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Remains of the Free Evangelical Pentecostal Church in Africa building in Kianga, near Zanzibar town
Photo: Compass Direct

On July 30, Muslim extremists burned down a church building on Zanzibar Island off the coast of Tanzania, just three days after another congregation's facility was reduced to ashes. In Fuoni on the south coast of Zanzibar, Islamic extremists torched the building of the Evangelical Assemblies of God-Tanzania (EAGT). The assailants were shouting, "Away with the church -- we do not want infidels to spoil our community, especially our children." In Kianga, the Free Evangelical Pentecostal Church in Africa was burned down in the early hours of July 27. On neighbouring Pemba Island, suspected Muslims extremists razed a Seventh-Day Adventist Church building in Konde on June 17.

Please pray the Lord will give courage to these believers so they remain steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-10). Pray the Lord will grow His church in faithfulness and in number regardless of the opposition. Pray for church unity in this nation. Pray those who oppose believers will recognise them as Christ's disciples by the way they love one another (John 13:34-35).

Country Information

Tanzania map & flagPopulation
62,092,761 (July 2021 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, w

    ...
  • 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 wit

    ...
  • 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 unlawful

    ...
  • 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 regio

    ...