Newsletter Articles
Unjust Imprisonment of a Humanitarian & Great Church Leader in Africa
Mike Seymour
Former Burundian National Director of Campus Crusade for Christ, co-founder of the Evangelical Church of Central Africa and founder of a peace-making organization called Youth in Reconstruction of a World in Destruction (JRMD), has been imprisoned in Mpimba Central Prison since December 16, 2005. Prosper was deceived by an American who went back on his promise to reimburse purchase of building materials to rebuild homes for Burundian refugees. This is his seventh imprisonment in connection with this matter since it first arose in 1999-2000. The web site for Prosper’s organization is www.jrmd.org.
During the height of the ethnic wars that ravaged Rwanda and Burundi, Prosper brought youth from warring tribes together who risked their lives to rebuild homes for both Hutu and Tutsi victims of the ethnic wars, promoting peace, reconciliation and forgiveness. From it's inception, JRMD has built homes for over 1200 families, practicing the “love of Christ in Action,” a motto of Prosper’s organization. In 2004, Mike Seymour--an American citizen and founder of Youth for a New World-- met Prosper and they collaborated to build 325 homes in an area where 2,000 families were left homeless when their villages were destroyed. Prosper and Mike established the AfricaAmericaExchange (www.hol.edu/aax) and created partnerships with schools in the U.S. promoting intercultural dialogue around themes of peace and justice between African and American students.
Prosper is the unfortunate victim of a fraud. In 1999-2000 an American, Harold Fetter, and his organization, Ohio-based Albert Schweitzer Society, promised funds for rebuilding effort. Written and signed agreements were made, but it turned out Fetter did not have the funds he promised to reimburse the JRMD for the building materials. After months of putting Prosper off with excuses he finally told him to "go away."
With the help of Hogan & Hartson law firm in Washington, D.C., Prosper was cleared in the Ohio courts and awarded $477,471 for damages incurred. However, since Fetter and the Society had no assets, Burundi creditors are holding Prosper personally responsible for the debts. The Burundian court does not recognize the US decision of Prosper's innocence which impedes his humanitarian efforts. As it stands now, Prosper is subject to repeated imprisonment, which is threatening not only his own life but also the welfare of his entire family consisting of a wife, Marie, and four children. Prosper’s situation also hampers his work with Mike Seymour in the United States, as he has been a key presenter at the many secondary schools which are part of the AfricaAmericaExchange educational program.
The new President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, met with Prosper and an American delegation lead by Mike Seymour, in November, 2005. Prosper was honored for his courage. President Nkurunziza expressed commitment to the US partnerships Prosper had established to bring peace and raise awareness of the reconciliation occurring in Burundi. A plea has been sent to President Nkurunziza for a Presidential intervention to ensure Prosper’s future freedom.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Thanks to our many friends and supporters around the country who contributed funds for bail, Prosper will shortly be out of prison and will have enough funds to sustain himself, his wife and children for the near future. The longer term need at this point is to develop strategies that will ensure a repayment of the debts incurred as Prosper helped refugees build homes with materials that were never paid for by Fetter and the Albert Schweitzer Society. Recently, the debt was renegotiated down to about $160,000, with a waiver of all interest fees. And not only Prosper suffered, but so did many of his six creditors who, in having borrowed funds to build metal roofing or doors and windows, lost their homes and personal property to the banks.
In addition to donations, which are tax-deductible, we would welcome referrals to foundations, businesses or churches that would appreciate being part of a Christ-centered mission to help Burundian refugees through assisting one of their strongest advocates. It is possible that Prosper’s freedom may enable him to come to the USA, in which case Prosper would welcome the opportunity to address your congregation about his peace-building work in Africa and what is needed for Youth in Reconstruction of the World in Destruction to become sustainable once again.
For more information or to make a donation, please contact Mike Seymour, founder of Youth for a New World (YNW), based in Washington State. Mike is delegated to be the US receiver of funds and the US coordinator for Prosper’s work in Burundi. Youth for a New World is a tax-exempt 501©(3) non-profit originally established as The Mandala Project, with a change to its current name in January, 2005. The identification number of the Mandala Project of Anacortes, WA. is: EIN: 91-2119749. Tax-deductible contributions made out to Youth for a New World, may be sent to same below.
Youth for a New World
Mike Seymour
Box 379
Clinton, WA. 98236.
(360) 542-1289
www.youthnewworld.org
Prosper can be reached as follows:
Prosper Ndabishuriye
JRMD/YRWD
B.P. 2366
BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI
Email: info@jrmd.org
www.jrmd.org
More like this one in | Mission Tools , Newsletter Articles
Comments on this Entry:
Today, I am completing two months in Mpimba Central Prison, where I am held since December 16, 2006 update. Despite the suffering situation in which I have been going through since the day I entered in this prison, every moment and every day, I feel really surrounded by solidarity and compassion in action; compassion and solidarity which do not have the border or limits that each one of my friends and partners have been showing me, from the day I was jailed in Mpimba Prison. This continue to give me more and more courage and joy and this is what the world needs today in order to heal the wounds that the entire world is suffering today.
In prison, I continue to show my solidarity to the very needy prisoners by sharing with some of them the food that I am able to get. I am also helping the church in Mpimba prison, to organize a crusade in which around 2000 prisoners will attend. I am the president of the organizing committee of this Crusade. In 2000 when I was held in this same Prison, I also helped the leaders of the church in Mpimba to organize a big gathering which gave the opportunity to over 50 pastors from different churches in Bujumbura City to attend. During this Crusade, we will be expecting around 50 pastors and church leaders from different churches in the city of Bujumbura to attend and will realise and see that Christ is glorified and honored in this physical suffering place too. At the end of our evangelical crusade, we would like to assist the 3000 prisoners by giving them rice, sops, cloths, etc... We hope to get different contributions from the churche, christian organizations and friends which will enable us to feed and clothe the prisoners.The theme of this evangelical crusade is: "To announce realise to captives and freedom to those in prison" (Isaiah 61:1-2). The Crusade is scheduled to take place on March 18-19, 2006. I may not be in prison during that time, but will attend this gathering.
Again, thank you so much for continuing showing me your solidarity and compassion in action.
Your friend Prosper Ndabishuriye
-----------------------------------------------------------------
JRMD/YRWD
B.P. 2366
BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI
TELEPHONE: (257) 920 609
Website: www.jrmd.org
Website: www.hol.edu/aax
Do not be discouraged when things do not go as you had planed, because what is not possible today, will be possible tomorrow. But remember, Big vision requires Big Dream, Big Dream requires Big Action and Big Action requires Big Commitment.
Posted by: Prosper Ndabishuriye at February 17, 2006 03:22 PM
Editor's note: Please consider emailing the Burundi's Ambassador in Washington about this matter. Reach him at burundiembassy@erols.com. Here is the message I just sent.
Ambassador Antoine Ntamobwa
Embassy of the Republic of Burundi
2233 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. ,Suite 212
Washington, D.C. 20007
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
I am writing on behalf of my friend Prosper Ndabishuriye, who has been unjustly imprisoned in Bwindi Central Prison since December 16. I am the editor of a web community that is receiving 12,000 visits a month from Christians across this country. We are publicizing Prosper’s plight on the site and making many aware of the sad situation. You will see two different articles about this situation on our home page here: www.TransformingChurch.com.
We had invited Prosper to speak at a conference in Florida in January, which drew 200 pastors from across the Lutheran church in America. He was unable to come since he was in prison. We shared Prosper’s plight with the pastors gathered and prayed for his prompt release.
Your new President met with Prosper last year and indicated support for his mission of rebuilding hope and homes through his NGO JRMD (www.jrmd.org). We have written several articles about Prosper’s ministry that are still featured on our site.
For information about why Prosper is in jail, look here:
http://www.transformingchurch.com/resourcetoolbox/2005/10/youth_and_recon.php
We have helped raise bail to allow Prosper’s release, but he is still imprisoned. We are anxious that he be released so he can re-start the home-building project in Carama district, which was already begun in 2004, resulting in the completion of 325 homes. Our strategy going forward is to raise funds to pay for 475 new homes and the 253 homes already built for which funds were not sent. Two thirds of all funds raised will go for new homes, and one third for those already built, with an average cost/home of about $710.
For more information explaining Prosper’s situation in greater depth, see this page, at the bottom of which is the legal brief from Hogan & Hartson.
https://www.youthnewworld.org/recent_readmore.cfm
I pray that you will pass this information along to the President of your country so this injustice can be corrected. My wife and I are traveling to Africa in June and hope to visit your country in our travels. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. Prosper is truly working for peace and meeting the needs of the poor, homeless and hungry in Burundi.
Sincerely,
Gregg Burch
Editor
www.TransformingChurch.com
Posted by: Gregg Burch at February 17, 2006 04:51 PM
Here is the latest news from Prosper:
A week after I was held in Mpimba Central Prison, I realized that Mpimba Central Prison is another place for peace and reconciliation. That's why I am delighted to share with you the following:
Today, Mpimba Central prison is holding around 3,000 prisoners in which a half of them are soldiers from both sizes-those who have been fighting on the side of the Government and rebels.
Among 1,500 soldiers from both sides, who are being held in Mpimba Prison, there are also officers (majors and canals from both sizes). Some of those soldiers participated in the fighting that took place in Congo and Burundi, but today they are experiencing hard time, together in prison.
As the Government is realizing politicians including soldiers who are in different prisons of Burundi, there is need to organize a peacebuilding and reconciliation workshop in Mpimba Prison for those who have been fighting. In the coming days, those who have been fighting will join their families, not as soldiers but as civilians and live as a community.
Due to this, I am exploring the possibilities of organizing a peacebuilding and reconciliation workshop for three days which will bring together those who have been fighting from both sizes. A peace and reconciliation built on love and compassion in action.
Wherever I am and in whatever situation I will be, my message will remain the same: " Bringing healing to a wounded community by sharing love and compassion in action".
Prosper Ndabishuriye
Posted by: Gregg Burch at March 4, 2006 10:53 PM
Dear Mike,
I have now completed three months in Mpimba Central Prison, a prison in which I am being held since December 16, 2005. It's true, while we are still in this physical life, we may suffer and go through different hardships. It may be disease, accident, trial, imprisonment, torture, temptation, abuse or death of our beloved one; but, no matter what the suffering is, one day, for those who received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, the Lord Jesus will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will no longer be any mourning, crying, pain or suffering. This is our only consolation and hope we have in Jesus Christ.
Frankly speaking, I am very tired and discouraged of being imprisoned from time to time, and my life is in a dangerous situation, and do not have immediate solution to my present problems. This continue to make my family to suffer and be discouraged.
As you have suggested during our phone conversation, the solution to my present situation should be to escape from my country from the time I am released and go in exile; but, there are three reasons which can not allow me to make a decision of getting away and escape:
1. If it happens for me to escape in this way, this will not give honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the church in Burundi;
2. As a christian leader, I must accept to pay the cost. I do not know why this is happening to me, but the Lord Himself knows about. May be the solution will come at the right time, according to God's timing and goodness;
3. If I leave the country in this way, I will be destroying the good work that you and us have been accomplishing in Burundi.
Because of the above mentioned three reasons, I will remain in the country until the solution is there; but can travel to USA or Europe and share with different partners and people about my situation, believing that God will continue to use you to help me get out of my present situation; until the time I will be able to raise enough funds to pay my creditors. If I am not able to get the funds which will enable me to pay my debts, then I will have to pay the cost.
I need to be surrounded by your prayers which will continue to strengthen me in my present situation. I continue to trust God that He will provide according to his Grace, Love and Timing, just for His Honor and Glory.
The more important thing for me, is the inner joy and hope which are not based or dependent on my present situation. In brief, if I escape in this way, I will not have peace in me and this will make me to suffer more than being imprisoned.
Thank you for all startegies and ways you are developping in order to help me get out of my present situation. May God continue to bless each one of you. Please, do not give up in seeking ways possibilities to make me a free person.
Your friend Prosper Ndabishuriye.
JRMD/YRWD
B.P. 2366
BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI
TELEPHONE: (257) 920 609
Email: info@jrmd.org or ndapros@yahoo.fr
Website: www.jrmd.org
Website: www.hol.edu/aax
Do not be discouraged when things do
not go as you had planed, because what
is not possible today, will be possible tomorrow. But remember, Big vision requires Big Dream, Big Dream requires Big Action and Big Action requires Big Commitment.
Posted by: Prosper Ndabishuriye at March 23, 2006 02:43 PM
Post a comment