Many young nine year olds are mostly concerned with being accepted in their schools and causing pranks on certain kids. But imagine being faced with the task of killing another human being at that tender age is unimaginable. Despite this unthinkable notion, this is a current reality for the kids in Burundi. However, programs and organizations like World Visions have tried not to make this Life for so many young children by pushing for The Soldier Prevention Act that would prevent the U.S. from spending tax payers’ money on guns and weapons to end up in these youngsters’ hands, as seen in the picture in the up-left corner. Bizimana Jean Marie, who goes by the name John, was one of these child soldiers who were taught to do horrific things. Unlike the other soldiers, John went willingly because of the hardships his mom and he faced in a displacement camp. Fortunately for John, he was one of the several children taken out of the National Army to be reintegrated back into the community in which he lived in before. Furthermore, World Vision also teaches John how to cut hair among with other sociable and emotional repair he must have needed after being forced to do all kinds of atrocities. From child Soldier to Entrepreneur. World Vision understands that to aid in the healing process, one need to be involved in the opposite action from which he was used to giving out. In other words, John used to help an Army of men kill and terrorize other people and in some cases, even killing another person. Now he will learn to do the opposite of such things to relearn who to love and care for another, and also where you can make a living from your service as well. I can only imagine what internal transformation John must have undergone, from killing to serving the same people?
Saul had the same type of transforming occupation from being the chief executor of Christians too being one of many that would devout the rest of his life in bringing thousands of lost people to Christ in which he suffered many of the atrocities he dished out and later who wrote two thirds of the New Testament. “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14) Here Paul (the new name that God has given him) states that he is not perfected, but he presses on towards the goal that God has given him; to be a mouthpiece of His transforming power and ability to save anyone. Also he states that he has forgotten those things which are behind him and looks forward. Paul had a lot of reasons, valid ones at best, to be ashamed and guilty of where he could have been easily deterred from carrying out God's plan for his life. But Paul rests in God's mercy and Grace and lives a life Transformed. One could imagine that John too has wrestled
with these same convictions of”how is it that I could be used for good when I even volunteered to be used for evil just so that I can eat?" Paul would respond, " But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." Ephesians 2:4-5 and "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 If John could have heard these saying, I am sure that he would have a smile of hope and appreciation for his second chance of an opportunity to bless rather than curse, to livening up someone's day and evoke smiles, rather than death and provoking others to anger and mourning amongst families and friends.
This is the wonderful work of Transformation at its best in a life that now has a sense of purpose and vitality and who would have thought of it that being an Entrepreneur could have such rich intrinsic rewards as John and Paul have both experienced in serving others!
