Equipping Pastors in Tanzania

Since 2001, I\'ve made 5 trips to Kigoma, Tanzania to present Marriage and Family seminars for national pastors and church leaders. I am presently planning trip #6 in August 2011, and I\'m glad to be able to involve others in various ways.   Encouraging reports of strengthened marriages and churches over the past few years confirm that the Word of God is powerful and effective through these presentations. Because Tanzania is one of the world\'s poorest countries, local churches are unable to fund such ministry, so seminar expenses and meals for attendees, as well as Bibles and other materials provided, depend on donations from enthusiastic believers in the U.S. (I provide my own round-trip transportation from Charlotte, NC to Kigoma.)

In each of my trips to Kigoma, in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008, I\'ve worked with in cooperation Pastor Ezra Mtamya, who is the Bishop over a denomination of about 120 churches. They span across Tanzania and into Burundi and Congo as well as many refugee camps in northern Tanzania. During my first trip, I was astounded to learn that most of the pastors had no Bible training. In fact many did not own a Bible of their own from which they could study and preach the Word of God.

Another big surprise was the realization that many cultural trappings hindered families and churches from understanding and practicing Biblical marriage and family patterns. Husbands and wives who were unfamiliar with Ephesians 5 had no clue how to treat each other with love and respect. They did not know how to train and nurture their children toward Godly character. I was so excited with the challenge, and each time I stood with my interpreter to share from God\'s Word, I was thankful for the many books, sermons and helps that had equipped me for that moment. This year I hope to expand the original Marriage and Family seminars with additional topics - evangelism, goals and strategy, stewardship and more. (With a Q&A session you just never know what may come out!)  

Because I have seen and heard such wonderful testimonies of transformed lives, I am pleased to invite you to participate in this year\'s seminars through your giving. I hope you will feel free to contact me with any questions you may have, or for further photos and details about this ministry and past seminars. If this project is fully funded, it will enable us to provide Bibles and other resources for pastors and churches with so very little. Please feel free to email me at [email redacted] with questions of any kind about this project, mailing gifts directly or gift receipts.  Further details, more photos and even a short video clip are available HERE.

Another VERY helpful way you can participate is by sharing this link with other friends, your church, Bible study groups - feel free to get creative and plug others in too!  Of course the MOST IMPORTANT and MOST APPRECIATED way you can help make this happen is with your PRAYER!  I thank you so much for reading and for your interest in this adventure of faith.

* FLASH - April 23: I\'ve just received approval for contributions to receive tax-deductible receipting through Interlink Ministries in Apple Creek, Ohio! Checks should be made payable to Interlink Ministries with a note attached: \"Kigoma-Tanzania Project\"- mail to PO Box 460, Apple Creek OH  44606. You may also request a coupon for Visa/MC/Discover contributions through Interlink as well! Email me at the address above for any other questions you may have.