A few months ago, we received an inquiry from Eastern Mennonite Missions about our interest and availability to serve in East Africa as Theological Education Coordinators to “partner with East African churches to achieve locally-owned, effective, and sustainable leadership development.” This includes assessing current programs and working with African church leaders to develop new programs that will better meet their needs.
Our first reaction to the invitation was positive and we felt we should begin the application process as a way of testing this call, trying to be sensitive to anything that might indicate this is not for us at this time. We have been moving forward through the process and continue to feel positive about the invitation and the opportunity to return to Africa. We also feel supported by our children.
Twenty years ago in 1991, our family returned to USA after a total of 10 years as missionaries in East Africa (Tanzania and Kenya) with Eastern Mennonite Missions. During that time, we worked with the Mennonite churches in Tanzania and Kenya in their training programs for church leaders. The first involvement was teaching in the residential Bible college operated by the Mennonite churches in northwestern Tanzania. Later involvement was in the extension Bible school (Theological Education by Extension - TEE) for village church leaders. Our family looks back on our time in Africa with many good memories and we are grateful for the opportunities it gave us. The assignment we are considering will take us back to the same area, churches, and people we worked with earlier.
In the 20 years since we left, the churches have continued to grow at a rapid rate, and African church leaders express their concern that they are not able to train enough leaders to keep pace with the needs of the church. Tanzania Mennonite Church has grown nearly 400% in 20 years and reports nearly 80,000 members. At the same time, the churches have found it difficult to maintain training programs due to the struggling Tanzanian and Kenyan economies.
The purpose of this letter is to let you know that we are considering this opportunity and invite you to pray with us for discernment. We invite you to pray for Tanzania Mennonite Church and Kenya Mennonite Church, and for us as we consider this invitation. We have had recent correspondence with African  leaders and they have heartily welcomed us to return to Africa. We believe this is God’s work and an opportunity to serve God and to serve the Mennonite churches in Kenya and Tanzania. We will need to raise funds to cover our travel and overseas living expenses. Whether your support is through prayer, or your friendship, or through financial resources, we see this as an opportunity for you to partner in strengthening the church in East Africa.
There is no definite time when this assignment would begin, but could be as early as mid-2012 for a 4 year term, depending on funds. Thank you for praying with us.