Possible expansion of African outreach

One of our missionaries recently traveled to Tanzania and discovered at least 10 people groups that could be candidates for starting ministry within their tribes.

He met with an African pastor and missionary to see if there were tribes that fit with NTM's focus of unreached people groups.

"The purpose was to get an overall view of what is going on church-wise and language-wise with the 120 minority groups in Tanzania," the missionary wrote.
Jaques, a Burundian pastor and Patrick, a Kenyan missionary, offered assistance in language and observation of what the church looked like in Tanzania.

"Through Patrick's contacts as well, we gleaned more of an outsiders' view on the church and the need as well as more of a missions approach to church planting, which was excellent," the missionary wrote. "We [met] with … Pioneer Bible Translators and Summer Institute of Linguistics, which gave us a good perspective of what is going on in the areas of ethnic groups, language issues and translation."

The missionary also learned that there is an awareness of the need in Tanzania by the church and different mission groups, which desire to establish a plan to see that the Scriptures are available to these people.

"Wherever we went, we sensed a great openness to come work in Tanzania by the different entities that we talked with," he wrote. "Through our talks … there needs to be more survey done to determine some linguistic and church related issues -- such as, is the church present in all of these groups? If so, what is their understanding of the Gospel?"

The missionary also feels that God is teaching him a lot, personally, through this trip to Tanzania.

"He is challenging my thinking and opening my eyes a bit on how [He], through His Spirit, is building His Church in Africa," He wrote. "It is exciting to consider that He may allow us to play a part in seeing His Church established and come to maturity in Southeast Africa."

Please pray that God will make it clear to our missionary, and those he is working with, what his level of involvement will be with the people groups in Tanzania.