It was a bumpy ride for the three of us in the Land Rover as we headed south for the town of Kondoa, Tanzania. The day before, it had rained several inches and the road was wet and slippery.

A missionary coworker and my wife and I were heading to survey a people group known as the Alagwa or Waasii people. We had originally planned to survey another group, the Batemi people, but due to road conditions we were unable to so. So now it was on to plan B, to see the Alagwa people.

I began to doubt that God could really establish a witness for himself among these people.During the three days that we had available for the survey, we did come across some Alagwa people, but to our surprise we kept meeting people from the Rangi tribe.

It was decided that our focus should turn to these people who call themselves the ‘colored’ (rangi in Swahili) people. Plans were changed and steps were made in order for us to begin working among the Rangi people after our home assignment in 1997.

A kindergarten class gathers outside the newly

constructed church building where about 40 

believers now gather each week. In addition

to the kindergarten class, the church also provides

a medical clinic which serves up to 50 patients a day.

For myself this was going to be quite a challenge. Most of my mission career had been in AIM AIR as a pilot/mechanic. I had little idea what was in store for us down the road.

The Rangi people number 400,000 and are located in the Maasai step, a vast plain in northern Tanzania. The vast majority adhere to another world religion. My initial idea of outreach to these people included a small church in one village, some small community development projects and maybe some outreach. We made an initial commitment of fifteen years.

Now, only eight years later, we are having to plan our exit strategy. Are we giving up? Is this the end of the road for us and the Rangi outreach? Never. So then why are we having to think about an exit strategy? I’m glad you asked.

...we really prayed that God would raise up prayer warriors to join with us as we returned to Tanzania to continue the outreach of the gospel The initial outreach was with TIMO, AIM’s two year missionary training and outreach program. For the first two years this initial team of twelve struggled to learn the language and culture of the Rangi people.

For two years we asked thousands of questions and developed relationships with many in the community. But after two years we only knew of three potential Christians.

While many were willing to accept what we offered them in the way of help, few accepted our message. And as far as conversions to the Gospel, these were even fewer. For me, I began to doubt that God could really establish a witness for himself among these people.

During our next home assignment, we really prayed that God would raise up prayer warriors to join with us as we returned to Tanzania to continue the outreach of the gospel to the Rangi people. We returned to join our team mates, Peter and Ruthie Pharles, who had stayed to continue the outreach during our home assignment.

There were a handful of believers meeting on Sundays when we returned. During the next two years, our focus was on the evangelism. We looked for appropriate and aggressive ways to share with these people our faith in Jesus. We also used medical outreach as a means to get into their homes and speak with them on very personal levels.

God was working among the Rangi people, and it was obvious that He had been for some time. Now only eight years later, we see among the Rangi people a thriving church of over 40 attendees weekly.

There is also a fully registered medical clinic that is meeting the needs of over 50 patients daily. A library and classroom have also been constructed, and a girls’ dormitory that is in the process of being completed that will help meet the needs of the public high school that borders the church’s property. With a kindergarten school starting up, we are seeing many doors opening that are allowing us to truthfully represent who Jesus Christ is.

God wants to work through us beyond our own imagination With this, we are planning to leave the village of Pahi and relocate to Arusha, six hours away. We will join the TIMO staff in helping plant teams in new locations where the Gospel is not preached or Jesus is not understood for who he is.

Being in Arusha will give us the opportunity to still maintain some contact with the leadership of the Rangi outreach in Pahi, as well as participate in some outreaches among the Rangi people.

Through all of this I have learned that God wants to work through us beyond our own imagination.

In Eph. 3:20-21 we read, "And now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

This was true for me as I saw Jesus manifesting himself to the Rangi people. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that in eight years we would see established all that is there and see local leadership begin to take over the responsibilities.

My faith has grown and I am learning to dream and imagine the impossible for the sake of the Gospel. I trust that this will encourage you also in your ministry and walk with the King. Imagine the impossible with Jesus.

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