Stimulating Missions

 

Grace and Peace to you friends.  In the coming days, many of you will be receiving non-taxable stimulus payments from the government in the amount of $1,400 per person.  If you are in a stable enough fiscal situation that this could be expendable income for you, then let me plant a seed of thought.  I know that you already have a heart for missions, and a love for the Lord's kingdom.  This just might be an opportunity to give more generously to a cause you love than you are ordinarily able to do!  Here are just a few ways that a one-time donation might be a blessing to the Lord's work in Tanzania:   Sponsor a Campaign - Due to travel restrictions, our foreign campaigns have all been put on hold.  However, the local brethren are still desiring to conduct their own campaigns, but could use help with the expenses of such.  For example, the Arusha church has asked for $1,000 to cover food and travel expenses for area evangelists to gather and conduct a campaign in their area.   Construction Projects - There are several congregations that have presented us with requests for help with their facilities.  One-time donations can go a long way in helping these congregations to have secure, permanent places to worship. Student Support - For $3,600, you could cover the expenses of training a preaching student at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching for a whole year. Gaines family work fund - My family will be heading to Tanzania in May, and won't return until August.  One-time contributions could help offset the expenses that we'll incur in the course of this work.  Noel Stafford family - Noel and his family are raising support to work in Moshi.  They could use help with the initial costs of getting moved over and set up in the work.  Cy Stafford School of Leadership - is in the final phases of construction.  We still need funds to renovate, furnish, and supply the library that will be shared between the School of Leadership and ACSOP.  One of our committee members will be sending a container later this year, and has promised us room for books and desks, if we can get them purchased in time.   You can always just donate to the Tanzania general fund, giving us the flexibility to direct the funds to the area we view as having the greatest strategic need at the time.    There are two main ways to give now: The online donation option at the Hoover website ( https://hooverchurchofchrist.org/member-resources/ ) at that link, you can SCROLL DOWN to the GREEN button that says " Give to Tanzania."              OR You can make your checks payable to "Hoover Church of Christ" and make sure to clearly label the memo line "Tanzania Missions").  Then mail it to:           TANZANIA MISSIONS           C/O HOOVER CHURCH OF CHRIST           3248 LORNA RD           HOOVER, AL 35216   Either way, make sure to clearly specify any special instructions or intentions for the funds.  The online option is the fastest and safest, but the service does charge a processing fee. Thank you for your consideration, and your love for the work.  We appreciate your partnership in these efforts. May God's blessings be upon you! Till all have heard, Daniel Gaines Mission Coordinator Tanzania Missions

Short Report 2/21

 

Grace and Peace to you friends.  I hope this note finds you well, and your faith thriving.  Today I want to share with you the following update from Ahimidiwe Kimaro, the local director of the Andrew Connally School of Preaching:            "We thank our Lord for great things is doing in his Kingdom. Although the world is living in most discouraging time, everyone is worried. But we forget that God is the master planner for our later days, whether is this life or the life to come. We should realize that God is the controller of this life and life to come. ITimothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is the first quarter for the new students just enrolled this year. This year  we were able to enroll fourteen students. Most of these students are natives, except one from Kagiado Kenya. As most of you may know, we are suffering in East Africa from corona viruses just as most countries in the world. Corona has become a hindrance of recruitment of students. Most foreign students from Kenya, Uganda and Malawi that we were expecting couldn’t cross their borders due to high cost and restrictions that are in borders. But also you should consider Tanzania in your prayers due the high rate of new corona spreading rapidly. "In the first year class we have the following instructors: Losotwa Michael teaching Writing Skills. Desidery Masawe teaching Old Testament 1 (Genesis) Josephat Masawe teaching How we got the Bible Ahimidiwe Kimaro teaching How to Interpret the Bible and later brothers David Hall and Peter Kamatula will teach short courses. "In the same way the second year is in class. All sixteen are back to school, regardless of corona restrictions. But I believe what the Philipians 4:13 says. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. "In other sad news, we lost one of our graduate brother Asher Mbasha. Mbasha was a man of faith that all christians can follow. Asher was preaching at Boma Ng’ombe, Kilimanjaro. Asher was baptized in 1998, but this man received a bible tract in 1988 from missionaries who were passing by. He kept it in his Bible for ten years.  One day he read it and started looking for the church.  May God comfort his family and the church at Boma Ng’ombe at this sad time.  Also the Andrew Connally School Of Preaching has lost a former worker and sister, Grace Jang’andu we are expecting to burry her on Monday God willing. "Please in your daily prayers remember us and this work.  Thank you very much for reading and supporting this work." Let me join with Ahimidiwe in seeking your prayers over the issues mentioned in his letter.  Also, I plan to be in the Dallas/Fort Worth area this weekend (Feb 28), but I don't have an appointment for the Sunday evening service yet.  Are you connected with a congregation in that area that would be willing to hear more about the work in Tanzania?  Let me know; I'd love to come by! Till all have heard, Daniel Gaines Mission Coordinator Tanzania Missions

Short Report 1/18

 

Grace and Peace to you friends.  I hope this note finds you and your loved ones well.  Even though things are getting chilly in the US, below the equator it is summer time!  That means summer camps!  Here in the description from Charles Mwanga about the recent camps hosted at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching:      "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverb 22:6). This is a direct command from the Lord, sometimes people tend to take it as an opinion but that is not what the Lord intended it to be. If we want a better family, society, Church and even nation, we ought to follow this command accordingly. That’s why here at the Andrew Connally School of Preaching we have the following:      "FUTURE PREACHER TRAINING CAMP: This is the camp hosted and conducted by the staff of ACSOP for the purpose of helping young people to grow to the full ability of teaching and preaching the word of God. This camp has trained for years numberless youth who are now in schools, universities and even jobs out there but are helping their congregations on teaching and preaching. This past year we have had a privilege to host 55 campers who were taught how to become an effective preacher through the theme, “WHAT DOES THE CHURCH NEED?” They were instructed on how the Church needs: The Bible, Jesus, Godly youth, Sound Preachers, A vision for the future, and so many other topics which helped the youth to see the important of sticking only to the Bible and not fables or modernism. The youth did a very good work in this camp, please join us in praying for them as they continue with this fire which has been started in them.       "TANZANIA CHRISTIAN CAMP: This is another way which ACSOP is helping the Church here to “train up a child.” This year we had 122 campers from around the Arusha area. This camp includes both boys and girls from the age of 13 years to 24 years. In this camp we taught them about the importance of the “SPIRITUAL HEALTH,” This included: Spiritual Healing, Proper Spiritual Diet, Exercise Yourself Spiritually and Keep a Healthy Mind. Youth were strengthened and grew through the teachings presented by experienced teachers. We thank God for both men and women from the brotherhood who were willing to come and help in training up these kids, May the Lord of grace bless you beyond measure.     "From both of these camps we were able to baptize 15 souls!   These are youth who have seen the truth of God’s word and decided to obey it. This could have not been possible if it was not through your support, prayers and love towards the people of East Africa especially Tanzania. We thank you so much. Many will one day be in heaven just because you chose to support this wonderful work. May the Lord continue to bless you in this new year so that you can continue to support His work. THANK YOU SO MUCH. To Him be all the glory both now and forever."      Would your congregation like to hear more about the work in Tanzania, and how they can be involved?  I would love to come visit!   Till all have heard, Daniel Gaines Mission Coordinator Tanzania Missions

Short Report 1/4

 

Grace and Peace to you friends.  On behalf of the team at Tanzania Missions, I want to wish you a happy and prosperous new year!  Last year brought a great many challenges that none of us anticipated, and we are hopeful for a return to normalcy this year.  However, despite those challenges, God still did some great things in Tanzania.  I want to give you a snapshot of some of those things.    YEAR IN REVIEW  2020 The Andrew Connelly School of Preaching had 24 undergraduate students.  8 students successfully completed their bachelor's degrees 4 students earned a master's degree 239 lost souls were baptized for the remission of their sins (58 from student evangelism) 129 erring souls were restored 1 congregation rescued from vanishing 2 camps were hosted at ACSOP (Future Preacher Training Camp and Tanzania Christian Camp) 1 lectureship hosted (Tanzania Leadership Conference) $6,000 raised for COVID relief in Tanzania   As you can see, the Lord has been at work in powerful ways in East Africa.  Thank you for your encouragement and support during 2020.  Join with me in praying for an even better 2021 for the Lord's work in Tanzania.   One great need that we have for this year is for more monthly supporters.  With congregations suffering economically during this pandemic, some of our supporters have had to cut their support.  Could you help us recover that support by adding Tanzania Missions to your monthly budget if it isn't already a part?  Do you have anyone that you could recommend the work to?  Let me know!  Till all have heard, Daniel Gaines Tanzania Missions Recent Baptism at Moshi