WHAT MAKES TAFES UNIQUE?

By Mr. Davis

The mbuyu (baobab) is a striking
feature of the Tanzanian
landscape: imposing, still, and
seemingly eternal. We know they can
live beyond two thousand years, but
we do not know the limits of their
age.
Their roots go deep down into
the soil, sustaining them even in the
harshest of climates. The richness of
its nutritional and medicinal value is
yet to be fully appreciated.

Think of a faith that endures like
an mbuyu. Think of roots in Christ
like the roots of an mbuyu. Think of
rich spiritual fruit like the fruit of an
mbuyu.

Another feature of the Tanzanian
landscape is much more common:
the maize plant. The maize plant
not hardy, and it wilts without good
rains, failing to produce food or
nourishment. Its shallow roots cannot
support it through trials.

This is another kind of faith, the kind
that may look good on the surface,
but is not sustained in the end.

There are many student fellowships
in Tanzania. TAFES can choose to be
a common one, like all the others. Or
we can choose to be the mbuyu, rich,
striking, and less common. It is more
difficult to be the mbuyu, but it is also
much more worthwhile. This is the
hard and worthy work TAFES aims to
do: to create students who are like
mibuyu, and to give them a place to
grow.

Threethings recommend TAFES.

FIRST,
TAFES commits itself to
focusing on campus. Unlike other
student fellowships, we have no
agenda other than to equip students.
Denominational interests do not
control us. We exist not for our
own sake, but for the sake of other
students and for the campus as a
whole. This means TAFES views
students in their capacity as students,
addressing campus life, their areas
of study, and their future directions.
More than that, TAFES aims to address
the entire campus, which is made
up of people and issues beyond only
students. Many TAFES associates
belong to campus staff or faculty.

SECOND
TAFES prizes Scripture
engagement. Scripture engagement
is what happens when we realise that
‘Bible study’ is not primarily about
‘study’, or even the Bible itself. Its
purpose is to create an encounter
with Jesus. Scripture engagement is
a dynamic experience of coming to
Jesus and receiving his life. We come
to meet the Living Word in the written
word. Jesus is our Living Stone (1 Peter
2:4-5), our great mbuyu, our founder
and pioneer. Scripture engagement is
where we expect to meet him.

THIRD
TAFES belongs to a global
network for campus ministry. TAFES
is a member of IFES, founded in
1947, and today involving more than
500,000 students in over 160 countries
(see ifesworld.org). We participate
in the IFES-EPSA regional network
alongside 23 other African nations.
TAFES therefore has connections in
Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and
beyond. This network provides TAFES
staff with access to formal theological
study and leadership development.
This cross-pollination gives support
to our staff and gives them the
opportunity to contribute to others.

Did you know that there is a native
mbuyu in my home country of
Australia? Somehow, thousands of
years ago, the seeds of this glorious
tree survived the journey from Africa
to the other side of the world, where it
continues to grow strong today. This is
a beautiful picture of the IFES family,
and the place of TAFES in it.

Let us build students who are mibuyu,
whose faith is so rooted in Christ Jesus
that they are truly able to serve God
and others. Through our engagement
with Scripture, our commitment to
the campus, and our global networks,
TAFES is able to build people of faith
who can truly love God and love
others. And that is where enduring
faith can grow.