Humanitarian Aid among Somali Refugees Opens the Door
for the Gospel

Muslim leaders commit their lives to Christ and plant the first indigenous church
in a small refugee camp in Tanzania

AIMS News: Posted 9/1/2003

Since 1999, Fuel International has sent short-term missions teams to a Somali refugee camp in central Tanzania to provide humanitarian aid and build relationships with the refugees. In July, they partnered with AIMS on a joint teaching and humanitarian trip to Tanzania. While the AIMS team taught Equipping for the Harvest in Tanga, Muslim leaders and refugees experienced Christ for the first time.

God Provides the Way to Enter the Camp

"John," AIMS East Africa Coordinator and director of Fuel International, led a prayer team to Tanzania after adopting the Somalis in Tanzania. He located a settlement of 6,000 refugees, comprised of six districts governed by the United Nations Commission on Refugees and the Tanzanian government. The Somali in the camp were Muslim (99.9%). Fifty percent were age 15 and younger. At that time, the violence in the camp was high. The government allowed no one to enter. However, he spoke with a member of the parliament and received permission to access the camp.

"Every day God brought somebody across our path that was critical to us reaching out to the Somali." He met several pastors who had already developed a strategy for reaching the Somali people. He began working with them to carry out their strategy.

The refugees in the camp lived in poverty. The village only had one medical clinic. Medicine was not available. Doctors were scarce. Many of the Somali people suffered from malaria. They had no water or sanitation. "We prayed for them one by one, believing God for their healing." But John wanted to do more. Throughout the next four years, Fuel International sent nine teams to the Somali camp to dig wells, install a water infiltration system, paint school buildings, and build relationships with the refugees.

The children welcomed them first, running behind the vehicles as they entered the camp. Soon, women began to follow, but the men never participated. The settlement leader, "Mohammed," had been hostile during their visits and denied Fuel International land to build an indigenous Somali church.

Muslim Leaders Declare Christ as Lord

In July 2003, Fuel International planned to build houses, administer a medical clinic, and teach the children about Jesus. But when they arrived in Tanzania in July, they met resistance. Their access to the refugee camp had been denied. For several days, John negotiated with Tanzanian leaders, who finally granted him approval to enter the camp.The team proceeded to the camp in worship, not knowing if they would be stopped again at the gate. When they arrived, Somali men cheered at the gates, greeting them along with the woman and children.

For the next four days, "James," a former missionary to El Salvador, led the construction project, working side by side with Mohammed and other leaders of the camp. As they built ten refugee homes, he formed relationships with the leaders. One afternoon, he gathered Mohammed and twenty-two of the Muslim leaders together. He shared his testimony about how he once was a hard worker just like them, but something was missing from his life. That something was Jesus Christ.

"God sent us here not to just build your houses, but to plant a seed in your hearts." He challenged them to consider Christ as they met with their families that night.

The next morning, James gathered the leaders together and invited them to commit their lives to Christ. Mohammed's lip trembled as he stepped forward. The twenty-two other leaders followed behind him. After James prayed, Mohammed lifted his hands in praise to God. James spoke to Mohammed through an interpreter, "Now we are family. We have the same Father."

Mohammed donated land to begin an indigenous Christian church in the Somali camp. The first Swahili service met on Sunday, July 20th.

Other Projects Reap Results

Across the camp, refugees began to commit to Christ. John's wife supervised the medical clinic, where several doctors treated the medical needs of the Somali and reported that over one hundred people visited the prayer room next to the clinic. "Our prayer team was busy. People kept wanting to come to the Lord."

Between 300 to 500 children participated daily in the children's outreach. However, most children hesitated in making a commitment to Christ. Many of the children who attended the crusade were persecuted by their peers. One worker tried to encourage two boys standing outside the camp to enter, but they quickly declined. Those who did participate watched their peers closely and responded accordingly. Regardless, twelve children came forward for prayer.

Fuel International and AIMS plan to partner for several joint short-term trips to Tanzania in 2004. According to John, short-term trips work when done effectively.

"The fad of short-term missions won't have an impact, but short-term missions done strategically will have a great impact."

Related Stories: