Mission, Evangelism and Stewardship.
This directorate is entrusted with planning and setting strategies for achieving the objectives of the Great Commission. Of all directorates, this is the most central to ELVD’s mission and because of this, the Dean heads the directorate. The directorate has the following sections:

• Evangelism
• Christian outreach and Audio Visual
• Stewardship
• Theological Education by Extension (TEE)
• Mission Training Centers (MTC)
• Church Planting Movement (CPM)
• Mission Thrust Area (MTA)
   

MISSION AND EVANGELISM

East of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELVD) is among twenty units of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT). ELVD was founded in May 1989. Its purpose is to fulfil the great commission given us by Jesus: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spririt” (Matt 28:19f).

Geographical allocation of the diocese which covers the political regions of Mwanza and Shinyanga. According to the word of God and the diocesan constitution, this diocese is devided in four working districts:

• Northern District, head office in Mwanza
• Eastern District, head office in Maswa
• Southern District, head office in Shinyanga
• Western District, head office in Geita

The total population of the Christians is about 47,000.

Activities done by Mission and Evangelism

• Constructing church buildings and also houses for pastors and evangelists.
• Cinema Van (Sinema Leo), a useful instrument for Evangelism and teaching.
• Training pastorsin different levels, Certificate, Diploma and Degrees
• Training evangelists and lay people
• TEE (Theological Education by Extension), lay people and Evangelists learn and to know how to preach the Word of God.
• Mission Training Centres, Evangelists are tought how to establish new parishes.
• Thrust Area, Evangelists and Pastors are abled and instructed how to establish new parishes

Geita

Bariadi

Negezi

Imani Cathedral, Mwanza
Is under construction but already in use

Church Districts and Parishes.

The district Pastor heads Church districts. In addition, the Evangelism, Mission and Stewardship, Finace, Planning and Development, Women and Children, Health Services and Christian Education and Youth are also represented and headed by Co-ordinators.

Pastors are answerable to the district. Pastors run the parishes but in the discharge  of their duties, they have to work through Parish executive council and other committee
 

Lalago

Kahama

Shinyanga

Igoma

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION  by  EXTENSION - TEE (ETE in Swahili)

TEE is a program for the education and equipping of church leaders.

The complete program is 8 years, divided into 3 levels:

1. The Foundation.
2. Christian Education
3. Training of Evangelists

Levels 1 & 2 are 3 years each, level 3 is 2 years - in total 8 years.

During each year three 10 week courses are completed. Each course has its own workbook published by Evangel Publishing House, Nairobi, Kenya.  Cost to the student is ($1.00) – the remainder is subsidized – about $2.00 The book is called a “programmed text”. Students write in answers to questions and then the correct answer is contained in the next question. During a week the student must work through 5 lessons at home - Monday to Friday.

Then s/he comes to a 3 hour weekly discussion group to go over the previous week’s lessons. There is a 4 question short test (quiz). At the end of each book, during the 11th week, there is a longer examination. Also during the weekly group discussion one of the students leads a short devotion using the assigned text for the coming Sunday. There is a short evaluation of this. Then the text is read again and studied and discussed. “Highs and lows” of the previous week are also shared, followed by group prayer.

The discussion groups are lead by evangelists, pastors or other church leaders. The discussions apply to the students’ lives and involvement in the church what they have studied the previous week. The average group size is 7, and so everyone has a chance to contribute. Students are also expected to be involved in the life and work of the local congregation.

During the 2nd and 3rd levels there is a yearly 4 day seminar held either at Shinyanga or Mwanza. These cover material that is not covered in the books, eg. Worship, The Sacraments, Sunday School, Confirmation. Also TEE group leaders attend a 5 day training workshop each year.

There are currently in the diocese TEE program over 300 students in 36 groups/sites. Shemasi Amani Munuo is the coordinator for the groups in the Mwanza Region and Rev. Daryl Schubert for the groups in the Shinyanga Region. Assistant Bishop Rev Makala is the Director.

THE WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S DIRECTORATE

INTENTION AND PURPOSE:

Under The Women and Children’s Directorate there are two sections. Members of its Executive meeting and the General Assembly monitor the Directorate.  The Directorates funds come from local contributions, Finnish evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM) and The Lutheran Mission Coordination (LMC).

WOMEN’S SECTION

The Directorates main aim is to gather the women of the Diocese to mutual co-operation under the leadership and constitution of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. Other aims are to encourage the growth and understanding the substance of their faith, to care for the needy and to raise the women’s and their families level of living through SACCOS, capacity building in various workshops, seminars, meetings and short and long courses, here in Mwanza and all around Tanzania.

Our main subjects are Christian spirituality in all the aspect of the human existence, marriage, sex and health education, business, handicrafts, environmental matters and domestic science/food processing. Our goals are to have spiritually and mentally resilient and independent women, with the awareness of their possibilities to affect the well being of their own lives and their communities.

For the Directorates seminars many experts from different Directorates within the ELVD are used. Our other working partners are individuals and experts from other organizations: Kuleana: Childrens rights, Kivulini: Women’s rights organizations and Veta.

THE CHILDREN’S SECTION

There are 21 nursery schools under the Directorate. When it is financially possible the schools are provided with school necessaries. Once a year there is a building/furniture donation for 3-4 schools. There are with 38 teachers within these schools. The Directorate educates the teachers in various educational institutions, courses and seminars. There is also an annual seminar for the teachers here in Mwanza, with many of the subjects of the Women’s department with the additional emphasis on different subjects of child education.

In partnership with FELM the section has a “God child“ sponsor project. Annually the department sponsors 70 children to its Nursery Schools within this project. The school Committees chooses the children regardless of their religious background. The only condition is that they are from families without means to educate their children. Also it is preferable for girls to be chosen for the project, so as to promote their possibilities to get an education. The “God child” is provided with a uniform, shoes, socks, medical services and school stationary. The department pays their school fees.  For each child is within the project for two to three years, until he or she enters primary school.

The program is financed by the contribution of individual persons in Finland. They are referred to as “Godparents ”, as it well describes their relationship to their chosen child.  The Godparent receives a picture and personal information of their child and a newsletter twice annually.

YOUTH WORK DEPARTMENT

The youth work department is mainly supported by local and external funds. Contribution collected from parishes within the diocese in one hand, and funds from brethrens such as Finish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM) and Trinity Lutheran Church, Washington (ELCA-TLC) on the other. The department was first head by Mr Jari Berg, a missionary from FINLAND (FELM) who came in the office in 2003. In late 2005, Pastor E. Gladson Mwaikuju succeeded him to the office, marking the first local pastor to head the department.
 

OUR OJECTIVES

To reach the youth with the Gospel of Jesus wherever they are, in school and out-of school. The department is also targeting in encouraging youth toward behavior change by conducting workshops/seminars and outreach seminars. The department works in collaboration with other organizations dealing with youth activities to coordinate workshops as well as seminars. The department is visualizing to have Youth Friendly Centers where youth can be gathered to exchange views; share gifts and participate in workshops/seminars as well as sports and games.

OUR STRATEGIES

We have suggested a numbers of strategies to improve youth development activities:

• Training manpower in youth development work.
• Creating awareness among youth due to HIV/AIDS
• Promotion of informal sector.
• Promotion of education.
• Promotion of micro credit facilities to cater for youth development.
• Promotion of training.

OUR MOTTO:

“I’m the church, you are the church, we are the church.”

Health and Diaconic Works

Since its inauguration the ELVD has been running Health Services which were mainly curative, based in two Dispensaries and latter three.

In abiding to the National Health Policy and the ELCT of integrating curative with preventive activities, the Diocese launched a comprehensive managed Primary Health Care Program which is the main focus.

After the emergence of the deadly diseace Aids, the ELVD became part of the Kagera Zone Aids Control Project area broadening the need of Managed Primary Health Care.

Diaconic Services are also  a part to the highly needy Community members in the Diocesan area.

Thus the ELVD has the following Health Services

• Three Satellite Dispensaries acting as Primary curative institutional health facilities.
• Comprehensive Community Based Primary Health Program
• HIV/AIDS Control Program focusing mainly on primary prevention of further transmission and of human and supportive care for patients and relatives.
• Hospices Services to the highly needy people.

These are centrally coordinated by the office of the Diocesan Medical Secretary

Situational Analysis

• Extensive Diocesan area with a population of about 8 million people
• Need of Partnership with other NGO´s/Government/Individuals in addressing health needs of the community in our service area.
• Migne funds and equipments resulting to:
• Inadequate educational materials
• Transport difficulties
• Medical consumable support
• Poor and ignorant general population that cannot afford the rising costs of health needs

Isaka Dispensary

Mwadui Secondary School

Mwadui Secondary School is a boarding school situated at the Mwadui diamond fields north of Shinyanga. The catchment area is the whole diocese i.e. Mwanza and Shinyanga regions.

Students in classroom

Girls outside their dormitory

White as chalk ...

Computer work

Homework after school hours

Chemistry lesson