Answering God’s Call to Care for Orphans in Tanzania
Please enjoy the origin story of our ministry in Tanzania, shared firsthand by Pastor Micah Ngussa—
In 1988, I saw children playing on the streets of Tanzania.
They told me, they don’t have a place to stay.
So I asked myself, “Why are these kids suffering this way, with nobody to care for them? Where is the church, the government, their parents?”
I started to blame all three.
In 1990, while studying theology in college, I wondered, “If God is love, why are these children suffering so severely on the streets?”
In 1994, I was teaching classes on the Bible at church.
In one of my classes, a student said—
“Teacher, you always tell us there are children who are suffering in the streets. You tell us you love them, but you are doing nothing. You are not helping them. You are just speaking.”
At that moment, I realized I had been blaming others while taking no action myself.
Today, I’m not blaming anyone, because I am called and I have a burden for these children.
In 1996, I decided to resign from teaching Bible school and began ministering to orphaned and vulnerable children. It wasn’t easy, because we had nothing at the time, and nobody promised to support us.
But I started by inviting three children, and then later, I added two more.
We added three more, and there were eight. That was enough, because we couldn’t feed any more. Then, one day, 32 orphaned and vulnerable children found their way to our home. We told them we couldn’t care for them, but we offered them a place to sleep in our dining room.
Later, God provided land where we were able to construct dormitories and schools. Our desire became to raise a generation who knows God.
Children who had a terrible life in the streets are now receiving Gospel-centered, holistic care, discipleship, and a quality education. They are graduating and working in our government and in our churches. Some even return to work with our ministry, so they can help orphaned and vulnerable children like they once were.
We thank God for all He has done. It is by grace alone.
Pray for Tanzania
- Pray for orphaned and vulnerable children in Tanzania to continue to learn and know the hope of the Gospel.
- Praise God for providing land and support for our team in Tanzania.
- Praise God for our team’s faithfulness to answer God’s call to care for orphaned and vulnerable children.
- Pray for protection for orphaned and vulnerable children living on the streets.
- Pray that orphan graduates would be well-supported in their transition into adulthood.
Join our prayer team to receive monthly prayer requests & praises from across our ministry.
Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children in Tanzania experience the hope of the Gospel?
When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are seen, known, and loved through Gospel-centered holistic care. Thanks to TMG Foundation, 100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children.