NEED FOR A CHURCH BUILDING AND HOME FOR CHILDREN

We have a model of the Church building we need. We have a plot and we have a further 3,750 dollars. The building is built to specifications as required by the minicipal council will cost 42,000 dollars. And the building will be used over the week as classroom for children. We need your help with this. This coming summer some students from Pepperdine University may be coming to help us physical work on the said property -Church and a home for Children. Let me know if you would like to team up with this group. For financial help which we need kindly contact:

David Boyd

TIME OFF TO THE BEACH IN TANGA
By Charles Ngoje Mid November, 2008

As the Americans were voting on the 4th of November, a group of teachers from USA, Kenya, Uganda and Russia (Staff of the Intensive Care Ministries) were
conducting a valuable seminar at the hall that we use for church meeting. Over 100 pastors/elders, ministers, evangelists and leaders of area churches attended a course on Inductive Bible Study. It aimed at equipping church leaders and members on how to inductively study the scriptures. This seminar brought together leaders from all persuasions and it was quite a picturesque of unity in diversity.

The leaders of our Church attended –Paul Dhudha and Justus Mollel took part in the course fully. Samuel and Lucas attended for a day. And having gone through basic course on ‘How to Study the Bible…’ they enjoyed looking at the course from a different perspective. This non-denomination and non sectarian ministry trains people on how to probe the scriptures at three levels:
1. Information
2. Interpretation
3. Application

They believe in letting the Bible speak for itself. They encourage people to study the scriptures for themselves as the Bereans did. They discourage Christians from preaching other people’s sermons and they are vocal against the culture of depending on other people’s interpretation of scriptures and the notion that the pastors, ministers and missionaries only have the monopoly of understanding the scriptures. These are the tenets that the churches of Christ stand on and seek to uphold. Calling people back to the scriptures and not human traditions. Building a
community and a culture that hold a high view of scriptures. Not adding to scripture and not taking away from the scriptures. Getting meanings from the
scriptures and not reading meanings into the scriptures. But sometimes we realize how inconsistent we are. So meeting this group re-affirmed in me the truth that whenever apostasy threatens the Church God will raise up men and women who will go against the grain of the apostate sometimes at great pains, to champion a restoration. There is not a place to restore people to as the scriptures –where they would constantly hear God speak to them in their own culture, generation and experiences.

But after the seminar, Florence and I had the honour to have dinner with this team in our house and it was great. Later, two teachers from Russia (Igor and Alex), expressed a need to visit Tanga for a rest at the beach. And since they are new to the country, they asked me if I would accompany them. I have never been to Tanga.

And so when Florence gave me the permission to go, I was happy. They fuelled my car and we had a wonderful time.
We prayed and studied the Bible and nothing could be so refreshing as to study the word of God with these great men of God from Russia. The cost of being a Christian in Russia is greater –it is not fashionable being a Christian and so the Russian faith in my judgement has a lot of substance.

Now that I was in Tanga, I had the opportunity to visit with the family
of Jim and Anna Bumpus –a church of Christ missionary family from Tennessee. Again it was great meeting this wonderful family after several months. It was encouraging to hear in what different ways the Lord is using them and the challenges that they had to overcome. At least I got the encouragement that I am not the only one but many have had their stint with Satan trying to slow down or to discredit their service both to God and man. But in all things God works together for the good of those who love Him. We love Him, so we will serve Him
sacrificially with the knowledge that He is watching over us!

‘God is in Control and so we Hope’

‘God is in Control and so we Hope’
By Charles Ngoje

In the Third World: We know that governments alone cannot solve all our problems. In the third world governments in most cases are a reason for the many woes that have plagued it for centuries –disease, poverty, illiteracy, feuding among leaders that quickly spread like wild fire into tribal and ethnic clashes and disparities in the allocation of resources or reward of them. And so, keen eyes in the third world have learnt to look to God for solutions. And God has never failed his people. But there is a clique, always a minority, to whom the government is everything. They hope in the government to answer all their problems. They seek to retain political power within their ranks at all costs even when it means sacrificing the poor to gain control of the government. And so we saw the kind of filth and abominable acts that visited Kenya early this year.

Talking of Kenya’s post election woes and I am reminded of a statistics that did not add up. Kenya is famed for being over 85% Christian. The 85% could not inject enough sanity into the quagmire and blind the 15% with their light? No. A lot of the 85% is just but spiritual fat with a very thin lining of spiritual muscle. The same can be said of Rwanda. Christianity claimed 90% of the population a few months before the heinous genocide. And again the logical conclusion is that ‘a Christian turned against another Christian. ‘Teachings of Christ about turning the other cheek…’ …doing unto others as you would have them do unto you…, …love for the enemy,… forgiveness…’ had not been assimilated. They simply entertained the ear but never nourished their intellect. And thus their emotions remained wild and uninformed. With starved intellect and uncultured emotions, a conducive state of the mind and soul for the operations of the evil one is thus created.

But that is true on this side of the Atlantic.

Unprecedented Period: The USA is faced with a unique electioneering period, one of its kind since the birth of the greatest country on earth. The USA to us is more than just a great civilization. It has been the bedrock of modern day missionary enterprise. A great many church leaders have looked up to the USA for training, resources and viable partnerships. The sporadic growth of small churches that dot the face of this continent and other continents are to a larger degree courtesy of the generosity of Christians in America. There are many charitable institutions in Africa funded by American churches and individual Christians. And so when USA’s economy is not doing well, the body of Christ world wide hurts. It is this hurt that makes us think of you during this period of hard economic times and a general elections. These are the two major themes that have flooded the media and peoples minds and to some extent most pulpits –all projected prominently against the backdrop of war against groups of terror.

Standing in the gap in Hope: The Church of America has to remain sober in the midst of all these and provide necessary leadership and intercession. It is time for the warriors of prayer to lift up the country in the belief that in all things God works together for the good of those who love him Romans 8:28.

To the Church triumphant, it doesn’t matter the outcome of the elections on Tuesday –God is in control. He is on the steering wheel. May we not be faint hearted because our hope is not built on shaky foundations but on unshakable foundation. The strength of the sovereign Lord stands overpoweringly against the abilities of human systems. The strength of the government is weaker than the ‘weakness’, if any, of our God. Our hope is in God (G) and not in governments(g).

But how is this? Our hope as Charles Coulson puts it in his book ‘Kingdoms in Conflict, p371’
‘Our hope is in the fact that … It is a Kingdom that comes not in a temporary takeover of political structures, but in the lasting takeover of the human heart by the rule of a holy God… the fact that God reigns can be manifest through political means, whenever the citizens of the Kingdom of God bring His light to bear on the institutions of man. But His rule is even more powerfully evident in ordinary, individual lives, in the breaking of cycles of violence and evil, in the paradoxical power of forgiveness, in the actions of those little platoons who live by the transcendent values of the Kingdom of God in the midst of the Kingdoms of this world, loving their God and loving their neighbour…’

Prophetic Duty: May divine hope drive us towards a stand by word and action against the evils and excesses of our respective societies. To take a stand against abortion and marriage contracts alien to the Scripture. To condemn by word and action greed and corruption. To rebuke those whose feet are too quick to shed innocent blood. To be ambassadors of peace and reconciliation breaking walls that divide and label and seeing the world through the glasses of God. To continue with the evangelisation of the world both local and international. Nothing must stop the Christian from witnessing. The Church has the voice of God for the contemporary society. Our little platoons, are little lights. The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ John 1:5

We are praying for you! We wish you ‘shalom’ and prosperity. May your faith in God be strengthened even more! Amen.

NEWS FROM MOSHI TANZANIAISSION

REPORT for OCTOBER, 2008

By Charles and Florence Ngoje

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On Monday 20th, we got back together again for leadership training courses. This weekwe are doing the book of Ephesians and Church planting, growth and evangelism. I am teaching the book of Ephesians while Ken is doing church planting, growth and evangelism. Five leaders out of ten attended.

Next course is scheduled for November 10th through 15th. We hope for total attendance in the coming courses.

Also I have an intensive Bible Study going for men every Tuesday beginning 6 to 8 pm. Traditionally; these are the hours that most Africa men take a stroll as food is prepared. The attendance has been very encouraging. With this Bible study, the goal is to empower men to be able to engage in feeding and in equipping the church in different areas as teaching small group Bible studies and in witnessing. We have been studying on ‘worship’ as a total way of life as opposed to what happens on Sunday morning at the church service. We concluded this topic on a very positive note with all of us re-dedicating ourselves to holiness and to glorifying Him in all that we are and do.

For three weeks now we have been studying about Jesus. We will study about his deity. His earthly life and His mission. The deity of Christ is being attacked in public everyday by our friends the Muslims and the Jehovah Witnesses. Muslims engaged in serious out reach and their numbers has grown so much in Tanzania. In 1993, Tanzania (mainland) was 35% Christian and 30% Muslim. But now it is 35% Muslim and 30% Christian. Onloud speakers they challenge the deity of Christ. And so our men wanted to study deeply about Christ so they can defend the orthodox faith in Christ and be able to teach it to others.

The attendance at the Church for Sunday services has started to assume an upwardattitude after several months of decline. Our spirit of worship on Sunday morning hasbeen revamped and we are thankful that God sustained us that we can come back together and worship Him.

The area that is still wanting is Sunday school. We lost 36 children and we are down to12 children only. And yet this is the most important part of the Church, a part that pointsus to the future. Ken and I will be working on a three level curriculum for teachingchildren so that they can be graduating from one level to another. We have not had thisstructure before. This structure will help us group the kids by age and school grade level. And with a sense of completion at the end of a period, they will be encouraged to make it to the finishing line. We will award them certificates and hold a ceremony to appreciate them for completing a given course of study. Why do we want to do this? There are several reasons that are obvious but the one that is unique to Moshi is that,Moshi is over 90% Catholic and Lutheran. They have a ceremony for children which is abig deal in Town (Confirmation). All the children look forward to this. Our kids get invited to attend confirmation of their neighbors, friends and school mates and theyare asking their parents and guardians for when theirs will be done… we don’t want to get into all the theological explanations instead we want to have our version which is in line with scripture.

We want to thank the body of Christ at Forest Home for their continued support andPrayers said in our favor. I know that a period of silence has been sustained for sometime now since you offered to partner with us. I am happy to announce that with all the problems now at the back, you will be receiving reports from me frequently. Thank you and may God strengthen you as you serve him both at home and abroad.

DEOGRATIUS HAS LOST HIS MOTHER

Deogratious’ Mother passed away on Monday, September 22, 2008. Deogratius was baptized in 2007 during an LST program. It is hardly a month ago when we mourned the departure of Anna Dhudha from our Midst.

Deogratius’ parents divorced when he was very young. Both got married to spouses who would not show love and acceptance to him. The only person that loved him was his aunt who was living and working in Moshi. She would support Deo some, but largely a priest of a catholic church enrolled Deo at their centre, where he still lives and trains in masonry. This has not been the best year for Deo. Earlier in June, his aunt got killed in a road accident in Moshi.

He was able to attend his mother’s burial which is being done today in Morogoro. Deo was convicted by the scriptures and being inquisitive as to practices that stood against the clear teachings of scripture. He took the risk of being baptized by immersion and placing his membership with the Church of Christ. He is prompt and regular at Church and leads in giving and Lord’s table. He is also one of the leaders of our youth ministry.

Please pray for Deo as he comes to terms with the lose of a mother.

Thanks to the Winyo Church of Christ, Kenya

We want to thank the Winyo Church of Christ in Kenya for supporting two leaders from their church to attend the burial of Anna Dhudha, Paul Dhudha’s daughter who passed on last week. Zechariah Ngoje performed the burial. Zechariah is one of the elders of the Winyo Church in Kenya. He is also the father to brothers Charles and Ken Ngoje who are working here with us. He came in the company of their minister brother Jacob Randiek. Jacob gave a moving sermon at a service before the burial. Jacob is so evangelistic that even at this burial he gave an invitation. Two people responded. This made Zechariah to express a wish that a congregation of the Lord’s Church be established there. He went back to Kenya with that in mind. We know Winyo Church can be able to send part time evangelists there to plant a Church of Christ. That is our prayer and wish. This area despite being in Tanzania has the same culture and language as the Winyo community. This is luo-land too. The coming of the two leaders from Kenya was a big encouragement to us. The Church also expressed their sympathy with Paul and Mirriam in kind. We thank God for such net-working.

DEATH HAS NOT A STING!

DEATH HAS NOT A STING!
By Charles Ngoje
–Minister Moshi Town Church of Christ
Delivered at the Funeral Service of Anna Paul
On Sunday 31st August, 2008
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:55
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On the 27th August, 2008, a separation between the body and the soul of Anna occurred. That separation left a dead body but a living soul went to heaven to join with God and His angles. The Anna that lives now is not physical Anna but a spiritual Anna. The spiritual lives on but the Physical is dead.

Today, we are gathered here for the sake of the physical, which is dead. We are gathered here to bid farewell to the body of the one we loved, and cherished. The body will be transported to her home in Sirati where it will be buried on Tuesday 2nd September, 2008.

The parents of Anna described her life as ‘a miracle’

Anna was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia when she was only six months. The doctors predicted that the longest she could live was 6 years. And it is true that it is hard for a sickler to live beyond six years and at most to live beyond 12 years.

Anna lived to be 34! Anna was able to finish her primary school education, her high school education and her college. She got employed and was a faithful worker, full of life and enthusiasm. She went against the odds.

But her medical condition kept on pulling her down. Anna knew what pain is. She knew what it means to be bed-ridden. She knew what it means to be on medication. But

She also knew what it means to pray without ceasing. She knew what it means to hope in the Lord when hoping does not seem rational. She knew what it means to cast your burdens unto Jesus. She knew what it means to rejoice in the Lord always. She knew what it means to be happy in tribulations.

She knew a lot of things. The things she knew by experience prepared her to be an effective witness of the Gospel of Christ.

Anna never let the Church down. Anna never let the Lord down. She spoke effectively of the Church. She was proud of salvation and was never ashamed of sharing the gospel. She was a walking sermon. She was a good letter from God that people read.

In 2004, I took the youth of this church for a picnic at a water fall in Rau. At that time Anna had developed a complication with her heart. Her lungs were not strong enough either. She enrolled to go. I was scared and tried to deter her from taking the risk. Going to the waterfall involved a long hike on a wet and slippery terrain. Oxygen is not plentiful up there. I had to deter Anna from going. I feared for her life. But it wasn’t easy deterring Anna. She had a strong determination and nothing would deter her from doing what she had set her heart to doing. With the help of others, she made it to the top! And enjoyed her self at the top of the cliff and played in the pool of water flowing off the water fall.

I was moved by this gesture and it was then I started to know and to appreciate Anna. Anna was stubborn in the face of discouragement. You can’t discourage her. The mountain did not discourage her.
I learnt of the pain she would always go through and even that pain would not deter her. She was unstoppable. She walked to Church every Sunday and walked back when it was hot and nothing would discourage her. By her action she taught all of us a few lessons: That…

Anna is in front row to the extreme right, raising her right hand in victory at the waterfallSickle cell anaemia, stroke and heart problem sound scary and surely they will affect your body and mind. They will give you sleepless nights but they have not power to affect your Spirit unless you let them.

Sickle cell like any other disease will weaken your body, but your spirit can remain strong and defy all the odds, unless you let down your spirit.

Sickle cell anaemia like any other disease will deny you of adequate blood supply, but the blood of Jesus will always be abundant for you to swim in it. That’s the blood that Anna swum in for 34 years when her own blood was inadequate. The blood of Jesus kept Anna’s spirit alive, fresh and nourished.

Sickle cell anaemia like any other disease may deny you opportunity to marry as it did for Anna. But her heart was married to Christ and she served him faithfully. The Church (a body of believers) is the bride of Christ. This is the marriage that goes beyond death into eternity. Anna was faithful to a lasting relationship with the Lord. Since Wednesday she has been enjoying that close company of her Lord.

As she braved the heights and the depths to get to the water fall on top of Kilimanjaro, Anna has braved the valleys and the hills of this life. She has braved pain and sickness and loneliness to reach the mountain tops of heaven where she will relax and enjoy herself for millions of years.

And so we echo the true words of Apostle Paul that are now true to Anna and soon will be true to us that:

‘Anna has fought the good fight, She has finished the course, She has kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for her the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to her at that day; and not to her only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.’ 2 Timothy 4; 7-8

Anna sustained a good warfare against Satan. She ran a good race. She kept the faith and now she is being crowned in glory with Christ.

She has a new body. The pain is gone. The pure blood of Christ is running through her veins. She is happy. She is new. She is sparkling as of GOLD.

And so we ask death: ‘Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?’ 1 Corinthians 15: 55. Death can only glorify the children of God. Will you be glorified in death?

As a church we thank God for the years she gave us Anna. She was a wonderful sister in the LORD!
God bless you! God bless your journey to Sirati. Thank you!