Sister Schools

Partners Trust International

Kilns College is pursuing a sister school relationship with Partners Trust International in Burundi. Both schools have a vision to reclaim church and culture through education and discipleship – albeit on different continentsWe envision ongoing collaboration and cross-pollenization with potential opportunities for students and faculty from both schools to learn and teach in the others’ cultural setting.

Why Burundi

Burundi and particularly Rwanda are known, in the history of Christian Missions, as the locus of the historic East African Revival of the 1930’s and 1940’s comparable in many ways to the historic revivals of Europe and North America in the 17th century. This was so until the tragic 1994 Rwandan genocide killed about a million people in only 100 days!

We since then have had to face a painful question: How could these two “Christianized countries” so often presented as “the model of success in evangelism” be the theatre of such horrors? 
The painful and embarrassing question can no longer be avoided: Why have churches marked by such a profound revival, been unable to deal with the ethnic and power issues within the Christian community? This tragedy of the century proved beyond doubt, as one prelate noted with disappointment, that millions of people have been sacramentalized without being evangelized and that we have to begin all over again even after a century of seemingly successful evangelization.

Even a superficial scratch at the surface reveals that the same ills that destroyed society as a whole can also be found within the church. Despite this rather terrifying picture, however, the sheer desperation means that churches are still packed and even mushrooming. However, some - especially among the educated, politicians and business people who, for a moment have turned to churches for help and encouragement - are beginning to turn their backs on the church once again. They feel disappointed, cheated and even abused by pastors and preachers whose message in most cases is irrelevant.

Why A Bible College

John Scott (theologian) has observed that the future of the church is determined, not by church buildings, but by universities. For countries that have known the traumas such as the one Burundi and Rwanda experienced, the need for theological reflection in institutions where this can take place, is critical. Survivors of this tragedy of the century need a new vision of God’s love for the whole of his creation.

For the Church in Burundi and Rwanda to stand on its feet once again and proclaim unashamedly God’s Truth we need men and women who understand that, as another wise theologian said, “The good of creation depends on humanity knowing God”. A Bible College or School of Theology is the “Laboratory” where such contextual theological reflection and practice can take place.

There are a very limited number of denominational Bible institutes within Burundi and Rwanda, and these are usually badly equipped and poorly staffed with access limited to the members of their churches. Therefore, pastors are left with increasing independent churches that have no biblical or theological training. PTI theological school is interdenominational and inclusive with a curriculum specially designed to meet the needs of these grassroots pastors.

Partners Trust International

Partners Trust International (PTI) was legally registered as an non-governmental organization in November 2007. Its mission is to see a Burundi and Rwanda where churches, denominations, and Christian ministries no longer compete against each other, but serve in a spirit of mutual support and in synergy with one another.

To date, PTI has received much support from within the church / fellowship where PTI originated from. There is a high quality of people, both Burundians and non-nationals, who have come on board to contribute to the success of PTI’s vision and mission. These people have volunteered their money, skills resources and passions.

The Executive committee consists of the following members: Emmanuel Ndikumana (Executive Director), Theodore Mbazumutima (Deputy Legal Representative), Athanase Nahimana (Tresurer), and Remy Havyarimana (Secretary).

Their target students are mainly grass root pastors, who normally have a very low level of education (usually only primary school level) and thus have no access to the existing theological resources, even though they are pasturing churches of hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of believers. We teach them through the vernacular language, Kirundi. English and French is also taught to help pastors access resources outside of their own country of origin. Our Students are trained in areas of effective leadership, transformational development, collaboration, capacity building, community development, communication and inclusive dialogue.