Preaching networks extend across Tanzania

March 30, 2009

Frank Luvanda, country coordinator, reports on the growth of the preaching network in Tanzania.

They came from 20 different denominations, and travelled from 13 different regions.  In February, over 150 pastors took part in the ongoing training work of Langham Preaching – called LP-MVIMUTA (a network of expository preachers clubs in Tanzania).  It’s been growing for the past five years, and now there are many hundreds of pastors involved, many preachers’ clubs, and an expanding vision to reach the towns and villages across this vast country.

‘I wish I had known this many years before’
The two training events were held in Mwanza and Mbeya, deliberately targeting groups of pastors in regions which have previously been unreached by the LP-MVIMUTA programme.  Rev Samuel Makocebe spoke for many when he said: ‘I have worked with the Church for more than 18 years, but I have never seen such direct Bible-centred preaching methods and content. I wish I had known this many years before. I am now well equipped to handle the Bible properly.’

Explaining the impact of the programme as it reaches across the churches, country coordinator Frank Luvanda has sent this encouraging report:

‘By God’s grace we managed to have pastors from 20 denominations. It is continuing to help us by building a new generation of preachers and teachers who are not pre-occupied by their denominational backgrounds. This year, the training team included Julius Twongyeirwe, LP country coordinator in Uganda. As well as giving basic training in preaching, he addressed many difficult issues that face the Church in East Africa, such as misunderstanding between church leaders and between Christians of different denominations. Through his training, many church ministers understood their mistakes in ministry and told Frank that “Mchungaji Julius ametusaidia na kutufungua pale tulipokuwa tunakosea katika kuhubiri” (Pastor Julius has helped and opened our mind to know where we were making mistakes in preaching). Here in Tanzania we value so much this cross-pollination in our Preaching Movement.’

A further encouragement was the use of the Tanzanian team as main facilitators. Frank served the seminar programme in Mwanza in the north, the second time he has helped as a local facilitator in the national preaching movement, and Elkana Gonda helped in Mbeya, each working alongside fellow trainers Rodney Wood and Tony Swanson.

Growing preachers clubs
Tanzania has also re-structured the preaching clubs, retaining the five zones established in 2006 and establishing two new zones for local preaching movements, making the ministry of LP-MVIMUTA more effective. ‘We appointed new local representatives for five zones and we will keep on looking to identify other potential local leaders. We also appointed a convenor for each preachers club. God has helped us much in Tanzania because preachers clubs are flourishing and continue to multiply. We continue to encourage preachers clubs all over Tanzania. At the moment we have 42 clubs scattered across the country, but this is not enough. We are not aiming at increasing the number only, but we also aim at having active and effective preachers clubs. We look forward to having more local preaching movements all over Tanzania mainland at our own cost. When we have completed level one, we will then conduct a local level 2 preaching movement. This will help in reducing the costs of running national seminars for level 2.’

Spreading the news
‘To expand the work we plan to invite all bishops and other church leaders in their respective areas to introduce them the ministry of LP-MVIMUTA and its importance for the well being of the Church. We plan to meet church leaders in Morogoro, Mwanza, Mbeya, Kigoma, Arusha and Kagera.  We also look forward to introducing the ministry of LP-MVIMUTA in various theological colleges and Bible schools so that the training methods and values should be incorporated amongst in the curriculum, much as it is conducted at Morogoro Bible College. Knowing the importance of emerging leaders in secondary school and University colleges, we look forward to inviting young Christian leaders to attend LP-MVIMUTA preaching movements, so that they may be able to preach faithfully according to the Bible. This would be a special LP-MVIMUTA local preaching movement for leaders and preachers of students’ Christian associations.’

‘I am working hard in building a strong committed local team. I thank God that we have now managed to build a strong team of 14 local leaders, and we have already spotted a few other promising local leaders. Our aim is to do what Jethro advised Moses in Exodus 18:13-26.

Nurturing local support
‘It is true that most church ministers in rural Tanzania live below 1 dollar a day. The current global economic crisis has contributed much to economic instability for many church ministers in the country. Despite all these challenges we have determined to raise the local contribution. If we start early in the year we can then find ourselves with something to bring to LP-MVIMUTA national at the end of the year. Most Tanzanian church ministers serve the Lord as Paul did, with a ‘tent-making theology’, since the majority are under-paid in their normal work. But most Tanzanian church ministers have no additional skills, so we look forward to run life skills to help church ministers create small projects of their own.

‘In order to make the ministry become sustainable, we are developing ‘Friends of MVIMUTA’, who will be able to provide what they have for the ministry in the country. ‘Friends of MVIMUTA’ will help various churches to set a day for MVIMUTA, when there would be an extra collection for the work.’

Please pray for Frank and his team, for the growing network of preachers, and for effective preaching and teaching to shape the churches and communities of Tanzania.