Article from Lutheran Hour Ministries

Working through our existing ministry center in Kenya, LHM has launched a new project to reach nearly 5.5 million Swahili-speaking people in the Shinyanga and Mwanza regions of western Tanzania. The new programs are broadcast on Jambo Radio and offer inspiring Gospel messages that advertise LHM’s successful Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC). Listeners interested in learning more about the Christian faith are enrolled in the courses by congregational volunteers from partner churches who will distribute the courses through our program coordinator in Tanzania and bundle completed lessons for grading.  
 
This new radio program and BCC enrollment effort is a partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania – Southeast of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELCT-SELV) and LHM–Kenya. The SELV diocese was formed in 2013 and has grown dramatically from 14,000 members with 17 pastors to 49,000 members across 108 congregations today. Their well–structured administration includes innovative programs such as House to House Bible studies and a 52-week women’s devotional used across the diocese. In August, the church hosted around 20,000 youth at a diocese-wide rally. 
 
Western Tanzania is ripe for expansion of the Gospel since the church has been growing there for years. The secular community respects the Lutheran Church in this region since it is viewed as a trusted organization that follows through with its commitments. This has enabled expansion of the church in the region through new congregations.  
 
Church leadership is attracted to LHM for our ability to create and place Christian programs on the radio. They believe this will have a positive impact on listeners and will further attract people to faith and to the SELV diocese. Although the church has published numerous training materials, they are interested in LHM’s BCC program since there is currently nothing specific offered for both new believers and for those seeking. LHM hopes this effort will lead to additional outreach opportunities in other areas of this nation of 70 million people. 
 
“I look at the situation in Tanzania and the progress we’ve made, and I am reminded this is a beautiful example of things working according to God’s plan and His timing,” says LHM’s regional director for Africa and the Middle East. “It is our intent to contribute to the growth and expansion of the church in this region by making God’s Word known further and nurturing new believers through our BCC materials. Please pray for the success of this new venture.”