ELKHART, Ind. (Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission/Mennonite Mission Network) – Recent baptisms have swelled the membership of Eglise Evangélique Mennonite du Burkina Faso (Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso) by more than 12 percent.
Siaka Traoré, national president of the Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso, was surprised and pleased when he was informed about the large number of baptismal candidates this year.
“I cannot explain [this wave of interest, other than to say] that I believe God wants to grow the church,” Traoré said.
In the three Sundays surrounding Easter, 63 new Mennonites joined five different congregations in Burkina Faso. The national church had a membership of about 500 at the beginning of 2014, with 44 of these members baptized in the weeks around Christmas.
Because of a shortage of pastors in these rapidly blossoming congregations, baptisms are often scheduled to coincide with special events – holidays or ordinations – that bring church leaders from more densely populated areas to village churches that don’t have their own pastors.
Baptism by immersion has special significance during the Easter season, as believers act out their desire to follow Jesus’ example to die to the world’s standards. Emerging from the water, they rise into newness of life.
“I wanted to identify with Jesus in his death and resurrection as I abandoned my old life and begin to live a new life,” Lydie Yougbaré said after her Easter Day baptism in the city of Bobo Dioulasso. “When I came out of the water, I felt light, like all my burdens had slipped off.”
According to Burkina Faso’s most recent government census (2006), more than 60 percent of the population practices Islam and 4 percent belong to a Protestant denomination.
In a context where Muslims make up the majority of the population, the decision to be baptized is not to be taken lightly, as it may result in derision and even persecution. Traoré said that he rejoices when people count the cost and still want to be baptized into the Mennonite Church.
“[Those who choose baptism] are people fully conscious of what they want,” Traoré said. “Praise the Lord for faithful work and witness over years in each of the locations that have laid the groundwork for these decisions for Christ.”
Preparation for baptism usually takes place over a three-month period and includes basic Bible knowledge; an understanding of church life; and instruction in evangelism, ethics, practical aspects of Christian living, and Mennonite history.
The church is in the process of standardizing a curriculum for baptismal candidates.
Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, Evangelical Mennonite Conference, Mennonite Mission Network, MCC, Mennonite Church Canada Witness, and Comité de Mission Mennonite Français (French Mennonite Mission Committee) work with the Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso through a partnership council.
“I’m blown away by this explosion of baptisms,” said Rod Hollinger-Janzen, executive coordinator of Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission. “I feel great joy because these baptisms testify to the faithfulness of Mennonites in Burkina Faso, who, day after day, act with kindness toward their neighbors and bear witness in a compelling way, so that people say, ‘I want what they have.’”
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
