"Mtumishi wa Mungu"
(Swahili for “Servant of God”)

By Ans Mwambepo

Tukuyu, Tanzania

To all saints who are able and highly committed to do God’s will, able to stand in the evil day for Jesus’ Victory, I salute you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Hallelujah.

I take this opportunity to glorify the mighty Name of Jesus who made this Word come to life in my heart and my people’s hearts during a wonderful time we had at the Weapons Of Our Warfare class in Mbeya, Tanzania:

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:14-15)

This was possible due to the faithfulness and reliability of His servants, Rev. Tim Sullivan and Rev. Evan Pyle, who together with the board of Workers Together With Him, recognized the still, small voice of God leading them to come to Tanzania under rare invitation.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.
And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:11-12).

Truly it was the voice of Jesus leading them to come to my country; for God has great works for Tanzanians. As the Lord spoke to Paul in Acts 18:9-10: “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”

The amazing grace to my country began at 1:20 AM at the airport of Dar Es Salaam when my face was suddenly met by the lovely smiling faces of Lord’s servants, Revs. Sullivan and Pyle. This joyful atmosphere was already introduced in my heart by another servant of God, Brother Henry Musana, who had arrived only six hours earlier from Uganda after a bus ride of many days. They were tired after such a long journey, but their faces and hearts were looking forward to being with the Lord’s people, the flock of God, to give them pasture and water.

Once we left the airport and checked into our lodging for the night, we had five hours to sleep. Then at 6:15 AM on December 2, 2004, we began the long journey to Mbeya, an 11-hour bus ride.

We reached Mbeya town at 6:20 PM that evening. The next day, December 3rd, was intended to be a day of rest but our plans were changed by some important things that had to be taken care of in town. That evening, we drove about one hour to meet with some of the Pastors concerning the class preparations, including the district Pastor.

[Editor’s note: In Tanzania, a ministry that is not registered with the government cannot hold public meetings unless those meetings are sponsored by a church that is registered. When Workers Together With Him first came to Tanzania in 2003, the event was under the jurisdiction of the Moravian Church. In December 2004, the Lutheran Church oversaw the event.]

Glory be to God Who enabled us to begin the seminar on December 4th, 2004. I am very sorry for the inconveniences that occurred in the first two days of class, which caused the sessions to begin several hours later than scheduled. When previous arrangements I made were not honored, we were forced to find alternate transportation to and from town to the Maasai village.

[We are all very grateful to the Catholic priest who not only served as our host but drove us to the village that first day, and to a policeman named Hamisi Mkadimbah who, in the days following, also gave us transport.]

But all in all, I thank God who was with us and made the class very successful. I came to realize that the key of our success was the shepherd’s heart found in the servants of God. This happened when they accepted an invitation to reside at the Maasai village for the duration of the class. They spent three days (day and night) teaching and sharing the love of God to my people. In so doing they fulfilled Paul’s concept on how to reach the hearts of men:

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. (1 Corinthians 9:22-23)

Also this is the truth of Christ, for He descended from heaven to save us. Glory be to God! Amen!!

I was blessed to see how these servants of God humbled themselves in order to bring honor to their Master. They traveled the great distance from the USA to Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, then from Dar Es Salaam to Mbeya and from Mbeya to the innermost part of the district of Chimala, where the Maasai have their dwelling; then they happily stayed in the village, and taught the truth of God under a tree. They were eating and sleeping in highly different situations from their own, just to show the love of Christ to people who are in need of Christ. I know they did this only to bring honor to the mighty name of Jesus. It is my prayer that the Lord will remember and think about them for good, according to the words of the prophet.

Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. (Nehemiah 5:19)

For me, theirs was a precious example to be followed by Servants of God in Jesus Christ. Hallelujah and Amen.

I also thank God who sent Henry from Uganda who became a catalyst (stimulus) of the class due to his lovely heart for the Maasai. His heart of love for the Maasai attracted them and made them become one in Christ. To the very end he made a concrete message in the hearts of the ministers when he preached the Word of God from Jeremiah 9.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Our goal was to train 70 ministers, but the Lord was so merciful such that the class attendance was from 80 to 115 participants. The teachings were a great blessing due to the holy anointing of God on His servants of God. The Holy Spirit ministered in the hearts of the participants. There was a very significant blessing in that some of the students began to speak in new tongues for the first time. Also the Lord showed His mercy and compassion to His people through the gift of Healing. The teaching enlightened the eyes of ministers especially when they were taught about the revelation gifts. Their understanding had been confused by their cultural beliefs and traditions. They came to know that the true God can communicate with us through visions and dreams.

The testimonies of those who received the gift of tongues for the first time, (one of the first group of 9 gifts); others who learned that God can give us information through visions and dreams (gifts of revelation); and those who, by receiving the mercy and compassion of God, received healing (gift of power), prove the success of the class. Praise, blessing, glory and honor be to God for ever – Amen!!

I am so thankful to His servants, Tim and Evan and to all the members of Workers Together With Him worldwide and other Saints who contributed to the success of the Class. I pray that this Word from Hebrews come to pass to you all in Jesus name – Amen!

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:9-12)

 

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From the January 2005 edition of the Vine & Branches