Tour de New River 2007: Finish Line Results

Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17

We spent three years developing a strategy for how Scottsdale Bible Church could become more involved with witnessing to people in Africa in an effort to introduce a Biblical worldview and bring the hope of Jesus into their lives. We visited four different countries and many organizations, pastors and villages. We were led to partner with a small organization in Tanzania, and with two villages: one a Maasai village and the other a poor Muslim village—mainly due to the heart and strength of the pastors we met there. Committees were set up to monitor and direct our work, and in the Maasai village the committee includes a doctor who is now full-time on our staff.

In the Maasai village—Mairowa—the first need was for water as the women had to walk many miles for a reliable source of clean water. In early 2005 we drilled a well. They now have a clean water source, and we are working on a distribution system for better access and for future use in developing an agriculture program. The health of the community was not great, and many children were suffering from malnutrition and other diseases caused by their customs and the environment in which they live. So we started a child sponsorship program with 340 orphaned or very poor children. These children now get fed two days a week, including twice on Saturday. Each year we are sending a medical and dental team to help the sick and provide health care instructions and medications or vitamins.

We have many other initiatives just starting in Mairowa, including small gardens, women discussion groups, small business development, building chicken coops, planting fruit trees, and putting up buildings that will be used for feeding children now and converted to classrooms in the future. 

The Muslim village—Kondoa—is another very poor village, and is at least 95 percent Muslim. This village is much more advanced than the Maasai, and they understand the importance of an education. So we decided to build an English medium, Christian primary school in Kondoa. There were no available buildings, so we applied for and were given 17 acres on a river, just outside of the village. In 2005, with the proceeds from a fund-raising bike tour, we built the first four classrooms and an administration building. We started with 63 kindergarteners and hope to add 60 children and two classrooms every year beginning in 2008. 

Converting adults in either village will be difficult. Our emphasis will be on the children, but trying to work through them to bring a Biblical worldview to their parents. 

With any ideas or questions please contact:
   Fred Beasley
   Pastor of Outreach
   480.824.7242
   fbeasley@sbcaz.org