October Update

Dear praying friends,

Thanks again for your prayers. William is recovering well, we are praising the Lord. Now, I (Luke) am the one with a bad cold, but it's nothing to worry about, just inconvenient.

The graduation on Saturday went well, thank you for praying. Tim and Joy Beer (former missionaries to Zambia, who are now serving with missionary care) were visiting us. Tim graciously agreed to be the speaker for our graduation after the other speaker got sick. It was a nice time of celebrating God's grace in the student's lives and their efforts and perseverance. Pray for their ongoing service in their local churches.

Disciples of Jesus School Graduates 2024

Johnsons with Tim and Joy Beer

I (Luke) look forward to a slower pace for November, with car and ministry equipment maintenance, some home projects, and continuing to set up the Discipleship school office, computer and printer. I am also praying about making one trip to a village church to teach a seminar. 

We would also appreciate your prayers for David and his wife Sara who were commended from the Kigoma town church last month. They are now full time missionaries about 7 hours south of us in the town of Inyonga. Pray for them as they adjust to a new place, new tribes and culture, and as they evangelize those around them. Also Sara has been having some recurring chest pains so you can pray for her health.

David and Sara (missionaries in Inyonga)

Peter Yamungu (our other national missionary) just got back from another month long trip to visit the Wataturu and Wasukuma tribes in the Igunga area where he has planted 2 churches. Pray for spiritual growth for the young believers in that area.

We are thankful that two weeks ago Gina was able to visit Esther and Emily during their midterm break at boarding school in Kenya. They are both on basketball teams and very busy with academics and social life. Pray for their spiritual growth, and for Esther as she makes plans for next year after she graduates. The boys keep active with soccer, spear fishing and bird hunting.

Blessings in Christ,

Luke and Gina Johnson

Update on William

Dear praying friends,

We want to give you an update on William.

We were overwhelmed and so encouraged by how many responses we got from so many of you assuring us of your prayers. We are blessed.

William is improving. He almost went 48 hours without a fever and then he got one but it did not last too long. This morning we had him tested for typhoid, and that came back negative. So, we assume it is/was some sort of virus. We continue to monitor him but so far he has not had another fever. We are hopeful he is on the mend. Thanks for praying, and keep praying this will be the end of his sickness.

Please also pray for the graduation ceremony tomorrow (Saturday) for our 7 graduates from the discipleship school, that the Lord would be glorified in the celebration and in the lives of these students.

We hope to send another update soon, Lord willing.

Grace and peace to you,

Luke, for the family

Prayers needed

Dear praying friends,

We need your prayers for our youngest son, William (5 yrs. old) who has been sick with fevers for over a week now. We have tested him multiple times for all of the common sicknesses (malaria, worms, amoebas …) but he continues to get fevers. Today we went to the regional hospital and had a bunch of other less common tests at the lab and the results have come back normal. The doctor's best guess is that he has some sort of virus which he hopefully will get over soon. Please pray for God's healing touch for William and for God's peace and strength for us as parents, that we would not worry, and that we would be able to get some much needed rest. 

Also the discipleship school will be having its graduation on Saturday and there are many preparations that have been put on hold because of William's sickness. Pray for a Christ-centered celebration and that many more believers would see the importance of studying God's Word.

A recent village visit with the students;
our three boys and Gina also pictured

Thank you for your prayers for us at this time.

Luke and Gina, for the family.

August Update

Dear praying friends,

We thank the Lord for a good evangelistic conference in the village of Shankala. The gospel was preached and several made decisions to follow Christ. We met with them later, along with the local church leader, to encourage them to continue in the faith. 

The Disciples of Jesus school continues with the 3rd term. Aroni, who taught for the first time, did well. Now Japhet is teaching on stewardship and work ethic. Today, we just had an afternoon of door to door evangelism and next Sunday we will visit a village church and give the students an opportunity to serve and use what they are learning. Keep praying for the 7 students as many are getting weary and face lots of challenges.

Aroni teaching.

We were able to take a week long family trip to Katavi national park, 7 hours from here, and see the African wildlife. From there we went to a lodge by the lake where we camped for 4 nights. On the Saturday of that week, Luke taught an all day seminar on God’s plan for the church at the nearby village of Kirando. A good number of other believers attended from nearby villages. On Sunday we packed up the car and fellowshipped with the saints at Kirando, then we started our 2 day journey back to Kigoma.

Luke preaching at Kirando.

Last weekend there was another conference at the village of Bukuba and Luke taught a seminar Friday and Saturday mornings (and gospel films were shown at night) and our whole family worshipped with the believers on Sunday. There was open air preaching in the afternoon of each day. Pray for eternal fruit from these efforts.

We just said good bye to Esther and Emily as they return to boarding school in Kenya for a new year of studies. Esther is a senior and Emily a freshman. We are sad to see them go but fortunate to have a good Christian school nearby that they can attend. Aaron and Michael will start homeschool on Monday with a volunteer lady named Paula. And William will start kindergarten. Please keep praying for our children to follow Christ with all their hearts.

Camping as a family.

We are currently working on the paperwork for renewing our Work Permit and then Residence Permit. Pray that these will be granted, if it is God’s will, so that we can serve for at least 2 more years here in Tanzania.

Blessings in Christ,

Luke and Gina Johnson

July Update

 "We must work the works of Him who sent me, while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9:4

Dear praying friends,

Our national missionary friend, Peter, recently returned from a ministry trip among the Wataturu where 3 new believers were baptized. He also worked on building a high fence around the well in preparation to install a solar pump, panels and a tank. They are already in need of water, as things are very dry now, but we wait for God’s timing. Please pray with us for this need.

Also, our friend David Michael has now completed 1 year of studies at the Missions school on the coast, 2 months of field work and 2 months of research among the unreached Wakami tribe in the Morogoro region (eastern Tanzania). He is checking out one other people group and then he and his wife will pray and then go where the Lord leads them to serve among the unreached. Please pray for God’s clear guidance and provision for David and his wife Sarah. Also, continue to pray for the Tanzanian church to mobilize and begin to send, pray for and support Tanzanian missionaries. This is all very new to the believers here.

Next week (July 26-28) a small team of 7 of us will go to the village of Shankala, about 6 hours from here, and do door to door evangelism, open air gospel preaching and Christian films. There is a new church plant there, which we hope to encourage, and help them evangelize their community. Pray for God’s Spirit to prepare us and those who will hear the Good News. And pray for the powers of darkness to be bound so that people will be free to respond to the Gospel.

The 8 students at the Disciples of Jesus school are on a short break. We will start up on Aug. 8, for our 3rd and final term of the year. They will, Lord willing, graduate at the end of October. Please pray for Aroni, a former student, who will be teaching for the first time. Pray for him as he prepares.

Luke teaching History of Salvation.

We are pleased to have Esther and Emily back home with us for an 8 week summer break from boarding school in Kenya. We hope to do a few fun things together as a family. Please pray for our family and each of our children, that we might walk humbly and in daily fellowship with our God and Savior.

There are many church problems in another area of Tanzania, that are ending up in legal battles. Please pray for God’s intervention, and for resolution to these conflicts. Pray that both sides would humble themselves and seek to reconcile instead of going to court. 

Your prayers make a difference in the work here, because we have a great and powerful God. Please don’t stop praying for these needs.

Grace and peace to you,

Luke and Gina Johnson

All together!

Luke's Journal from his trip

 Dear praying friends,

I just wanted to give you a report of the ministry that took place last week. Thank you for your prayers. We really felt God’s power working in and through us, in spite of our weakness. You were a part of this work, through prayer.

The team being prayed for before leaving on their trip.

Day 1: We drove for 11.5 hours (about 600 km.) and arrived at the sub village of Weja Wanongu. We were welcomed by the few believers and some of the locals. We showed films before eating and going to bed.

Car parked in front of chapel building.

Thankful for mosquito tents.

Arriving in Central Tanzania.

Day 2: We took the gospel door to door as one big team of locals and us visitors. We visited about 4 houses and shared the good news and prayed for each household. After lunch I set up 2 strings in the front of the chapel for hanging my teaching pictures. At around 4 PM I began teaching the Firm Foundations course which emphasizes God’s salvation plan from the beginning, up until the coming of Jesus Christ. There were around 30 in attendance. Then we set up for another night of films but there was a problem with our HDMI cable. We were not able to show films.

Luke teaching Firm Foundations.

Peter teaching.

Day 3: We divided into 2 groups and visited people in their homes. The third home we visited was the home of a witch doctor. We found someone in the courtyard and he said the owners were not there. As we went on I saw a man come out of one of the houses and stare at us. After that, at the next 3 houses that we visited no one wanted to listen to the good news so we stopped and prayed again, binding the powers of darkness. The next house we visited welcomed us and listened intently with many questions. I taught again in the afternoon and then we talked with the locals since we were not able to show films.

Getting to the houses wasn't always simple.

Taking time to visit.

Some just weren't so eager to visit.

Day 4: We went to the broken well to attempt to pull out the pipes for the hand pump. Someone has donated an electric pump and the plan is to install solar panels and a water tank. We were not able to pull it up with my limited tools. We contacted a well repair man to begin his journey and come help us. Then we took the gospel door to door in two teams again. More teaching in the afternoon, before showing the Jesus Film at night. Someone was able to send us a new HDMI cable by bus. I began to feel quite sick to my stomach and did not sleep well.

Houses are well spread out from each other.

Day 5: I woke up still not feeling well so I rested that morning, while the others took the good news door to door. In the afternoon I was able to teach my course and that night Faraja translated the Pilgrim’s Progress film.

Day 6: I woke up feeling much better and we went with the well repair man and about 12 locals to pull out the pipes and rods for the hand pipes. It was a labor intensive job, but God helped us get it done. In the afternoon I finished up my teaching with a very clear gospel presentation. The family members of the sub village chairman wanted to receive Christ so we prayed with them. We showed films again that night.

Getting to work on the well.

A long and tedious process of pulling out the pipe.

"Many hands make light work."

Day 7: It was the Lord’s day. We had a wonderful time worshipping the Lord together. We also had a baby dedication and 15 young children were prayed for. Samweli, from our team, preached on the new life we have in Christ. A couple came forward to trust in Christ. After the service we went to visit one of the believers in his home, where they live together as an extended family. In the afternoon I did some teaching on God’s plan for the local church. We showed films for the last time and then packed the car to leave early the next morning.

Praying for the children.

Sunday morning service.

Day 8: We had to push start the car and then drove for 13 hours and arrived home safely.

Thank you again for praying.

May God bless you,

Luke Johnson

Please pray for the community near RVA

As you may have seen in global news, Kenya has been experiencing well above average rainfall over the past few weeks. The area around RVA received massive amounts of rain last week, leaving the ground saturated and causing damage to roads and houses.
 

We received word this morning of flash floods and a landslide in the outskirts of Mai Mahiu, just down the hill from RVA’s campus. This flooding has caused massive destruction, many injuries, and the loss of lives. Several of our staff at RVA are affected by the damage. 

Here is the news link:

In the News

If anyone would like to give financially, this can be done via RVA's benevolence fund. Online donations can be made to this fund at the following link: RVA Benevolence -- Flood Relief  When making donation, please check the box to "Leave a note for the finance office" and type "Flood Relief" in the notes section.

April Update

Dear praying friends,

We are grateful for the many who pray for the Lord's work and His servants across the globe. We are encouraged by those who participated in the North American week of prayer and we continue to pray that God will raise up more prayer warriors.

Prayer is an essential part of the work and I am writing this email to ask you to pray.

On Monday (Apr. 29) Peter and I, along with 4 young men, will be traveling to the middle of the country (about 11 hours away) to minister among the Wataturu and Wasukuma tribes where Peter has planted 2 small churches in the past 5 or 6 years. We plan to spend 8 days among them teaching the young believers, spreading the good news door to door, and showing evangelistic films. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will prepare hearts, and that Christ's kingdom will advance and Satan's strongholds be defeated in that dark place. We depend on your prayers for us, dear brothers and sisters.

For the month of April we did a good bit of traveling as a family. Emily came home from RVA (boarding school) and Esther went to Mozambique for 2 weeks, to be with her friend Victoria and her family who serve in that country. Meanwhile, we went to Dodoma (14 hours by bus) to attend a joint conference with the German brethren missionaries who are working in the Southern part of Tanzania. We praise God for safety on the trip and for a good conference.

Aaron enjoying some fried chicken on the bus. Look familiar??

Lots of quality time!

One of the many accidents we saw along the way.

A beautiful rainbow welcomed us to Dodoma.

Conference group photo

We then continued on by bus to Dar Es Salaam. While there we had an Embassy appointment for passport renewal and waited for Esther to come from Mozambique. Then we all flew back to Kigoma to spend 1 week at home, before driving to Burundi to visit Luke's 2 brothers and their families so the kids could see the cousins. From there, Esther and Emily flew back to Kenya with 2 of their cousins to go back to school.

Visiting Danny and his family in Gisuru.

Visiting Jesse and his family in Bujumbura.

On Monday we will begin our second term of the discipleship school. Ahadi will be teaching about angels and demons. We still have 10 students. Please pray for them as many of them have challenging home situations.

Students at Disciples of Jesus School.

In the middle of May we will have 5 days of teaching and meetings for the church elders in our 3 western regions. I will be teaching on revival. Please pray for the Spirit's anointing on these messages. We long to see the Tanzanian church wake up to the needs around them and begin to equip, send and support national missionaries.

There is more we could say but this email is already long enough, so we'll just ask you one more time, to PRAY.

May God's grace abound to you,

Luke and Gina Johnson

December/January Update

"And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none." (Eze. 22:30)

Dear praying friends,

Most of us have heard about, "Prayer warriors," but I wonder where they are today. I wonder why I am not one of them, fighting for the advance of the gospel and Christ's kingdom here on earth. Where are those who will stand in the gap and intercede on behalf of our families, Christ's church, and the nations? The walls of protection are broken down and destruction is near. The Lord is looking for courageous men and women who will intercede, but they are hard to find. Instead, we are "at ease in Zion," thinking all is well, when all is not well. Almighty Father, "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" (Ps. 85:6). Brothers and sisters, let us unite in prayer and fasting on behalf of Christ's work that he may revive us again. There is great need today for a people devoted to prayer.

Disciples of Jesus school

On Jan. 8 we began a new year of training. We currently have 11 students. The Lord answered our prayers as last year we had to close due to a lack of students. Please keep praying for these students, that their minds and hearts would be open to receive the Word that is planted in them and that they would learn from Christ and bear much fruit for Him.

Full classroom

Peter teaches homiletics

There is still much to be done at the new property purchased for the discipleship school, before we can begin meeting and teaching there. Please pray that the Lord would raise up faithful servants among the Tanzanians to serve there, as there is a great need for honest and faithful workers. Also, pray for the progress of the construction work as the Lord provides.

Village churches

There are problems in many of the village assemblies that need to be addressed, especially with regard to overbearing elders who want to hold on to power instead of shepherding the flock as they are commanded to. Pray for those of us who have a burden to go visit these places and provide biblical teaching and godly counsel.

Luke preaches at Ilagala church.

Boys in the front row during the service.

Also there have been attacks from the enemy using groups of people who go around spreading fear and lies, especially in the churches. They claim to know secret things about people, and use their witchcraft powers to malign God's servants and sow seeds of discord and fear among God's people. Many Christians are gripped by fear and give in to the claims and demands of these wicked people. Pray for courage and faith for the believers, to trust in God's power, and know that greater is He that is in them, than he that is in the world. We are in a spiritual battle.

Peter's work among the Wataturu

At the beginning of January, Peter, our national brother and missionary to the Wataturu returned to visit and strengthen the 2 small churches in the Tabora region. It was the earnest desire of 5 of the believers to be baptized and make public their choice to follow Christ. We rejoice at the work that God is doing among them. Continue to pray for these new believers to make progress in the faith and be steadfast and immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord.

Peter baptizes a new believer

Also, we continue to pray for our brother David Michael, who has been studying at the Missions school since March of last year. Right now he is halfway through his 2 months of field work, then he will be required to do research among an unreached people group in Tanzania. Please pray for God to guide David and his wife Sara, as to where they should serve God. And pray that the Tanzanian church will rise to the challenge of sending and supporting national missionaries.

Family

We certainly miss our 2 girls, Esther and Emily who are gone to boarding school in Kenya (Rift Valley Academy or RVA) 8.5 months out of the year. We were delighted that Emily was baptized at RVA at the end of last term. We were happy to have them back home for Christmas break for about 1 month. Next week Gina will travel to be with them for their short midterm break. Aaron and Michael continue to do homeschool each week day with a volunteer teacher. Please pray for the spiritual growth of each of our children and that we as parents would be faithful to train them in the fear of the Lord. 

Full house - full heart.

4 older kids on a hike during vacation.

May the Lord make his face shine on you as you intercede with us for these petitions.

Blessings,

Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily, Aaron, Michael and William Johnson

November Update

Dear praying friends and family,

We are thankful for all that the team from the US was able to accomplish in September. They did all the electrical wiring for the workshop and the office block out at the new discipleship school property.

Soon after that our family drove to Kenya to be with our daughters Esther and Emily for their midterm break from Rift Valley Academy (RVA). We were able to spend a lovely extended weekend together, including a boat trip to an island to see animals, a national park, a fancy pool and some eating out. We were thankful to hear of God's Spirit working on campus during RVA's spiritual emphasis week. As a result, our daughter Emily decided to be baptized, and this took place at the end of term (November).

Visiting Nakuru National Park

Here in Kigoma we have been able to visit a few people in their homes. I (Luke) went to visit an old Muslim man (Mr. Nyamweru) who I witnessed to and read the New Testament with. I had not seen Nyamweru in a while and he would often come to our house. I decided to go to his house and when I arrived his wife told me he had died 5 days before. It was a sober reminder to make the most of every opportunity we have with unbelievers. I was able to read the Scriptures with them and talk with the wife and son and another old man about the importance of knowing where we will go when we die, and that Jesus is the only one who can give us that assurance. Please pray for the family's salvation as they are all Muslim. As a family we were also able to visit and Aroni and Prisca, a young couple from our church who just had their firstborn son. It was a nice time of fellowship.

William holding Aroni and Prisca's baby boy.

At the beginning of November we were able to visit the village church of Kalinkungwe. We took 2 young men from the town church. We were disappointed to see a decrease in number but we were able to share some gifts with them and encourage them after the service to press on in the Lord's work and to be consistent in meeting together. This coming Sunday (Dec. 3) we plan to visit the village church at Ilagala. Pray for God to raise up faithful elders who will fulfill their calling of shepherding the flock. Pray for safety on the roads as we travel and that we won't get stuck as there has been a LOT of rain for the past month or so.

Only a few kids came out in the pouring rain.

Luke preaching at Kalinkungwe.

Crossing on a ferry to get to church.

In the middle of November we were able to host, along with the Kinlaws (our CMML coworkers) the youth from the Gungu town church. There were about 20 of them and we had a time of games, singing, and a message, followed by snacks. We plan to meet again with them this Friday (Dec. 1). Pray for their spiritual growth and that they would have a desire to serve the Lord.

Esther and Emily made it back home safely from boarding school on Sat. Nov. 25. We are so happy to have our girls back for the whole month of December. We plan to celebrate Esther and Gina's birthdays, go to the beach for swimming and fishing, go on some hikes and runs together, and of course decorate for and celebrate Christmas together. 

We are making preparations for a new year of studies at the Disciples of Jesus school. We have sent out most invitations to the village churches and we are getting the new schedule made up. I (Luke) have been working on the desks for the Discipleship school as the old desk legs kept breaking. I had 15 new metal desk legs made with a storage shelf underneath. Now I just need to secure the wooden tops to them. Pray that the students who come next year would be hand picked by God and eager to study and grow.

New discipleship school desk (without the wooden top)

Luke, busy with projects.

We appreciate your partnership in the gospel as you lift up these items in prayer to the God who sees and the God who is able.

Blessings in our Savior's name,

Luke and Gina Johnson