Through the Local Church

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. My name is Aimable IZERE, and I serve as The Roots Network Serve Coordinator. Today, I want to share with you a story that captures the heart of our ministry and the incredible impact your partnership is having across East Africa.

Two years ago in Cibitoke, Burundi a young man's life was marked by despair and brokenness. He was a drunkard, irresponsible in his marriage, and struggling to find purpose. His family life was chaotic, and his community had little hope for him. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, something remarkable happened. During one of our community outreaches where we provided free haircuts, school kits for children, and acts of love, this young man encountered Christ.

The gospel touched him deeply and, slowly, he began to change. His heart softened, his priorities shifted, and he became faithful in his home. He stopped drinking, embraced responsibility, and sought to honor God in every area of his life. Inspired by the love and service he experienced, he felt a calling to serve others. Today, he is the main pastor of a vibrant church we planted in his community with a growing number of men, women, and children attending weekly. From a life of brokenness and despair, he has been transformed into a leader who now disciples others and brings hope to his entire community.

This story is a powerful reminder of the ripple effect of your generosity. Your support allowed us to reach this young man with love, care, and tangible services and now, through him, countless others are now experiencing the love of Christ.

Another testimony comes from a local government leader in Burundi. He recently told me that, despite laws that would normally prevent new churches in his area, he approved our church because of the tangible love we bring to the community. He said, "Around you there are many religions but none of them have done what you are doing: feeding people, providing school kits, free haircuts, and medical care." Your partnership with The Roots Network is building trust, opening doors, and enabling the gospel to flourish where it might otherwise have been blocked. 

Through TRN, churches across East Africa are serving their communities in meaningful, practical ways. Medical and dental care, clean water, feeding programs, school kits, and agricultural support are not just acts of charity, they are expressions of God's love—avenues for discipleship and tools for transformation. Every meal provided to a hungry child, every kit given to a student, and every seed distributed to a mother empowers the church to make a lasting impact.

Our approach to ministry is both strategic and relational. We equip local churches to lead and sustain these ministries. Feeding programs prevent school dropouts, medical missions create opportunities for evangelism, prayer, and discipleship, and agricultural projects empower families to thrive. By supporting the local church, you are helping create change that will last for generations.

As Serve Coordinator, my target is to make Burundi a simple model—a "pépinier" (seedbed) for the rest of Africa. Wherever we go across the continent, we want others to see a clear picture to follow:

• First, we identify a need in the community and use it as a bridge to share the gospel.

• Second, we respond to that need in love and action.

• Third, we teach those we lead in our families and churches to keep the same spirit of serving others using their own means.

This is how we build sustainability in ministry and a legacy of church culture that doesn't depend only on outside help but continues to serve through its own members, generation after generation.

For example, this past September, as families in Burundi were preparing to send their children back to school, we continued our TRN tradition of supporting local communities. We provided school kits and free haircuts for children in Bujumbura, Kagwema, and Cibitoke. I personally taught my wife, children, and our church in Bujumbura to take part in this mission. It deeply touched me to see my 14-year-old son, Jedidiah, learning to become a barber just to help with children's haircuts. He even volunteered as an English translator during one of our international outreaches, and the encouragement money he received, he chose to give toward purchasing school kits for needy kids.

This act of love reflected exactly what we dream to see: a generation raised to serve, to give, and to live for others. That same spirit is growing across our churches. During this back-to-school season, The Roots Network provided 100 school kits, while New Beginnings Bujumbura contributed another 400, bringing the total to 500 children receiving tangible help and hope. What's most inspiring is that this support came from the children to the parents, a beautiful picture of multiplication and stewardship. Your support made this possible.

Your support also strengthens a network of churches across East Africa. Even across borders we collaborate, strategize, and encourage one another, ensuring that ministries reflect biblical principles and respond to local needs. This global partnership amplifies the impact of every dollar, every prayer, and every volunteer hour you contribute.

As Serve Coordinator, I am deeply grateful for your faithfulness. Your generosity is not just helping us provide services; it is enabling the church to transform lives, restore broken hearts, and equip new leaders. Lives are being changed, leaders are emerging, and communities are experiencing the love of Christ in ways they have never seen before.

Thank you for standing with us. Your partnership is helping to write stories of hope, faith, and transformation across Burundi, Rwanda, DRC, and Tanzania. Together, we are showing the world that the gospel is not just a message, it is the action, love, and service of Christ that changes lives.