May 18, 2009 at 8:03 am (Africa, African Renaissance, Beliefs, History, Missions, Orphan, Politics, Practices, Religion, Tanzania, fr. francis wardega, orphans)
Tags: africa missions, Anglican Church, Kenya, missions prayer, Tanzania
In the turbulent times of the Anglican Church, mission ministry in Africa has suffered. African churches are most often Scripturally faithful. Their faithfulness puts the Africans at odds with those parts of the Anglican Church which are not Scripturally faithful, but revisionist in their application of the Gospel message. Without financial support from revisionist Anglican churches, African churches suffer. Bible colleges close. Ministry to the poor, to those orphaned, and to victims of HIV/Aids, suffers. In many cases, financial aid from revisionist churches comes with conditions that African churches find unfaithful as they see it.
So, times are hard, again. OFM cannot replace those lost dollars. OFM tries to help Africans themselves to do what needs to be done, through education of church leaders. We ask you to pray for the work of OFM, which suffers in these times of economic hardship.
Prayer:
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light, look favorably on that wonderful and sacred mystery of your Church, especially your mission ministry of OFM. By the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility your plan for salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are now being raised up , and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by Him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
AMEN.
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September 9, 2008 at 6:19 pm (Africa, African Renaissance, Bishop Chidawali, Bishop Kwangu, Dar es Salaam, Missions, Religion, Tanzania, fr. francis wardega, priest, priests)
Tags: Anglican Church, Anglican Church of Tanzania, Anglican Missionary, GAFCON, Interesting, Missions
Dispatch 5 – Last Dispatch for this trip From Station Dar es Salaam in Tanzania
Summer 2008 Fr Francis Wardega
I am at the airport, awaiting the flight that will begin my journey back to home in Michigan. The work here is finished for this trip. We heard so much, “Please come back. This was so good. Stay longer.”
Dodoma Class Picture
The work finished with five days of teaching at Buigiri Bible School. The plan was that I would ride back and forth in Bp Chidawali’s Toyota Hiace minivan. The plan fell apart when the minivan fell apart. I ended up making the journey to/from the school in what is called a “dolla-dolla” a small bus. A small crowded bus with all seats and the aisle full.
My Bus
A small crowded bus with all seats and the aisle full that often included people and chickens and ducks! Thank God cows were so big that they required two tickets! Because the law prohibits standing in the aisle, the people doing so would sit on the floor whenever we were stopped at a police checkpoint.
Classes ran much better than the minivan. There were seven full time students, one child, and one frequent drop in student. Their names were Timoth, Rhoda (and her five year old son, Nicodemus), Leticia, Aloyce, Japheth, Sospeter, Enoch, and Eliah.
Final Exam Taking
Who were they? One person described himself as a part time priest and a part time peasant. (In Tanzania, every July 7 is a holiday called Peasants’ Day) Another person was a carpenter. Most lived in simple mud and stick huts with dirt floors, no electricity, and cooked outside over an open fire.
Buigiri School
Their Anglican faith was the bright light in their life. They learned the basic beliefs and practices and teachings of the historic Anglican Christian Church. They had many misconceptions. They also learned of the ethos of ordained ministry and how that is different from that of an independent minister. Their excitement grew every day. They sensed what was happening – they were learning new things and understanding them. It was making a differencein their thinking. The class on ordained ministry was especially moving to the priests, life changing. They were eager to return to the their parishes and deaneries and pass on what they had learned.
On Sunday Aug 31, I celebrated the liturgy and preached at Christ the King Cathedral in Dodoma, with Bishop Chidawali.
Bishop Chidawali
Actually, the Holy Spirit celebrated. In very clear ways, the Holy Spirit affirmed the complete love of the Father for the people there, poor, hot, struggling, people of God. It was glorious. Music here was different than in Mwanza – a different rhythm, mainly in minor keys, almost a mournful, wailing tone.
There was much contact with local Anglicans who were vitally interested in the details of the Jerusalem GAFCON gathering and in the details of the Lambreth Conference. We talked long about the future of the Anglican Communion and possible steps that they could take as faithful Anglicans in a diocese where the bishop was not faithful.
I would be remiss if I did not pass on to all of you who have supported this ministry and this mission trip the profound thanks and grateful hearts of the people who have been served here. Everyplace I have been told – pass on to the ones who sent you here how grateful we are to them and how much we appreciate what they have done for us. What we have learned will be immediately used and will have a long lasting affect on our churches and our people. Thank you so much!
Thank you for your support. God and you make this possible. Please keep on supporting this mission. Please sustain this good ministry. It works! Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Fr Francis Wardega Office of Foreign Missions
Missionary Priest in Africa 18401 Canal Rd
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September 25, 2007 at 7:47 pm (Africa, African Renaissance, Nelson Mandela, Practices)
As the nations of Africa move into the 21st century, a new desire among the people there is rising. For centuries Africa has become, willingly or unwillingly, dependent on Europe and America. Now however, colonialism and the old missionary style must end. There is a new movement to rediscover the strength and conviction that gave rise to some of the first civilizations of the world. The following are some of the quotes that have been the most helpful as the Office of Foreign Missions has developed its ethos.
Three Self-Policy: Henry Venn, Church Mission Society, 1850. Venn thought that 19th century European missionary style represented only a temporary historical phase. The transition would come through “Three Self” policy, in which the African Christian church should be built on principles of self-government, self-support, and self-propagation. The result would be a “native church under native pastors and a native episcopate.” (From The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Philip Jenkins)
Independence: Bishop Joshua Ayoo Koyo of Kenya realized long ago that “those outside of Africa who would teach [his] people to depend on them for finances would bring about the death of initiative and hard work in [his] diocese.”
Continental Renewal: Nelson Mandela,
the first African President of South Africa wrote:”Africa is beyond bemoaning the past for its problems. The task of undoing that past is ours, with the support of those willing to join us in a continental renewal. We have a new generation of leaders who know that we must take responsibility for our own destiny, that we will uplift ourselves only by our own efforts in partnership with those who wish us well.
African Renaissance: Current South African President Thebo Mbeki originally coined the term “African Renaissance:. He called upon African people and African nations themselves to solve the many problems troubling Africa. It continues to be a key part of the post-apartheid intellectual agenda.
In his “I am an African” speech in May 1996, following the adoption of a new constitution, Mbeki proclaimed, “I am born of a people who are heroes and heroines.”
“They are patient because history is on their side; the masses do not despair because today the weather is bad. Nor do they turn triumphalist when, tomorrow, the sun shines. Whatever the circumstances they have lived through and because of that experience, they are determined to define for themselves who they are and who they should be.”
In April 1997, Mbeki listed the elements that would eventually be seen to comprise the African Renaissance: social cohesion, democracy, economic rebuilding and growth, and the establishing of Africa as a significant player in geo-political affairs.
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