Greetings from Dodoma

Holistic Mission in Action

2007-05-16T15:00:00.000+03:00

Dr. Emmanuel Mbennah, a priest from the Anglican Church of Tanzania, is the Country Director for Compassion International, "A Christian holistic child development ministry." Compassion brings many adults to Christ through their ministry to children, including Muslims.

Dr. Mbennah says that some of the poorest areas are Muslim, and that these poor people are willing to let Christians witness to their children because they are so desperate for education and training opportunities. A combination of seeing Christian compassion and love offered to their children and the change in the lives of their children after they accept Christ draws them to seek to know more about Jesus and then accept Him for themselves. St. John’s will open its doors to students of all backgrounds so that we too can witness to the truth that sets us free.

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- John 8:31-32

God's Perfect Timing

2007-05-16T14:57:00.000+03:00

"For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." – 2 Corinthians 8:3-4

God blessed the University’s Dodoma Fundraiser in many ways, but His most poignant revelation harks back to the story of the Widow's Mite in Mark 12:41-44.

After the church, government, business, and community leaders made their formal pledges, everyday people from the audience lined up to drop their donations into three boxes in the front of the auditorium. The line went out the door; the boxes had to be emptied once to hold the many small but precious offerings.

In a culture where people give generously to family and friends but not to institutions, each shilling said St. John's is part of an extended family in Dodoma and in central Tanzania.
The scene also provided a glimpse of why God had waited until now to continue the work He began through Anglican Bishop Alf Stanway over forty years ago. God needed to wait so that His work could be done through Tanzanian Christians, to strengthen their faith and trust in His provision and to reveal Himself.

Praise God!

Greetings from Dodoma!

2007-05-16T14:55:00.000+03:00

It’s customary in Tanzania – and elsewhere in Africa – to open remarks with “Greetings” from a group of people or a place. The first e-mails from the project team at St. John’s University all began with some variation on “Greetings from Dodoma.” So, it only seems natural to send our reports out as “Greetings from Dodoma” with news and notes and prayers about God’s work in East Africa through this new Anglican university.

We hope you find some encouragement from these newsletters and that you see God revealing Himself in wondrous ways.

In Christ,
John