BUKOBA, Tanzania — Three church buildings were set ablaze Sept. 22 in an area of northwestern Tanzania where Muslim extremists have issued threats, pastors said.
A pastor of 1 of the 3 churches whose buildings were gutted, Vedasto Athanas of Living Water International Church, said area Christians are worried and frightened as such attacks have increased each of the past few years.
“What is worrying us is that the burning of the three churches happened within a span of two hours,” he said.
Also burned were the buildings of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God and the Evangelical Assemblies of God. All three churches are located in the Kashfa village area of Bukoba District, church leaders said.
Living Water’s congregation numbers about 350, the Pentecostal Assemblies of God has 300 members and the Evangelical Assemblies of God Tanzania has 200.
“We have lost everything in our churches — the buildings, the chairs and musical instruments,” Athanas said. “Our members have nowhere to worship.”
Another church leader, who requested anonymity, said authorities have refused to grant local churches permission to construct worship centers on the pretext that lands are designated only as residential areas.
“We do request for prayers at this difficult moment,” Athanas said.
Tanzania’s Muslims, 31 percent of the total population, are largely tolerant but have become increasingly polarized between moderates and extremists, according to Operation World. Christians make up 54 percent of the country’s population.
(MS)
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