Mission Moments: Tanzania
Go, tell it on the mountain Kilimanjaro (part 3)
Written by Gary Fallesen, Climbing For Christ president
Reports and photos provided by Damson Samson, Africa coordinator
Wednesday, Sept. 10
Joshua Murutu praying, above, for the group. Below, one of the eight new believers who came forward to declare Jesus as Lord of their lives.
The lesson was about worshiping God with our mouth while our hearts are far from Him. Joshua Murutu, one of the leaders of the Kilimanjaro Chapter, was delivering the message based on Matthew 15:8. When he finished, eight people who are part of the “third generation” being trained from the small groups in Marangu stepped forward. Their hearts belong to Jesus.
Damson then talked about dry bones (Ezekiel 37:4) and how we are called to GO to the valley where the walking dead have not heard the Good News. He encouraged the large group attending this training to be a model to reproduce disciples of Jesus. “It’s our responsibility to reach them,” he said, pointing this time to Ephesians 5:15-17 and living by the Spirit’s power.
The Marangu group, above, and Honest Minja, below, after he was healed.
As the meeting ended, Honest Minja shared how he had been healed during the gathering through the prayers for the group.
“It was another good day the Lord has given us,” Damson concluded. “Tomorrow I will be packing and getting ready to start (traveling) on Friday to possibly get home on Saturday.”
Tuesday, Sept. 9
New believers praying, above. Below, Damson speaking to a school class near the Kenya border.
The day began in prayer in a school on Tanzania’s border with Kenya and ended in prayer with at least nine new believers in a small group in Kilema. There was much to give thanks and praise for this day.
“The (school’s) headmistress appreciated the time and thanked God for making it happen,” Damson said after his school visit with porter-turned-pastor Daniel Nasari of the Kilimanjaro Chapter. “I encouraged them to trust in the Lord for their future no matter what the situation might be. Trusting in God brings hope in life.”
After this school stop, Damson continued to meet with the “third generation” of Climbing For Christ members – those being discipled by our original class and second class of guides and porters in DMD training. Some groups confess little activity, while others are clearly on fire for the Lord.
Corinel Makiyawo’s group, being led by his wife, talked about recognizing our weaknesses, and how our strength is found in Jesus. Damson asked Joshua Murutu to share from God’s Word and he preached from Matthew 11:28 (“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’”). By the time this message and meeting was finished nine weary souls asked Jesus to carry their burdens. They confessed faith in Christ.
On Monday, Damson had urged some lethargic small groups to become active in outreach. He quoted Matthew 28:19-20 and Jesus’ instruction in what C4C calls the Great GO-mission. One young man named Peter asked for prayer.
Peter, a disciple of Jesus.
“He feels called to GO and he wanted prayer and he said, ‘Yes, send me to reach others,’” Damson reported. “He confirmed that it has been in him since before but it was at this time when I was sharing that he could feel shaking in him to say, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ (In Swahili) ‘Ndio! Ndio! Ndio!’”
Monday, Sept. 8
A leader from one of Daniel Nasari’s small groups with three new believers.
Damson met today with the “third generation,” participants in small groups started by our original class and the second class of guides and porters receiving disciple-making training. This third generation consists of leaders who are being developed from the small groups. Today, the focus was on groups in Moshi: Living Akyo’s, Joshua Murutu’s, Daniel Nasari’s, and John Mollel’s.
While Living and Joshua’s groups are meeting regularly, their outreach has been limited. Living’s group is the same size as Damson’s last visit (10 members). Joshua’s group “is still running even though he is not here” in Moshi at this time, but Damson questioned their commitment to soul winning.
Daniel’s group showed the fruit of their time together. “They are reaching out (to do) evangelism,” Damson explained. “They recently preached and three accepted Jesus Christ.”
John’s group is also actively evangelizing.
Emakulata Steven talked about reaching Maasai people.
“Representing the group, Emakulata Steven stood up with energy to thank God who has come to bring transformation,” Damson said. “More Maasai people are joining their group and more are coming.”
John, our Tanzania Kingdom worker and the Kilimanjaro Chapter coordinator, is a Maasai who Climbing For Christ helped start his own trekking company, C4C Maasai Brothers and Grand Tours.
Emakulata added that “during our last visit those who were prayed for were healed and many were delivered.” She said the powerful prayers of C4C have “turned the tables in the lives of many.”
Saturday, Sept. 6
Damson praying for a school class.
Kilimanjaro Chapter member Daniel Nasari, one of our porters turned pastor, asked Damson to go with him to his daughter’s school so they could pray for her before exams next week. But when they arrived the teacher refused to allow them to pray.
“It is not going to be possible to pray only for one pupil,” the teacher told them, “but rather they all have to be prayed for.”
Daniel Nasari and his daughter.
Given the opportunity, Damson encouraged the 61 students in the classroom. He told them that the Bible tells us to ask and it shall be given. “Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy” (John 16:24). He then led them in prayer.
“They appreciated my time and promised they will work extra hard to make it happen,” Damson said.
Friday, Sept. 5
Kilimanjaro Chapter disciples who are learning to make more disciples.
Damson wrapped up Thursday’s teaching of our Kilimanjaro Chapter on “Communicating the Bible” by talking about being called by God – and what that means. Today, he implored the guides and porters in our study “how important it is to be in classes learning all we are learning. This training opportunity is given by God for His glory.”
He told them to be thankful for the opportunity – and for the calling God is putting on their lives.
After that, he selected six members to practice preaching. He was pleasantly surprised how they could put together Scriptures and preach “in an amazing way.” Hoseya Ngomuo preached from John 14:1-4 on the topic of not letting your heart be troubled. Jeffry Njau shared from Matthew 18:1-4 on being as humble as a child. Gift Mbuya taught from Romans 8:35 and how we cannot be separated from the love of God. Godlisten Makundi took the class to Exodus 33:12-15 on the subject of needing God’s presence.
Gift, above, and Godlisten practicing preaching.
Daud Shayo and Daniel Nasari finished the preaching section and then Damson recapped Thursday’s lessons. Asking what was learned, one brother talked about the message on urgency. “Muda ni sasa,” he said in Swahili, which means “the time is now.”
Damson then continued with our text, teaching from chapters 5-7: “The Heart of the Communicator,” “Learning to Communicate,” and “The Role of the Holy Spirit in Communication.” He then asked the chapter leaders to share a few words. Elinami Moshi appreciated the teaching and the great opportunity our chapter has to reach many and change their lives with Jesus.
Thursday, Sept. 4
Daniel Nasari, a porter who became a pastor after attending our DMD trainings, shares about his growth through C4C’s lessons.
Classroom training for the third quarter began today in Marangu with more than two dozen members of Climbing For Christ’s Kilimanjaro Chapter being prayed for and praying for each another to have “a warm heart willing to bring great change in his life and the lives of the lost.” Damson then shared my lesson on urgency. Daniel Nasari, a porter-turned-pastor through C4C’s disciple-making training, shared about two girls and a Muslim friend who were selling beer in a bar.
“He preached to them and they accepted Christ and now they are not working at the bar and they are worshiping at a living church,” Damson said, adding that Daniel has followed up with them to disciple them.
Daniel said “the challenge we have as Christians is we can preach to people and they can accept Jesus, but follow-up becomes a big problem and those reached go back to their old ways.” This backsliding is “a big loss for the Kingdom,” he said, adding that those who are reached “need more care.”
Daniel has established three small groups and the church he pastors is growing as he learns from our studies. He thanked God for connecting him with Climbing For Christ as “this organization has brought me to another level in sharing the Word of God.” He said the books we provide for free for training – purchased by C4C from The Timothy Initiative – are very expensive if you can find similar resources in Tanzania.
Jonas Minja, right, with Damson Samson.
Jonas Minja addressed the need for urgency by telling how he’d been called to visit a family for prayer. "God was showing me that what the family was going through was manmade,” Jonas said. “Someone was doing charms.” He prayed against this evil and explained to them that the Lord must be honored; He is God alone. They understood and followed his instruction and their lives were changed.
But only because Jonus listened to God and acted – as we’ve been teaching.
Denis Makule on the mountain.
Denis Makule also followed our instruction and has been using his audio Bible on Mount Kilimanjaro. He shared how he would listen in his tent and others would join to ask questions – sometimes as many 10 or 15 or 20. A Bible study would break out and he would lead them in understanding God’s Word.
Damson teaching about “Communicating the Bible.”
After this, Damson continued with our study on “Communicating the Bible.” Today’s lesson was about “Hearing God’s Voice.” God can speak to us through a donkey if He chooses (see Numbers 22:28), but primarily He speaks to us through His Word.
The lesson spoke of the “seven ways God speaks to His children”: The Bible, our meditation on Scripture, the Holy Spirit, through fasting and prayer, through the body of believers, in our circumstances, and in visions and dreams.
Tuesday, Sept. 2
Prayer and fast on Sango Mountain.
Nearly two dozen Kilimanjaro Chapter leaders and members gathered on Sango Mountain for a day of fasting and prayer before the start of DMD training. This is done with Damson before every quarterly meeting.
The group listed “12 prayer items to be brought to the heavenly Father,” Damson said, starting with prayers for their nations (Tanzania and Malawi) which are both holding elections this year. Then they prayed for Climbing For Christ. “We further went into prayers for those who are sick in the hospital and those with us,” Damson said, including Jonas Minja, who has some health issues, and John Mollel’s youngest daughter.
John, who is our Kingdom worker and chapter coordinator, said he has had sleepless nights recently and was not ready to attend this prayer gathering. “But taking to this mountain, he felt more comfortable to stay and by His grace people joined hands and prayed for the sick, including his daughter and mother,” Damson said.
Praying for the family of John Mollel, above center, and for each other, below.
They prayed for this round of training and house visits. They also prayed for families who need financial help for children in school.
Damson then broke them into seven groups to pray through these items and anything else they might share in their smaller groups.
After praying, they discussed the growth of small groups and why some are failing at this effort. John listed a few reasons, one being a lack of commitment. He said he would try to organize a house visit and the group leader would agree, only to cancel at the last minute making up some excuse. This must also be prayed over.
Monday, Sept. 1
Damson, in red hat, meets with Kilimanjaro Chapter leaders.
We had a leadership meeting with 20 Kilimanjaro Chapter members at the Lutheran facility in Himo where teaching has happened throughout the years. Damson spent some time on Sunday with chapter coordinator John Mollel discussing the schedule for this quarterly visit. He reviewed that schedule and our plan for Mission: Kilimanjaro 2025 scheduled Nov. 28-Dec. 12.
“I asked them how the (small or cell) groups are going,” Damson said. Some reported success while others confessed “they are only active when I am around.”
Damson followed with a question about leadership development – part of our Paul-Timothy-Titus teaching in the past. Again, a few were successful and others not so much.
“Groups can grow well if we have the leaders who take responsibility when these brothers are not around as many of them do spend time on the mountain (working),” Damson said, adding that a lack of leadership in their absence “is killing our groups.
“I took them back to our Disciples Making Disciples book (our second of the four studies we have conducted so far), which says the living church must grow and be able to feed itself.”
Damson emphasized the challenge we made to them on the mountain during Mission: Kilimanjaro 2024, Part 2 to grow small groups to medium and medium groups to large.
“We need expansion of our groups,” Damson told them. He was then moved by the Spirit to share my lesson on the “Urgency of the Message” (see Introduction below).
“We need urgency in the way we are sharing the Gospel so we can reach as many as possible. We agreed (as a group) to have prayers and fasting (Tuesday) on Sango mountain.”
Dates also were set to meet with small group leaders in Moshi (Sept. 8), Kilema (Sept. 9), and Marangu (Sept. 10).
Saturday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Aug. 31
Damson arrived in Moshi town early Sunday morning. We continue praying for His glory to be more and more to His people here in Moshi, Kilema, and Marangu.
Damson at the Blantyre, Malawi airport.
Damson started to travel to the Kilimanjaro area from his home in southern Malawi Saturday morning. He arrived in Blantyre for his afternoon flight to Dar es Salaam, where he waited overnight for the flight to Kilimanjaro.
Introduction
While searching for a Scripture verse I came across a lesson on the “Urgency of the Message.” I felt this fit nicely with our Kilimanjaro Chapter’s study on “Communicating the Bible.” During this, the third-quarter training of 2025, our Kilimanjaro guides and porters are learning about “God’s Calling to Communicate the Bible,” “The Heart of the Communicator,” “Learning to Communicate,” and “The Role of the Holy Spirit in Communication.”
Communicating the Bible is not something that is done casually or when we feel like it. The Holy Spirit doesn’t go about touching hearts and minds in a casual manner or when He feels like it. He is at work constantly. God is referred to as “The Hound of Heaven.” He is always in pursuit of the lost – those who are apart from Him. Because one day, many will be separated permanently from Him. That will be hell.
The lesson I read said that the concept of urgency in delivering the message of the Gospel is “a recurring theme throughout the Bible. This urgency is rooted in the belief that the message of salvation through Jesus Christ is of paramount importance and that the time to respond is limited. The Bible emphasized the need for immediate action in accepting and spreading the Gospel, as the eternal destiny of souls hangs in the balance.”
The Biblical basis for urgency is found throughout the New Testament, including the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2: “For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation.”
In Hebrews 3:15, the writer warns, “Remember what it says: ‘Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.’”
This is because Jesus’ return is imminent. The New Testament frequently speaks of the Second Coming as an event that could occur at any moment, urging believers to remain vigilant and prepared. In Matthew 24:44, Jesus Himself says, “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
The Apostle Peter echoes this sentiment in 2 Peter 3:10, saying, “But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”
The Great Commission commands His disciples – those who walked with Him when He was on the earth and those, like you, who are walking with Him now – to spread the Gospel to all nations. In Matthew 28:19-20, He instructs us, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This commission is not a suggestion. It’s a mandate to GO! And to GO now!!
There is urgency in this command. The lesson I read told us, “The task of evangelism is presented as an immediate and ongoing responsibility for all believers, driven by the knowledge that the time to reach the lost is finite.
“The early Church exemplified the urgency of the Gospel message through their actions and dedication. In the Book of Acts, the apostles and early Christians are depicted as fervently spreading the message of Christ, often in the face of persecution and hardship.”
Acts 4:29-31 records a prayer of the early believers: “‘And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”
Their boldness and commitment to proclaiming the Gospel, despite the risks, serve as a model for us today. This illustrates the importance of urgency in fulfilling the mission entrusted to us.
Think about that: the God of the universe, the Creator of everything, the One who breathed life into us, TRUSTS us enough to carry HIS message to the world.
This lesson on the urgency of the Gospel concludes by saying URGENCY – uharaka in Swahili – is a central theme in Scripture. We should be driven by the immediacy of the call to salvation, the anticipation of Christ’s return, and the mandate of the Great Commission. We are called to respond without delay, recognizing the eternal significance of the message we’ve been trusted to carry to a lost world. Carry on! Until all have heard! For HIS glory!!! 
854