Radicals Threaten to Eradicate Christianity

Pray for the protection of
churches in Tanzania.
Flickr / Sherwood (cc)

Three churches in northwest Tanzania were set ablaze on September 22nd by militants, causing everything inside them to burn. Fortunately, no one was injured. "What is worrying us is that the burning of the three churches happened within a span of two hours," states Pastor Vedasto Athanas of Living Water International Church. "What is even more worrying is that we have been receiving threats from Muslim extremists that they want churches reduced in this area."

These attacks have come at a time when the church in Tanzania is experiencing extreme growth. The resulting destruction leaves about 850 Christians without their places of worship. "We have lost everything in our churches -- the buildings, the chairs and musical instruments," the pastor added. "Our members have nowhere to worship. We do request prayers at this difficult moment."

This is not the first time that Tanzanian Christian churches have been burned by extremists. In January, a church building in the Muheza district was also set on fire. Additionally, a woman in this district who converted to Christianity after marrying her Christian husband was beaten and burned by her Muslim parents late last year.

As Christians make up about 54 percent of the Tanzanian population, the country's 31 percent Muslim population has largely been tolerant of Christian practices until a recent polarization between moderate and radical Muslims, according to Operation World.

First of all, may God minister His perfect peace to the congregations of these churches after the destruction and upheaval they've recently experienced, restoring to them all that the enemy has destroyed. And may He not only minister to the Christians of these communities but also to the perpetrators of the violence, convicting them of their sin and need of salvation. We pray that greater blessing will be poured out upon His people in Tanzania as they continue letting their lights shine brightly so that many others will clearly discover the Way, the Truth and the Life! (John 14:6).

  • Country Information

    Tanzania map & flagPopulation
    65,642,682 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Mainland - African (99) (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other (1) (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African

    Religion (%)
    Christian (63.1), Muslim (34.1), folk religion (1.1), unspecified (1.6)
    Note: Zanzibar is almost entirely Muslim

    Leader
    President Samia Suluhu Hassan (2021)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation

    Sources: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Tanzania

    Pray that the gospel will be well received by unreached tribal groups. Ask God to influence government leaders tostand strong against the influence of Islam. Pray that pastors in Zanzibar will continue to stand strong despite efforts to eliminate Christianity.

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Tanzania News

  • Church Faces Order to Close
    Bishop Daniel Kwileba Kwiyeya - Morning Star News www.morningstarnews.org
    Bishop Daniel Kwileba Kwiyeya
    Photo: Morning Star News

    A Pentecostal church in Kisauni, which is located in Zanzibar (a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania), has been facing pressure from local Muslims about its presence in the community. The annoyed community members lobbied the local authorities, who complied and issued the church a notice of closure.

    The complaint was that the services were too loud, even though the church did not use loudspeakers, as customarily done at the local mosque. In fact, the congregants had not faced any problems until their new building was completed in February.

    Read more...

  • Church Members' Possessions Taken
    Worship in Tanzania -- VOM USA
    Photo: VOM USA

    A pastor and several church members in a southeastern Tanzanian village had all of their belongings and cash confiscated after refusing to contribute towards a ceremony involving witchcraft. Village leaders, who entertained fears of "curses" being placed upon the area, called upon witch doctors to remove them. As part of their chosen requirements, everyone in the community was told to make a donation prior to the enactment of the ceremony. However, because the ceremony involved witchcraft, the Christians refused to participate.

    Read more...

  • Unlawful Arrests for Cooking During Ramadan
    Tanzanian landscape -- Photo: Pixabay

    On June 16th, three Christians were arrested in Zanzibar for cooking food in a private home during the Ramadan fast. Emmanuel Yohana, his wife Katherine, and a woman identified as Khadija, were arrested at the couple's home. Local police, led by the area district commissioner, forcefully and unlawfully entered the property where the two women were frying fish in the kitchen.

    Read more...

  • Third Church in Recent Burning Spree
    A church being burned in Tanzania.
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    Another church in Tanzania's extreme northwest corner was burned to the ground on May 2nd in a suspected arson attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the fire that destroyed the church in Nyarwele, located within the Kagera region which borders Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. According to Kagera Regional Police Commander Augustine Ollomi, it is the third church in four months to be burned down.

    The police commander added that seven suspects are currently helping police with investigations following the burning of other churches in the region last year -- six within a one-week period during September 2015. At the time of the 2015 attacks, the secretary of the local Bukoba Pastors' Fellowship testified that there had been many arson attacks in the area: "Since 2013, we have had over 13 churches torched here in Kagera, and no one has been held accountable."

    Fortunatus Bijura, the leader of the church that was burned on May 2nd of this year, says the resulting damages will not stop the congregation from meeting. "Those who think that destroying our church means we won't pray; they are wrong.... We have a big tree near the church and will continue meeting there for prayers."

    Local police have asked the community to work together in an effort to resolve the case of the most recent incident. Bishop Almachius Vincent Rweyongeza appealed for calm, requesting that locals co-operate with the police in order to locate those responsible and, therefore, put an end to the destructiveness and dangers posed by the fires. To review a report on last year's arson attacks, click here.

    Pray that the Lord will minister His perfect peace to the congregations of the attacked churches after the tremendous destruction and upheaval they've recently experienced, restoring to them all that the enemy has sought to destroy. And may the Lord not only minister to the suffering Christians of these communities but also to the instigators of the fires, by convicting them of their grievous sin and need for salvation. In addition, may there be a great outpouring of God's Spirit throughout Tanzania -- blessing the efforts of His faithful people as they endeavor to shine His light brightly so those faltering in the darkness will clearly discover "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6).

    Read more...

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