Autumn Newsletter 2024 – SparkLit

I love teaching Bible Knowledge

Katy — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 01:29:23 +0000

John Mirambwe teaches Bible knowledge, an optional subject in Tanzanian secondary schools. This year, SparkLit will sponsor the printing of thousands of textbooks for this subject.

You can help John Mirambwe give secondary students in Tanzania a priceless gift.

My name is John Danford Mirambwe. I teach biology and chemistry at Biharamulo Secondary School. I also teach Bible Knowledge as a volunteer.

Along with Islamic studies, Bible Knowledge is an optional subject in Tanzanian secondary schools. The Bible Knowledge syllabus takes four years to complete and at the end of Form 2 and Form 4 students sit national exams.

I enjoy teaching and learning

When I was at secondary school, I studied Bible Knowledge. I really liked it, so when I went to university I decided to study theology. I enjoy teaching a subject that I have studied, and preparing lessons and doing research is a great pleasure for me. The syllabus, teaching manuals and textbooks are clear and easy to use. Teaching is stimulating. As always, whenever I teach I am also learning.

Lack of resources, awkward timetabling and the negative attitudes of some staff make teaching and studying Bible Knowledge challenging. This means that those who do teach and study Bible Knowledge must be highly motivated and disciplined.

At primary school Tanzanian students study in Swahili, but all secondary school subjects are taught in English. This presents a challenge but also an opportunity. As they study the Bible in a second language, Bible Knowledge students duplicate and deepen their understanding of the Bible.

I love seeing my students grow

I love to see Bible Knowledge students getting to know God and applying what they learn in their daily lives. They are more disciplined at school and at home with their parents. They are also cooperative, behave with integrity and work hard.

Students studying the Bible discover that God loves and values them and wants them to love and respect each other. This enables them to think differently about discrimination, sex, human rights, care of the environment, government, friendship and leadership.

My greatest joy is seeing my students not just adopt Christian values but become followers of Jesus. As they grow in their understanding of the word of God, it becomes much easier for them to recognise and avoid the false teachings of this current age.

I appreciate your partnership

I would like to thank SparkLit for supplying all the Bible Knowledge textbooks we need. Your support has been instrumental in the progress of Bible Knowledge. May the Lord God bless you.

Please pray that the training of teachers and the supply of Bibles, textbooks and teaching manuals will keep up with the growing demand for the Bible Knowledge subject.

John Danford Mirambwe began teaching Bible Knowledge at Biharamulo Secondary School on 1 June 2023.

$10k will enable dozens of secondary schools to teach Bible Knowledge for one year by providing textbooks.

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As iron sharpens iron

Katy — Tue, 28 May 2024 02:19:07 +0000

Thanks to SparkLit supporters, graduates like Jehrus Bien Bastawang Laconsay leave St Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Manila with a copy of the IVP New Bible Commentary and Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

You can help equip students like Jehrus Bien Bastawang Laconsay for a life of ministry.

“You are called, and I am here to guide you.” The sun began to rise and its gentle rays washed over me. I knew I needed to respond to the call to ministry and prepare for a life of service. With a restless heart, I entered St Andrew’s Theological Seminary.

Ora et labora

Seminary life was warm and welcoming. I enjoyed working, worshipping, eating, playing and praying with other students. We came from different parts of the country, different traditions and different cultural, social and theological backgrounds but we shared one common purpose. An invisible thread bound us together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

When one succeeded, we all celebrated their victory. In times of sorrow, we held each other close. In life’s storms, helping hands reminded us of the power of kindness, solidarity and perseverance. I never felt alone.

A crucible

But diversity can be a double-edged sword. While different traditions and interpretations broadened my perspective and enriched our collective journey, they also presented obstacles to unity and mutual understanding. At times, uncertainty and chaos consumed my mind.

Patience, I discovered, is not passive acceptance but an active and intentional stance that fosters learning and growth. Listening deeply, challenging preconceptions and engaging rigorously with complex and competing theological claims were disciplines I had to learn and master.

Preach, teach, heal

Like the theological students with whom I studied, the people I will serve live in a diverse and complex world. Many will be poor, marginalised, oppressed and vulnerable. My ministry will be more than delivering sermons and administering sacraments. I will need to be present and active in their lives. I will need to share their struggles, setbacks and triumphs.

Reading develops empathy

Books are crucial for building a harmonious community. They hold not only knowledge, but also experience, allowing us to understand and appreciate different cultural and theological backgrounds. Knowing how others have navigated similar paths in other times and places is a solace, inspiration and encouragement.

During our field placements, our theory was tested in practical application. It is clear that our training in wisdom, compassion and grace has only just begun. Your gift of books will enable us to continue to learn and to teach with conviction and compassion.

Please pray that, like Jesus, I will seek to minister to the whole person, to both their material and spiritual needs.

Jehrus Bien Bastawang Laconsay graduated from St Andrew’s Theological Seminary, Manila, in 2023 with a master’s degree in divinity.

$160 will provide a Bible dictionary and Bible commentary to a graduate from St Andrew’s Seminary in Manila.

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Our God makes promises and keeps them

Katy — Mon, 20 May 2024 02:55:20 +0000

Meng Srong is an editor at Christian publisher Fount of Wisdom (FoW) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Please pray that God would use FoW books to make known the hope found in Jesus.

You can help Srong make Christian books accessible in the Khmer language.

My father was a fisherman. When I was young, I went to school in the morning, and in the afternoon I went fishing with my father. In the dry season, we fished on the lake. In the rainy season, we fished on the river. At the start of the rainy season, after fishing together all afternoon, I spent the night fishing alone on the river. I slept on our boat and early in the morning I brought the fish home for my mother to sell.

How can I be good enough for God?

My mother was pious and took me to the Buddhist temple. I followed the teachings of the monks, but, as I grew older, I became less confident that my good deeds could make up for my sins. Not even the monks were perfect.

Every kingdom has a king and every republic has a president. If there is a god, he must be god of all. So, how can there be different gods for Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists? My mother did not know how to answer my questions.

When I went to Phnom Penh to study at university, I could no longer help my father, so he began to plant fruit trees and grow crops. My landlady in Phnom Penh was a Christian and every Sunday she took me to church. The pastor explained how the Christian God created all things and came to earth to pay for our sins and rescue us. Jesus did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. This answered many of my questions, so I began to read and study the Bible. After two years’ research and thinking, I made Jesus my Lord and Saviour.

How will I serve the God who speaks?

After graduating with a degree in business administration, I joined the production team at Voice of New Life Radio. I received training in journalism and was asked to edit scripts that had been translated from English. When one of the translators told me that Christian publisher Fount of Wisdom was looking for an editor, I prayed for one week then applied for the job.

Without books how can we remember?

I never imagined that I would work with books but when I became a Christian I began to appreciate the power and importance of words. Without words there can be no meaning, explanations, understanding, encouragement or commitment. With words, we make promises and make ourselves accountable.

I get great satisfaction from making manuscripts flow smoothly and meeting deadlines. Books are important for all of us and should be accessible for everyone. Books are our memory.

Please pray that I will work with joy. Pray that I will have the strength to work to support my family and send my daughter and two sons to school.

Meng Srong is an editor at Christian publisher FoW in Phnom Penh.

$30k will enable Christian publisher FoW in Phnom Penh to publish 12 books written in Khmer by local Christians.

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Here am I, send me

Katy — Fri, 10 May 2024 06:32:06 +0000

Thanks to SparkLit supporters, Nyemo Muhuva and Happiness Kamale leave Bunda Bible College with essential Bible references in Swahili. Please pray that they will serve with love and grace the people God has entrusted to their care.

You can help young leaders like Nyemo teach God’s word with clarity and confidence.

My name is Nyemo Muhuva. I grew up in a good Christian family. My mother and father are subsistence farmers. We grow crops to provide ourselves with food, clothing, schooling and medicine.

I went to primary school for seven years. I didn’t continue with high school because of my family’s economic position. We could not pay the school fees or buy educational materials. So, I decided to work hard to help my parents farm our land.

I am chosen

At our church, I taught Sunday school. I received no training, so to educate the children I simply repeated what I had been taught.

My congregation and pastor inspired me. My pastor gave his time to train me to lead Sunday services and to preach. This training helped me realise that God had called me for his ministry. This was my stepping stone to engage in mission.

I live in the Anglican Church of Tanzania Diocese of Masasi. My bishop chose three young leaders from our diocese to send to Bunda Bible College (BBC). I was so honoured to be appointed that I did not think twice about the 1700-kilometre bus journey, even though no one in my family had ever travelled so far away.

I am transformed

I think that BBC is the best college in East Africa! Ample time and opportunities for group and individual learning and devotion enabled us to grow in Christian maturity. Supervised and monitored pastoral field practice gave us valuable experience in ministry. Extracurricular training equipped us with skills in tailoring, cooking, carpentry and driving. Best of all, our lecturers teach the Bible faithfully and fear God.

Life at BBC has changed me. I am not the same person I was when I started studying theology. My views about my faith and ministry have changed. I now preach and minister with greater competence and integrity. I know that women’s ministry is equal in value to men’s ministry. I am now confident to be a role model and to make women’s ministry acceptable in the Masasi Diocese.

When I finish my studies, I will go back to my diocese to fulfil the mission that God himself put in me. I want to teach Sunday school and help women to know and serve Jesus Christ.

I am grateful

I am very thankful to my bishop for sending me to BBC. His prayers and support have been a great encouragement. I am grateful to everyone, seen and unseen, who supported my living at BBC. Thank you, SparkLit, for providing books that will help me in my pastoral ministry and further studies. May God bless you abundantly.

Please pray that our Lord’s grace will be sufficient for me and that his power will be made perfect in my weakness.

Nyemo graduated from Bunda Bible College in 2023 with a certificate in theology.

$80 will provide a Bunda Bible College graduate with a personal theological and pastoral library.

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