Dear Prayer Partners,

I Will Build My Church: This truth often brings me great comfort as I ponder the fact that Jesus Christ is ultimately responsible for building His Church; our responsibility is simply to be faithful.  This past month we began the physcial building process for our church. We had saved up our offerings for nearly 3 years, and the Lord enabled us to purchase a piece of land and take the first step in our building process.  It was a great blessing to see how the church family gave of their time, resources, and energy to build.  Some gave bricks, others donated and prepared food for those who built, but all worked together. By the end of September we were able to dig and lay the stone for the foundation, set the columns, and lay nearly 4 feet of brick. We are now in the phase of praying, giving, and saving so we can complete the roof.  Please pray with us that God would provide for us as a church family, so that we may be able to give joyfully and sacrificially to His work. I know that many of you would like to contribute to this building, and although we are thankful, we are not accepting donations for the building process, so that we can plant an indigenous  church which is not dependent on outside funds.

Youth Conference: In the midst of an already busy September, God allowed us to be involved in the annual week of youth camp.  This year over 400 young people from the surrounding churches came for 6 days of preaching, singing, and fellowshiping. During that time, many decisions for Christ were made. Please pray that the Word of God continues to bear fruit and is not choked out by the god of this world, the trials of this world, nor the cares of this world.

Permits: We are rejoicing because just this week, God enabled us to pay for our new 2 year residence permit.  This year the process has been long, complicated, and costly.  Unfortunately, Tanzania has enacted a new law that limits foreigners to a maximum of 5 years in country.  Please pray with us as we seek an exemption from this law. If no exemption is granted, our time in Tanzania will be limited.

Together for His Glory,

Resurrection Message

“Raised to walk in newness of life” The week of Easter was filled with a flurry of activities, including a youth Easter Bible Conference, Lord Supper services on Good Friday, much discipleship, hospital visits, and evangelism.  But the capstone of the week was, without a doubt, the Easter morning baptismal service! What a delight to stand with 7 new believers as they proclaimed their faith in Jesus Christ by way of believers’ baptism!  Also, it was a special delight to baptize my daughter Erin.  From left to right  is Bibi Humay, Mama Mary, Irene, Mama Nada, Victoria, Mama Queeni, and in front is Erin. Please be in prayer for each of these young Christians, that they would indeed walk in newness of life, and that they would continue to know and love Christ more and more!

“If the Salt has Lost His Savour”-Just last week we enjoyed a week of S.A.L.T. (Serving And Living in TZ)- SALT is a yearly Bible conference for Baptist missionary families serving in Tanzania. It is a highlight of the year for our entire family. The children, youth, and adults all have separate tracks. What a blessing for us to get away from the challenges of ministry and life in Tanzania for a few days and enjoy fellowship, activities, singing, and preaching all in English.  We want to especially thank Canton Baptist Temple and Pastor Mike Frazier for their ministry to us this year, as well as to Steve and Natalie Burkholder for their work in organizing SALT.

Two Prayer Requests: Lord willing, in a little over a year we will be returning to the States for a furlough after 4 years on the field.  There is much to do in preparation for our church to be able to stand firm while we will be gone. Please pray for wisdom for us as we seek to prepare Ema and the rest of our church family for that time. Also, our partners, the Myers family, will be returning to the States permanently in just two days time. Please pray for them as they transition into a new phase of ministry; also, please pray that God would give us partners in this work.  Truly, we see the wisdom of Solomon when he said, “Two are better than one”.

Together for His Glory,

Aaron & Nicole Shipe

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”

Dear Prayer Partners,

A Time to to be Born (again): For several months we have been praying for a number of people in our village who are strangers to the grace of God. Three of whom recently made professions of faith in Christ. We rejoice for Mama Nada and her 17 year-old son Nada, who both professed Christ coming from a nominal Muslim background.  Also, we rejoice for Mama Queeni, a Barabaig woman who was saved out of a pagan background. Please continue to pray for these three young believers as we begin discipliship with them.

A Time to Die:  As I looked over our last prayer letter, I was reminded again of the goodness of God and His perfect timing. We rejoiced over the baptism of several people, one of whom was an older gentleman named Moses.  Three days before Christmas he became ill, and we took him to four different hospitals to try to get him medical care; but on Christmas day, he went home to be with the Lord.  I rejoice to know that God brought Moses to faith in Christ when He did.  Unfortunately, however, Moses left behind a 15 year-old daughter (Elizabeti) and a wife who is mentally ill.  Please pray for this family.  Especially since Elizabeti just learned that she is pregnant. She has repented of her sin, but now she faces a number of very challenging decisions.

A Time to Learn: Many of you have been in prayer for Ema, the young man who is helping us in the ministry in Mapea. We thank God that he has been given the opportunity for further pastoral training through a Bible college here in Tanzania called BTCP (Bible Training College for Pastors). Please continue to pray for him as every few months he travels 12 hours by bus for two weeks of intensive ministry training.  Pray also for wisdom, protection, and patience as he gains practical ministry experience day to day in Mapea.

A Time to Build: We rejoice that God continues to build his church as He has promised.  Recently we have seen attendance averages around 80, with spikes as high as 90.  This is a great blessing, but unfortunately the area we are currently meeting in is very small.  Last year we were able to purchase a small piece of property, and Lord willing we will begin the building process on that land in just a few weeks. We are seeking to do all of the building without outside support, so please pray for the church to be united in sacrificial giving, serving, and working. This is especially difficult since we are facing a period of drought, and the vast majority of our church members are subsistence farmers or herders.  Would you join with us in praying for God to send rain to this dry and needy land?

                A picture of our church family filing out of the meeting area
 

Together for His Glory,

Aaron & Nicole Shipe