Engaged! -- Zinza and Ikoma peoples

"O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?"  
Psalm 8:1, 3-4


A recent research trip to Tanzania was conducted to investigate the engagement status of two people groups living near Lake Victoria in and around the Serengeti.

As we look across Ngorongoro crater, the vastness of Tanzania is evident – the work of God’s fingers is made clear.

The purpose of our trip is to gather information on the Ikoma and the Zinza people.
Both groups live near the massive Serengeti National Park and Lake Victoria.

Because of the location of Ikoma villages, we are blessed to travel through the Serengeti -- the Great Wildebeest Migration occurs here every year between the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti National Parks.

The wildebeest migrate spontaneously  according to the rains, so the dates are flexible; however,   as we drive through the wildebeest are spread out and seem content where they are –they are not migrating very far today!



As we move about in Ikoma villages, God places people in our path who are knowledgeable about the engagement of the Ikoma with the Gospel of Christ. We discover the Mennonite church has been engaging the Ikoma since 1948. What a tremendous blessing!  Giving a clear gospel witness, the elder of one Mennonite church stated emphatically that salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.  We joyously received the witness.

Our time among the Zinza people was just as encouraging as we met with folks from the African Inland Church (AIC), an evangelical, interdenominational mission organization, who are actively engaging the Zinza people. There is a Bible school among the Zinza and Zinza believers are planting churches in villages and even on the islands near the southern shore of Lake Victoria.

We had thought that these two groups were engaged; yet, we needed to confirm these thoughts with feet on the ground, seeing for ourselves the work of the Lord among these two people groups.

*Pray for the efforts of the Mennonite and AIC church leaders as they live in some difficult circumstances, rough village conditions with little access to amenities.

*Ask God to embolden believers afresh with an urgency to reach those who are living in darkness.

*Praise God that He is mindful of mankind.  He cares about every aspect of our lives.

Merry Christmas

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel -- which means, God with us."

May God be with you this holiday season.  

Merry Christmas

Lottie Moon Christmas offering -- Thank you!

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver… You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.”
 2 Corinthians 9:7, 11-12

The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is a time to say a special “thank you” for supporting God’s work among the people of the world.

For us specifically, it is an opportunity to say thank you for praying, giving, and volunteering your time to help reach those pockets of people living without a witness to the gospel story – the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Christmas is the perfect time to say thank you for providing funds which allows us to do the work to which God has called us – telling the John 3:16 story, having it origins even before creation,  was brought to fruition during this season – God sent His Son -- as a babe -- that the world, through Him, might be saved.

As you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, you are providing us with the essentials to do our work – even if the road is impassible!

You provide medical care for us – we really appreciate this, especially this year!

You provide funds for Bibles and teaching aids helping us to train others to share their faith with those who have never heard.


You help provide our housing, our salary, school fees for those who have children still at home, and innumerable other things.

We are humbled by your generosity and truly blessed by your sacrifice.  Our thanksgiving to God truly overflows as a result of your ministry to us.


Thank you – and may God add to you as you sacrificially give to further His Kingdom until we all declare His glory face to face.

Pockets of people

We were not able to post a story last week because of major electrical problems but we wanted to make sure we shared this story of the latest trip to the Luo people in Siaya county, the Seje area.

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said; “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”              Acts 17: 22-23

While the Luo people group as a whole are seen as reached with the Gospel, our trip to Siaya county reminds us that even in groups that are reached statistically, there are pockets of people who don’t have access to true teachings of God’s word.

Building huts in family clusters, these Luo people live a great distance from things that we see as essential.  It is over nine miles to the nearest school and over six miles to the nearest clinic and church - a Catholic church.  As farming people, monkeys and hippos are big challenges for them as the animals raid their fields eating the young plants and the harvest.

There is a woman famous for her prayers living in the Seje area.  People living in Siaya County and beyond visit her asking her to pray for their medical needs as well as their financial needs, crop failures, and any other life challenges they are experiencing. Unfortunately, she does not understand the power of God and prays to the ancestors as well as to God.

These Luo also pray to a prophet named Ondeto whom they believe is equal in divinity to Jesus Christ.
While they have a smattering of church knowledge, they do not understand that Christ is the Son of God; so they fill in the gaps with other beliefs.
The truth of Christ – the truth of John 3:16 needs to be taught to them.  They are not averse to knowing God, they are seeking, but there is no one to tell them the Gospel story.

Julius, one of the missionary trainees, hopes to start a much-needed school in the area, as well as a church and begin sharing that Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life – that no one can come to the Father except through Him.

As Julius begins sorting out the details and logistics of living in the Seje area, pray for wisdom and discernment.  Ask God to prove His faithfulness to Julius and pray that Julius will be obedient to follow God’s calling and leadership in his life.