Despite intense pressure in several Muslim dominated communities, churches in Tanzania remain resolute in worshiping God.
In a report recently published by Christian rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC), a number of members in several coastal communities continue to gather for worship, despite intimidation, disruption, and insecurity. There were also cases where some congregations experienced threats, harassment, and occasional attacks.
ICC also reports that in smaller communities such as those in and around muslim-majority coastal Zanzibar, the pressure is more intense, as residents often have close relationships, which makes changes in religious practice quickly noticed by the surrounding community.
To cope with these challenges, some pastors say that they started hosting prayer meetings during daylight hours, and shortened the services that may still be held in the evening.
“We continue to gather because our faith is stronger than fear, but many believers are constantly aware that they are a small minority in communities where Christianity is not always welcomed,” one church leader said. “The emotional burden of that reality is very heavy, especially for families raising children in such an environment.”
Meanwhile, some congregants say that their children are left confused and afraid, having to sometimes hear aggressive comments about Christians or witness tension surrounding church activities,
“My children ask why we have to be careful about going to church,” one mother said, “As a parent, that is painful because I want my children to remember church as a place where they met God, not a place where they learned to be afraid.”
Church leaders also report that if Muslim residents discover that someone has converted to Christianity, they are isolated from relatives, denied financial support, or kicked out of their homes .
“Some believers pray quietly and attend church discreetly because they are afraid of how their families or neighbors will react,” another pastor said. “The church must support them spiritually, emotionally, and practically, because following Christ in these circumstances can be very difficult. Many of these believers are carrying their faith in silence while trying to avoid conflict with the people closest to them.”
Despite its constitution authorizing freedom of religion and forbids discrimination based on religion, rights groups say that Christians in some parts of the country face constraints that are not addressed in those constitutional protections.