EFI / Africa
The Evangelical Friends International Africa Region represents Evangelical Friends of Africa. Currently the affiliated Friends include the Burundi Yearly Meeting known nationally as the Eglise Evangelique des Amis du Burundi, the Rwanda Yearly Meeting recognized officially as the Eglise Evangelique des Amis au Rwanda and the Friends in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (not yet organized in a Yearly Meeting) known as the Communaute des Eglise Evangelique au Congo.
Friends in Congo are a mission outreach made by the Burundi Yearly Meeting in the early 80’s. There are requests to affiliate from Friends in Tanzania, Uganda and Ivory Coast which are still being considered. The current total membership of Evangelical Friends International in Africa is not known but the estimate is about 36,500. Our major project is the Great Lakes School of Theology located in Bujumbura that was established in 1999 with students from Burundi, Congo and Rwanda. Our goal is to develop strong leadership among Friends in the region who are able to face the current challenges and those who are capable to make a difference for the glory of God.
-David Niyonzima
About the Superintendant
David has served as a teacher and church administrator (legal representative) in Burundi Yearly Meeting and as Africa Regional Director for EFI. David has studied at Mweya Normal School (Burundi) and at Keny Highlands Bible School in Kenya. EFI/Africa Region has a directive body of persons from Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Besides the Great Lakes School of Theology project, they have sponsored pastoral and evangelistic interchanges among their countries, cooperated in Christian peace education projects, and leaders meet periodically for fellowship and reporting. Burundi is the largest and oldest of the three church bodies. Friends church growth is currently rapid and extensive in all three countries mentioned.