“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23

Makambako is a place in the region of Iringa, Tanzania. It lies more than 600 km from the city of Dar es Salaam. Some efforts to bring the message to this region in the past had not produced visible fruits. By August 2008, Brother Flavian Nyakeji and his wife Lucia (who were members of the Ubungo Church, Dar es Salaam), started their journey to begin Medical missionary work in this region.

Amidst difficult situations, among them being financial constraints, they worked hard together. Bro. Nyakeji worked as a doctor while being helped by Sister Rachel Katondo, who later returned to Dar es Salaam. He then continued working with his wife. A little later, classes begun for those who will be working as medics and thereafter for those who came to be treated.

Brother Walter Kajiru (who was the Field leader at that time for the South) used to come to help the work in terms of pastoral guidance, identifying a permanent worker for the place, and baptism. Brother Japhet Mbuba is the missionary worker who was found to work hand in hand with Brother Nyakeji. Two souls were baptized—brothers. Geoge Magoti and Benito Mtavangu. These two are part of the present work being done.

Not long afterwards many souls got baptized. By the time Brother Kajiru left for Zimbabwe, the church had over 45 members! We praise the Lord for this! Later on Brothers Bright Fue and Hildon Mbogela came to conduct later baptisms. To date, those that have been baptized under the third angel’s message are over 70. Even though a few have backslidden, the work continues to grow strong. We ask the Lord to help. Brother Joel Msiska from Malawi has also been with us now for some time helping the work in the areas of providing treatments and giving the message. We came to know each other the time I travelled to that country in the year 2011 for a Medical Seminar conducted by Brother Idel Suarez, Jr.

The work has also opened in a new place in the Njombe region. There is great interest in our message among the people in this place as we preach the message through the radio. This has been a big blessing to the work. Seven souls have so far been baptized in this area but are counted as part of the church membership (i.e. part of the number mentioned above) in Makambako.

Sometime ago, Brother Nyakeji and his family decided to buy a building and then gave it to the church so that it be used as a church building! It had cost them about $9009 excluding the costs of furnishing it to look like a church. This money was from the services they have been providing to patients as medics. Brothers Hildon Mbogela and Enock Ndimangwa officially received the building on behalf of the IMS Southern Field. We thank God also for this gift!

Finally we would like to thank all those who have and continue to help in this work in one way or another. We also would like to encourage our fellow IMS members all around the world to consider this work of medical missionary as a way to save souls! Imagine only from 2008–2014, the work has been like this! It in fact fulfills prophesy.

“As religious aggression subverts the liberties of our nation, those who would stand for freedom of conscience will be placed in unfavorable positions. For their own sake, they should, while they have opportunity, become intelligent in regard to disease, its causes, prevention, and cure. And those who do this will find a field of labor anywhere. There will be suffering ones, plenty of them, who will need help, not only among those of our own faith, but largely among those who know not the truth.” –Counsels on Health 1892, p. 506

“I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work. The work of a minister is to minister. Our ministers are to work on the gospel plan of ministering. . . .” –Counsels on Health 1901, p. 533

May God bless you all who do His work, and may His peace also be unto you! Amen.

Flavian Nyakeji, (Church leader) on behalf of the  Makambako Church