On the 12th November 2006, the Arusha Christian Church in Arusha, Tanzania celebrated 10 years since the church was planted. Several disciples traveled from both Dar-es-Salaam and Nairobi cities and arrived in Arusha on Saturday 11th to join the Arusha disciples for this celebration. On Saturday, disciples were busy reaching out to friends and neighbors and rehearsing songs in preparation for the anniversary service. It was a time of great joy and reunion as several disciples who had either led or planted the church in Arusha met with the disciples whom they had converted and who had stayed faithful through the years.

Sunday morning was full of anticipation and excitement as warm hugs and high-fives were exchanged on arrival at the Golden Rose Hotel, where the church meets. The singing was led powerfully by Wycliffe Mbimwa and Fred Arogo, both from Nairobi, and Elibariki a song leader in the Arusha church. Wycliffe has led the church in Arusha at two different times and visits the church in Arusha often to encourage them.

George Khisa, who also led the Arusha church for 3 years, shared the communion message from 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5. He pointed out that while there were many great things in the church, ultimately what really matters is that the faith of all rests not on anything but on the power of the cross of Christ. George married Susan in Nairobi in May this year. The two, pictured right, met in Arusha while George was serving there.

Each of the Nairobi disciples who had served in the church in Arusha got to share briefly. Freda Mcharo sang a song and shared her joy in seeing the church continue to advance. Ken Kisiang’ani, who reached out to Joachim Palangyo the current church leader, shared the joy of staying together with the rest of the original team at a local hotel from where many conversations were held, prayers were said and dreams were formed. Ken shared how nice it felt to meet his spiritual children and grandchildren.

“I look forward to seeing more (spiritual) grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren”, Ken said. For Risper who was among the 10 disciples in the planting team, this moment was indeed incredible. She had not returned to Arusha since she left almost 9 years ago. She said, “It is such a great joy to be here. I fell in love with James, my husband, while here and today God has blessed us with two children. I want to urge those of us who are single to trust in God and wait upon him. God has in store a great partner for you.”

The day’s message was preached in English by George Irungu and translated to Swahili by Joachim. George Irungu is co-lead evangelist of the Nairobi Christian church and oversees the Arusha church among his responsibilities. In his message, “Pursue Holiness,” built from several New Testament scriptures, he pointed out that the only way that the church could continue to powerfully influence souls for Christ is by all of us pursuing holiness. Sexual immorality, a topic which many shy way from was at the center of his message. He described how this sin pushes God away from his house, the temple, which is our body. The call was for us all to not only avoid sexual immorality but to not even allow a hint of the sin.

Listening to this message were, among others, several people who had been disciples at one time and many visitors and people studying the Bible. A total of 128 people were in attendance.

The church’s 10th anniversary coincided with a wedding between Meshack and Agnes. Agnes was among the first disciples to be baptized in Arusha while Meshack has been a disciple for over 5 years. Two hours after the service, Meshack Sakume and Agnes Ayo were married in a colorful wedding service conducted jointly by Gitau Ng’ang’a and William Auki. William and his wife, Vicky, led the church in Arusha in the late 90’s and early 2000.

On Sunday evening, some of the visitors had fellowship time at Joachim and Eva Palangyo’s house in Mianzini. It was a time of catching up, sharing visions, playing games and having fun.

Being in Arusha on this day and seeing all those faces revealed to us all the possibilities that are open in the largest country in East Africa. The church is growing slowly but surely in Arusha and the seed has been planted in Dar-es-Salaam the largest city and commercial capital of Tanzania, where three families of disciples meet weekly. The challenge is clear: Pursue Holiness, focus on the cross. What do the next ten years have in store for Tanzania? God will indeed continue to be glorified. Amen!