SINGIDA 'BACK TO GOD' MISSION

TANZANIA - AUGUST 20-27

During their Mission to Singida AE offered 15 bags of maize to Singida-based Kititimo Children Centre.

AE Team Leader, Mrs. Grace Masalakulangwa handed over the food, estimated at Tshs. 320,000/- to the Kititimo administration in the outskirts of the Municipality. She challenged the government to seriously consider the plight of orphans and street children. 'Turning a blind eye to disadvantaged children is a time bomb bound to explode anytime when they grow up,' she cautioned.

TEAM LEADER, KITITIMO CHILDREN AND MATRON

She further noted that children born and bred in a harsh environment are bitter, fearless and can do anything when provoked. The time has now come for the government to work out coordination of material assistance advanced to the Centre so that it is not diverted to the wrong hands, she added.

This is the third time AE has visited Kititimo within this year. So far AE has contributed at least Tshs. 2m/- in the form of food, clothing and stationery.

Some businessmen at the market place celebrated when they saw the vehicle that carried AE evangelists, under escort, heading to the Central Police Station. The Regional Vehicle Inspector had caught the Land rover. God's presence fell over the Police Station when the Evangelists reported to Police Administration. The Regional Vehicle Inspector queried the legitimacy of the vehicle. Then he let them go, apologising that he didn't think it was a vehicle with preachers.

Celebrations at the market stopped when they saw the vehicle parking and preaching equipment set, ready for harvest. All was quiet when the message was delivered. Among many the people who surrendered to Jesus was an old woman who requested the preacher to pray for healing of her legs. As she was prayed for, someone in the crowd was shouting, 'Be careful with that lady,' he said. 'She is not only a witch, but also a night flier.' (Prostitute) No, he is lying,' she retorted, 'I no longer fly.'

HANDS UP FOR JESUS!

When the Evangelists were packing to go, some shopkeepers who previously were hostile to the Gospel approached one of the preachers, and asked him why they were leaving. 'Come again tomorrow and preach the good news,' they said.

The abattoir was another resistant place. At last the stronghold was broken when the authoritative Gospel was preached. 5 butcher-men surrendered to Jesus.

At the Bus Stand, travellers listened attentively and committed their life to Jesus. Among them was a 70-year gentleman who listened from the very beginning, and left the place rejoicing.

A 70 YEAR OLD MAN SURRENDERS TO JESUS

The last Jesus film show at Ukombozi attracted a multitude of people. This worried the police force and they had to dispatch a group of policemen who guarded the place right up to the end of the show.

40 widows attended their seminar. The facilitator encouraged them to put their faith in Jesus and stop wasting time in self-pity. Moreover, she urged them to be intercessors and give what they have to God first.

A handful of Sunday school teachers were taught to develop interest in the child's potential, improve interpersonal communication and show the way they'd like children to follow.

In another session, 200 singers from local churches attended and were taught the three kinds of singers in the church: unbelievers, the carnal and the spirit-filled.

An influx of patients continued at Ukombozi grounds as the mission volunteer doctors attended a total of 335 cases. Among them were 215 general cases and 120 eye problems.

Commenting on the impact of the mission, a Pastor here was struck by AE preaching the Gospel. 'You slammed shut the Anti-Christ spirit here,' he noted. 'You preached Jesus only!' It was no easy task to be allowed to preach in this town because the mission was preceded by an Islamic crusade at Ukombozi grounds. It had to be discontinued due to blatant blaspheming of the name of Jesus.

As if that was not enough, Moslems staged a procession that ended in slaughtering a camel. News that leaked had it that Moslems who ate the meat were strongly warned never to attend AE meetings. This is the second camel incident. Another one was slaughtered during Bukoba Back to God mission.

SACRIFICIAL CAMEL

Meanwhile, AE gave the Free Pentecostal Church Tanzania Singida Orphanage five bags of maize valued at Tshs. 106,000/- and injected Tshs. 100,000/- in support of building costs of the AE host Pastor at Singida Handing the contribution to Pastor Boniface Ntadu Team Leader, Mrs Grace Masalakulangwa registered appreciation due to a step taken by the FPCT to alleviate the problem of street children. Mrs. Masalakulangwa thanked the FPCT for hosting the AE team by letting their church building be used by Evangelists for the whole of Singida Back to God week.

The FPCT launched a one storey building last year, to accommodate 15 children. The structure is estimated to cost Tshs. 20m/-. The church envisages a second storey and accommodation for up to 30 children. Pastor Ntandu thanked AE for the contributions and admitted that only a few ministries have caught the vision of providing decent living quarters for God's servants. He singled out AE preaching as unique. 'I have preached in 17 regions in Tanzania,' he observed, 'but I haven't thought of preaching at the market place.'

WHAT hit the headlines was the overwhelming presence of God that hovered over the Municipality. The Holy Spirit not only made Evangelists acceptable wherever they went, but the spell bound crowds pleaded with them to continue preaching.

Personal evangelism came up with amazing testimonies from the youth as well as the old who, apparently were waiting for an appointment with the Lord since time immemorial. Even the hostile butcher-men at the abattoir had calmed down and 'Hallelujah', instead of 'Takbir!', was on their lips as the message was preached.

As the message was preached at the Central Market, an Evangelist approached an 80-year old man who had never entered the church since he was born. She asked him about his relationship with Jesus and he said he did not know anything on the subject. The Evangelist explained God's love to him, and he expressed gratitude to be invited to God's unconditional love and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.

At Ukombozi grounds, a drunken old man broke into tears as he surrendered his life to Jesus. He admitted that his marriage was in a shambles and was sorry for being a creator of his own misery.

At the Main Bus Stand, a couple of street children approached an Evangelist with a request to be prayed for. Among other things they narrated terrible nights they face as victims of homosexuality. The news invoked bitter memories on Evangelists who called upon Tanzanian society to stop pretending and address themselves to the plight of the street children. 'Loose children are bitter and a threat to the next generation,' commented an Evangelist, adding that the present wave of terror is partly the fruit of our grandfathers' evils.

Another remarkable conviction of the Holy Spirit was a couple of girls who arrived late at Ukombozi grounds. They were on safari and did not even hear the message, but they approached the preacher with a single request: 'We want to receive Jesus,' they announced. They were prayed for, repented and broke into tears as they denounced their waywardness.

Distribution of clothes at Ukombozi grounds in the morning was another exercise that attracted hundreds of residents. Among them was a desperate lady who was carrying an invalid 5-year boy who looked like a year old baby. Responding to an interview, she said she is married to an irresponsible drinking bully of a husband who boxes her because she rejected Islam and accepted Jesus a few years ago. Her life is made more difficult by her 20-year old first born, also an invalid who crawls on his stomach.

700 Sunday school children attended a meeting. They were taught that not only that God loves them, but also wants to use them for the advancement of His Kingdom. They were told of the suffering of their fellow children roaming the streets and they promised to send them clothes.

A youth seminar attracted 300 participants, 17 senior singles attended one class and 9 divorcees also attended The facilitator guided them to a point of realizing that some of them were the sources of their divorce. They were encouraged to consider reconciliation and promised to do so.

Nearly 130 evangelistic meetings and 31 training seminars were held during this week as well as 30 preaching opportunities in all the local churches. There were 12 showings of the Jesus film. Many people committed their lives to Jesus and are now being cared for and nurtured by local churches.