I just want to share a couple quick reflections and a few pictures from yesterday’s activities. Yesterday we were fortunate to have some ecumenical conversations. In the morning, we spoke with Bishop David Joseph Mollel, from the Assemblies of God Church in Monduli. The denomination is the TAG, Tanzanian Assemblies of God, and his congregation is called Glory Christian Center. We were welcomed very warmly!
It was very interesting to hear about the structure of their church. Mission is particularly important, as is Evangelism. In their understanding, the Evangelists go first bringing the word of Christ to those who have not heard it, and then the Mission department follows with resources for development.
They also really emphasize children’s church, and they have special teachers who are trained to work with children, including training in child psychology. The TAG has a national Archbishop, and then district Bishops, like Bishop David. There are 214 churches in his district. Under them are Presbyters, and under them are Pastors. One of the things that I really appreciated about our conversation is the way he emphasizes the responsibility of all church members for ministry—much like Luther’s priesthood of all believers. He said, you either go, pray, or give!
Here in Monduli, there is an Interdenominational Fellowship, where the pastors from the different denominations pray together and help the community together. Sometimes they even address an issue together and speak out as Christians. He told us that they all come together before Christmas and do a procession through the town, and sometimes they use that opportunity to make us a joint statement to the government. I thought it was interesting that in Tanzania, the ELCT is pretty close to the TAG and they work together very well.
I also want to mention that along the way we have been giving out small crosses that a parishioner in our student Zach’s congregation made from wood taken from a felled tree on the Wartburg Seminary campus. That has been really nice to do!
In the afternoon, we spoke to the relatively new priest at the Catholic Parish in Monduli. He just came last August. The Catholics also are good partners with the Lutheran Church, and they pray together at the Lutheran Church the on January 1st every year, and then they also come together and pray at the Catholic Church on the first Friday in Lent.
It was great to be with them both, and hear what Ecumenical work looks like here in Monduli.
A few of us went back to the Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School for their evening prayer service, and we were very surprised to have them bring out photocopies of an abbreviated Holden Prayer service! Apparently, every Tuesday evening the worship is in English, and it was absolutely lovely to hear them sing the service that is so familiar and beloved to many of us.
Happy Lutheran 