Siku ya uongozi  "Leadership Day"

Morogoro, Tanzania
East Africa

            In the Fall of 1993, when we started the Morogoro Bible Baptist Church,  I really did not dream about what it would be like to turn over the work to national leadership.  We have taught indigenous principles from day one.  We have emphasized them in the Bible Institute.  We have used "what if" illustrations in messages emphasizing the fact that the "missionary" may not always be there for them. 

            August 5, 2001, was a milestone day in the life of the Morogoro Bible Baptist Church.  "Leadership Day" was announced, planned for, and prayed for by all.  We had the privilege of hosting Dr. Bob Baird, director of Baptist Bible Fellowship Missions, for the special event.  He was also able to address our Bible Institute students for three sessions during the weekend. 

            We normally keep to a good schedule of about one and a quarter, to one and a half hours for our main worship service.  However, the activities of this special event lasted three and one half hours, with an attendance of 310.  Some of the highlights of the service included a variety of special music, as well as a puppet skit emphasizing the importance of being faithful after the missionaries are gone.  The choir had "written" two different songs (Tanzanian style) that had to do with the history of the church, and gave thanks to those who were involved in the church's development.  It was very moving to us as missionaries as each ministering family was mentioned respectively in the songs.  As well, "Dr. Robert" was mentioned for being there on the special day ("Baird" was too hard for them to pronounce, so they called him Dr. Robert).  The songs were received with Tanzanian applause and shouts throughout the singing.  What a blessing!  Congratulatory letters from Bill Gibbs (former BBFI missionary) and from Tom Foltz (on furlough at the time) were read to the congregation.  Again, each one was met with Tanzanian applause and shouts. 

            Dr. Baird preached the morning message with myself interpreting in to the Swahili language.  The Lord showered His blessings upon the day with His stamp of approval as three men walked the aisle for salvation, a host of people came to the altar for prayer, and one dear lady followed the Lord in Believer's Baptism. 

            As wonderful as all of that was, even more excitement followed.  As I briefly reviewed the history of the church and our goal for "Leadership Day," the people responded with "Amen" on many occasions throughout the discourse.  When I proposed two men, Charles Masebu to be called as senior pastor, and Silas Daniel to be called as assistant pastor, Tanzanian applause, shouts, and Amens, filled the auditorium once again!  We called the men of the church forward, bowed on our knees, and as we laid hands on these two men, we prayed for God's continued blessings upon the Bible Baptist Church of Morogoro!  After the prayer, this portion of the service was climaxed with a "passing of the torch" from my hands to the hands of senior pastor Charles Masebu.  Charles lifted the torch high to the sound of applause, "Amens," and a general sense of Praise to the Lord.  He very wisely spoke of the unity that would be needed in order to continue the work, and he then called upon Silas Daniel, assistant pastor, to come and raise the torch with him.  When four hands grasped the torch and raised it to the Lord, the "pep-rally" atmosphere erupted once again with thanksgiving to God. 

            I "stepped down" symbolically and literally from the platform.  In one of my conversations with Dr. Baird over the weekend, he used a sentence that has stuck with me ever since.  He said, "Planting indigenous churches is the best thing we do!"  I must emphatically agree!  Having experienced the turnover of the Morogoro Bible Baptist Church to capable and excited national leadership, I can only say that I can't wait to do it again.