When persecution is endured...

“To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure …”   “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”                            
1 Corinthians 4:11-12 and Matthew 5:10

Ten years ago, a miracle began.  With a handful of believers, in a mud stick structure, Sezakofi Baptist Church was planted.  Pastor George, impressed by God to make an impact among the Zigua of Sezakofi village, began ministry.

“At the beginning there was much stress. We prayed a lot because the rest of the village was ignoring us. We were cheated in the shops and life was very hard.”
The difficulties culminated in the burning of the church structure through arson.

However, today, through the providence of God and the enduring love shown through the pastor and believers present, Sezakofi Baptist Church is making an impact in the village which ten years ago was 99% Muslim.


“Today almost 20% of the people in the village are believers.”  

The church has begun a faith garden, selling the harvest and using the proceeds for a new brick church building.

Water is a major problem in the area of Tanzania where the Zigua live.  These 20 litre containers are trucked in full of water, unloaded in the village and sold for $0.30 each.  With an income of only $1.00 a day, $0.30 is a lot to pay for five gallons of water.  I know that my water usage habits would change drastically living in these conditions.

Ministry among the Zigua will take commitment; results are slow in coming and the earthly rewards are meager with persecution likely; but God calls us to the ends of the earth, engaging every tribe and tongue.


*Ask God to move among believers giving them a burden for the Zigua people.

*Pray against persecution for those believers presently living among the Zigua.

*Pray for the Holy Spirit to move over Zigua villages opening hearts and minds ready for the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Renounce or Die

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed…”                              2 Timothy 3:12-14


A recent crusade resulted in several Zigua making decisions to follow Christ/the truth. A few days after the crusade, these new believers were visited by the local Imam threatening them, “return to the mosque or lose your life.”

Forced out of his family, one young believer moved to another village in order to live in peace.

Local evangelical churches face these spiritual and cultural battles as they reach out to the Zigua.

Living in northeast Tanzania, the Zigua practice folk Islam, mixing traditional religion along with Islamic religious practices.  With their population slightly over 600,000, the Zigua is one of the larger unreached groups in Tanzania. While there are evangelical churches among the Zigua, most Zigua have never entered a church.

Facing persecution and hardships, nevertheless stepping out in faith, the small Baptist churches have had limited success as they seek to reach the Zigua and surrounding tribes.

God’s gift of love and the only way to heaven through faith in Jesus Christ is shared through the book of John. Spiritual truths and living at peace with God through Christ is shared through the book of Mark. Both Gospels (Mark and John) are available in the Zigua language, but only a few are able to read.

*Pray for unique and creative ideas enabling believers to reach the Zigua people.

*Many Zigua are Muslims by day and traditional religionists by night. Ask God to send dreams and visions to the Zigua causing them to seek council for spiritual questions from knowledgeable Baptist pastors.

*Pray that Baptist pastors would be filled with knowledge and spiritual insight, that they would speak the words of God and live the life of Christ among the Zigua.

Uvinza salt

“Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”  
                                 Mark 9:50


Historically, known for its salt flats and salt production, Uvinza, today, is just a medium-sized rural town.

While salt continues to be produced here, it is not the big enterprise of long ago.

Centuries ago, these salt and mineral deposits were very valuable resources, especially for the tribes living in the middle of Africa so far away from the salt and minerals that the oceans afford.

The road to Uvinza has been paved and it is a lovely drive from Kigoma east and south as we head out toward Nairobi.
We will stop in Uvinza as we travel today and look at the engagement status of the Vinza people.




As we reach Uvinza the nice tar road ends, leaving Uvinza town with rough dirt roads and tracks through town and the surrounding area.


The Vinza people are predominately a Muslim people group. 

While there is a church presence in Uvinza and some of the villages where the Vinza people live, because they are a Muslim group, evangelical Christians live beside the Vinza without ever testifying to them about the awesome grace of God’s salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

The above is a section of the Injili.  This is the New Testament translated into Arabic. The left side is Swahili and the right portion is Arabic.  While most Muslims in Tanzania cannot read Arabic, if they can read at all, they can read Swahili.  This portion is John 3:16-17.  God’s promise of a Savior and Redeemer fulfilled.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”     John 3:16-17

An amazing statement of God’s love to us – a fact that the whole world needs to hear;
God loves us.
God made a plan for our salvation.
God does not condemn us.
God wants to save us.
Amazing isn’t it?

*Pray that the churches among the Vinza people of Western Tanzania would be salt and light to the Vinza people; sharing with them, the Gospel of truth.

*Pray for dreams and visions among the Vinza leading them to search for spiritual truth.

*Pray for an opening within Vinza communities enabling churches to reach out ministering in love and power.