Many received the word of God when a MAF aircraft landed on a dirt airstrip in northern Tanzania, west of lake Natron.
Daniel Siang’au has been cursed by his neighbours, had his flock stolen and been shot in the face – but he is now seeing healing and peace in a remote Tanzanian village.
The evangelist, who came to faith in 1998, suffered years of persecution before former rivals embraced Christianity.
Daniel was left fighting for his life after receiving a gunshot wound to the face, but he went on to propose the development of an airstrip where MAF aircraft could bring a team from Malambo Bible School to preach in Lemugur in northern Tanzania.
It is through MAF’s help that we have developed many airstrips that allow us to share the gospel of Christ widely among the Maasai.
MAF provided transport for evangelists on the Malambo Safari to several Maasai villages, allowing them four nights of teaching and discipling. The atmosphere changed, filled with songs of praise, as evangelists preached the word of God.
One of those flights brought the team to Lemugur, where Daniel talked about his passion to share his good news, which began after he and his family first walked into a church in the village of Pinyin.
“As time passed, I felt a profound calling to share the Gospel within my own village, where Christianity was not known,” he says.
“Yet, this mission was new and dangerous. It sparked conflict, I was scorned by my peers, faced opposition and curses cast on me by my fellow tribesmen who felt I was deviating from our ancestral beliefs. They wanted to silence my preaching.
“All my flock were stolen and some slaughtered.”
But Daniel reflected on how much hearts had changed.
He says a former adversary told him, “Let us allow the development of the airstrip. It will not only serve the evangelists but also bring healthcare through MAF’s mobile clinics.”
I want to thank MAF for their aircraft that have over time changed my life and made it easier for myself and other evangelists to continue with this ministry.
Evangelist Elisha Moita, who has worked with MAF for more than 40 years, said the ministry which started with a congregation of just 63, has since grown to more than 10,000 Christians with new churches built.
“It is through MAF’s help that we have developed many airstrips that allow us to share the gospel of Christ widely among the Maasai. In a mere four to six minutes, we can fly from one village to the next easily with the MAF aircraft,” he says.
“Through MAF’s support, I established Malambo Bible School, which has trained many evangelists within and beyond Malambo, some of whom lacked basic literacy skills.
“However, we developed a programme to teach them in the Maasai language which is predominant in Malambo and one they would use while sharing the word of God.”
Elisha was introduced to MAF in 1985, but in those early days of the ministry, Elisha travelled long distances on foot.
“I walked for long distances without food and water to quench my thirst, encountering wild animals,” he says.
“But I want to thank MAF for their aircraft that have over time changed my life and made it easier for myself and other evangelists to continue with this ministry.”