Mission Aviation Fellowship flew a team of evangelists into a place facing deep spiritual and social challenges. Through door-to-door visits, prayer and baptism, hundreds committed their lives to Christ.
Story by Annet Nabbanja
It’s hard to talk about MAF’s ‘Kilimatinde Safari’ without mentioning ‘Mama’ Kambenga.
Born in Shinyanga and married to Henry with three children, Ruth – affectionately known as ‘Mama’ – attends an Anglican church in Dodoma, where she’s an elder.
She is also a passionate evangelist, deeply committed to sharing the Good News of Jesus in communities that have otherwise been forgotten.
“She has partnered with MAF in Tanzania for more than 35 years,” says Stewart Ayling, MAF’s country director in Tanzania. “She has been coordinating village clinics and evangelistic outreaches, and humbly serving the teams in practical ways, such as preparing lunches or teaching Swahili to pilots.”
As part of the regular evangelistic ‘safari’ or trip, MAF flew a group of ten evangelists led by Ruth from Dodoma to Shinyanga in northwestern Tanzania.
The team stayed in Shinyanga for seven days, visiting people from house to house, preaching, praying for them, counselling and even baptising them. They saw very many things that amazed them.
During an open-air crusade,Rehema Saidi and Amina Othuman each heard the evangelist preached about the love of Jesus and His healing for all people. The preaching was broadcast over loudspeakers, allowing people like Rehema and Amina to hear the message while still in their surrounding homes.
When the time came to pray for the sick, people were invited to place their hands on the part of their body that was hurting, while remaining in their own homes.
She told the team that Jesus is real and that He heals
Rehema had been suffering for a long time from pain in her chest. When she heard the prayer, she held her chest, and after the prayer she was healed.
“She told the team that Jesus is real and that He heals,” said Mama Kambenga.
Amina had a problem with her arm which had been painful for a long time. After the prayer, she too was healed immediately.
Another family also experienced a miracle. One man’s son had a severe challenge: For one year he had neither bathed nor washed the clothes he sleeps in or the clothes he wears. He was very dirty and had a bad smell. His bedroom was also very dirty.
This young man was troubled by what was described as the power of Satan. He would wander around aimlessly and drink a lot of alcohol.
When the team visited his home, he did not want to speak with them and went into his room. The father said that he needed prayer so that his son would change. The team entered and prayed with the son.
The following morning, the team returned to find that he had bathed and washed his clothes.
“Now, the young man bathes, washes his clothes, and cleans his room,” said Mama Kambenga. “He has become a good young man and is happy . The name of Jesus has brought about great changes.”
The MAF flight from Dodoma to Shinyanga delivered the evangelists in under two hours, sharply contrasting with the 12 to 14 hours it would take by road.
“If MAF had not transported us by aeroplane, we would have arrived after many hours, with much exhaustion, crowded together in a bus with very little space,” said Mama Kambenga.
If MAF had not transported us by aeroplane, we would have arrived after many hours, with much exhaustion, crowded together in a bus with very little space.
Rev Andrea Ipolu Mang’ombe received the evangelism team in Shinyanga with great joy. He acts as the Secretary of the Evangelism Department in the Diocese of Shinyanga.
“Organisations such as MAF can partner with us in spreading the Gospel by providing transportation, which makes it easier to reach people in remote areas,” he said.
“We reached about 90 houses and 500 people. Those who believed in Jesus were 450 people, and those who were baptized were 60,” said Mama Kambenga.
The work that was done was only about a quarter of what was needed. There’s still a great need for the gospel in Shinyanga. Meanwhile, Rev Andrea stresses that praying for the new converts and discipling them is equally very important.
“The church continues to pray for the new believers who accepted Jesus during the gospel outreach meetings and is following them up to help them grow in their faith,” he said.