Our Missionaries To Tanzania: The Burkholder's

The Burkholder Beacon

March 2006

Dear Praying Partner,

Psalm 68:9 says, “Thou O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.” God has sent rain to the Katesh area and there is a noticeable difference everywhere you look. Whether it be the green grass, the plowed fields, or the smiles of relief on people’s faces, the starting of the rains always brings change. God has brought exciting changes in our ministry as well. Please join us in praise and prayer for what He is doing.

Stepping into the 21^st Century- Although we are a few years late, we now feel like we are finally in the 21^st century when it comes to communications. Praise the Lord that through the generous giving of special Christmas missions offerings from our home church, Canton Baptist Temple, and other churches, we are now able to have reliable internet and e-mail service. With our new satellite connection, we can also post family and ministry pictures to our new website. Check out www.burkholdersonline.com for prayer items and photos. We also have a new e-mail address: burkholder@iwayafrica.com Please make this change in your address book.

New Ministries of the Katesh Church- The church plant in the town of Katesh celebrated its’ one-year anniversary on Sunday, March 5. We praise the Lord for His faithfulness to us during the first year of this new ministry. It has not been easy, but we have seen God’s blessing. The highlight looking back over the last year was the 25 souls who were saved through this ministry. In January, the church started two new ministries. One is a Bible class in the local government high school. We have seen some of these young people come to our Sunday night youth service. The other new ministry is to a local government-run orphanage. Once a week we go to the orphanage to play games, sing songs, and teach a memory verse and Bible lesson for the kids. Many of these children have also started coming to Sunday School at the church. Please pray for the Katesh church and for these two new ministries that were started.

Truth Center Ground Breaking- Work has begun at the new ministry center which we have decided to call “Truth Center.” It will be home to the Katesh local church, youth center, playground, and nursery school. We have now started Stage 1 of the construction, which consists of clearing and leveling the land, piping in water to the location, and building a perimeter fence. Please pray for this work and also how God would have you to become involved.

Everlasting Water- We are continuing to partner with Lance Whyle (Natalie’s dad) using the water well ministry as a tool for evangelism and church planting. In June we plan to drill for water in the villages of Simbay and Gidika. Both of these villages have raised their portions of the funds for a hand pump. Please pray for these projects and for the thousands of villagers who need not only clean drinking water, but the Everlasting Water of salvation through Christ.

Furlough Reminder- We are now planning meetings for our upcoming furlough which is tentatively scheduled for August 2006 through February 2007. If you would like for us to come and share with you or your church how God is working in Tanzania, please contact us at burkholder@iwayafrica.com so that we can schedule a date.

Your missionaries in Tanzania,

The Burkholders (Steve, Natalie, Hannah, and Caleb)

P.S. If God would lead you to send a special financial gift for the projects of “Truth Center” or “Water Well Ministry,” please mark gifts accordingly and mail to our mission board at the address below.

Home Church/Mission Board: SENT, Canton Baptist Temple, P.O. Box 80317., Canton, OH 44708 (330) 478-1440Field Address: PO Box 42, Katesh, Tanzania, Africa. Web Page: www.burkholdersonline.com E-mail: burkholder@iwayafrica.com