{"id":46233,"date":"2025-05-13T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&#038;p=46233"},"modified":"2025-11-19T16:38:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T16:38:52","slug":"not-by-might","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/not-by-might\/","title":{"rendered":"Not by Might"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block block-core-html\">\n<iframe title=\"Not by Might\" allowtransparency=\"true\" height=\"150\" width=\"100%\" style=\"border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;\" scrolling=\"no\" data-name=\"pb-iframe-player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/player-v2\/?i=tkyky-18a965d-pb&#038;from=pb6admin&#038;share=1&#038;download=1&#038;rtl=0&#038;fonts=Arial&#038;skin=654771&#038;font-color=ffffff&#038;logo_link=episode_page&#038;btn-skin=654771\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a fragile peace. Today\u2019s students in Burundi may not have experienced war, but a genocide, a 10-year civil war, and an attempted coup reveal ethnic tensions that remain dangerously close to the surface.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laurent Kayogera, staff in UGBB (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbuburundi.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Union des Groupes Bibliques du Burundi<\/a>), the IFES national movement in Burundi, reports that hate speech, unrest, and violence is easily provoked \u2013 on university campuses and in wider society. But, through his <a href=\"https:\/\/lci.ifesworld.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Logos and Cosmos Initiative (LCI)<\/a> project, Laurent is helping students and church leaders find a way forward.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-9d52d6be270d69713ab6e3cbdfb136df\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-francophone-africa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9d52d6be270d69713ab6e3cbdfb136df\"><strong>An Alternative to Violence<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last year, Laurent organised seminars on conflict resolution for students in two main cities. They explored connections between faith, science, and culture by examining biblical texts, legal principles, and the approach of Burundian culture to conflict resolution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the Polytechnic University of Gitega, Laurent was impressed by the nineteen UGBB student leaders:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>They were so interested and immersed in their small group discussions that the program ended two hours later than planned!\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the session in Bujumbura, eleven student leaders were joined by 3 members of the University of Burundi\u2019s Joint Commission for the Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts. One participant remarked:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>I never realised that we could discuss these ethnic issues with such an open heart. It shows me that there<\/em><em>\u2019<\/em><em>s still hope<\/em>.\u201d \u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project\u2019s goal \u2013 to produce future leaders who favour dialogue and forgiveness over division and violence \u2013 feels a step closer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-7b4bb157a4d84a8c28ae308dba8eccee\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-francophone-africa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7b4bb157a4d84a8c28ae308dba8eccee\"><strong>A Growing Dialogue<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Indeed, the training sessions have already stirred action. In both cities, students resolved to organise meetings to pass on their learning to peers \u2013 and UGBB will help organise such events in coming months. Elimeleck, on the University of Burundi\u2019s conflict resolution committee, says they recently instituted general assemblies for students to create dialogue on student life and avoid disputes.\u202f&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To reach more students and campuses, Laurent has also just released <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/v\/19TCreDbXQ\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a podcast series on Facebook<\/a> \u2013 \u201cinclusive dialogue, imbibed with moral and Christian virtues\u2026 an alternative to using muscle.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laurent\u2019s project has touched religious leaders as well. The majority of Burundi\u2019s population identify as Christian, but church conflicts and leadership crises are common \u2013 especially around succession. So, last year, Laurent facilitated a session for 13 church leaders and 12 staff.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201c<\/em><em>I remain convinced that creating spaces to discuss ethnic issues and the roots of conflict can shift mindsets \u2013 and that can change<\/em><em> <\/em><em>behaviour. I know it doesn<\/em><em>\u2019<\/em><em>t happen overnight. But with time, with the Lord\u2019s help, my prayer is that we\u2019ll<\/em><em> <\/em><em>demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in times of conflict<\/em><em>.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, let\u2019s pray for peace to hold and deepen in Burundi \u2013 not by human might or power, but by the Spirit who unites Christ\u2019s varied members as one body.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-heading wp-elements-559b920633803f86d734eb756edb72a3\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-francophone-africa-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-559b920633803f86d734eb756edb72a3\"><strong>Pray<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Praise God for his gospel of peace and for the way Laurent\u2019s project is opening hearts to it. Pray for UGB Burundi students passing on the message and for the podcasts \u2013 that the Spirit will use them to effect lasting change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Pray for the peace of Burundi, especially on campuses, as the national election approaches (June). Ask that student leaders and church pastors will model gracious dialogue with Christlike love.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block block-core-list\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><div class=\"wp-block block-core-list-item\">\n<li>Give thanks that students and societies have been impacted by the Logos and Cosmos Initiative across Francophone Africa and Latin America over the last five years. As the current form of the project comes to an end, pray for the Lord\u2019s guidance and provision for its future expressions (<a href=\"https:\/\/lci.ifesworld.org\/en\/blog\/find-out-whats-next-for-the-lci\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">read more here<\/a>).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":46234,"template":"","area":[598,459],"theme":[9],"class_list":["post-46233","prayerline","type-prayerline","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-burundi","area-francophone-africa","theme-engaging-the-university"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Not by Might &#183; IFES Prayerline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s a fragile peace. 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