Robert and Bahati Pangani, servants of God

It was in 2001 when the first world-wide Moravian Mission Conference took place in Herrnhut. After the conference delegates spent some time in congregations across Europe, and some visited Hornsey Moravian Church. Amongst them were some brothers from Tanzania. When leaving one of them asked Sr Susan Foreman for her address.

Some time later a letter arrived which Susan shared with the Church Committee. The sender was Br Robert Pangani who was expressing his wish to become a Moravian minister. As the Moravian Church in Tanzania is growing fast there is a real need for more ministers. However, only a very limited number of applicants can be accepted because of the limited resources of the church. So, Robert's chances of being accepted were slim as he had moved from the Rukwa Province to the South Western Province of Tanzania.

When Robert's friend came back from his trip to Europe with Susan's address in his luggage, Robert could see a tiny light on the horizon, hoping that this distant congregation in London would respond to his letter favourably and help him, maybe even with studying in England.

Hornsey church committee discussed Robert's letter and came to the conclusion that studying in England would be far too expensive and therefore not feasible. It is not hard to imagine that Robert must have felt downhearted when he received Hornsey's response. But he didn't give up. He wrote again and an extensive correspondence followed; real letters in those days. Robert was never pushy, and he was always understanding and kind. The church committee could see his seriousness and commitment, and eventually came to the decision to support Robert if he would study at the Teofilo Kisanji University in Mbeya. This meant raising over £9,000 in a year period. Fundraising events like a comedy night were organised, 'begging letters' sent out to potential donors etc. And the miracle happened: the money got raised each year.

On 30th November 2002 we received an email from a Danish lecturer of the Teofilo Kisanji University:

To Hornsey Moravian Church:

'I just want to tell that I have received your E-mail. And that Robert Pangani already has received it. And I don't think I need to say that your answer made him very glad. He was almost unable to talk. He almost cried of joy. He asked me to greet and thank you most heartily. We also want to thank you for your very quick response. He told me that yesterday was a very tough day for him. He thought a lot about this case. Now he is glad and free. And free to go back to his village today.

Let me also say that I really think that this opportunity can be a blessing to him and to the church. We know him as a very serious person, Christian and student. He likes to work with his studies and even more practical things. And he has the capacity.

At the same time, he seems humble and to have heart for other people. And another important matter is that he is brave. He is able to stand alone against the bad impulses that now and then arise among students. Yes, we like him very much and see something special. I think that this can lead to blessings. So we pray.'

Robert kept regularly in touch with the Hornsey congregation and made excellent progress.

The day of his graduation came in 2006 and we at Hornsey received an invitation. The church committee suggested that I should go. On my way to Mbeya, I stopped over in Dar Es Salaam in order to meet friends. A 12-hour bus journey followed and took me to Mbeya. At this time Robert was on placement in a small village near the Zambian boarder, called Nkangamo. The chairman of the Province, Br Sadoki Simwanza, and some other people took me to this place, and we arrived in the early afternoon. People knew that we were coming, but they didn't know what time. So, they were waiting in the church from morning - praying and singing. Robert was leading the gathering. What a joy it was when we met in this church for the first time in person! We spent some time together in worship, and then I was given the choice of either travelling to Mbozi and visit the hospital run by the Moravian Church or staying in Nkangamo and doing house visits. I decided for the latter, and Robert and I went from house to house all afternoon, visiting people, sharing their stories and praying. It was an unforgettable experience as it gave me the opportunity to understand the life in this community somewhat better. In the evening of the same day, we travelled together back to Mbeya where the graduation ceremony would be two days later. What a celebration it was! A service with many choirs singing, with preaching and of course the handing out of the certificates and awards. Robert was sitting next to a young lady who later became his wife, Bahati.

A German tutor teaching at the university told me that Robert was his best student. Br Simwanza and others expressed their gratitude for sponsoring Robert as more ministers are needed, but finances restrict the numbers of those undergoing training.

After I returned to the UK we kept in touch. The Hornsey congregation was very pleased to hear how well all this worked out. All the fundraising efforts paid off, and the congregation was so good at it, and they did it with all their heart.

We learned about the wedding of Robert and Bahati, and we were very happy for them. Over the course of the following years three children were born.

Fast forward to 2017: my daughter Tamara and I decided to spend two weeks in Tanzania on holiday. We made a point of visiting Robert and his family. It was then when we learnt more about the background story.

When Robert sent his first letter to Hornsey, he was in a desperate situation. He lived on buying and selling fish, transporting fish on a donkey or on a bicycle, and travelling so for two days. But the income was so little that it was almost impossible to survive on this business. He and seven of his friends decided to go to South Africa in order to work in a Goldmine. They didn't tell their families as they would not have allowed them to go.

When travelling in a minibus they got involved in a horrendous accident on the border from Tanzania to Zambia. Many people died or got injured. Robert was one of the survivors.

After recovering from his injuries, he joined Mlimani Bible school in the Rukwa Province. He then wrote the letter to Hornsey.

In 2017 Robert was already the chairman of the Mbalizi district with over 48 congregations! He travelled extensively on his motorbike in order to visit remote congregations, often coming home late in the evening when local people were still waiting for him wanting to speak to him.

We also learnt about Bahati's life. She grew up in a remote area of the village called Chembe in malangali ward, and became an orphan when she was very young. Her grandfather took care of her, but he died when she was a teenager. She was on her own, growing some vegetable during school holidays, selling them in the market and earning just enough money for buying the school uniform and soap. Later the minister of the church recognised her many gifts, and suggested that she should attend a bible school. He would raise the funds for the fees. She walked together with her cousin for two days in order to put the application in. When they arrived at the bible school they were told to come back in the following week as the principle was away. So they did. Bahati was accepted and successfully finished the bible school, and again, recognising her gifts and abilities, she was encouraged to study theology.

A sponsor was found: the Southern Province sponsored her theological studies at certificate level. Mission 21, a Mission organisation based in Switzerland, sponsored her bachelor of Divinity in Limuru, Kenya. Robert and Bahati were studying together; this is how they met.

At the time of our visit Bahati was leading the work with orphans in the Province. She took Tamara and myself to the nearby orphanage and we did home visits together - a deeply moving experience.

Let's go back in time again, to May 2007. A conference of the Moravian Church with participants from Tanzania and different Mission partners took place in London. Some participants visited Hornsey Moravian Church for the Sunday service. Among them were Br Sadoki Simwanza (Tanzania) and Br Volker Schulz (Switzerland). Having met Br Simwanza in Tanzania, we talked in a casual way about Robert's progress. It was then when we realised that Volker and I had something in common: Volker was involved with Mission 21 supporting Bahati and I as the minister of Hornsey Moravian Church was involved with supporting Robert. A beautiful discovery!

Later on, Robert was interested in further studies. As the Hornsey congregation felt we had come to our limit with fundraising, we liaised with Mission 21 through Volker, and they were able to help him with further studies.

In 2022/2023 I heard from different sources that Robert would be a likely candidate for becoming a bishop. When I checked with him, he downplayed it.

When we met again in September 2023 at Unity Synod (the synod of the world-wide Moravian Church) in Cape Town (by then Robert was the chairman of the Province, and he attended as such at Unity Synod) he shared with me that his name indeed had been put forward as a bishop candidate. But again, he said it's all open. This is Robert in his very humble way!

Soon after the Unity Synod the fourth child of Bahati and Robert was born, what a joy.

The Province called a special synod with about 400 delegates on 2nd November 2023. Only one item was on the agenda: the election of a bishop. Robert got 317 votes in the first round of the election! No further round was necessary in order to achieve the 2/3 majority. He contacted me on the same evening. I think he found it daunting, but I know he is the right person for this office: an excellent combination of being able, wise and humble.

The consecration of Robert Pangani as a bishop of the world-wide Moravian Church will be on Sunday 2nd June 2024 in Mbeya. I am grateful that Volker and I can be part of this.

We thank God for Robert and Bahati and their family, and pray that God may continue to bless them.

Br Joachim Kreusel

Bishop of the Unity