Miracle at MTCEA

Reflection 4 of 6, from our recent visit to East Africa:

We arrived in Nyabange, also known to some as Bukiroba, the site of Mennonite Theological College of Eastern Africa (MTCEA) on Saturday, April 29. One year ago as we were leaving Tanzania, there were only 5 students. Enrollment at MTCEA had been declining for several years, support by churches was very low, and there was little active ownership by Tanzania Mennonite Church. The need to train leaders was clear, but there was little hope for MTCEA’s survival. As one former missionary stated, “MTCEA is like Lazarus in the grave, waiting for Jesus to show up and bring it to life.”

MTCEA students in the chapel for a seminar with
Steve Wiebe-Johnson, Mennonite Mission Network
(photo by John Wambura)

What we encountered on our visit this year passed all our expectations. The largest group of students in MTCEA’s history was 32 students – now there were more than 50 students beginning an 8 month study program, and not all the students had arrived! Sunday evening Joe was asked to address the student-led evening prayer time, and it was an amazing experience to share with the group – it felt like a miracle was happening, totally beyond our expectations. The latest count we have heard recently is that 89 students have arrived, in addition to several local persons taking evening classes.

The new leadership of Tanzania Mennonite Church brought new vision and trust, and that has laid the foundation for the new life at MTCEA. General Secretary John Wambura has been actively recruiting students, but the quick turnaround was more than human effort – we saw God at work. There is a great hunger among African youth for Bible teaching and they are committed to evangelism and church ministries, and they responded to the opportunity for study. At least three-fourths of the students are under 40 years old, considered youth in Africa.

Students at MTCEA, 29 May 2017
(photo by JohnWambura)

We questioned the wisdom of beginning a program when there is no principal appointed, the governing board has not yet met, and there is no guaranteed source of funding, but General Secretary Wambura told me, “You people from the West need to have all the organization in place before you begin. We are tapping into the momentum, and we will organize as we go along.”

We continue to pray that this training program will provide leaders who will carry Tanzania Mennonite Church into the future and help to reach the goal of 1 million members by 2034.