Urban

This is a simple overview of the work, goals, and strategies for the urban work for a more comprehensive look view the Strategies and Goals, and the Urban Strategy  Report

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

“We are called by God to bring His Kingdom, His reign to the slums of Mwanza, Tanzania, planting indigenous churches that are nationally lead and locally sustained by God, thus, initiating a movement sustained by His Spirit through equipped local leadership with a vision to reach every tribe, class, and ethnic group in Mwanza and beyond with the good news of Jesus Christ.”

OUR STRATEGY

This mission will be founded, grounded, and bathed in prayer and the authority of the Word of God. We desire nothing more than to fulfill God’s will and His purpose for our lives and for the city of Mwanza, Tanzania. “Many are the plans of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s Purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21) For that reason, we can write out our strategy and have our ideas, but we are going to call on God daily to show us His strategy for reaching Mwanza and be submissive to what He calls us to do. After all, He does have the best plan and I’ve found in my life when I make plans, God always changes them! We want to join Him where He is already working in the hearts of the people!

THE URBANIZATION OF AFRICA  

As with many continents all over the world, Africa is quickly becoming urban with over 53% of its population living in its cities today. Timothy Monsma, an urban missiologist, predicts that Africa will be 75% urban by 2025. The village is moving to the city. The reasons are simple: because of the need for jobs and lack of financial opportunities in the villages. Another reason is if a man has 3 sons only the firstborn inherits the land in the rural areas which makes the other 2 sons look elsewhere for their future: towards the city.  This has created a need for a shift in missions in Africa from the 19^th century rural village (where church planting has focused the last 100 years) to the decaying slums of the 21^st century city (where there is little church presence). Something also to consider is that African traditions are breaking down at a rapid pace. Traditions such as bride price are not as predominant as they once were, especially among the young people and Tanzanians are looking for something to fill that empty void. We know that only the love of our Lord Jesus Christ can truly fill that emptiness!    

ECONOMIC STATISTICS OF MWANZA

Mwanza is the second largest city in Tanzania , East Africa and is a city of 800,000 people with over 70% of its population living in the slums or “squatter settlements” on the rocky hills that surround the city. Just 10 years ago in 1992, the population was just 223,000. Economists are predicting that Mwanza will double in population by 2011 to 1.6 million. The average person working in Mwanza makes $1 a day and the average lifespan is 47 years of age. According to the World Suffering Index, Tanzania is the 11^th poorest nation in the world. Inflation has risen from 1999 (Tanzanian shilling, 760 shillings to USD) to now (1060 shillings to the USD).