Field Reports

September 2008 Vision Trip - Zanzibar

Over my dead body.

So what do you think of when you hear the word Zanzibar. For me, I would have to say “beautiful beaches, crystal blue waters, snorkeling amid exotic fish, and a tourist trap for the world’s elite.  While such an environment exists, to my knowledge, it is only found in one small port--an exclusive cove in a corner of Zanzibar.  Made up of two islands, Zanzibar is the capital city of the larger of the two.  Zanzibar’s history includes being the chief supplier for the slave trade to Arab nations for over 500 years--1385 to 1873.

While I knew David Livingstone was a missionary adventurer, I had no idea the vital role he played in ending the slave trade in Zanzibar. He is a very popular historical celebrity in Zanzibar.  To memorialize his efforts, an Anglican church was built in 1900 upon the very grounds of the old slave trade.  The symbol of freedom was erected upon the darkness of human slavery.

In the mid 1990’s, two seminary students attended the Assemblies of God school for pastor training in Niarobi, Kenya. One of them, Dixon Kargoma, was going to Zanzibar as  a missionary.  The two men prayed together that the Lord would prepare the way to share the Gospel in Tanzania.

In the year 2000, Dixon was sent to Zanzibar and started a small congregation.  Soon, he began seeking land in hopes of building a church.  Each time Dixon sought to purchase land, he was stopped by dishonest local officials.

Finally, the congregation found an amazing location for a church building, hidden in the middle of commerce.  Upon further research, Dixon found the land belonged to the Anglican Church to use as a cemetery.  He offered the church a small amount due to his limited resources.  To his surprise, the bishop agreed to give him the land for free! 

A church was quickly built and sponsored by ICM donor partners, but local Muslim leaders swore to tear it down.  Dixon stood his ground against the Muslim leaders, and the church remained.  It is now referred to as “City Center Church” because it is at the center of spiritual revival in Zanzibar.

This small church continues to help establish daughter congregations today. 

Dixon’s first daughter congregation, Kiboje, had even more resistance when they began to build a church than the mother church.  During construction, a group of Muslims invaded the property during the night and tore the building down.  Kiboje’s pastor, Antonio, encouraged the congregation to restore the building, which they did.  Again, the Muslims tore it down.  The Muslim leaders returned in the morning and threatened the congregants with death if they began construction again.  The pastor defied the group, and they backed off. 

City Center Church has now birthed nine daughter congregations.  Today, Dixon’s church stands  and his flock flourishes.  The center of revival breaks forth as the gates of hell do not prevail against the church of God.  The light of God has come into the world and the darkness has not overcome it. Glory in Zanzibar. 

A missionary from the Assemblies of God in Tanzania partners with the Zanzibar Christian churches helping to support the revival.  Each month, a team of prayer walkers visit this missionary and pray for spiritual freedom and revival. 

I had come on a trip with ICM to see the work of God, and now I had just finished listening to pastor Dixon tell his story of City Center.  At one point, our tour guide and trip coordinator, ICM Tanzania partner, Raymond Muniss, was poised to make His closing remarks.  He could hardly speak as tears ran down his cheeks.  His seminary friend and colleague from seminary in Kenya, whom he now rarely sees, had done it.  God had been faithful and had answered their prayers from years earlier.  Tears of joy,--two friends for the kingdom reunited. All I could do was cry a happy tear of joy with them.  God is faithful. And His glory shines bright in Zanzibar.

ICM Vision Trip traveler, Robert Leatherwood