Lievin Manisha

From Genocide to Jesus Lievin Manisha

The harrowing and horrible stories lived by real people seem the most compelling. They arrest you, grab your heart, and wring out every last drop of fear, anxiety, pity, sorrow, anger, disgust, and revenge all at the same time. Such is the story of Lievin Manisha (La-VEEN Ma-NEE-shah). Lievin is one who lived that gamut of emotions long after he, as a 6-year-old lad, witnessed his family and neighbors brutally murdered in the 1993 Burundi civil war between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. The visage of beheadings and rapes spawned a volatile vengeance in the young Tutsi's heart, a vengeance that seethed for more than a decade. As a teenager, Lievin escaped the continuing genocide by trekking from Burundi to the refugee city of Johannesburg, South Africa, a dangerous distance of 2,000 miles. In the town of Upington, South Africa, is where a group of college kids from the US shared the love of Jesus Christ with Lievin. Just weeks later, Lievin's heart was changed. The deep-seated hate that crushed Lievin's spirit was supplanted by the overflowing joy and love of Jesus Christ. God replaced hate with love and vengeance with compassion. Lievin wants to share the saving message of Jesus Christ with many people, but especially the Hutu, who still persecute the Tutsi today. Travel with Lievin through his amazing and miraculous life. See how many times his life was spared while just seconds away from sure death. Ride in a small boat across Lake Tanganyika i the dark of night as 12-year-old Lievin is released from captivity to serve as an ambassador for peace between two opposing tribal generals. Through it all, behold the providence of God, who spared Lievin and has commissioned him to be an ambassador for the Prince of Peace in a land where peace does not exist. Norm Miller, editor