Back in July we sent a team of seven to Tabora, Tanzania. Their main focus was to provide sports ministry training to the students at Tabora Bible College.

I was recently encouraged to learn that several students who received this sports ministry training have already put it into practice!

One of our long-time Tanzanian partners, Silas Kezikubi, shares the story below. I think you’re going to love it – it’s an exciting to this Breakthrough Prayer we’ve been praying for the Nyamwezi:

Father, set the Nyamwezi free from Satan’s strongholds, and help them embrace the family of God. (Father, use us to build a Christ-centered, reproducing church among an unreached people, the Nyamwezi, by 2030.)

Thank you, dear ones, for your faithful prayers for the Nyamwezi people! I’m excited to see how the Lord continues to answer this request.

Until the Nyamwezi have a reproducing church,

David Schaller
Associate Pastor

P.S. You might remember that Silas Kezikubi is a retired Tabora diocese bishop and faithful partner with Church of the Open Door missionaries Andy and Margaret Andersen. Silas continues to minister in the diocese. His heart is for reaching the Nyamwezi people. His main focus is a village church in Itulu (30 min south of Tabora) from which the Unyama church was planted.

TABORA CHURCH PLANTING MINISTRY: THE UNYAMA CHURCH IS BORN!

We praise God that on August 25, 2024, through God’s endless grace, the first ever worship of God took place at Unyama village!

It was a special Sunday for Unyama village, and for the Itulu Church who planted it!

The village of Unyama is said to be about 30 years old. But until that Sunday it had no church (and no mosque, although almost every family claims to be Muslim). There is no school in this village, not even a nursery school), or health facility. Anyone who needs those services must go to Itulu – about three kilometers north.

Every year, for about four months during rainy season, the village is completely separated from Itulu by a big river whose depth can reach about 4.5 feet. During that time, Unyama and several other villages south of the river become islands. The river dries up quickly after rainy season.

PREPARATIONS MADE

Preparations for planting this church included teaching the Itulu Church how to plant reproducing church communities in Nyamwezi culture (by God’s grace this is still going on) and raising money to buy a piece of land to build a makeshift church.

The Itulu Church worked to find a Unyama resident who was willing to sell them a piece of land. The process was long, because many refused to welcome the church since they themselves were Muslim. Later, leaders found one man who was ready to sell a piece of land to the church – Mr. Mohammad Ally Kalinginji.

Finally, Itulu believers built a makeshift church where worship could take place.

OUTREACH LAUNCHED

We used three outreach opportunities to start the church. All of them were aimed at witnessing about the Savior with the intention of inviting people to attend the service on the following Sunday.

The outreach took place as follows:

• Home Visitation: On Friday, August 23 two teams of two people each went to Unyama to make home visitations. Twelve homes were visited. There were no immediate positive responses.
• Jesus Film: In the evening of the same day, Pastor Elikana Lutonja, Japheth Milambo and Alex showed the Jesus Film at the village. Twenty-nine people attended. They all remained for the closing prayer. There were no specific responses.
• Sports Ministry: On Saturday, August 24 Pastor Lutonja, Japheth and Alex went to a local football pitch at the village and they whistled. About 40 young men came to the field. They formed two teams. After playing for about 15 minutes the ball got torn. However, all participated in the concluding lesson and prayer. Eleven young men expressed their willingness to come to church service the next day.

After the football match, the Jesus Film was shown and 43 people turned up to watch it. All remained for the closing prayer.

SERVICES HELD

Then on Sunday, August 25 five of those who expressed their needs at the football game came to the service and they went forward to express their faith in Jesus.

Three people who expressed desire to follow Christ at the film came to the service and came forward to accept Christ.

One lady from home visitation also accepted Christ as her personal Savior.

In total NINE people accepted Jesus in that first service!

The service was also attended by some believers from Itulu. Two others, including Mohammad Ally Kalingonji (the man who sold the land for the makeshift church) were in the service and they heard the Word of God.

We thank the Lord for this new church in Unyama!

Silas Kezikubi

P.S. As you pray for your brothers and sisters in Tanzania, would you please remember the following requests for this brand new church? There are about 15 people gathering there, and services are continuing under the care of Dennis Paulo, a Tabora Bible College student.

• Pray that God will protect those coming and going to worship, and that the church members would continue to share the Gospel light in this village of Unyama.
• Pray that God will bless Dennis’ family and help him and his wife, Neema, build a strong marriage. (Dennis and Neema had their marriage officially blessed with a church ceremony on September 28, 2024.)
• Dennis’ requests are: 1. May God let me know what He has called me to do, 2. May God direct me to be faithful in His service, 3. May God open the door in my family so that I can get essential needs such as food, money, and transportation.
• Pray for salvation for the Muslim neighbor in Unyama who sold his land to the church. His name is Kalengonji, his wife is Aziza, and Habibu is their 5 year-old son.
• Pray that the Lord will provide iron sheets for roofing the Unyama Church’s makeshift church building.