MORAVIAN

Gazing up at the two-story cement block building of the Moravian, its presence evokes a sense of steadfast faith. The Moravian Church in Tanzania, a testament to a rich history, began its journey in the late 19th century. German control had just enveloped the territory when the first Moravian missionaries arrived, establishing their initial station at Rungwe in Southern Tanzania in 1891. Another station, located in Western Tanzania, was entrusted to the Moravian Board in Herrnhut, Germany, by the London Missionary Society in 1897. These two sister stations flourished, growing into expansive churches across Southern and Western Tanzania, each forming its own province. The need for collaboration was evident from the start. As early as 1899, the founding missionaries communicated through letters. Later, they met to share their experiences. The two provinces began cooperating on various matters. In 1965 a joint board was established to discuss shared concerns. By 1968, the provinces jointly established a Moravian theological college to train ministers. The southern province divided into two in 1976, followed by the western province in 1986. Since then, the Moravian Church in Tanzania has comprised four provinces. Here in Arusha, the former mission territory of the Southwest Province gained independence in 2012, continuing the legacy of the Moravian Church in this region.