Selected Areas of Tanzania
VCP Statistics as of June 2011:
Members - 7,758
Churches - 464
Training Centers - 25
Coordinator: Samwel Meena

Pastor Samwel is the leader of the church association named Mission to the Unreached. He has a strong passion for the lost and is gifted with developing and releasing leaders. 

Into Africa Project began work with this group in the city of Mladisi (main VCP center), about 60 km north of Dar es Salam. 

Initially, four supported VCP training centers were established. Recently, two more paid centers have been added, along with two volunteer training centers. Four of these VCP training centers are close to the coast in predominately Muslim areas. Two centers are located in the south of the country. 

While tribal and ethnic differences exist in Tanzania, there is a strong national bond that unites the people in general. There are various languages, but Swahili is understood by all. 

As of mid-2008, the Into Africa Project had 104 village churches and 2,600 members in Tanzania associated with seven VCP training centers. See above for recent country statistics. There is even one tenth generation village church!

Testimony

A young 16 year old girl recently changed her name to Happiness. She accepted Christ as her Savior in March of 2008, and came from a Muslim background. Her parents were exceedingly angry with her, and they and her brothers beat her often. She refused to deny Jesus in spite of the persecution.

She had been promised to another man and he had paid a bride price for her. He was a 47 year old Muslim and she was to be his fourth wife. She refused to marry him. In Tanzania women cannot be forced into marriage, so the law stands on her side; however, the social and familial pressure is great.

She stands steadfast and continues to be a witness of her Lord and Savior. Three months later, her mother secretly accepted Christ as Savior. At present she is unable to live with her family due to the persecution, and the local village church looks after her.