In 2006 Bishop Simeon Nzishura approached Advent Christian General Conference with a request to affiliate.  He wanted his work to be a part of an international family.  His passion for the Second Coming cemented his choice of the Advent Christian family.   

In February 2006, over the course of three days, Africa/Europe Area Director Russell Carle interviewed Bishop Nzishura in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

That September Rev. Carle traveled to Burundi, a small central African country east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Meetings with the pastors were held at the headquarters church in the capital city of Bujumbura and went extremely well. 

Their fellowship consisted of 44 pastors from 40 churches in Burundi and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and included churches that are Tutsi, Hutu, and Pygmy – tribal groups traditionally opposed to or even at war with each other. Their conflict had made Burundi a place of warfare and social unrest for a long time. For Simeon Nzishura and his leaders to have churches from different tribes in fellowship together showed a kingdom mentality.

Upon his return, Russell Carle recommended that the Advent Christian General Conference accept into their fold the African Protestant Evangelical Elim Church group of Burundi under the leadership of Bishop Simeon Nzishura.

The following year in February of 2007 Burundi was accepted as an affiliated part of the Advent Christian family by a vote of our national executive council. 

Currently, the Burundi AC Conference churches press on in their kingdom work despite outbreaks of ethnic strife. Bishop Simeon Nzishura writes with both caution and optimism in a letter dated May, 2011:

“…(I am back in Bujumbura) after few days hiding in the east Rutana because of the FNL (Forces Nationales de Liberation groups). Church news is that we continue to evangelize and build new churches and rebuild big churches like the ACC Bujumbura Church. Our request is to pray for peace in Burundi and church growth. We thank God now there is peace in the city and the surrounding cities like Kinama, Kamenge.”