The Archbishop of Canterbury has been visiting Burundi and Rwanda over the weekend as part of a week-long visit to Africa.

His first stop was Burundi, to pray with the new primate. Archbishop Justin and Mrs Welby were greeted on their arrival at Bujumbura International Airport by all the Bishops of the Province and the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking about the visit Archbishop Justin said that it was an occasion to meet with a new Primate, talk about what is going on in the Province, and pray together for different topics including the future of the church.

The Most Revd. Martin Blaise Nyaboho, who was installed as Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Burundi six months ago, welcomed the delegation saying that it was a pleasure and honour for the Church to welcome the Archbishop of Canterbury once again. “His third visit in the last four years shows the good relationship between us and how much he bears in his heart the people of Burundi,” he said.” “Even when the country was passing through hard times two years ago Archbishop Justin showed his solidarity with Burundi.”

Archbishop Justin took time at the Provincial office to meet the staff before visiting Faith Centre where he broke the ground to mark where new buildings for Bujumbura Christian University will be built. It’s being sponsored by the province of the Anglican Church of Burundi. Archbishop Justin said: “I am very pleased to break the ground as a Christian University will lead this country in the way of holiness and righteousness.”

Archbishop Justin also met the new Country Manager of Christian Aid Burundi, an organisation that is working closely with the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi to improve local conditions.

Archbishop Martin outlined his prayer request for Burundi: “I wish the Anglican Communion to pray for Burundi because we need to strengthen our fragile peace and I want to request prayer for the eradication of extreme poverty which is still rampant throughout the country and to pray for the empowerment of Bishops, Priests, lay people, women and youth and I want you to pray for solidarity within the Communion. After the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury we feel empowered.”

On Saturday, in the province of Rwanda, Archbishop Justin visited the East African Revival Heritage Centre in Gahini and laid a foundation stone for a Fellowship House.

The East African Revival was an important renewal movement within Evangelical churches in East Africa during the late 1920s and 1930s. The revival began at a Church Missionary Society mission station in1929 and spread to: Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya during the 1930s and 1940s. The revival contributed to the significant growth of the church in East Africa in the 1940s through to the 1970s and had a visible influence on Western missionaries who were observer-participants of the movement.

The 'fruits' of the revival have mainly been in East Africa itself, though many Christians throughout the world have been enriched by its message and inspiration. Thousands of African people came to faith, “nominal” Christianity disappeared almost overnight, people openly acknowledged their sins and turned from them, and the church was thoroughly renewed. The waves of this great movement are still having effects today in East Africa with many strong and stable churches.

More short videos of the Archbishops visit can be found here