“Of course we’re passing on knowledge, but our biggest joy is seeing students grow in self-confidence.”

Martin Fannon, mission partner

 “I still feel I have a lot to learn about God, having observed the dedication of the Tanzanians and their enthusiasm”  

David Shaw, next volunteer 

The bishop’s passion is to minister to the vast spiritual and physical needs in a diocese stretching from Lake Victoria to the Serengeti plains. Crosslinks helped equip him for this task by assisting his studies at All Nations and Oak Hill colleges. Now he encourages others to train. For example, Rev Joseph Argwing, who leads the Kowak Training Centre for evangelists and lay leaders, is currently a Crosslinks study partner in South Africa. And in fact it was Crosslinks mission partner Les Jesudason who helped get the Kowak Centre built and taught Christian Basics there with his wife Lyn when they were in Mara

Many other new ministries have been pioneered through this partnership. One example is Mrs Wema Ogunde as Children’s Ministry Coordinator. Another is the AIDS Awareness programme started by Caroline Maclean. This is one of many programmes run by the Diocesan Development Office, where Caroline’s husband Andrew was the first Development Officer before handing over to his national counterpart, trained with Crosslinks’ support. 

Crosslinks also encourages all-age ministry. Mission partners Martin and Sue Fannon came to Mara in 2000 to find 15 students but no classroom! Now, the college has 90 students, with a new computer centre using the latest teaching techniques. Sue and Martin’s vision to equip others means working alongside three Tanzanian staff, using biblically focused material to cover a syllabus that qualifies young people for jobs in their community. Martin comments on their progress: “Of course we’re passing on knowledge, but our biggest joy is seeing students grow in self-confidence.” 

For its part, Crosslinks is deeply grateful for the pastoral care Bishop and Martha Omindo always offer to mission partners, and their welcome to short-termers. These may be smile volunteers caring for mission partner children, or next helpers like David and Jill Shaw. Says David “I still feel I have a lot to learn about God, having observed the dedication of the Tanzanians and their enthusiasm”. 

As a result, many deep relationships between the diocese and UK churches have developed into rich partnerships of their own, long after the mission partners themselves have moved on. 

This partnership between Mara and Crosslinks has moved beyond diocesan borders. Witness the networking with South Africa in Delta Training; Bishop Hilkiah’s visit to South America to encourage the churches of the Southern Cone; and the support for Canon Raphael Akiri’s degree and doctoral studies in the UK, where once he was qualified Mara released him to take up the post of Provincial Secretary. 

As Mara diocese celebrates twenty years since its foundation, Crosslinks joins with many others in thanking God for blessing the work of his Church there and for the opportunity to share in an enriching partnership. 

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Crosslinks magazine July 2005 index