When Faith is still alive and working

We have been to East Africa, notably Uganda and Tanzania, many times. Every time I am amazed by the beauty of the land, the variety of creation, the vastness of space, the size of the sky. The sky is bigger in Africa. Above all, my heart is always warmed up by the love, kindness and gentleness of the brethren. Christianity has a future: it is not in decline, it is advancing very fast and very powerfully in Africa.

Recently I heard a dear man who lives in a North African country reporting on a program on Muslim television. The Muslim cleric was sharing the strategy of Islam to bring their message to Europe and North America. He was also saying that Islam is intensifying its efforts in Asia, but that Africa was lost. The reason? In Africa Christians are healing the sick and raising the dead!

I love to minister in Tanzania, everything seems so simple, the response of the audience, their participation, the willingness of everyone to be involved in ministry, to learn more about the work of the Holy Spirit and to press on in the knowledge of Christ.

In the past I spoke at public rallies and I loved it: casting the net to a large audience, several thousand people, proclaiming the Gospel, seeing hundreds being healed, really healed not juts getting better, but being totally, instantaneously healed from the most severe diseases, many being delivered from evil spirits. If any weary, tired, disappointed, frustrated minister needs a boost to his or her faith, I would say: go to Africa, ask the local brethren to organise a public rally for you and watch God at work!

If anyone is tired of stifled, repetitive, uninspired church singing, of Christian performers competing for a share of the audience, of professionalism infiltrating the worship, I would say the same thing: go to Africa. Not too many different instruments there, mainly drums, some other home made shaker or rattler, occasionally a key board, if electricity works, but the worship, ah, really heavenly, enthusiastic, deep, moving, joyful. I think there are no words to describe it, it has to be experienced.

If any church leader is tired of struggling with scarcity of funds, Sunday morning appeals, mounting expenses and lowering offerings, I would say: go to Africa. Probably I never met any one more generous than some brethren in Tanzania, ready to give all that they have, which is not much anyhow, to the less fortunate and even to visitors like us.

Life is simpler, even though at times it  is much more difficult because the access to some facilities we take for granted, medical care, higher education, comfort, is often denied to the poorest.

During our last visit to Tanzania, we had three tasks in three different areas: the first week we targeted believers who are already in the charismatic renewal. We were hosted by a wonderful community, Agape, just outside Dar-es-salaam.

They are very advanced in training and teaching, especially evangelists and leaders and the whole community is gifted with very powerful deliverance gifts. The little chapel is almost constantly, often all night, occupied by people, some coming from great distances, seeking deliverance. It is not uncommon to see people patiently waiting outside the chapel for their turn to receive prayer. Some come and go, some stay days, some weeks, some months and even years. Sadly witchcraft and Satan worship are still thriving and the terrible consequences are well evident. However, “……….greater is He who is in you than who is the world (1 John 4, 4).”

The second week we flew south to Mtwara and from there we drove to Ndanda, together with a team of three from the Agape community and a local young couple. The task was simple: to bring a charismatic dimension to an area where Christianity have been present for a long time and some renewal was necessary. Simple, but not easy. Again, the enthusiasm, the openness, the joyful commitment of the local brethren did most of the work and we simply watched as the power of the Holy Spirit unfolded in front of our own eyes.

Finally we had a retreat, in a beautiful location right at the foot of Kilimanjaro, for a few but committed believers, all strong in their faith but also in need of some refreshing. We too felt refreshed and encouraged.

Pictures will speak more than words - view the photographs from this trip.

Any of the readers who will be moved to help our brothers in Tanzania, can send any donation directly to:

Agape Centre

PO Box 76021

Dar es salaam

Tanzania

Tel +255 22 2420465

e-mail agape@intafrica.com