What does evangelism look like when it’s rooted in justice, compassion, and the healing power of relationship? For the Rev. Bernard Nduwayo, it means launching a chaplaincy initiative in a juvenile detention center in Rumonge, Burundi—an effort that brings the Church into direct ministry with some of the nation’s most vulnerable youth.
With support from the Episcopal Evangelism Society, Bernard organized a 4-day training program in June 2025 for eight lay evangelists and two priests who now serve as volunteer chaplains at the Murembwe Detention Center. This facility, established in 2016, houses over 200 incarcerated youth under the age of 18, many of whom have faced extreme hardship, poverty, or displacement.
The training focused on developing the pastoral, theological, and practical skills required for chaplaincy, including trauma healing, community engagement, and Christian care in carceral contexts. The Rt. Rev. Pedaculi Birakengana, Bishop of the Diocese of Rumonge, opened the training with a charge to participants to take their call seriously. The center’s director also spoke on the first day, offering firsthand insight into the realities of life inside the detention center.
At the heart of the program was Matthew 25:40—“Just as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me.” Participants reflected on how this Gospel charge reshapes evangelism from obligation to invitation, and from judgment to accompaniment. Throughout the week, participants explored how to build trust with detained youth, engage their families, and strengthen ties between the Church and local community.
While limited grant funding posed challenges due to inflation and rising local costs, Bernard noted that the experience taught him valuable lessons in budgeting, teamwork, and adapting a vision to a complex context.
The chaplaincy program now offers weekly spiritual and emotional support to youth inside the detention center and continues to inspire the Church in Burundi to recognize and respond to God’s call to serve “the least of these.”
