|
We are now halfway through our 10-year prayer journey, and every one of our COD pastors has had the privilege of meeting the Nyamwezi people personally!
These pastors, along with their teammates, have traveled many days, taken countless flights, and endured long car rides on bumpy dirt roads just to meet and connect with this beautiful people group.
Through all their journeys, they’ve now met face to face, hugged, prayed with and prayed for (oftentimes by name), laughed with, shared meals with, and at times, cried together with our Nyamwezi brothers and sisters.
In total, 28 people from among us have now gone to meet the Nyamwezi!
In the coming months, you’ll hear firsthand stories from the members of our 2025 Tanzania Team. But for now I’d like to give you just a small glimpse of what we experienced and all that the Lord allowed us to be a part of as we said “yes” to His call.
GLIMPSES OF THE 2025 TANZANIA TEAM’S WORK:
-
Pastor David Anderson spent a week teaching 100 pastors and evangelists on Soteriology and the need for grace.
-
Rylie Anderson walked into government run schools and boldly shared the gospel, leading to at least one student accepting Christ.
-
Jessica Lee lovingly shared the message of God’s great love with over 1,000 children.
-
Tim Lee dedicated hours/days documenting and investing time to help us understand the Nyamwezi people better.
-
Bob Payne, the evangelist of our team, joyfully shared the gospel during our entire trip—including on all six flights—leading many to place their faith in Jesus.
-
Grant Hughes, our team’s greatest supporter, led us through cornfields and narrow footpaths, engaging with the Nyamwezi people and helping us to know them better.
It was an incredible privilege for me to witness the Church of the Open Door team thrive in Tabora, Tanzania.
Were there challenges? Yes.
Was it all worth it? Absolutely. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
As we celebrate five years and reach the halfway point of our 10-year prayer request journey, let us rejoice in God’s continued faithfulness.
Let us keep asking Him to allow us to take part as a community of believers in the Great Commission.
We will continue to pray and seek the Lord’s guidance as we move beyond borders, cultivating hearts that love and pray specifically for the Nyamwezi people.
Our ongoing prayer is that by 2030, Church of the Open Door will have the privilege of seeing a Christ-centered, reproducing church established among the Nyamwezi people.
BE PART OF THE JOURNEY
I invite you to continue on this journey with us!
One way you can be involved is by joining us for a monthly Zoom Prayer Meeting for the Nyamwezi. We meet on the fourth Thursday of every month. The next meeting is on Thursday, March 27 at 7:00pm, and we will pray specifically for this precious people group and hear more about what the Lord is doing currently.
The story is far from over—stay tuned for stories and deeper insights from the team members who have just returned.
And as you do, take time to consider how the Lord may be calling you to take part in this journey with the Nyamwezi. What will your “yes” be?
Until all have heard,
Kyleen Hughes
Team Tanzania Lead |
Ryan Berkman, who is now our student ministries pastor.
In 2022 God sent another team to Tabora, Tanzania. David Newkirk, our next gen pastor, spent a week teaching the book of Revelation to the students who attended the Tabora Bible College.
In 2023 Associate Pastor David Schaller was also able to spend a week teaching and ministering in Tabora, with a focus on spiritual formation.
In 2024 Steve Quatro, the chairman of our elder board at that time, traveled as part of a team where he served in teaching and training the Tabora Bible College students in sports ministry.
And in 2025, just last month, Lead Pastor David Anderson and Children’s Pastor Jessica Lee spent time partnering in ministry among the Nyamwezi people.
