Connect October – December 2020
What has changed in 125 years? Missionaries from the early 1900s would not recognise much about the AIM of 2020. And today’s missionaries might not recognise the AIM of 2050. Or even 2030.
AIM Location: Tanzania
Tanzania is one of the world’s poorest nations; agricultural subsistence dominates its economy. Health and education sectors require massive investments.There is freedom of religion; all major faiths have the ability to share and propagate their faith. Christianity makes up 54% of the population with Islam totalling 31%.
AIM began work in German East Africa (later Tanganyika and now Tanzania) in 1909 following work started by the Church Missionary Society (CMS). Work began in Nassa with Emil & Marie Sywulkas starting the translation of the Bible, beginning with the Gospel of John in 1913, printed on a small hand press. Their work was focussed on building a strong church led by Godly African leaders, which became one of the building blocks leading to the founding of the indigenous denomination, Africa Inland Church Tanzania. The AIC Tanzania is still an independent and self-governing church, continuing to grow. Currently the AIC Tanzania is estimated to have over 2500 congregations.
Despite the growth of the church there are still a number of unreached people groups in Tanzania. AIM members are currently directly engaged with eight unreached groups there, and remain committed to taking the gospel to the ones who have not yet heard the good news. The goal is to work together with national church partners and together to finish the task. AIM are also involved in numerous other kinds of ministry (medical, teaching, theological education, children’s work) which contribute to Christ-centered churches who in turn will reach out to the lost.
Related
Celebrating 125 years of AIM
There are still almost 1,000 African unreached people groups, mostly in the Sahel, north and west Africa. May Jesus find us faithful, even for the next 125 years. Or until he returns.
Meeting a need
A TIMO team leader working among a Muslim people group in the Tanzanian hills shares some stories of God at work.
Why serve on a team?
Simon and Sue French look back on their experiences serving on a TIMO team from 2005 until 2007 among the Datooga in Tanzania. After the team ended, they stayed in Tanzania to serve the new churches until 2018. They tell us what the benefits of serving on a multi-cultural team.
“God is at work here”
Our village leader, Mwenyekiti, is a force to be reckoned with. She is well respected in the village and is full of wisdom. She is also adamantly opposed to hearing about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Rearranging the furniture
Eddie Arthur, in his excellent blog post ‘Gospel and Culture’ said: “When the homeless gospel comes into a culture as a guest, it is an awkward guest – quite rude in fact. Rather than just settling down to do things your way, the gospel starts to move the furniture around and redecorate the house.”
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