You can help Imani Charles Orondi make God’s gospel of grace clear to Swahili readers.

 

My name is Imani. I am from a family of eight children. I was born and raised in Nangara village, Babati district, in the Manyara Region of Tanzania.

 

I’m so grateful that while I was still a sinner Jesus Christ died for me. When I was fifteen years old, the Lord my God delivered me from the dominion of darkness and transferred me to the kingdom of his beloved Son. By grace he opened my heart to his gospel so that I repented and believed in Jesus. Through him I now have eternal life!

 

God’s grace in the church

 

From that time on, I found myself getting along well with the ministers in my local church. I joined Bible study fellowships and prayer groups. The Lord was transforming my heart so I might love and serve him. This is how I saw the Lord calling me to his ministry. The church also realised this and sent me to Bible college.

 

After five years at Munguishi Bible College, the bishop sent me to shepherd a newly planted village church. Again we saw the Lord working through us for his glory. I say “we” because my beloved wife Magdalena, who is also an evangelist, joined me in ministry following our wedding in 2019. God has blessed us with a baby girl. We called her Precious.

 

God’s grace in books

 

It has been said that reading is not cherished by Africans but my people are proving this saying to be wrong. Tanzanians are thirsty for books to read, especially Christian books. Unfortunately, there are still very few Christian books in Swahili. So, how can servants of God who only read Swahili learn from Christian books or study at Bible college?

 

While we wait for more Swahili writers, must we miss out on the thousands of good and helpful books written in other languages? No! As we nurture and motivate Tanzanian theologians to write, we can also publish translations of the best books from around the world.

 

God’s grace in our language

 

I have translated Grace Transforming by Phil Ryken into Swahili. This book is a sound exposition of biblical doctrine. It will be very helpful to the Swahili-speaking church because the hearts and minds of many people are hidden in the envelope of ignorance so that they cannot see the glorious truth of God’s gospel of grace.

 

Grace Transforming teaches us that we are saved through the grace of God by faith in Jesus Christ from beginning to end, and certainly not by works. All good works done by believers are fruits of the gracious indwelling of the Holy Spirit, so that no one can boast.

 

Will you help us print this book?

 

Please pray that Grace Transforming will help many pastors like me to boldly preach nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

 

Imani Charles Orondi is an ordained deacon serving in a parish of the Anglican Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro.

 

$3,000 will make possible the printing of 1,000 copies of a Swahili edition of Grace Transforming by Phil Ryken.

Today you can help Revd Josias Buneye give secondary students in Tanzania a lasting gift.

 

“I met Jesus through reading God’s words.” Edina Aleluya Charles is in form four at Mchungaji Mwema Secondary School. “I enjoy the Bible Knowledge classes, especially the stories of Jesus and his ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Bible Knowledge widens my understanding of God’s work and builds my faith. God’s word encourages me when I am disappointed.”

 

Room for growth

 

There is great demand for Christian education in schools. Although the Bible Knowledge syllabus has been approved by the Ministry of Education, very few government teachers are equipped to teach it. So, the Anglican Church of Tanzania is providing schools with Bibles, Bible Knowledge textbooks and teaching guides. With sufficient teachers and course material, this program could be taught in hundreds of schools throughout Tanzania. 

 

Most children cannot afford to buy a Bible, and the government’s free education policy means that parents cannot be charged for course materials. With your financial support we can equip teachers with Bibles and textbooks for students like Edina. “Jesus has made lots of differences in my life. He encourages me in all my activities. Jesus even enabled me to pass my exams. As a follower of Jesus I have met with opposition from my family and community. I expect these challenges from non-Christians will continue. I hope to be a good Christian who will be a role model in doing God’s work.”

 

The sky is the limit

 

Last year, in the schools we support, 365 students passed their national Bible Knowledge exams and became the first cohort to complete the four-year Bible Knowledge course. Over 2,000 students have elected to take the subject and are enthusiastic about studying the Bible. Will you be a part of this unique evangelistic opportunity? Will you enable students to learn about Jesus by providing Bibles and textbooks?

 

Please pray that Edina will persevere and see the hand of our Heavenly Father in all she does.

 

Revd Josias Buneye coordinates Bible Knowledge in Secondary Schools in the Anglican Diocese of Kagera, Tanzania.

 

$10,000 will enable dozens of secondary schools to run Bible Knowledge for one year by providing Bibles and textbooks.

You can help prepare pastors like Javan Asuza Benard to teach and apply the word of God with confidence.

 

When I was a young boy I went to Kenya to find my fortune. This is where I saw a young evangelist known as Sister Mary. I heard her speak and the word of God entered into my heart. As I listened carefully I received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour.

 

When I completed my schooling I returned home to Tanzania. In 1997 I was baptised and four years later I was confirmed. In 2003 the parish council chose me to be an evangelist and sent me to study at Kowak Christian Training Centre.

 

Open my mind

 

My name is Javan Asuza Benard. I am 43 years old and married to Jane. God has blessed us with four children.

 

In 2012 I commenced certificate level studies at the Bunda Bible College. This year I will graduate with a diploma. At college I read many books. I have discovered how books can open my mind and help me understand and apply Scripture. Despite suffering, Job did not curse God. I learned that God is with us in good times and bad times. We should preach with an understanding of the whole Bible as well as what a particular passage is saying.

 

Open our hearts

 

In our parish we have three new churches. These congregations are small and weak and need good teaching. I want to see them grow and develop as they learn more about God.

 

Please pray that I will let the Holy Spirit lead me and show me how to teach the people so they will understand well. Pray that God will open the minds of our people so they may know God as their hope and refuge.

 

May God bless you so much.

 

Your loved brother, Javan Asuza Benard.

 

 

This year Javan Asuza Benard will graduate with a diploma from Bunda Bible College in Tanzania.

 

$45 will provide a pastor or theological student with a copy of the Africa Bible Commentary.

You can give a Bible college graduate like Christian Nchimbi the gift of knowledge.

 

My name is Christian Saidi Nchimbi. I am Tanzanian and reside in Dar es Salaam. I declare faith in Christ Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of my life. I believe that God is a God of love and full of mercy. I believe that Jesus Christ is the truth and the only way people come into fellowship with God. I believe in the authority of Holy Scripture to guide us. But this revelation has not always been my companion. It came to me when I began a personal relationship with God. To come to this revelation was the greatest miracle.

 

Christian in name

 

I was third born in a Christian family of eight children. From a young age, my parents brought my siblings and me to church on Sundays. They took me though all the church rites and the sacraments of baptism in 1972, and my confirmation in 1983. At church I enjoyed making friends and I was zealous in my duties. At the age of eight I was serving as an assistant at Holy Communion.

 

However, when I left home in 1986, things started to change. Away from my parents, I began to smoke and drink alcohol and I was concerned only with work. The church was no longer the number one business in my life.

 

I surrender

 

In 2003 I married Christina. When we met her name was Salima. She converted from Islam to Christianity to marry me. For the sake of strengthening her new faith I had to go back to church. After three years she was born again. This posed a challenge for me, until my turn came on 27 April 2008. At a crusade held in the Ilala District of Dar es Salaam the Lord called me and I surrendered to him. Now I see that God has a plan and purpose.

 

My life changed abruptly. I started to attend fellowship every evening and joined a class which started with twenty-five new converts. God gave me strength to grow very fast, and in a few years I became a leader, preacher and teacher of the Word of God. I left the job I was doing and started working full-time with the Anglican Church as an evangelist. This year, by the grace of God, I completed a three-year diploma and was ordained as a deacon. Next semester I begin studying for a degree.

 

Jesus by my side

 

Since I came into a personal relationship with God, I am learning what it means to be a Christian. I have no regrets, and I will not, since Jesus is always at my side. I always welcome the chance to share this insight with people. Jesus has done wonders for me which cannot be contained on this page.

 

Please pray that I hold fast to my faith in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Praise the Lord Jesus!

 

 

Christian Saidi Nchimbi is a student at the Theological Faculty at St Mark’s University College and an evangelist with the Anglican Church of Tanzania.

 

$40 will provide a theological graduate or pastor with an essential theological reference.

Today you can help Andy Bennett give students in Tanzania a lasting gift.

 

“I want to be a pilot.” Jackson is thirteen. He has big plans and a shy grin. Jackson is in form 1 at Mchungaji Mwema Secondary School. He clasps a Bible and a booklet on his lap. “I know that education is my best chance for a future. I want to pass my exams, get a good job and honour God.”

 

We can’t do it alone

 

There is great demand for Christian education in schools. Although the Bible Knowledge syllabus has been approved by the Ministry of Education, there are very few government teachers qualified in theology. So pastors from different denominations are putting their hands up to help. With sufficient teachers and course material this new program could be taught in 20 schools throughout north-west Tanzania. Over 1,000 students like Jackson have elected to take the subject and are enthusiastic about studying the Bible.

 

Because God loves us

 

This is a poor region. Most children cannot afford to buy a Bible, and the government’s free education policy means that parents cannot be charged for the cost of the course materials. With your financial support, Jackson and students like him will receive a Bible and class notes. “If I had my own Bible, I could use it all the way until the end of school, and maybe even after that!” Jackson says, “Having a Bible and good notes will help me to study and pass my exams. I like reading and studying the Bible. I want to understand God because God loves us.”

 

Will you be a part of this unique evangelistic opportunity in Tanzania? Will you enable students to learn about Jesus by providing a Bible and course notes?

 

Please pray that Jackson will come to trust and obey our heavenly Father and become an agent of his love and grace in Tanzania.

 

Andy Bennett is an Australia missionary collaborating on the new Bible Knowledge syllabus with the Anglican Diocese of Kagera.

 

$13 will enable a student to study Bible Knowledge at a secondary school in Tanzania by providing a Bible and notes.