Tanzania Mission

For 23 years, Pastor Rick Engel of Jacksonville, FL, has traveled to various parts of Africa. He has spread the word of our Lord to the local natives and provided spiritual guidance and motivation to those who choose to become pastors and evangelists. Most recently, he has been a part of an updated medical ministry, completion of a new church and an educational ministry for the Maasai tribe on the Serengeti Plain in Tanzania.

TEAM TANZANIA 2023 completed the work of refurbishing a medical clinic in remote Piaya. The team of nine individuals was blessed with good health, plentiful assistance from local villagers and ample time to get to know them and share their faith with members of the local church. Some of the completed tasks were cleaning, repairing and repainting all interior and exterior surfaces of the clinic. They installed a 30 foot gutter with water directed to a huge above-ground fiberglass tank for drinking water and installed several countertops in rooms of the medical clinic. Previous funding had been used to replace the entire roof, including rafters and metal, replace rotted and termite-riddled wooden windows and doors with metal ones, and level the concrete floor. The original building had been constructed in 1990 and had received no improvements since the initial construction. Dr. Nsimba, the local doctor overseeing the clinic, was incredibly pleased with the outcome. In addition, Pastor Rick was privileged to bring a message of hope to a crowded Sunday morning worship service. Also, the team offered several afternoon learning opportunities for about 40 children. As usual, multiple copies of A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories were distributed to families with children and Luther’s Small Catechism to local evangelists and pastors (both in Swahili).

Since 2008, 30men have been trained, with two in training, as evangelists. Another nine have been trained, with two in training, to be pastors. The mission supports them through the evangelism school at Ol Donyo Sambu and onward through theological training at Mwika Theological School. While expenses for fees, tuition, transportation and family support have increased over the years, not once has funding faltered to support each man as promised. To God be the glory!

Presently, a year at Ol Donyo is $600 and a year at Mwika is $1,600. Currently, James and Jacobi are at Ol Donyo Sambu in their first of three years of study to become evangelists. Charles (in his second year) and Joseph (in his first year)are at Mwika Theological School in a four-year training to become pastors. In 2023, two more young men were identified to train as evangelists. They began their studies in the fall of 2023 in a three-year program. One evangelist will begin preparation to become a pastor (a four-year program).

Pastor Rick intends to return to Tanzania to continue this support and encouragement of the evangelists and pastors with whom he has partnered. Along with supporting Dr. Steve and his wife, Bethany, in their medical clinic, the mission also supports Dr. Nsimba at his Birthing Center and Clinic in Arash. What a blessing this is for this simple effort to encourage the spread of God’s Word among the Massai of northern Tanzania. Pastor Rick is so humbled to have been directed by God to initiate this work in 2000 and to have been granted His sufficient grace to sustain it through these years.