Going the distance in Tanzania
This article was first appeared in the March 2026 edition of The Methodist Newsletter.
How far would you go to tell someone about Jesus?
In rural Tanzania, ministers and evangelists are literally going the distance.
Tanzania is a country full of nature’s wonders. From the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro to the vast rolling plains of the Serengeti, the land is rich in natural resources and agricultural abundance. But the 67 million people who call Tanzania home face real challenges, including political unrest, poverty and malnutrition.
In October 2025, Tanzanians protesting President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s re-election were met with violence. Hundreds were killed, with many more kidnapped or detained. As demonstrations escalated, businesses and properties were looted or burnt down leaving many homeless and without basic supplies. The Methodist Church in Tanzania also suffered damage to buildings, with iron sheeting stolen from a new local church.
This recent turmoil worsened an already difficult economic situation in the country, with prices fluctuating and essential goods no longer available. Rev. Emmanuel Lubacha, Bishop of the Tanzanian Synod, has asked Irish Methodists to pray for unity and peace, saying that “without prayers we cannot overcome all this.”
The violence exacerbated an already difficult situation for the Methodist Church in Tanzania. Many Tanzanians live in rural communities separated by vast distances. With limited transport links and little access to vehicles, the journey to reach these communities with the Good News and pastoral care takes significant time and energy. Many dedicated evangelists regularly walk more than 40km to reach their stations – that’s equivalent to 8 hours of walking!
To reach these remote communities more quickly, ministers and lay preachers are swapping travel on two feet for two wheels. In 2025, Irish Methodists supported the Methodist Church in Tanzania to acquire 3 motorbikes and 15 bicycles, a boost that has already begun to transform ministry in rural Tanzania. Rev. Samwel Matwiga (pictured), one of the ministers who received a motorbike, expressed deep gratitude for this investment, noting that these motorbikes will strengthen the church’s mission and help them to pursue their calling to win souls to Christ across the region.
The church is not only reaching communities more efficiently, but they are also being equipped to minister more effectively through vital theological training. This year, 4 ministers and 10 lay evangelists have been supported to attend certificate and diploma courses through a grant from World Mission Partnership.
Students Bonphase Nzalia and Emmanuel Mashine expressed their gratitude to the Tanzania synod for recognising their potential and investing in their development as ministry students. They are committed to serving the Church faithfully, working hard in their studies and bringing what they learn back into their ministry. After completing their certificate, they hope to continue on to diploma-level training, determined to build on what has been started in them.
Pastor Phares is also enhancing his studies as he works towards his theological diploma. He was delighted to receive a motorbike to help him reach his stations more efficiently, reducing his long journey significantly – now he will arrive with more energy left to minister effectively.
In 2025, World Mission Partnership (WMP) gave more than £11,500 (€13,200) to support our brothers and sisters in Tanzania. That grant was used to pay for the motorbikes, bicycles and theological training that you’ve been reading about – and it was only possible because of your generous donations.
Thank you to everyone who has supported WMP with their giving: your support has allowed the Methodist Church in Tanzania to invest in their ministry, equipping God’s people to keep to going the distance for the Gospel for many years to come.
