SU continues to be our main partner, and I continue to have an excellent working relationship with them. All activities are progressing well, I am very satisfied with how things are going. The big push has been to build the conference centre, which has progressed at great speed. I think we are a year ahead of schedule in terms of my expectations for the project, and due to the generosity of one couple, the Mamos (who have given $645,000 to date from the US straight to Burundi), we have been able to aim much higher than originally thought with the consequences that the centre will have better materials, will last longer, will be able to aim for a higher market, and therefore also generate more funds. I am very excited about this and hope it is the way I will do myself out of a job. A huge appointment will be the centre’s manager, and to date we have not yet found him or her. GLO contributes $120,000 this year, not including contributions to the finishing of the centre.

 

Youth For Christ – Freddy Tuyizere continues to grow this fledgling organisation with very solid foundations. His emphasis on leadership training is so badly needed, and he (and YFC) is gaining more and more credibility for what they are doing. The orphanage building work is advancing well. The money raised by the cyclists has been nearly all spent, and they have four very impressive dormitories to show for it. I will be taking Freddy with me to the US in September to link him in with more contacts which he will them be able to develop irrespective of me. Our contribution remains at $400/month.

Union des Groupes Bibliques du Burundi (local branch of UCCF/IFES, formerly called Groupe Biblique Universitaire) – This movement continues to consolidate after the problems of a couple of years back. They are growing steadily and building a local support base which is very impressive. It is a key ministry, and should be doing a whole lot more than it is at this time, but is heading in the right direction. We contribute $400/month.

 

New Generation – It has been a hideous year for Dieudonne Nahimana, the founder, with countless setbacks and problems, including slander by some of the streetkids he has been looking after who spoke on the national radio against him, and also the terrible rape of his daughter. But he has pulled through and the movement is in the best shape its been in the last few years. His morale is up, and what with TBN’s (and GLO’s) investment to start up a travel company, I hope they are set up to become self-sustaining and will in due course no longer need any contribution from GLO. We have already bought one bus for them alongside TBN’s, and we await to see how it goes. Our support for NG $1,110/month.

 

APRID (Muslim evangelism) – Again, this is a movement which is rebuilding, with new leadership and very little financial backing. We continue to act as a conduit for Barnabas Fund’s money, and they have used that well. The previous leader is facing ten years in prison and is in a sorry state. There is so much work to do, and I would like to see them grow significantly, although the spiritual maturity and ex-Muslim fiery temperament of some of the staff makes it tricky to have complete confidence in them.

 

Moisson pour Christ (Harvest for Christ) – Onesphore Manirakiza continues to be quite simply extraordinary. I have hooked him up with a trust fund to sponsor his summer mission outreach, involving sending 250 youngsters upcountry for a few weeks to evangelise in unreached areas. This is as exciting as it gets to me, and very cutting-edge. He is also the National Coordinator of EE (see below), and his workload is phenomenal. He is developing a new generation of firebrands who are willing to count the cost and sacrifice themselves. He is my biggest encouragement in Burundi in general. We currently support them with $700/month.

 

Evangelism Explosion – Onesphore is building capacity by training other trainers, and also developing a new mentality in trainees that they have to pay for the training, thereby generating more funds for the EE program. I as a white could not do that. He has done it very well. Many people are asking him to come and train them, and testimonies from around the country show how effective a tool it is. It is one of the contributions I have made in introducing it to Burundi which brings me the most joy and satisfaction.

 

Guillebaud Family – I am just so delighted looking back on the last nine months in Burundi. Our health as a threesome has been amazing. We had a tricky patch before Xmas with the pressures of national conflict weighing heavily on me. But since a holiday over New Year, things have got so much better. I moved office to town instead of from home, and that helped separate home and work more effectively. Lizzie is involved in a Mum’s and toddlers group, and has found some good friends to hang out with. Zac charms everyone and is in general a total rockstar.

 

Coming Plans – I will be doing the usual intensive schedule of preaching around a number of conferences in the summer, followed by two weeks holiday in France with the family, and then I will head to the USA to do some preaching in South Carolina, Chicago and California. Freddy will join me, as mentioned above. I plan to return to Burundi for ten days in the latter part of October to see how everything is going, particularly the conference centre. Lizzie is due to give birth around about the 16^th November, so I will be back in time to be there for her, and then we will have two months in the UK before heading back to Burundi mid January. That is the provisional plan, but things of course may change.

 

Summary – The country is developing well and has pulled through some major crises. The impact of our work is far-reaching. All my aims for 2007 which I wrote down at the beginning of the year are well on the way to completion. They weren’t insignificant or unambitious targets, so I am thrilled at God’s faithfulness and what has taken place so far. Our support base is growing. Cheryl has taken over from Pat’s quality work and done a great job. Steve’s coming on board has been hugely significant to me in terms of helping us move up another level. Trustees are becoming more actively involved. Others like Jane Durkin have done brilliantly. Funding is steadily increasing. The website is in great shape and nearly ready for official launching. Systems and accountability are in place. So both in Burundi and in England, GLO is very healthy and doing what it has set out to do.

 

Simon Guillebaud, 13/6/07