by Jon Konnerup
In 2003, God placed a burden on the hearts of several families already serving in other parts of Tanzania to plant a church and minister to the people in the city of Arusha. Since that time, God has used these missionaries to influence this city of more than 1.2 million people for the sake of the gospel.
Today, God has blessed this team of missionaries — Vernon and Mary Smith, Joanne Foltz, and Nathan and Tiffany Foltz — with many exciting opportunities.
While visiting these missionaries in Arusha, we took part in the annual mission conference of their main church. During the week, everyone, from young children through adults, was encouraged to be involved in missions. It was a blessing to see the number of men who showed up for the mission breakfast. The uplifting Sunday morning service was full of praise and thanks to God. Lee Tomlin provided special music while I challenged them with a mission message. It was so exciting to see their passion for missions. This church has been taught well and fully understands its responsibility to take the gospel beyond their Jerusalem and Judea. At the close of the service, the people came together to give their faith promise commitments. This church, which was already doing much, doubled their faith promise giving over the previous year.
Not only did we experience the work of God in the Arusha church, but were also privileged to visit several other church plants in outlying areas. We participated in various services in different locations nearly every day. It was a blessing to worship with the Masai people, in particular. Despite the remote location of this church and our cultural differences, their love for God was evident to us through their singing and their friendliness as we worshipped together.
One of this team’s greatest outreach opportunities is the Christian primary school. Its high standards allow the community to know this school will provide a quality education for their children. It was a blessing to see the students in their uniforms and seated in their classrooms not only learning how to read and write but also learning from the Bible. There were more than 300 children in the chapel service we attended. Many families have been reached through this school. Joanne Foltz has made a tremendous impact helping this school.
Another outreach opportunity is the government-approved Baptist Medical Clinic of Arusha. A full-time doctor along with several nurses daily attend to those who come for various medical needs, sometimes seeing more than 120 people a day. The lab facilities, with its modern equipment and current technology, allows the doctor and nurses to provide the best treatment possible. Our missionaries use this service to the community as a means to present the gospel to those waiting to be seen. Each patient is given a copy of the book of Romans and another book which shares the plan of salvation. There are not many clinics like this in the country, especially ones that share the gospel.
In front of the clinic they have placed a service to the community that is very important for everyone; they provide free water. This too informs the people that these missionaries and church members genuinely care for them and want to help provide for their needs. Not only are they providing them with free water for their physical lives, but they are also giving them Living Water for their spiritual lives.
Through the faithful service of BBFI missionaries, God is doing wonderful things in Arusha as well as other cities throughout Tanzania, yet the vast majority of the country is still unreached. Most cities in Tanzania and throughout Africa do not have the kind of ministry seen in Arusha. The Bible institute operated through their church allows the Smiths and Foltzes to provide training to over 40 students each week. Their prayer is that God would call some of these students to go and reach other parts of Tanzania, Africa, and the regions beyond.
When Vernon was asked if Tanzania still needed missionaries, he responded: “Absolutely, emphatically, Yes! There are so many places that don’t have a good gospel witness or a church. There are tribes that have been barely touched here in Tanzania.”
While sending missionaries from Tanzanian churches is still in its infant stage, the country still needs more American missionaries to help spread the gospel to the many unreached places of this nation. More help is needed to teach and mentor through this indigenous process.
What started as a burden on the hearts of the Smiths and the Foltzes for the city of Arusha and the surrounding areas over a decade ago has grown into a great work for the Lord. What will you do in the next ten years? Where will you go? Who will you reach with the gospel? The world awaits the good news of Jesus Christ but few are willing to surrender their lives to go and tell them. Perhaps God has been speaking to you about your part in world missions.