On Sunday, April 5, 2026, the Christian community in Burundi joined the rest of the world in celebrating Easter. To mark this central event of the Christian faith, Bishop Déogratias Nshimiyimana, Bishop of the Free Methodist Church in Burundi, joined the faithful at Mutanga Nord Parish (Ntahangwa Annual Conference).
In an atmosphere of fervor and joy, the Bishop delivered a powerful message centered on hope. Recalling the human condition in the face of sin, he emphasized the substitutionary nature of the sacrifice on the Cross:
Drawing from the scriptures of John 19:16-19, Isaiah 53:4-6, and Luke 24:1-3, Bishop Nshimiyimana insisted that the Resurrection is not merely a historical event, but the ultimate act of reconciliation that restores the bridge between God and man.
At the heart of his teaching, the Bishop exhorted the faithful to follow a rigorous spiritual path to bear the fruits of the Resurrection in their daily lives. He outlined five essential stages:
- Believing and Receiving Christ: The starting point of all transformation.
- Dying with Christ: Renouncing the “old self” and worldly desires.
- Being Buried with Christ: Marking a definitive break with the past.
- Rising with Christ: Entering a new dimension of victory and light.
- Walking with Christ: Persevering in a life of holiness and service.
Concluding his homily, Bishop Déogratias Nshimiyimana issued a vibrant call to the community: Easter is not simply about celebrating an annual rite, but about developing a personal and intimate relationship with Christ. According to the Bishop, this is the only path to experiencing eternal life today, growing spiritually, and leading a life fully guided by the Holy Spirit.
