Rev. Gérard Nsabimana
Gérard Nsabimana is an ordained Elder in the Oklahoma Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is currently the lead pastor of First United Methodist Church, Stroud, Oklahoma.
Prior to being appointed to Stroud First Church in June 2014, Gérard served as the director of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. He also served concurrently as the interim pastor at Wellston United Methodist Church from February 1, 2014 until June 1, 2014.
Gérard is a graduate of Africa University, having earned his Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and natural resources in May 2002. He earned his Master of Science degree in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University in May 2005. Gérard completed his seminary education and earned a Masters of Divinity degree at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina in May 2011.
Gérard is a native of the small East African country of Burundi. In 1993 when Gérard graduated from high school, civil war erupted in his country after the assassination of the first democratically elected president of Burundi. The civil war claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, including the lives of many of Gérard's relatives. Gérard fled his home country in 1995 and has lived in several African countries as a refugee, including Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Gérard is married to Alina Nsabimana.
Gérard is the first Africa University graduate to be inducted into the Legacy Society.