The Diocese of Tarime has purchased quality musical instruments for three youth choirs namely St Luke’s in Tarime town, St Paul’s Mogabiri (10km east of Tarime), and Kerende church in Nyamongo area. The instruments purchased include 3 power mixers, 3 keyboards, 3 speaker sets, 3 wireless receiver systems, and relevant accessories.
The three churches and their choirs were handed the equipment at a colourful service and ceremony at St Paul’s Mogabiri on January 5, 2014. The service was attended by all clergy, lay readers and evangelists who were attending a conference at the Agricultural centre nearby. Members of the Executive council of the Diocese were present too. Four visiting Canadian guests from Kingston, Ontario witnessed the ceremony.
The Diocese is very grateful to the youth group at St Paul’s Bloor Street in Toronto, Canada who raised money through a concert in June 2013 toward the project. Equally, the Diocese is immensely grateful to the leadership of St Paul’s Bloor for matching the concert funds with an additional generous grant for the purpose, with permission to use any balance for roofing a church in Tarime.
Bishop Mwita Akiri who met with the youth group at St Paul’s in Toronto in May 2013 said: “I am so grateful to everyone at St Paul’s for this wonderful support. In particular, I wish to thank Lay Canon Sam Sumner-Hodgkins (a member of the youth group) for spearheading the initiative and for motivating his fellow youngsters to participate. Equally I am grateful to those who gave their money, and to the leadership of St Paul’s Bloor under Rector Canon Dr Barry Parker for supporting this important initiative. The equipment we have received will enhance evangelism in our Diocese with a special focus on the youth outreach.”
The Diocese of Tarime has trained 53 new Evangelists during a week long course that took place at Mogabiri Agricultural Centre starting Sunday 23 June 2013. Three senior clergy: Vicar General of the Diocese Canon Samwel Nyageswa, Canon Yohana Yakobo of St Luke's Pro-Cathedral Church, and retired Vicar General Canon James Marwa taught 44 men and 9 women about the basics of Church Leadership, Evangelism, Worship, and Preaching using the Bible as the main source. The primary duty of these Evangelists will be to support clergy in the leadership of the parishes and in church planting that will expand the mission frontiers of the Diocese. Bishop Mwita Akiri officiated at the closing service and ceremony that took place at St Paul’s Parish Church on Sunday June 30, 2013. The Bishop urged the Evangelists to be ready for many challenges ahead in an area where 90% of the population follow traditional religion and are not connected to any church. He asked them to go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that the harvest is always plentiful, but the labourers are few.
The first official triennial conference of the Mothers’ Union (diocesan women’s organization) met at Mogabiri from June 13-16, 2013 to pray, worship, and deliberate on the work of the organisation, including the role of women in mission and development. The outgoing Vice-President of the Mothers Union, Mrs. Betrida Matara chaired the conference which was attended by 108 delegates from 29 parishes in the Diocese. Mrs. Jenifa Mununguli who was the chairperson died in February 2012 and had not been replaced.
The conference received a three year report from the outgoing leaders who were elected shortly before the diocese was inaugurated. After this, delegates discussed and noted the need for women to rise up to the challenges of poverty among women in Tarime, and of the fight for women’s rights especially the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) and under-age marriages among girls soon after circumcision. The conference resolved to play a key role in economic empowerment for women through access to key economic resources such as land and formal and informal credit.
In his key note address to the conference, Bishop Mwita Akiri urged the delegates to be the face of the compassion of Christ, not only in the church, but more so in the communities where they live. He noted that doing simple things of love such as visiting the sick, celebrating new births with mothers, supporting mothers during the weddings of their sons and daughters, and giving a helping hand during funerals in the community would make those outside the church experience God’s love. Such people might even be attracted to join Anglican women’s local groups in the parishes, the Bishop said.
The conference also elected new leaders for the next three years. Mrs. Flora Ngutu was elected President/Chairperson. Others elected were Mrs. Helena Mswaya (Vice-President) and Mrs. Prisca Samwel (Treasurer). They will lead others who, together with them, will serve on the Executive Committee.
Manga Parish is located south of Tarime town is also one of the oldest in the Diocese. The parish church is located is in Bisarwi village and by the Komaswa-Nyamongo road leading to the giant North Mara gold mine owned by the Canadian firm Barrick Gold. Through self the congregation has erected a church. A few works remain, i.e. wall plastering, flooring with cement, windows and doors fixing. It has no pastor’s house.
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