Gitega, August 4-6, 2026,Burundi Free Methodist Church (Burundi FMC) organized a three-day pedagogical and pastoral retreat at the Jean-Paul II Major Seminary in Gitega, focused on the dissemination of the new Religious Education Teaching Manual for the post-basic cycle.
The retreat, which concluded on August 6, 2026, brought together key stakeholders in Christian education, including the Director of the Department of Christian Education and Leadership Development, principals of schools affiliated with the Free Methodist Church in Burundi, religious education teachers, as well as trainers and other actors committed to Christian education.
Education: A Mission of Holistic Transformation
Representing the Legal Representative of the Burndi Free Methodist Church, Pastor Abraham Ntwengerabansi, Burund FMC Administrative Assistant and national coordinator of FMC christian schools, presided over the opening ceremony of the retreat.
In his address, he emphasized that education is a core mission of the Church. It goes beyond the mere transmission of knowledge to aim at the holistic transformation of the human person intellectually, morally, and spiritually.
“Schools affiliated with the Church are not only places of academic learning. They are also spaces for character formation, faith development, and civic responsibility,” he stated.
Drawing from the Word of God, Pastor Ntwengerabansi highlighted the importance of guiding younger generations, quoting Scripture:
_“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6_
He noted that this verse underscores the responsibility of parents, teachers, and the entire educational community to nurture children and youth in their spiritual, moral, and intellectual growth, by instilling values rooted in faith, integrity, responsibility, and respect for others.
Owning the New Manual and Planning for Implementation
During the retreat, participants explored the theological, pedagogical, and methodological guidelines of the new manual. They also discussed the follow-up and support mechanisms needed to ensure its effective implementation in schools at the start of the next academic year.
The sessions focused on:
– The spiritual renewal of school leaders
– Mastering the content of the new manual
– Building the capacity of religious education teachers
– Developing strategies to deliver religious instruction that is relevant to the realities of the post-basic cycle
At the end of the meeting, participants committed to putting into practice what they had learned in their respective schools.
For Burundi Free Methodist Church, this retreat marks a significant step in strengthening the teaching of christian religious education and in advancing its educational and pastoral mission. The goal is to help raise a generation of young people rooted in Christian values and equipped to respond to the challenges of contemporary society.
