Announcing publication of a new book highlighting a previously unpublished manuscript by John Wesley Haley on building the indigenous church.
John Wesley Haley and Building the Indigenous Church: Reflections on Self-Determination in Twentieth Century Burundi
It is an edited book and we are grateful to all of the contributors.
- Foreword by Howard Snyder
- Introduction by John McCready
- Haley: A Man Before His Time by Rev. Burton Hamilton
- The Manuscript by Rev. John Wesley Haley
- The Indigenous Church in Burundi by Bishop Déogratias Nshimiyimana, Rev. Evariste Harerimana and Rev. Désiré Mpfubusa
- The Mission Temporary: The Church Permanent by Rev. Dan Sheffield
During my last trip to Burundi and with the assistance and involvement of Bishop Déogratias Nshimiyimana, Executive Secretary Evariste Bimenyimana and District Superintendent Grégoire Ndayongeje, we were able to have a book launch event at Muyebe; the starting place for building the indigenous church.
Book purchases may be made using the following links:
Canada: Amazon.ca
USA: Amazon.com
Background Information
John Wesley Haley and Jennie (Hamilton) Haley were the first Free Methodist Church missionaries in Burundi. They arrived at Muyebe in 1935 and, along with their daughters Dorothy and Peace, they started to build an indigenous church; self-supporting, self-propagating and self-governing.
John Wesley Haley wrote two books about his work in Africa, Life in Mozambique and South Africa and But Thy Right Hand. He was working on the manuscript at the time of his death.
JOHN WESLEY HALEY and Building the Indigenous Church
Edited by John McCready
Canadian Free Methodist minister John Wesley Haley (1878-1951) served, along with his family, as a missionary in Mozambique and South Africa (1902-1934) before initiating a new ministry in Burundi and Rwanda (1935-1946).
Following a conventional missionary career in Southern Africa, Haley was challenged by the work of Roland Allen and others regarding the indigenous church building model. In the early 1930s Haley initiated a new ministry model in Ruanda-Urundi (a Belgian protectorate) seeking to build an indigenous church “right from the beginning.”
At the heart of this book is a manuscript on building the indigenous church. A featured speaker at the 1949 EFMA Conference in Chicago, Haley spoke from his experience of respecting the work of the Holy Spirit in empowering local ministry initiative, at a time of unprecedented turmoil on the international missionary stage.
The book also features other authors giving an overview of Haley’s life and missionary career, an update on the current indigenous Free Methodist Church in Burundi, and an examination of Haley’s contemporary influences in the manuscript with reflection from a current missiological perspective.
“Missionary pioneer John Wesley Haley is timely and prophetic today because of the way he conjoined theory and practice in pioneering deep church planting in Central Africa—and reflected on this in his writings.” Dr. Howard Snyder (from the Foreword)
Book Launch Event
There was no better place to launch the book than at Muyebe; the location where the Haley’s began the first Free Methodist Church missionary work in Burundi and where the building of the indigenous church began 80 years ago.
Before arriving at Muyebe, Japhet Nsanzerugeze, Wayne and Barb Vibbert and I stopped to see Rev. Matayo Myiruko. Now in his 90’s, Matayo worked with John Wesley Haley and became a pastor and a superintendent. Although his mind seems good, he can no longer see or walk.
The book launch occurred on Sunday, January 17th; the launch started at the church and continued at the brick house that John Wesley Haley built.
When we arrived at the Muyebe church, there was a crowd and the special occasion was marked by a performance by a local troupe of Burundian drummers.
The book was briefly described during the morning church service.
After church, there was a luncheon meeting at the house and Bishop Déo and I briefly described the book and the work of the Haley’s.
Presentation of Book to Indigenous Leadership
Fortunately, a few early copies of the new book were printed before the book launch. A copy of the book was presented to the current Bishop of the Free Methodist Church of Burundi, Rev. Déogratias Nshimiyimana, who was the senior author of description of the current indigenous church.
In addition, a copy of the book was presented to the Rector of Hope Africa University, Sylvain Nzohabonayo, the Board Chair of Hope Africa University, Ezechiel Nibigira, and the Muyebe District Superintendent, Grégoire Ndayongeje.
Supporting and Investing in Indigenous Development
The Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund was established at the suggestion of the indigenous Rector of Hope Africa University, the late Bishop Elie Buconyori. The main purpose of the Fund is to keep the legacy of indigenous development alive.
The Student Grants Program of the Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund, provides small grants to students and graduates of Hope Africa University who design and implement their own development projects with the indigenous people of Burundi; needy beneficiaries. The fund has funded 13 development projects, covered elsewhere on this site.
All of the proceeds from sales of the book will be given directly to the Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund and every dollar will be used to continue supporting and investing into the development and self-determination of the indigenous people of Burundi.
Please consider purchases through the following links:
Canada: Amazon.ca
USA: Amazon.com