Tanzania

Tanzania is the largest of three countries that comprise the East African Community (the other two being Uganda and Kenya). You may recall the story of the famous missionary, Dr. Livingston. It was in Ujiji, just 5 kilometers south of Kigoma, Tanzania, that he was located and the famous words, "Dr. Livingston I presume?" were spoken. Tanzania was formerly called Tanganyika. The Germans made it a colony in the 1880s, and then the British made it a British Mandate in 1919, before finally gaining independence in 1961. In 1963, the Island of Zanzibar, off the eastern coast, became independent as well, and in 1964 the two lands merged to become the United Republic of Tanzania.

Today some 40 million people live in Tanzania, many of them along the remote western frontier where Lake Tanganyika separates Tanzania from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. Millions of people live in the villages along this lake, most of which have no road access. The only way in is by boat, foot, or helicopter. Some of these tribes still practice the ancient witchcraft of their ancestors, some have been converted to Islam, and many have never heard the true Gospel – the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In the Northwest part of Tanzania is the Region of Kigoma. It’s most populated town is of the same name, and lies on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, just 50 kilometers south of the troubled nations of Burundi and Rwanda. While Tanzania as a whole is approximately 40% Muslim, the Kigoma region is closer to 70% Muslim. Christians and Muslims coexist in relative peace here, and the opportunity to befriend and witness to Muslims is abundant. There are also those who still practice the old ways of witchcraft, shamanism, and superstition. These beliefs have strong historic roots here, which can unfortunately permeate the Church in this region.

The Region of Kigoma is perfectly situated for ministry. It is home to hundreds of thousands of refugees from nearby Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It sits just above a vast stretch of land that is rarely visited by outsiders because it is only accessible by boat, foot, or helicopter. And possibly the most exciting factor is that there are people and ministers in the town of Kigoma itself that have asked us to come and teach them the Word of God so that they may know Him better and be better equipped to teach and lead their own people.

It’s not very often that such a door is opened so wide. It is our vision to see the people of the Kigoma region – be they native Tanzanians, immigrants, or Burundian or Congolese refugees – raised up in the Word of God. We do not see our mission as being limited to one specific task, but as an opportunity to teach and live out the Word of God every day so that lives are touched and changed by the power of God’s Holy Spirit and His Word. We believe this work will include planting a church in Kigoma, starting a Bible school, and doing evangelism and outreach to both the local community and the surrounding tribes and villages. We also see a need for this work to somehow reach out to and include the enormous refugee population of the Kigoma region.

If the Lord continues to open doors and blesses this work by sending fellow laborers into the harvest, then we do see the door to the Congo region beginning to open, and we would love to be prepared to go through it, or to have raised up others who can.

Please pray for the work in the Kigoma Region of Tanzania, that the Lord truly will send laborers into the harvest. Pray that we will be diligent and careful stewards of His Word, and generous with His love and grace as we walk in the ministry of reconciliation which we are all called to.

In Christ,

Jon & Carrie