11/06/24 Stories from Tanzania

Last week in Tanzania, Global Baptist Training Foundation joined forces with a team from Two Cities Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  The team did street and home evangelism alongside pastors, leaders and members of two GBTF church plants –   Mount Faraja Baptist Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church, both in the greater Dar es Salaam area. The group experienced tremendous results in leading 248 people to faith in Christ which included 55 Muslims (correction from last email).   Here are some of the stories from last week

Rachel, a member of the Two Cities team grew up in Tanzania as a child and speaks fluent Swahili. She was a great asset. Rachel related the following:

Deudi 

Deudi (David) is a Maasai man – a tribe who must kill a lion in order to become a man. Before we knew his name, we asked if he knew about King David in the Bible. He told us, “That’s my name!” Dr. Bruce shared that, in the Bible, David also had to kill a lion to protect his flock and was a shepherd and herdsmen like the Maasai. But one day he had to face a Philistine, a very tall and strong warrior and was able to defeat him with God’s strength. We explained to him that the same God that helped David kill the lion is the God who loves this David, the Maasai. We continued to share the gospel with him, and he gave his life to Christ. What a blessing it was to run into this guy and to share with him the good news of the Lion of Judah. We shared with him that today the angels are celebrating in heaven. And in our team debrief, we discussed how this entire trip is worth it, if only for Deudi (David).

There is a follow-up to this story. On the final night in Tanzania, the team ate dinner at a local restaurant and were joined by a pastor and his wife.  As they exited the restaurant, who should stroll across the parking lot but Deudi?   Bruce was able to connect Deudi with the pastor who will disciple and come alongside this warrior man. Our prayer is to return and see him as a warrior for the Lion of Judah!  

A second story also left our team in tears of awe. 

Mwajuma

On the last day of a full three day evangelism outreach for two churches pastored by Global Baptist Training Foundation trained pastors, a group of women on mission from Two Cities Church in Winston Salem NC had a significant cultural experience.  As they approached this area by car, they were behind a small bus with the Ephesians 6:10-12 (armor of God passage) emblazoned on the rear of the bus.

Shortly after they arrived they met a woman lying in an open area writhing and crying out with horrible inhuman sounds.  It’s  the woman pictured below who was a known demon possessed person in her community outside of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.  

The team prayed over her while others asked God to deliver her from spiritual bondage.  Finally she had the ability to call on Jesus Christ to be her Savior.  Here she stood this morning as a Christian believer forever freed from the power Satan once had over her.  The ladies from Two Cities Church and the GBTF team will not soon forget what God did today in their midst.

The churches are following up on these and all of those who professed faith in Christ. To God be the glory!!

Bruce and Grace Snavely

Global Baptist Training Foundation