The Next Generation Ministries in Tanzania

The United Methodist Church of Tanzania (UMCT) has 63 churches and many youth (age 13-35), but only 4-5 churches have active youth groups and youth programs. Most churches have no youth group, no Bible study, no Sunday school, and no youth activities. According to 2014 & 2015, annual conference reports, the UMCT has about 1,000 youth and young adults. So there is much to be done. When I was visiting nine districts to listen to their needs, problems, dreams and prayers, I learned that many youth don’t even have their own Bible. Having youth in the church doesn’t automatically make them disciples of Jesus Christ. Youth need their own Bible and essential Christian trainings for discipleship, leadership development, and evangelism and ministry. Also, youth seek more education because most of them have finished only primary or secondary (Jr. High) school. Those who are active members of UMC and have good academic performances need to continue their studies through sponsorships or scholarships for their lives as well as the UMCT. Also, many youth yearn for meaningful employment and projects. Lack of education and lack of English don’t help them find any job. So they desire to gain practical job skills at a vocational school, to learn English, and to get entrepreneurship trainings in order to support their own family and church. The UMCT has a primary school in Morogoro and needs secondary schools. Most UMC youth in villages are primary graduates because their parents cannot pay for their school fees for secondary education. A secondary school project is needed to provide a high-quality education program with lower school fees for youth, including sponsorships for orphans. In Tanzania, those who finished the secondary school can apply for a high school or a 2-3 years college. This means the youth who have God’s calling can go to a Bible college after their secondary school. The UMCT needs new pastoral and lay leaders to build up God’s people. It has been a provisional annual conference, so it needs to become a full annual conference and has its own Bishop who is a Tanzanian. The UMCT has been struggling with lack of pastoral & lay leadership. Also, most churches are not moving forward to fulfill the mission of the Church. I see the potential of youth (age 13-35) becoming a driving force for spiritual revivals in every church. The UMCT won’t be the same within 3-5 years, if we love, train, equip, empower our youth to serve God and His people.