Grace News is Anglican Aid’s quarterly newsletter, through which we share encouragement and updates from our project partners.

Preaching the true gospel

There were choirs, dancing, great preaching, singing and colour! On my recent visit to Tanzania, it was a joy to join with brothers and sisters in Tarime, to celebrate the consecration of the Diocese’s new Bishop John Msuma. It was particularly encouraging for me because Anglican Aid has known Bishop Msuma since we supported his completion of a Bachelor of Divinity at Uganda Christian University from 2015 until 2018. It is wonderful to see the long-term impact of supporting students in Bible training. Thank you to all who give to this work. 

Bishop Msuma said his priority will be “to spread the gospel and to plant new churches in different areas because we still have 65 villages that don’t have a church!” 

He told me he also wants to focus on training Tarime’s church leaders: “so they can preach the gospel, the true gospel. This is what God has called us to do.” To help with this, Anglican Aid is supporting students from Tarime Diocese to study at Bunda Bible College. 

Tim Swan met Bishop John Msuma in Tarime, Tanzania. Anglican Aid had supported Bishop John’s completion of a Bachelor of Divinity.

“(A water) project serves as a powerful tool for evangelism—demonstrating the practical love of Christ, which opens hearts to the message of salvation.”

Tim Swan visited this clean water project that is being supported by Anglican Aid in Burundi.

During this trip, I was also able to meet with Canon Kepha Mlugu from the Diocese of Victoria Nyanza who shared enthusiastically about how Anglican Aid’s support for the training of evangelists is helping to prepare leaders for newly planted churches. But he also told me about how he sees development projects like providing clean water, working together with gospel ministry. 

“(A water) project serves as a powerful tool for evangelism—demonstrating the practical love of Christ, which opens hearts to the message of salvation,” he said.  “A water project is not just a humanitarian effort; it is a key instrument in advancing the kingdom of God. Through a project like this, we are not only meeting people’s physical needs but also preparing the ground for spiritual transformation.” 

When I visited Burundi recently, I was able to see this played out: a clean water project that is meeting both physical needs and advancing gospel ministry. I praise God for your support of our partners who are bringing transformation around the world as Jesus’ love is shown and his true gospel proclaimed! 

Tim Swan

CEO, Anglican Aid