Persecution in the tourist hotspot of Zanzibar

The battered pastor and his wife standing in front of their burned house in Zanzibar
In December 2020, three of our pioneers in Tanzania visited Zanzibar, a former slave-trade island, where 99% of the inhabitants are Muslim. The team met seven local pastors, all of whom had been persecuted. One of them had been attacked just half a year earlier; in addition to being violently assaulted, his home and church were destroyed, the family’s goats and chickens were stolen, and he was thrown to jail. The court eventually denied him any compensation for damages and prohibited him from preaching. Upon hearing this, we sent some aid along with the GNN team to assist in his recuperation. The other persecuted preachers were also given some small support to encourage them to continue with their ministry.
• Intercessions are needed! Would you and perhaps your church take the work in Zanzibar as your special prayer challenge this year?
Training in Dar es-Salaam
Our latest video conference to the Tanzanian pioneer pastors and children’s ministry workers was held at the end of January. Encouraged by the on-field success after our conference last September, which included teaching for those in children’s ministry, we decided to expand this meeting to three days.

Young kids who became Christians in southern Tanzania
For the first two days, we focused on the secrets of children’s ministry through pre-recorded teachings, which the known mission veterans Raili Väisänen and Mirjami Ylenius-Kuosmanen gave in Swahili. We were delighted to have five children’s ministry workers joining from the island of Zanzibar as well. The third day was reserved for meeting with the pioneers, where, as usual, teaching was conducted by our multinational teaching team.
Opposition was experienced beforehand in a form of health challenges, and at the premises when a big truck broke the power cable going into the conference hall. But thanks be to God for health, protection, and the restoration of electricity!
Missions continue in the heart of the Zaramo area

A Zaramo family who became Christians with two of GNN’s team members
After returning from the visit to Finland about a year ago, our Ugandan missionary, Francis, had to stay at his home for a long time due to the country’s strict corona restrictions. In November he was finally able to travel back to Tanzania and resume his ministry amongst the local tribes.
In January, a team of 10 people traveled to Kisaware and Masaki villages situated in the middle of the 1,2 million Zaramo tribe area. With the rental vehicle they brought along a generator for showing ‘The Jesus Film’ in the Zaramo language. May the seed sown yield a bountiful harvest!
GNN Leadership and Visionary Conference
/in News /by Tara MoralesFifty key leaders recently gathered at a hotel in Mubende, Uganda, for a two-day Leadership & Visionary Conference. The theme, “That they would hear!” (Romans 10:14), is also the motto of GNN Finland (Good News Networking). The GNN team was responsible for the teachings in partnership with local host, Bp. John Magaba.
Bishops and pastors alike were deeply challenged about the Ultimate Calling of the Church to reach all people with the Gospel. They were shown the current situation of world missions as well as the great need there is to still go and preach the Gospel. Out of every 100 missionaries sent cross-culturally, only 3 will go to unreached areas, although these people groups account for 42% of the current world’s population.
There was a lot of thinking going on after the teachings about Jesus-style servant leadership and the importance of character in leading. The price that needs to be paid to keep following Jesus and taking the Good News to all is big, but worth it!
Real-life powerful testimonies of pioneers reaching unreached people groups in South-East Asia also left participants in awe of what can be done when people decide to fully surrender and obey God’s call to fulfil the vision of reaching the unreached no matter their age or physical ability. Participants were reminded that it is about vision and not a program!
These two days helped stir up the vision of missions and get the participants out of their comfort zones.
Let us continue to work together to take the Gospel to the unreached!
Fruitful Night Radio
/in News /by Tara MoralesFor several years, GNN has supported our partner, Bp. John Magaba’s, nightly radio programs. During the week, we joined the radio programs early on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings to proclaim the Good News being broadcasted to a vast number of households into the neighbouring countries.
Many phone calls and messages followed the preaching on Sunday and 17 people wanted to give their lives to Jesus that morning.
Clean Water for the Thirsty
/in News /by Tara MoralesIn the beginning of his trip, Jonathan, GNN’s representative, dedicated a well built for a Zaramo village. In October 2021, we had visited this same village where GNN Tanzania’s evangelist, Jeremiah, often goes to. Pastor Arto received a word to share about Jesus speaking to the woman at the well in Sychar. Upon hearing this, the village chairman rose to share that they have a challenge with water. They collect it at the foot of the hill from a quietly seeping pit and the water is dirty.
On the drive back, Arto had a thought, “Perhaps it is okay to build a well at least once in my life.” In the car, he considered how this could be done. Jeremiah, who is also a builder, came up with some solutions.
Thoughts became a reality and the construction of the well was agreed upon. On Saturday, 19th of February, the 23m deep well was dedicated to begin its use. Next to the well is a plaque with Jesus’ words,
Pastor Jonathan reports:
Jonathan continues:
Children’s Ministry Seminar Amongst the Masai
/in News /by hacusuuronenLikewise the message of the Gospel is also far-reaching. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, including children. I’m glad I heard this Good News also when I was a child. It changed my life!
A big thanks to Ps Tusiime Francis, Ps Jane Yaledi and the team on the ground for all your hard work, as well as the teachers, Mirjami Ylenius-Kuosmanen and Raili Väisänen, for exceptional teaching, and the man with the vision, Ps Arto Sädeaho, who keeps on going forward!”
– Jonathan Lemmetti
Updates from Indonesia, Uganda and Finland
/in News /by hacusuuronenIndonesia – Sumatra’s 36th Year Course Held in Exceptional Circumstances
We have kept in touch also with the Indonesian pioneers and arranged training days by utilizing Zoom. Due to travel restrictions, which have hindered the weekend church visits, this year’s course has been taught also on Saturdays. Thus, they will graduate before May. At the graduation, 27 new pioneers will also be blessed into ministry.
Uganda – An Abundance of Fruit from Radio Ministry
Bishop John Magaba Faces Backlash
In Autumn 2020, John lost a relief load sent to the south, as the truck slid down a slope, and robbers arrived and stole the food aid. Later he got fever and severe pains and was diagnosed with a tumor in his liver. After this, armed robbers broke into John’s storehouse but, thankfully, the robbery failed.
Recently, one Sunday he was traveling with his family from the radio station to their morning service. One of the vehicles was full of children. The driver lost control of the vehicle and it ended up on its side in a swamp. Thankfully, no one was injured. But the generator used for the church service got damaged.
Let’s pray for our brother’s health and work!
Domestic Mission – Vantaa International Christian Fellowship
VICF’s 2020 theme was “Living in Victory”, and the year began with great expectations. Then the Covid-19 pandemic struck. It was understood how important it is to look up to Jesus and realize how to live a victorious life with such uncertain circumstances around us!
Five people were water-baptized earlier on before the lockdown. There are now 100 blessed members in the congregation. We are grateful to God for the continuation of VICF in this season. All practical needs have been adequately met.
Prayer Challenge and Report from Tanzania
/in News /by hacusuuronenPersecution in the tourist hotspot of Zanzibar
The battered pastor and his wife standing in front of their burned house in Zanzibar
In December 2020, three of our pioneers in Tanzania visited Zanzibar, a former slave-trade island, where 99% of the inhabitants are Muslim. The team met seven local pastors, all of whom had been persecuted. One of them had been attacked just half a year earlier; in addition to being violently assaulted, his home and church were destroyed, the family’s goats and chickens were stolen, and he was thrown to jail. The court eventually denied him any compensation for damages and prohibited him from preaching. Upon hearing this, we sent some aid along with the GNN team to assist in his recuperation. The other persecuted preachers were also given some small support to encourage them to continue with their ministry.
• Intercessions are needed! Would you and perhaps your church take the work in Zanzibar as your special prayer challenge this year?
Training in Dar es-Salaam
Our latest video conference to the Tanzanian pioneer pastors and children’s ministry workers was held at the end of January. Encouraged by the on-field success after our conference last September, which included teaching for those in children’s ministry, we decided to expand this meeting to three days.
Young kids who became Christians in southern Tanzania
For the first two days, we focused on the secrets of children’s ministry through pre-recorded teachings, which the known mission veterans Raili Väisänen and Mirjami Ylenius-Kuosmanen gave in Swahili. We were delighted to have five children’s ministry workers joining from the island of Zanzibar as well. The third day was reserved for meeting with the pioneers, where, as usual, teaching was conducted by our multinational teaching team.
Opposition was experienced beforehand in a form of health challenges, and at the premises when a big truck broke the power cable going into the conference hall. But thanks be to God for health, protection, and the restoration of electricity!
Missions continue in the heart of the Zaramo area
A Zaramo family who became Christians with two of GNN’s team members
After returning from the visit to Finland about a year ago, our Ugandan missionary, Francis, had to stay at his home for a long time due to the country’s strict corona restrictions. In November he was finally able to travel back to Tanzania and resume his ministry amongst the local tribes.
In January, a team of 10 people traveled to Kisaware and Masaki villages situated in the middle of the 1,2 million Zaramo tribe area. With the rental vehicle they brought along a generator for showing ‘The Jesus Film’ in the Zaramo language. May the seed sown yield a bountiful harvest!
Blessed Turn of the Year
/in News /by hacusuuronenNews from Africa
/in News /by hacusuuronenTanzania
This year we have continued further training of our summer 2019 UPG course participants virtually. Our third meeting of the year was in September, when the pioneers gathered in Dar es Salaam for a video conference.
The teaching of Raili and Mirkku emphasized a child’s value, and that they can come to faith too. Reaching children often opens up new areas.
A strong addition to the conference morning was brought by two mission veterans in children’s ministry, Raili Väisänen and Mirjami Ylenius-Kuosmanen. Their recorded teaching in fluent Swahili was about ‘The Value of a Child’, and ‘Can a Child be Born Again?’ After having heard of this additional part of our program, some pastors had brought their Sunday school teachers along with them. All up there were 48 participants from around Tanzania. Right after the conference, some Sunday school teachers went out reaching children in the Zaramo area and, two Sundays later, the church was full of children!
Pastor Jane Mbusa with children from an orphanage
Frontline Updates
December’s mission trip will be to Mikumi area in the southwest, where a “GNN Team” of ten pioneers will be traveling. Bishop Julius, who oversees some 30 congregations, will host the team’s visit to the Vidunda, Kutu and Masai tribes. Throughout this year similar mission trips have birthed several churches in the area.
In June, a smaller team travelled to Singida, interior Tanzania, where they gathered 30 pastors from the nearby villages to hear teaching on reaching the unreached tribes. Now the pastors of this area are enthusiastically preparing to visit two hostile tribes in a nearby woodland.
During the September outreach, people were healed and giving their lives to Jesus. Through prayer some of them were also released from the bondage of evil spirits. Thus, some Zaramo people from the area have come to faith and started coming to the church.
We praise God that our brothers and sisters in Tanzania are actively ministering amongst the unreached people groups.
Uganda
Evangelist Jordan Magaba teaching new believers
When the Corona restrictions closed the churches in Uganda in the spring, we increased our support of the radio ministry to include the broadcasting of Sunday morning church services. Since then, the studio has received phone calls at the end of almost every broadcast. Uncertain times have increased openness towards the message of the gospel, and people are looking for a more solid foundation for their lives. During the pandemic, 25-30 people have been led to follow the Lord on a weekly basis; one week in October even 43. These new believers are directed to churches in the area they live in.
Bishop John Magaba has shared of his gratefulness for such a harvest, for which he cannot take any credit. He also began inviting other church pastors to the broadcasts, and his Pastor wife Nasta and Evangelist son Jordan support him in the radio programs. The churches could re-open again in October, and John continues his ministry with the same joy as before.
Video: Joyful Praise in Ugandan Radio
/in News /by hacusuuronenThe joy of the Lord is our strength – also amidst a pandemic!
Singers live on a Sunday morning’s radio service in West Uganda.
Early Summer’s Tidings from Africa
/in News, Uncategorized /by hacusuuronen(Tanzania & Uganda)
Encouraging Internet Conference for Tanzanian Pioneers
Six new believers from Tanzanian Zaramo tribe got recently baptized
Our planned mission trip to East Africa in May boiled down to an afternoon Internet conference. We are grateful to follow-up with the participants who were part of the GNN UPG mission training in Dar es Salaam in June 2019. Our multinational teaching team from Finland, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Uganda all contributed encouraging and timely words. Wonderful news from the on-going ministry in Tanzania included testimonies of new churches planted amongst the Masai and Vidunda tribes; pastors continuing to reach out in new areas; Muslims being reached with the Gospel and turning to Jesus. We thank God for going beyond our expectations with this fruitful ministry! – Jonathan Lemmetti
Night Radio is Blossoming Despite the Pandemic
Food Aid ready for transportation
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our church members and people in the surrounding areas are suffering from lack of food. Most of them fared well in the beginning, as they received support for food from the nearby coffee plantation, but many had to stop working due to the restrictions and, as a result, have suffered from hunger. Thanks to God that Africa Renewal Ministries’ partners were able to arrange food for 105 families. We were also granted permission from the government representatives to supply food to the local residents. Likewise, we are grateful to GNN for the additional support besides that sent for our radio ministry. May the Lord bless you and all of the GNN supporters!”
Send Your Bread
Francis (on the right) together with the man who gave his life to God in 2012
Ecclesiastes 11:1 says: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find It.”
In May I received the below message from our African partner, Francis.
“Hi, Pastor Arto! This morning I walked to the plot of land with its caretaker. On the way I asked him how he had become a believer. He said that, out of curiosity, he had gone to listen to the ministry workers’ conference in Muleete in 2012. During that seminar, at the closing of your session to the pastors, you suddenly asked if there was anyone who wanted to become a believer. This man was the only one who walked to the front. Then you led him in the sinner’s prayer – the fruit of that day has remained!”