We thank God for His good graces as we launch 2016 with 30 students. We have seven returning English program students and twenty-three new Swahili students. We have students from all over Tanzania, including Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, the two largest cities in Tanzania. It is vital that we continue to plant and encourage churches in the larger cities of Tanzania for continued long-term growth of the church.
We are also thankful that we held a seminar with Philip Palmer, the East African representative for World Bible School. He has come to introduce World Bible School’s “God Bless East Africa” program. This program will emphasize signing up Secondary School students on the WBS studies. Similar programs have been very successful in Zimbabwe and other countries which WBS would like to duplicate in Tanzania. Brother Palmer’s seminar at Chimala was to train preachers and church leaders on the program so that it can spread throughout Tanzania.
We are also thankful for our pulpit program where we try to make sure that as many pulpits are filled in our area with a second year student. We want to help as many congregations as we can who have trouble keeping a preacher. We send out our students each Sunday to edify the brethren.
Finally, we are thankful for the generous contributions toward our facilities. For years, we have experienced major issues with our roof leaking and destroying the classroom ceilings. Also, the window screens were very old and brittle and provided no protection to the mosquito. Through those generous donations, we have been able to renovate our classrooms, windows, painting, our dormitory with new painting, etc.
Chad Wagner