Tanzania

Special Christmas Message  

Members of St. Stephen have now made two journeys to Tanzania, Africa and have developed an outstanding relationship between our congregation and ministries in this region of the world.

In October of 2006, 16 members and friends traveled to the Kilimanjaro area of northern Tanzania.  Many ministries were visited with a mission of discerning where God was calling St. Stephen to minister.  Upon their return, the group processed their visit and collectively decided that a partnership with Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Kimbushi was where St. Stephen was being called. 

Ebenezer Lutheran Church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church or Tanzania - Northern Diocese.  Ebenezer is a small parish of about 500 members located in the beautiful foothillas of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  This developing parish was established on January 1,1995.

In October of 2008, five members of the congregation traveled for a second time.  Prior to their visit, many needs had been communicated by this parish to the congregation at St. Stephen.  One of the biggest needs was a home for the pastor of the church who had been living in his office quarters since coming to the congregation at Ebenezer.    The Ebenezer Congregation also has a number of expansion dreams that would benefit the whole community of Kimbushi including  a school for AIDS orphans,  Vocational Training Center, toilets, gardens, and the list goes on and on.

One special gift was presented to the school in Kimbushi - a quilt made of squares designed by the Kindergartners of the St. Stephen Sunday School.  Click to learn more about this special exchange

Throughout this developing relationship the call to serve this community only seems to get stronger.  Immediately upon their return in mid-October, travelers were asking what can we do to help and when can we go again.  St. Stephen is hoping to turn this into a bi-annual mission trip.

St. Stephen is also exploring ways to continue supporting this congregation even when we are not there visiting.  Challenges are communications to the area.  St. Stephen continues to look for ways to support these beautiful people in this glorious part of the world.

For more information on this outreach mission, contact Pastor Christine Wenzel.