Christian radio broadcasts have helped a young man in Burundi to overcome the damage caused by childhood rejection.

Toussaint was still a baby when he was rejected by his father. He grew up believing nobody loved him. This conviction resulted in explosive anger and aggressive behaviour. His only refuge was in drunkenness but that didn’t help: when he became angry he would break everything and fight. In this disturbed frame of mind, he started to think about putting an end to his life. Why go on? Nobody loved him.

But Toussaint had a sister who is a Christian, and a regular listener to Radio Ivyizigiro, a radio station supported by Blythswood Care. She told Toussaint what God had done in her life through listening to gospel broadcasts and she persuaded him to listen, too.

“The result was that Toussaint came into our office in Bujumbura,” says station manager Onesime Harubuntu. “He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. We prayed for him and he was delivered from the evil spirits of drunkenness and suicide.

“He has really found peace in Jesus Christ, so much so that he has been able to forgive his father. He has changed completely. He is clinging to God and thanking the Lord for his salvation.”