In this blog I write mostly about the work we do. If you'd like to get some insights about our daily life here in Tanzania, see Paula's journal entry for September HERE.
During the September Wittenberg Seminary break we took advantage of the time off to visit a number of TCLC outlying congregations. The first visit was a flight to Zanzibar Island, where Pastor Peter Msifune leads a congregation made up mostly of migrant construction workers. Later in September we drove, with Pastor Jeremia, to visit pastors and churches in mainland Tanzania. To give you an idea of where these places are:
Our main purposes were to strengthen our brothers and sisters in faith, and to conduct local outreach by projecting the "Jesus Film," twice in the Swahili language and once with the Maasai version. The script for this film is entirely from the Gospel of Luke. The pastors then have the opportunity to conduct an ongoing Bible study on Luke's Gospel, with a study guide which I provide for them.
In this way we hope to assist the churches in our fellowship with building God's house, in the sense of 1 Peter 2:5 "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
In many of these places the people are in need of a literal house of worship. They may be in homes, or in rented buildings, or in simple structures of stick-and-mud walls with bare floors. Part of the work of our CLC Mission Development Fund (MDF) is to assist these people with church building. In every case the congregations themselves are to provide the majority of the resources, such as donated land, blocks for building, volunteer labor, etc. The MDF then may assist with finishing materials, like the metal sheeting for the roof. Sometimes there is a long wait for these funds, because of MDF places priority on funding seminaries, on-going pastoral training, Bibles and Christian literature, and the like. Patience is often needed, but bit by bit God's house grows, both in a physical and, more importantly, spiritual sense.
In all of our efforts it is important to keep in mind that real growth in God's kingdom depends on His gracious will and the power of His Word: "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain," Psalm 127:1. We look to Him for His gracious will and blessing on our work!
Photos from the trips follow; click to enlarge. First, from the flight to Zanzibar Island:
Pastor Peter Msifune of Zanzibar (left) and some church members
Pastor Msifune and congregation, following the "Jesus Film"
We enjoyed the sights of Zanzibar Island during some free time
Next, our trip in the trusty Toyota Rav4 to Moshi, the Maasai Ruvu District, and Korogwe:
Meeting in Moshi with some TCLC Himo area pastors and elders
Overland across the dusty tracks in Maasai land, to Pastor Israel's church
Pastor Israel, his wife and children, and some nieces and nephews
Permanent church under construction
At 10 pm the church gathered for the start of the "Jesus Film" at Pastor Israel's church
Next morning - inspecting the Maasai cattle
Pastor Israel, seminary student Lazaro, Pastor Jeremia, and me in my Maasai "shuka"
Setting up for the "Jesus Film" in Korogwe
The crowd grew considerably as the film progressed
After Sunday church in Korogwe (Pastor Kimemele on my right)
With the September break now over, classes have resumed for the six students at Wittenberg Seminary here in Arusha. By God's grace we'll finish the school year with graduation on November 30.
FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,
See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE
