Crosslinks’ Involvement in Tanzania 

Crosslinks first sent mission partners to Tanzania in 1954. Now we support the Tanzanian church through mission partners (click here to see what John Hayden is doing), study partners (nationals training to work in their own country) and through projects like this.

What is the need?

The Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro (DMK) in the Anglican Church of Tanzania covers an area equivalent to half the size of England with an estimated 20,000 and 30,000 Anglicans. Previously, with the help of the Bishop of Oxford’s Outreach Fund, Crosslinks supported north DMK. Now the exciting possibility of a new diocese in the south, the Diocese of Kiteto, may mean that an area that is often overlooked can be helped. The joy - and the difficulty - is that in Kiteto a new church opens on average every fortnight and it is proving hard to train pastors to keep up with growth.

How does Theological Training by Extension (TEE) work?

Crosslinks has had a good track record in DMK. Work started in 1994 by a Crosslinks mission partners was handed over in 2001 to Patrick Maanda, who grew up in the diocese. Patrick has continued as the TEE co-ordinator in the north and Reverend Peter Mkengi has focused on co-ordinating the TEE work in the south since 2004. 

Now church members, evangelists and pastors can train at various levels. Most studies are distance learning, non-residential making them cost effective and allowing students to continue in their ministry. Some courses have some intensive study at Kiteto Christian College, but maintain the emphasis of continuing work in the home church for their students. Before Kiteto Bible College residential seminars and short course training was so far away that it was not practical.

Who benefits? 

Training is at various levels, so suited to the individual students.

• 138 people are on the Basic Course, building a general understanding of Christianity and acting for some as a springboard for further study.

• 21 are on the Kiswahili Diploma Course. Learning in a local language opens doors for understanding the Bible and communicating it to people on the ground.

• Five are learning English in preparation for a Bachelor of Ministry degree. At present the degree is only available in English. Having some studying at a deeper level ensures that understanding is not skin-deep but at a range of levels.

• Seven are studying for an accredited Bachelor of Ministry degree.

Church plants are benefiting as they have trained leaders.

Previous students have gone on to work as evangelists and pastors in their communities. They are spreading and deepening an understanding of Jesus. The truth of this is seen in the growing numbers of Christians and the growing numbers of Christians undertaking training, thus (we pray) maintaining the momentum of church growth.

Recent poor harvests have taken a huge toll. One danger is that pastors who are paid through the local church will no longer be able to continue their work. Such donations, and others from a Crosslinks’ appeal, help those in training to continue.

Maintaining the momentum

Crosslinks has agreed to send £6,700. This includes funds for wages, motorbike maintenance, insurance, office costs, TEE materials, other transport and travel and seminars. We are pleased to have had some funding already, but need £4,133 for 2007. Please consider whether you could help the church in the fledgling area Kiteto.


Updated 8/10/06