Dear Friends

I am so thrilled to send this latest update to you from Morogoro. Already the churches are seeing people’s lives changed – you will see that in Hellen and Wilson’s story.

Wonderfully, as a result of the Church and Community Mobilisation Process (CCMP) training sessions, congregations are growing and people are motivated to actively improve their lives and strengthen their churches. This reminds us that the word of God is ‘powerful and active’. Thank you for your continued support and your prayers. Maybe in these weeks whilst your church isn’t meeting you could pray for our brothers and sisters in Morogoro.

With every blessing, Nadine Parkinson, UK Churches Team

 

What’s been happening?

Over the past three months, the team of 15 Church and Community Mobilisation Process facilitators have continued to lead their churches in a series of foundational bible studies. They have used a range of studies from the Old and New Testament – from Genesis to 1 Peter.

They’ve looked at themes such as God’s purpose for humankind, God’s vision for his people and the role of the church towards its immediate community. The studies are designed to help each church explore and understand God wants people to flourish in every area of life – both meeting physical and spiritual needs.

A fresh vision

Hellen and her husband Wilson live in the Diocese of Morogoro with their five children. Since joining in with the Church and Community Mobilisation Process, life has been changing for them. As Hellen explains…

‘After my husband and I attended one CCMP session the Bible verse which we discussed that day reflected completely on my life. It said ‘No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy
the work of their hands’. We discussed God’s vision for his people in Isaiah 65:17-25.

‘Through that Bible verse, I understood that God desires his people to live an abundant life. It was not God’s desire for me to live in a dilapidated mud, grass-thatched house. It was not God’s desire for my family and me to have only one meal per day. That day after the session, my husband and I decided to change the way we were doing things, especially farming and the priorities of our family.’

 

With this fresh perspective and new vision Hellen and Wilson started a number of projects. They made 1500 bricks, so they can build a better house for their family. They started farming. They began keeping poultry and pigs – to diversify their range of livelihood activities – making sure that if it is a bad season for any one thing, another could still give them all they need. And now members of the church visit Hellen and Wilson for technical advice. They are sharing what they have learnt about subjects like Conservation Agriculture, a type of farming which protects vital resources, whilst maximising crop yields.

 

Please pray

Pray that Hellen and Wilson continue seeing success in their work and share it with others.

Pray for the facilitators as they help churches engage with the Bible and apply it to their own lives.

Pray for the planting season in Morogoro. Pray that God would pour out blessing on all those who are learning to farm in new ways.

Please pray against the coronavirus pandemic. Pray for God to intervene and heal all those who have been affected by it and to give vulnerable communities strength to fight the virus.