Compassion International (Tanzania), an international NGO working in Tanzania visited the Diocese of Tarime on 25 August 2011 to conduct a seminar on child ministry. "The country director, Mr Joseph Mayala led the seminar for clergy and over 120 members of parish councils (vestry) in the whole diocese. Senior diocesan leaders also attended the seminar.
Mr Mayala underscored the place of the child in the family, in the church, as well as in the community. He used both the Bible and the social context to emphasize the need for churches to initiate strong ministries that focus on the child in the family and in the church. He said it was not enough to teach children Bible lessons on Sunday, but that such teaching needed to be rooted in the daily family life, school life, and life of the community as a whole.
"Without a child who knows Christ today, and without giving priority to the needs of that child, we may not have a strong church and nation tomorrow" said Mr Mayala. He added, "the commitment to child ministry is not an option. So churches should be able to set apart a portion of funds in their annual budget for the development of the child spiritually, mentally, socially and economically".
The Diocesan Bishop, Dr Mwita Akiri gave the keynote address.
As was reported in July, Bishop Mwita visited New Zealand as guest of the Anglican Board of Missions and attended the Common Life Mission Conference, July 19-23 at Wakanae. At the conference, Bishop Mwita presented two seminars to two groups, and shared the mission of God in his new Diocese of Tarime.
After the conference, Bishop Mwita visited the Diocese of Wellington until August 2. He first visited St Andrew's Plimmerton where he preached on Sunday 24 July and spoke to a women's fellowship on July 28. Bishop Mwita also had a chance to visit the Anglican Centre in Wellington where he had a wonderful reception from Bishop Tom Brown and staff of the Diocese on July 25.
Thereafter, Bishop Mwita toured parts of Wellington city while staying with Archdeacon Ian and Margaret Bourne in Papakowhai, Porirua. Bishop Mwita left Papakowhai for Wanganui where he spoke to a group of Christians at All Saints, East Wanganui on July 28, and later visited St Stephen's, Marton. There he spoke to a group too. Before leaving Wanganui, Bishop Mwita was able to preach at Christ Church, Wanganui on Sunday 31 August.
A highlight of the visit was the encouraging response to the need for protecting children and pregnant women from malaria by providing treated bed nets which cost a minimum of $2-3 each. The initial phase of fundraising will go to purchasing and providing bed nets for the clergy families in the Diocese.
Bishop Mwita is indebted to the Anglican Mission Board who funded the visit, and many people and couples who looked after him before and after the conference. These include Simon and Jane Smelt of Wellington city, Archdeacon Ian and Margaret Bourne of Papakowhai, Alan and Rev Rosemary Anderson of Wanganui, and Mary and John Rowan (QC), also of Wanganui, among others. Bishop Mwita is also grateful to all the Vicars/Rectors of the parishes where he either preached or spoke.
Bishop Mwita left New Zealand on August 2. When he returned to Tarime, he gave the donated bed nets to pastors.
A mission team of 9 committed Christians from Canada visited the Diocese of Tarime from July 4-15 to help with construction work in selected parish buildings and short computing and accounting courses for the diocesan staff.
The team was able to work with the local Christians in three parishes and managed to accomplish three specific projects. At Manga parish, the team put a concrete floor in the church building. At Kenyamanyori Parish, the team plastered the walls of the church and put in a concrete floor as well. The team made benches for the Kerende parish church.
At the Diocesan level, two of the team, Prof Janne Chung and Ms Cassie Williams offered accounting and computing courses to our staff. This was greatly appreciated. Also we were humbled to receive equipment and material for God’s work in our Diocese. The team donated 1 motorcycle, 10 sewing machines, 6 bicycles, 3 reconditioned laptops, 8 solar kit units, 7 soccer balls as well as the construction and carpentry tools that were brought from Canada and used during the construction projects. These tools will be used by our Diocesan builder and his
local team.
The presence of the team in Tarime made a huge difference, bearing in mind that we live in a developing country with a poor economy such that Sunday collection in many churches in Tarime ranges between $2-4. However, and even more important, was that the visit strengthened the partnership in international mission between the Diocese and the participating Canadian churches. This visit brought to light, yet again, the fact that the people of God in Tarime and their brothers and sisters in Canada are members of the One Body of Christ and the worldwide Anglican family. "
The mission was been organized by the Rev. Canon Kim Beard, Rector of St Paul's-on-the Hill Church which is located outside the city of Toronto. Bishop Mwita first met Kim when he visited Canada in 2007 to teach at Wycliffe College, University of Tortonto. On January 2009, Kim visited Tarime, then part of the Diocese of Mara, from which Tarime was carved in July 2010. This visit inspired him to organize a mission team to Tanzania similar to the team that has been visiting Kenya for a number of years. Members of the Tanzania team were Jim Charbonneau (team leader), Kristopher Charbonneau, Hugh Sandiford, Janne Chung, Cassie Williams, Joseph Sue-Ho, Jennifer Sue-Ho, Peter Kirwin and Juddy Kirwin-Price.
“July 19-22 2011, Bishop Mwita Akiri will participate in the Common Life Mission Conference in Waikanae New Zealand. The theme of the conference is "Shaping the Church for Mission". Let us gather as one church to worship, study, learn, share, renew, envision and enable our passion for Mission together.
There will be a variety of workshops reflecting our 5 aspects of mission.
1) Proclaiming the good news of the kingdom
2) Teaching, baptising and nurturing new believers
3) Responding to human need by loving service
4) Seeking to transform unjust structures of society
5) Striving to sustain the integrity of creation
With presentations from our mission partners including NZCMS, SOMA, the Anglican Church of PNG, the Diocese of Polynesia, the Diocese of Jerusalem, the Anglican Church of Melanesia and CWS.
Bishop Akiri will be leading a workshop "The Unfolding Drama of Mission in a New Diocese in Tanzania, East Africa"
Workshop Info:Mission is dramatic in the new Diocese of Tarime, east of Lake Victoria in the far western part of the Serengeti National Park. It is mission through committed leadership of women, soccer (football) evangelism targeting young people outside the Church. It is mission through worship in makeshift places of worship and walls without roofs, and community development projects. Poor Christians with little resources are committed to sacrificial giving to support mission. Yet this unfolding drama is not without the challenges. Tarime is a diocese in an area that is a cultural and political hotspot, nationally and internationally. The outdated practice of female genital mutilation is rampant. It is a stronghold of a major opposition party in Tanzania. Unwillingly, it is hosting one the world's gold mining giants. Where else could one be serving the Lord?
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