Tanzanians Visit Nebraska Synod
Tanzanians Visit Nebraska Synod

Tanzanians Visit Synod

Putting faces and people in personal relationships can help nurture the kind of prayerful, joyful relationship Paul speaks of in Philippians: “I thank my God every time I remember you.” Our companion synod program always features bringing people from Tanzania and Nebraska together in the name of Christ.

At Assembly 2008, Bishop David deFreese taught everyone the Swahili word “asante” which means “thank you.” He said, “The word ‘asante’ teaches us much about the faith and character of Tanzanians. Tanzanians witness a faith rooted in gratitude to our loving God.” Thanksgiving is at the heart of our relationship with the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.

One evening of the assembly was devoted to a powerful mixture of joy, inspiration, and thanksgiving as we celebrated our 15th anniversary of this relationship.

Ministry with Tanzania
The Nebraska Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania share a vibrant ministry. You can find out more about this relationship in the Global Missions section on Tanzania.

DVD: Walking Together
The assembly celebration included the showing of a new video, which highlights our companion synod relationship between Tanzania and Nebraska. The title, Walking Together, reflects the desire of the Northern Diocese and Nebraska Synod to embody the accompaniment model for mission. Accompaniment is a mutual relationship between companion synods and churches who walk together in service in God’s mission. In July a DVD of this video was sent to all our congregations. More information about the DVD and about obtaining copies is available online.

DVD: Nebraska “Safari”
A special Nebraska “safari” trip took Tanzanians beyond eastern Nebraska and the Grand Island Assembly site to congregations in Holdrege, Lexington, Gothenburg, Sutherland, Sidney, Kimball, Gering and Scottsbluff. They visited ministry sites‒Mosaic in Axtell and Lakota Lutheran Chapel in Scottsbluff. They walked through the Kearney arch and received tours of Cabela’s at Sidney and an ethanol plant at Sutherland. They saw the beauty of Nebraska from the Scottsbluff Monument and experienced a chuck wagon barbecue near Bayard. They witnessed the mystifying Carhenge at Alliance while making a daylong drive along scenic Highway #2.

“Through this relationship, the Northern Diocese and the Nebraska Synod nurture and strengthen one another for life and mission within the Body of Christ,” said Pastor Martin Russell, Assistant to the Bishop.

Congregations play an important part in the companion synod program. The Nebraska Synod was blessed to host 14 Tanzanians at our recent assembly. The delegation spent time visiting Nebraska congregations and ministry sites, learning about Nebraska life and culture, and spending time together with people. Their visit was made possible through the gifts of many congregations and individuals.

Several Tanzanians were invited by their sister congregations in Nebraska. Congregations bringing Tanzanians to Nebraska included Salem/Ponca, St. Luke and St. Paul’s/Emerson, Thabor/Wausa, Augustana/Omaha, Trinity/Omaha, Immanuel/Bellevue, and Our Saviour’s/Lincoln.

Many congregations in the Northern Diocese and Nebraska Synod share congregation-to-congregation relationships. They involve the sharing of faith and gifts through constant prayer, regular communication, periodic visits, and assistance. Fruits of this work together include building churches and schools, witnessing the faith, constructing orphanages, providing educational scholarships, and walking together in serving Christ, both in Nebraska and Tanzania.

Our companion relationships enlarge our worldview. Global connections help us see the world’s challenges in a new way and examine our own problems and joys through new eyes. These connections also strengthen God’s mission in the world.

Bishop deFreese also taught the assembly “rafiki” which means “friend” in Swahili. deFreese reflected, “We have come to know Tanzanians as our friends in Christ. We have discovered that our friends in Tanzania have an experience of God that we cannot live without.”