Led by the Laity: Christianity on the Move |
In a
2015 column
for the Washington Post, Reformed Church in America leader/author, Wes Granberg-Michaelson made the following observations about the movement of Christianity around the world.
A century ago, 80 percent lived in North America and Europe, compared with just 40 percent today. . . In 1980, more Christians were found in the global South than the North for the first time in 1,000 years. Today, the Christian community in Latin America and Africa, alone, account for 1 billion people.
Over the past 100 years, Christians grew from less than 10 percent of Africa's population to its nearly 500 million today. One out of four Christians in the world presently is an Africa, and the Pew Research Center estimates that will grow to 40 percent by 2030.
Through our companion synod relationship with the ELCT we are able to witness this phenomenon in ways that are up close and personal. In the Iringa Dicoese alone, the growth of God's church has been nothing short of phenomenal. In 1987 there were 20 congregations. Ten years later there were seventy. This year they are closing in on 120 - more than we have in the Saint Paul Area Synod. On any given Sunday they worship in nearly 900 different locations (congregations and preaching points), the vast majority of which are led by lay leaders called evangelists.
This kind of growth doesn't simply happen overnight. While there are likely many factors behind it, in Iringa one of the driving forces has been the emphasis that Diocese Leadership and Pastors place on training adults for ministry. According to recent research by Agora Director, the Rev. Dr. Paul Erickson, in June of 2015 more than 3,000 people were enrolled in some 200 TEE (Theological Education by Extension) classes across the Diocese. Comprised of three, three-year phases, the courses are designed to equip congregation members to meet the spiritual and physical needs of their neighbors and, in doing so, to share the new life that they have received in Christ. Through their efforts, and the movement of the Holy Spirit, God's peaceable kingdom continues to grow.
This is indeed Good News and a great time to be worldwide Body of Christ,
-peter
The Rev. Peter Harrits, Director of Bega Kwa Bega & Assistant to the Bishop
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Scholarship supporters, friends of Iringa, and those interested in learning about education in Tanzania are invited to meet with special guests from Tanzania on Tuesday, April 12 from 7-8:30pm at St. Mark's in North Saint Paul.
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Curious about what it is like to travel to Tanzania? Members from St Paul Lutheran in Stillwater who recently returned from Iringa will be sharing about their experience during a potluck lunch presentation. All are welcome. Sunday, April 17 following the 10:30 worship service at St. Paul Lutheran in Stillwater.
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Global Health Ministries Spring Gala
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Global Health Ministries is a Minneapolis-based that supports Lutheran healthcare systems around the world - including Tanzania and the Iringa Diocese. Friday, April 22, 5:30-8:30pm.
Details on their website.
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14th Annual Ilula Benefit
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Sunday, April 24, 6 - 8:30 pm
Annual gathering to hear updates from Ilula and the new Nursing School that started this year. Proceeds from the night's event will be dedicated to the purchase and installation of an x-ray machine at the Ilula Hospital. Details at www.ilulahealth.org.
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Save the Date - BKB Fall Festival
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The annual BKB Fall Festival is back! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 12. Location and more details coming soon.
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Where's Peter Preaching & Presenting?
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Sat & Sun, Apr 9 & 10 at Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley
April 13-17 at ELCA Churchwide Offices
Sunday, May 1 at Luther Memorial, South Saint Paul
Sunday, May 8 - Grace, Apple Valley
Sunday, May 15 - Christ, Lake Elmo
June - July in Iringa, Tanzania
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This week we pray for St Paul Lutheran in Wyoming and their companions in Migoli. We give thanks for the growth of God's church in Mtera that enabled the preaching point of Migoli to become its own congregation and the willingness of companions in Minnesota to accompany both. May God bless all of the partners abundantly.
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In October 2015, we asked leaders in Iringa what the word Companionship means to them. This is what they said...
... "...a relationship led by praying, encouraging, cooperating, and strengthening each other." - Rev. Patrick Kikoti, Lulanzi Parish
... "...this word reminds us about the love of Jesus Christ to us." - Tafuteni Kivamba, Lulanzi Parish
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May 2016
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Concordia College, Moorhead
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St. Stephen's, White Bear Lake
July 2016
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Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley
- Augustana, West Saint Paul
August 2016
- Amazing Grace, Inver Grove Heights
- Our Savior's, Hastings
September 2016
- Incarnation, Shoreview
October 2016
- Synod Wide Vision Trip
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Do you have news or events to share with the rest of the Bega Kwa Bega Community?
If so, please email them to
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