Faith is THE Thing 10/26/2024

The hospitality is radical, the joy is contagious and the faith is palpable and that is the secret sauce of evangelism in Tanzania.  Today we visited two preaching points.  Preaching points are an extension of the Mwatasi congregation.

The people of Wimbe preaching point welcomed us with enthusiastic singing and dancing. 

Six years ago the preaching point was an open field and now they have a rough hewn sanctuary, 35 adult members and 18 children which started with a three member cell.  Cells gather to study the Bible, pray and visit their neighbors. 

 Evangelists, trained lay people, are the backbone of  church growth.  Their commitment is impressive.  They spend 7 years in a theological study program by extension which includes reading and exams.  They preach on Sunday morning, lead bible studies and visit people in their homes.  One evangelist that we met walks 4 kilometers for worship which begins at 7:00 a.m. leaving home in the dark at 5 a.m.. 

The tools they use for evangelism include:

     *Knocking on their neighbors doors, find out what their neighbors need and then help meet their neighbors needs.   

    *Inviting the community to a free meal

    *Children inviting friends to join them at Kids camp in Mwatasi

The drive between our destinations is a bumpy ride, so bumpy it is called an African massage. However the landscape is breath taking and the sights captivating.




When we returned to the village we received a report from the parish’s new pastor, Pastor Shem.  The parish has 3 evangelists and another 3 in preaching points.  There are 1,355 members in the congregation with 1,070 who can work in the church.  Those who cannot work include the elderly, the disabled and children.
Gratitude was expressed for presence and partnership.
The parish goals include:
     *Turning the old church building into a vocational center where young adults can be trained for jobs
     *Increase scholarships for primary school students

The day was humbling and challenging.   I was humbled by the  hospitable, joy filled welcome.  I was challenged by the commitment to faith; lay people studying 7 years to become a volunteer evangelist,  evangelists walking two hours one way to get to church, people cooking to invite their neighbors to a free lunch, adults and children worshiping for  4 hours on a Sunday morning.  
Is my faith THE thing or A thing in my life?  As I seek to answer that question I trust that the landscape of faith in the Tanzanian people I have met will change the landscape of my faith.  

Kris Linner


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