Some of you may be wondering how Lutherans came to Tanzania. Lutherans first arrived in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania in 1836, sent by the Leipzig Mission Society. Around the this time in the 19th century, European Churches typically did not send missionaries from the State church. As a result pious lay people and pastors formed mission societies to send "missionaries" to the jheathen. Bible Societies also formed during this period. In fact, the LCMS was built in part by the mission society efforts of Wilhelm Loehe. Article VI of the Missouri Synod's Constitution prohibits work with "heterodox tract and mission societies." The first and immediate context of this for Dr. C.F.W. Walther would have been mission societies like the Leipzig Mission Society.
The sign says "Jesus is the Victor." Other parts of Tanzania were settled by other mission societies -- from Scandinavia etc. The Leipzig Mission Society introduced a liturgy from the Leipzig Agenda, Which was based off the Saxon Agenda used by Walther. Thus the Tanzanian Lutherans around Kilimanjaro have a liturgy very similar to the Missouri Synod.
A Lutheran Church of East Africa congregation in the foothills of Kilimanjaro.
Sun setting against Mount Meru, from grounds of the Leipzig Mission Society in the foot hills (1 mile elevation) of Kilimanjaro.
Rev. Dr Collver on 16 August 2012
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Location:Kilimanjaro Rd,Moshi,Tanzania
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