Situated on a 4,776-acre farm in the southern highlands of Tanzania, and started in 1989, Kibidula Farm Institute has become a lighthouse, spreading the Adventist message throughout Tanzania. Each year more than 50 students from all over Tanzania, as well as the surrounding countries, attend Kibidula’s Evangelism School. Since 2000, they have trained hundreds of lay people to do door-to-door and public evangelism. Today 30 are serving as lay missionaries, working in mostly unentered areas. As a result of their work, more than 340 people were baptized in 2009. Currently the team is building a four-seater airplane, which will enable them to provide adequate support for the lay missionaries in hard-to-reach areas.
In addition, Kibidula is a major supplier of books for colporteurs. It operates 20 bookstores throughout the country and continues to be involved in the translation of religious materials and books into Swahili. Kibidula’s agricultural work-study program, sponsored by REACH Switzerland, is a three-year course. Young Tanzanians learn hands-on how to improve their farming methods, and they are introduced to their Creator, as well.
Thirty-four younger Tanzanians (grades 1-7) attend Kibidula’s primary school. These children learn to be active in the community and help conduct Vacation Bible Schools in the nearby villages. Currently Kibidula offers dental care to anyone in need. Their goal is to expand the health services to include a full-fledged medical missionary program. They are seeking a medical doctor with a vision for mission work to help in that capacity.
They also appreciate the student missionaries who take a year to serve at Kibidula. These young people have more opportunities to be involved in outreach, thanks to an ASI donation of One-Day Churches. These have been a great blessing to the local church, as well.
