Moravian Mission News

Here is the next edition of »Moravian Mission News« compiled by the Moravian Mission Society in Germany. - God bless our Moravian Church. "Our lamb has conquered, let us follow him!" - Andreas Tasche, Herrnhut, 13.02.2015, Phone: +49 35873 487-26, E-Mail: a.tasche(at)ebu.de

Germany’s first lady visits Herrnhut kindergarten in Zanzibar

Within the scope of Federal Minister Joachim Gauck's official visit in Tanzania, his cohabitant Daniela Schadt spent the 4th of February 2015 in the interreligious kindergarten of the Moravian Church in Mwera in Zanzibar. The government had the access road levelled beforehand and provided party tents. The Moravian Church used the visit as an opportunity to officially inaugurate the kindergarten. Several celebrities gave speeches alongside Daniela Schadt: Ayoub M. Mahmoud (District Commissioner of West Zanzibar), Samuel Mwaiseje (Chairman of the Moravian Church, Estern Province) and Raimund Hertzsch (Chairman of the Moravian Mission Society in Germany). The speeches were replete with joy and gratitude to the people who had supported the kindergarten. The first lady emphasized that Zanzibar is not only promoting education but also daily encounters between Christians and Muslims. The children had rehearsed multiple songs and an impressive choreography with their care workers Ruth Loice, a Christian, and Asya Hassan Ali, a Muslim. A copper sign with the inscription »Herrnhuter Academy - Nursery and Primary School - was officially opened by Her Excellency Ms. Daniela Schadt partner of the President if the Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Gauck on 4 February 2015« in English and Swahili is now resplendent at the kindergarten. Some pictures here.

The first trees have been planted

After the so called »little rainy season« has stopped in December 2014 the ground in Sumbawanga (Tanzania, Rukwa Province, a city of 100,000 inhabitants) was in the required condition to be processed and planted. Many hard-working helpers collected the plants from a nearby tree farm, dug holes, filled them with fertiliser and planted the trees in the brown African soil. Within a few days the first hectares had been planted - the reforestation project of the Moravian Church started to take shape. All participants know that it will take some time before the seedlings turn into big trees. On two acres of land initially to 2,500 trees have been planted. A helpful theoretical training had preceded the project. The Moravian Mission Society in Germany supported the Rukwa Province.

TEKU-leaflet for the academic year 2014-2015

Ten years ago the »Teofilo Kisanji University« (TEKU) of the Moravian Church in Mbeya in the southwest of Tanzania was founded. Since then the university has become a significant institution with 4850 students from throughout the country as well as from abroad. Now a new information-leaflet about the university was published and is available here. The university is based in Mbeya but has two branches in Dar es Salaam and Tabora. There are currently four faculties: theology as the smallest one, educational science, social science and engineering. The university developed from the »Moravian Theological College« in Mbeya (established in 1978) with a precursor educational institution in Chunya.

Two important votes in Tanzania

Two very important votes will happen in Tanzania in 2015. In April a new constitution will be decided on and in October the parliamentary election will take place. Prior to the votes a meeting of religious leaders was held. They appealed to the politicians to omit all kind of bribery and not to misuse religious concerns for their campaigns. At the meeting Emmaus Bandekile Mwamakula (on the right side), general secretary of the Moravian Church in Tanzania Eastern Province said that it is the churches' responsibility to pray for the votes and to establish an awareness of their importance. The churches should elucidate the votes together with civil society organisations. National peace is crucial. In the political debate before and after the votes there should be no violence.

Alaska Moravian Church and Bible Seminary Expansion

On January 27th, 2015 members of the 2015 Alaska Provincial Synod and leadership from the organisation »Samaritan's Purse« took part in a blessed dedication service on the site of the new Seminary dorm and the Provincial multi-purpose building. With this expansion of housing capacity is doubled, our classroom tripled and our library and computer room is five times larger. The expansion of »Alaska Bible Seminary« will continue the important work of training local leaders to serve in the church and builds on the foundation of the late Dr. Kurt H. Vitt. Although Alaska is a regular part of the United States since 1959, the living conditions there are very difficult and are similar to those in a Third World country.

Revival of Brass Bands in Labrador

Over the past two years, the »Grenfell Association« has supported the revival of traditional Moravian music in the communities of the North Coast of Labrador (Hopedale, Nain, Makkovik, Postville, Rigolet). With a generous grant from the Association, the Nunatsiavut Brass Band held two workshops Hopedale and Nain. For a full week more than two dozen aspiring brass band members from five Nunatsiavut communities worked with three facilitators. The closing night's concert in Hopedale's historic church became for the entire community a glimpse back into a deeply emotional part of their culture that was coming back to life. The momentum sailed forward and last Christmas brass bands sounded again in Hopedale, Makkovik and Nain for the first time in two decades. Read more here. Some pictures here.

Moravian Church in Curaçao celebrates its 70th birthday

Hans-Beat Motel (Koenigsfeld, Germany), chairman of the Moravian Mission Society in Germany for many years, visited the Moravian Churches on the islands Curaçao, Aruba (80 km away) and St. Maarten (850 km away) in celebration of its 70th birthday. The churches on these islands mainly consist of descendants of migrant labourers, who immigrated from Surinam many years ago. Since there is only one ordained pastor for all three churches, involvement of laymen plays an important role. On the anniversary which was celebrated on the 1st of October 2014 they had services, concerts, processions, presentations and an exhibition. Even the governor of the islands that belong to the Netherlands attended the celebration.

Surinam: children on a journey of discovery

A educational program called »Aflatoun« (discovery) for children aged 6 to 16 is now run at several schools of the Moravian Church in Surinam. Aflatoun puts children at the centre of their learning process and engages them with the world around them. Once a week specially trained staff teaches the children basic knowledge and skills concerning thrift, efficiency, planning, responsibility and how to deal with money. The lessons are arranged in a creative and funny way so children like to attend. Under the slogan »A tree must be bent while its young« those playful and sustainable learning units prepare adolescents for the demands of future working and family life. Youtube film here.

First Chief Elder Conference on St. Kitts

From 13th to 16th November 2014, the first »Moravian Chief Elder Conference« took place on St. Kitts (Eastern West Indies Province). The conference brought new insight to the origins, the purpose and relevance of the church according to Our Chief Elder, Jesus Christ. The theme was »In Spirit and in Truth«. The youths had their own Youth Convocation. Some flashlights from the conference: The church is not a building or a place but who we are as baptized people in the community of faith. How can we create an alternate community based in love to reach a lost and dying world for Christ? Do the will of God, work the works of God and manifest the ways of God! All of life is worship. Read more here.

Financial Management Tips for the Curch

The last newsletter of the »Eastern West Indies Province« contains an article by Elisa G. Hodge, treasurer of the church. In the article, she gives advice on financial management. She writes: »As our churches continue to experience financial challenges, it is necessary for us as a Church to be strategic and manage our financial resources so that we can meet our obligation. We must stop doing things because we've always done it. Many financial problems can be avoided by good planning, strong budgeting and accountability for spending«. The article of Elisa G. Hodge is divided into four sections: Strategic Planning, Budgeting, Accountability, Communication. She closes: "Many times church members have great ideas for reducing costs and fundraising". Read more here.

The whole Bible in Ladakhi

The translation of the bible into »Ladakhi«, the language spoken in parts of North-western India, is almost finished. A few weeks ago the Gospel of St. John went into print. The project has been supported since several years by he »Board of World Mission« (BMW) of the Moravian Curch in North America. In the latest Newsletter of BMW the translator says it was extremely difficult to translate the Bible into Ladakhi. In Ladakh there are traditional Moravian Churches in Leh, Shey and Khalatse as well as the attempt to start new churches, social activities and schools in the surrounding area. Read more here.

Official visit at the Star Mountain cancelled

Because of the assassination of the Japanese reporter Haruna Yukawa, who was held hostage together with a colleague by IS-army in Syria, Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe's official visit of the »Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center« (Palestine) had to be cancelled. Instead of the prime minister, Junya Matsuura (ambassador of Japan in Palestine) was sent out to the Star Mountain on 27th of January 2015. He let known that the prime minister regretted the cancellation of the visit within which he planned to visit the new rehabilitation centre that had received 91.000 Euros subsidies from Japan. Junya Matsuura is a big fan of the Star Mountain. More pictures here.

Attack on the Mayangnas in Bethlehem

Francesco Rener, head of the UENIC (Evangelical University of Nicaragua) branch in Bonanza, who had studied in Germany for eight years, reports an attack by armed settlers from West-Nicaragua on the Moravian Church in Bethlehem in the night of the 22nd to 23rd January 2015. The people in Bethlehem belong to the Mayangnas. Most of them are members of the Moravian Church. They live peacefully in the jungle since centuries and can't defend themselves against the intruders, who take their land, culture and basis of life. Soon José Taylor and other leaders of the indigenes in Bethlehem want to meet to consult about further actions. The Nicaraguan state protects the indigenes insufficiently.

»Instituto Biblico« plays an important role in Honduras

It is rather tricky to receive a theological education in the underdeveloped region at the Costa Atlantica in Honduras, the so called »Moskitia«, a key region of the Moravian Church in Central America. This is why the »Instituto Biblico« of the Moravian Church in Puerto Lempira plays an important role. Andrew and Amy Fields from the US teach there since a few months. It is their job to a) together with the church leadership develop and implement a curriculum which imparts knowledge and skills in the areas Bible, Theology and Pastorate, b) specially prepare future church leaders and c) extend the library of the institute and to improve its accessibility for the students. Some pictures here. The U.S. Moravian Church began mission work in Honduras in 1930.

New hot water tanks and showers

Valdis Strazdiņš, spiritual head of the 20 years old »Christian-David-School« near Madona in Lativa, announces that due to numerous donations from Germany and Scandinavia new hot water tanks can be integrated in the existing heating system. On this basis new sanitary facilities can be implemented. Three main building belong to the school: the school as the biggest building, fronting it a boarding and functional building and - a few hundred meters remote - the so called »Norwegian house«, an old wooden house with rooms and flats for workers and young volunteers. Currently, two volunteers from Herrnhut live there.

A letter to the chancellor

The board of the Moravian Mission Society in Germany has decided to co-sign a letter that emerged from the initiative »Action against AIDS Germany« to the chancellor Angela Merkel. The letter is headlined »G7 - Summit 2015: For an end of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 2015« and gives thanks to the chancellor for adding the diseases linked to poverty as a key topic to the agenda of the next G7-summits and for advocating to keep pursuing the non-achieved Millennium Development Goals. The letters asks for new developmental efforts and for mobilisation of additional resources in the healthcare sector of the richest countries. A dignified life free from poverty is possible for everybody. The 2015 Summit will take place in June at »Schloss Elmau« in Bavaria. The Moravian Mission Society in Germany is a member of the initiative »Action against AIDS Germany«.