By Gary Fallesen, founding president, Climbing For Christ
What’s the big idea? That’s what members of our Kilimanjaro Chapter in Tanzania were asking as Damson Samson taught them about “Communicating the Bible” on Dec. 1. Two days later, they were putting this lesson about clearly expressing the central theme of your message to work on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Jeofrey Msau, a porter who was evangelizing with Ibrahimu Momoya at the Shira 2 camp at 12,705 feet (3,850 meters), pointed five people to John 5:13: “The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd.”
“Why did you use this verse?” asked Damson, Climbing For Christ’s Africa Coordinator.
(For context: Jesus just healed the man at the pool of Bethesda. “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”)
“We used this verse to say you don’t have to see Jesus (physically),” Jeofrey explained. “By accepting (Him as Lord) you will be healed.”
As Jesus said to Thomas: “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” (John 20:29).
Sometimes when I am with the guides and porters in our Kilimanjaro Chapter as well as the Mulanje Massif Chapter in Malawi, I say to the Father: “Help me with my unbelief.” They see with a child-like faith and are eager to show others what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
Team photo before the start of a six-day outreach trek. (Photo by Elaine Fallesen)
Mission: Kilimanjaro 2025, which began Nov. 25 when Damson left home in southern Malawi to return to Tanzania for his 39th time in 11 years (and Elaine and I followed from the U.S. on Nov. 28), was another success. Thanks be to God. But it was not without difficulty.
“It was very challenging – the weather,” said Damson, who called conditions torturing and punishment. “But the commitment (of the team) overcame the weather.”
The 21 guides and porters who accompanied Kingdom worker John Mollel, Damson, and me up the Lemosho Route would evangelize in each camp for six days regardless of conditions – rain, snow, wind, or cold (and there was plenty of cold).
In the end, nearly 200 people heard the Good News and 68 responded by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The breakthrough on this, our third Kilimanjaro outreach expedition in the last two years was seeing team members witnessing to clients, foreigners who come from around the world in pursuit of Africa’s rooftop. This was an intimidating step for disciples who will boldly go from tent to tent in camps, knocking and asking if they can share with workers from other trekking companies.
Gift Mbayu, second from left, and Denis Makule, right, with an American trekker and his guide at the entrance to the Barranco Camp. (Photo provided by Damson Samson)
When guide Gift Mbayu, porter Henry Kiwelu, and Jeofrey and Ibrahimu first encountered two American trekkers on Day 4 at Barranco Camp, they offered them a Kilimanjaro Chapter brochure “Do you know where you’ll go if you die tonight?” One side is in Swahili and the other in English.
“When we came back to the tents we found them reading the brochures,” Gift said, noting the encouragement this gave them.
Asked if there is a difference between witnessing to a client from another country and a fellow worker from Tanzania, Gift said: “The clients are cooperative; they listen. The porters ask so many questions.”
Such as,
- What church are you from? “We’re not; we are with Climbing For Christ, a ministry that has taught us about Jesus.”
- Do you get paid to do this? “No, we don’t get paid to preach the Word of God.”
- What about your families? Who takes care of them? “We leave them to God. God watches over them.”
Gift and guide-to-be Denis Makule were back at the Barranco rangers’ station the next day waiting for clients to arrive and sign in (as required while on the mountain). “The first group gave us courage,” Gift said.
The Big Idea, born on the inaugural Mission: Kilimanjaro 2007, has come to fruition. Outreach not only among fellow workers but to the outside world. A trekking diaspora sent to Kilimanjaro in pursuit of an earthly summit only to discover a city on a hill. 
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