One Voice

Another update from Mike:

On my second day in Dar es Salaam I was asked to give a brief devotional to the Love Tanzania Festival team.   As this was asked on short notice, I began to pray!  As I prayed I asked the Lord to reveal what He would have me share and the answer came in a surprising way.  The moment I began to pray, the minarets around the city began to loudly proclaim “Allahu Akbar- Allahu Akbar”…It was the Muslim call to afternoon prayers.  Dar is a city whose population is about  50%  Muslim.  Mosques are all around the city and very visible.  The call to prayer literally means  “God is great.”  It was then that I realized what the Lord wanted me to share.  The Muslims were crying out with one voice throughout the city that “God is great.”  Yet we as Christians can announce something much better – scripture tells us that “God is great and greatly to be praised.”  Praising God and Jesus Christ is only possible with a personal relationship with Him.  Muslims do not have a concept of a personal , intimate relationship with God.  He is to be feared and obeyed.  Psalm 133 tells us “Behold how good and lovely it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.  It is like precious oil on the head, running down on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!  It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!  For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”  In many translations the word blessing is plural.  I told the host chair committee that this is a unique event and the broad body of Christ – the Church – has a special occasion to unite as one voice and declare from the rooftops that “God is great and greatly to be praised.”  To announce as one the Good News of Jesus Christ – the one who alone provides atonement for sin and hope and peace.  And if they stay united and proclaim Christ as one voice they would see the blessings of God as promised in Psalm 133.   I finished my devotional thought with the comment that if the Muslims can announce with one voice a call to prayer, then as Christians  “the love of Christ compels us” (2 Cor. 5:14) to stand united and as one voice call out to the city “Jesus is Great and Greatly to be Praised!!”

Pastor's Amazed and Eager

(Another post sent from Mike)
Over the last two weeks a team of 5 from the US along with 8 Tanzanians have dispersed throughout Dar es Salaam to help prepare the churches for Love Tanzania with Andrew Palau.  The capital city, Dar, has about 4.5 million people.  Due to it's size as well as other challenges, the city has been divided  into 18 zones.  This makes it easier to communicate and work through local churches in each zone. Each zone has a host church for all main trainings and information distribution.  Each zone also has a host pastor that is a zonal leader because of their connection to the community and adjoining churches.  Each day our team has gone to different zones to train pastors in Friendship Evangelism.   We have had about 50 pastors on average per training session.  We are providing training and materials so they can in turn train their respective congregations over the next month. Over and over I have heard pastors say "this is a unique time - we are acting as one."  They are so eager to see what the Lord will do this coming August 11th and 12th.   I sense a great anticipation for Love Tanzania.  A holy vision for what God can do is gaining momentum.  It is hard to not be caught up in their enthusiasm and prayers!

Youth Excited for Love Tanzania

(This entry was sent from Mike from Tanzania)
On Saturday I was asked to speak at a youth conference.  The conference was a quarterly gathering of Lutheran churches in one area of Dar es Salaam.  About 19 churches sent some of their youth who are leaders to the conference.  The day was filled with skits proclaiming truths of scripture and Christ.  It was full of energy, passion, emotion, and tons of humor.  It was fun to witness!  As I challenged the youth to pray for and invite their family and friends to Andrew Palau's Love Tanzania Festival there was an incredible group response that they would!  This group of young people is so eager to see their friends hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.  It was a great day!

Encouragement from Tanzania!

So far, Mike has reported a very successful week of trainings in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania!  The crew has been putting in about 14 hour days with lots being accomplished!  The city for the Luis Palau festival being planned for in August has been decided and has been divided into 18 zones with a larger church in each zone hosting the various meetings and trainings.  Earlier in the week they had 55 pastors at each of the last two trainings in that area.  These pastors will then take what they've learned, along with lots of materials, and teach their congregations.  "So in a sense, we are training trainers" says Mike.  Then towards the end of the week in a different area, they trained over 60 pastors along with lay leaders.  Some of the material has been so well received that the Palau team had to reprint more material.  For example, they initially printed 100,000 prayer cards with a place to write the name of 5 people to pray for and invite.  They had to print an additional 100,000 cards!!  Some churches have members who took 5 cards each and are praying for 25 people they will invite!  Already, they have been seeing people respond to Jesus!  It has been a very encouraging week over all.
The team is very thankful for your prayers over this time of preparation as they finish up their time there.
Thank you!

Mike has now arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association.  He will be there all week ministering and training locals in Friendship Evangelism in preparation for the upcoming week of outreach events in August.  This is a strong Muslim area.  Please pray for an effective week there and for the upcoming work towards the Festival this summer!