Wacawaseme, Severin

Severin Wacawaseme is an international Global Mission Fellow with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service.  A member of Rohero Parish United Methodist Church, Bujumbura, related to the Burundi Annual Conference, he is a local youth department leader.

The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world.  

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational management and library science at the University of Burundi, Higher Institute of Commerce.

“I was born in 1996 in a Christian family,” he said. “My father was a servant of The United Methodist Church, and I was educated in a children’s Sunday school.”

Severin considered himself to be “a good church member, even though I didn’t believe much in spiritual things.”

Then he got involved in a Bible study group and, he recalled, “met Jesus Christ as my Savior and King of my life. From there, I began to love spiritual things abundantly and to serve my Lord consciously at the high school biblical group and at my local church during vacations.”

After going to the university, Severin met someone from the Rohero Parish youth department in Bujumbura. He was encouraged to do Bible studies through the university’s Explosive Evangelism program.

“I received a doctrinal basis from the Bible,” Severin said, “which helped me recognize my vocation of evangelist and missionary.” Today, he is a preacher and a choir member and served as a member of the executive committee as a representative of the youth movement.

“Reading the Bible and the love of spiritual things have evolved a lot,” he continued. “I began to study theology in a training organized by UMC Burundi in partnership with Rema Ministries Burundi, and I am waiting to be honored with a training diploma.”

He volunteers with malnourished children through the Red Cross and represented the children of his community, represented legally the CERGI association, created a cooperative for unemployed young people, and served as a nutrition and supply technician for Rohero Parish’s restaurant project.

“I like to serve the community with my knowledge acquired without remuneration,” Severin said. “I have entrusted my life to glorify my Savior in everything and everywhere.”