The Challenge of Africa Newsletter

Last month’s Challenge of Africa newsletter experienced a minor technical issue. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, and we’re happy to report that our dedicated team has resolved

This month’s featured image reveals healthy green corn growing beside the CSOP dorm, with majestic mountains standing watch in the background. Beautiful scenes like these are not the only things seen

Happy New Year 2026! We have been blessed with the start of a brand new year–a clear calendar year to worship and praise our God with opportunities to perform service and “to be ready to every good w

Highlighted in this December issue of the Challenge of Africa, are a number of areas that 1) give us reason to hope, rejoice and be thankful, 2) remind us to stay cautious and focused, 3) and motivate

The regular practice of thanksgiving is a godly expression that calls for reflection and appreciation for the blessings we have received. Family, friends, health, and the basic necessities of life all

The Bible describes the Lord’s church as a “body” made up of many members. Each member is important and unique in it’s own way (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Rom. 12:4-5; Eph. 4:11-12). The same principle is t

There are few things more enjoyable than to behold a classroom of small children greeting you in unison with a “Good morning!” The children in this month’s featured image know they are someplace speci

The cool mornings and picture-perfect days of Chimala’s “winter” (which coincides with our summer) have quickly given way to a season of dry, hot days at the Chimala Mission. The seminars and Gospel C

Like most issues of the Challenge of Africa, this month’s edition is a mixture of short articles and associated pictures of people, places and events within the work and influence of the Chimala Missi

The importance of our missionaries to the overall success of the Chimala Mission cannot be overestimated. In this month’s featured image, Emily Wright celebrates her 16th birthday with family and frie

The “featured pic” for this month’s newsletter shows Rowan waiting in the truck ready to return home after a long Sunday where the Ferguson and Wright families worshipped at the Uyole church of Christ

I haven’t put up an animal picture in quite a while, so I thought I’d include this pic of baboons taken along the road going up to the Ailsa farm. But putting all “monkey-business” aside, this month’s

Believe it or not, the world is growing smaller with the advancement of technology, air travel, and the ever-widening global marketplace. Even in a place as far away as Tanzania, what seemed impossibl

Going back to Chimala is almost like going back in time. Things are a little bit slower and more down-to-earth. But there’s a trade off. The lack of efficiency and unreliable electricity can test your

Greetings and Happy New Year! God has blessed the Chimala Mission with the completion of another year and all of the possibilities that await us in 2025. With the faith and prayers of our supporters,

Traditionally, the month of December is the season of giving; giving love, giving help, and giving thanks. But for the Chimala Mission, December has also been chosen as the season of giving HOPE. The

This month’s “featured image” is a stunning view high up above the boys’ dorm of the Herring Christian Secondary School situated nearby the meandering Chimala River, the western border of the mission.

Our “ever-changing” world will never outmaneuver the never-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Each soul ultimately needs one thing: his/her soul’s salvation through the blood of Jesus. Fortunately for t

The “featured image” captured at dusk betrays the real suffering taking place inside these wards. In the story of the Persistent Widow of Luke 18:1-8, Jesus said the judge finally responded to her ple

Solomon wrote, “Two are better than one…And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Eccl. 4:9, 12). We are pleased to announce in this month

Cooler days are now at Chimala as “winter” time sets in the month of July. But the cooler days are as short as the Herring Christian Secondary School “summer break”. Students are now back in class and

And “how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). The Chimala Mission Primary School was originally designed to educate children to read and understand the Bible–and ul

Since the opening of the Chimala Mission Hospital (CMH) in 1965, an incredible amount of effort has been given over the years in helping with the medical needs of the people within the Mbarali Distric

With the world’s population of over 7 billion people, there is no end to the many opportunities to do good. The difference is in the methods, how those occasions present themselves to us, and in areas

“Preach the word!” Educating people about God and salvation through Jesus Christ as described in the Bible, is the premium work of mission work anywhere in the world. The Bible students in this featur

This month’s featured image brings to mind the words from Robert Moffatt that stirred young David Livingston’s heart to leave Scotland and begin his legendary mission efforts in Africa: “I have seen,

There’s nothing like beginning a brand new year with new conversions to Jesus Christ. In the featured image, Nathan is standing with a group of Masai children at the village of Matabete where six Masa

In behalf of the Chimala Mission, Mary and I would like to thank each one of you for your love, prayers, encouraging words, and financial support for this great evangelistic effort in Tanzania. As 202

November is typically the month that things slow down a bit at the Chimala Mission. The CSOP students have concluded their classes, graduated, and returned home to their families. The primary and seco

The world is a big place but is getting smaller and smaller every day. What is the “best” way to get the gospel to all the world? Long-term or short-term mission work? Through radio, TV, preaching sch

The gospel of Christ continues to be preached as a result of the work of the Chimala Mission. In this month’s “featured image”, a group of Christians at the newly formed church at Njombe are being spi

The month of August has definitely been a month of travel. Travel from Mbeya, TZ to Nashville, TN, travel to give mission reports, and travel to Polishing the Pulpit in Sevierville, TN. Speaking of tr

One of the blessings and great opportunities afforded at the Chimala Mission is the privilege to teach and influence people to obey the gospel of Christ. In this featured image, Mary, Kristi, Eden and

Late in the day after a series of lessons during the Ladies Seminar, Christians exit the mission church building (Chimala “B) with the traditional greeting-everyone- handshake. The seminars–women’s,

A beautiful sunrise somewhere along the road up to the Ailsa farm, every morning is a “Kodak” morning. From upcoming Chimala summer events to preparations of a long-anticipated shipping container, lif

Nearly home after a weekend in Texas, this Tennessee sign welcomes us as we cross the mighty Mississippi into Memphis on the Hernando Desoto bridge. Less than two more hours on I-40, and we will be ba

This month’s “featured image” is a snapshot of a lone sausage tree along the edge of a field of newly planted beans with the precipice of the Kipengere Range in the background. This is at the farm in

With only a few weeks left for the rainy season, Nathan has been spending a lot of time at Ailsa helping Ezekiel and James finalize any remaining planting. Occasionally Kristi, Eden, Emmy and Rowan ac

In this featured image, Andrew “Gif” Gifford is pictured teaching an ethics class at CSOP with Bernard Kulanga translating. Gif along with Avery Hackney and Perry Baker were recent visitors at the Chi

The featured image in this issue of the Challenge was taken after Christmas on the 30th of December as Mary, Howell and Nathan’s family were beginning the 57 hairpin-curve road leading up to the Ailsa

This is the time of year that we focus on our “Hope for Humanity” drive to help the Chimala Mission close out the year fulfilling our financial responsibilities. These are commitments in preaching the

Featured image: dining with some past Chimala friends – Darrin & Carrie Stapleton with children, Jacob and Alana. Inside this issue of the Challenge, we are asking you to help us restock supplies

This month’s “featured image” is a picture of the church of Christ at Njombe, about 3 hours from the Chimala Mission and located around 6,000 feet in elevation – which means its quite cool as observed

Nearly every worthwhile effort requires follow-up. At Chimala Mission a number of recent accomplishments now require such kind of continuation and development to ensure the initial efforts are not in

It takes a lot to operate a work of the Lord’s church the size of the Chimala Mission. It takes service-oriented people, dedicated hard workers, and loving supporters. God has blessed Chimala beyond t

Developing a self-sustaining mission in a third-world country is no easy task especially one the size of the Chimala Mission. But thanks to dozens of dedicated and hard-working Christian men and women

This month’s featured image is of nursing students from Harding and OCU, missionaries, and other mission church members. Visitors and a busy summer are synonymous at the Chimala Mission with more acti

Pictured here are two new young souls who are now in Christ Jesus. What a great start to a very busy summer season at the Chimala Mission. We hope you will enjoy reading this month’s newsletter as we

In only a few more days, Howell and Mary Ferguson will be joining Nathan and Kristi Ferguson and children as well as Cheryl Bode at Chimala. Together they are preparing for the next few months of a ve

This “featured page” shows the new CSOP student body and staff as they have embarked on their new year of studies. There are always exciting on-going works at Chimala Mission. Thank you for reading th