Mennonite World Conference’s 2028 global assembly will be in Tanzania. The Executive Committee announced March 19 it had accepted an invitation from the member churches of that country.

The five-day gathering of Anabaptists from around the world will take place in the first two weeks of June. The theme is being finalized.

The new assembly venue had to be selected with only a two-year lead time after the intended host, the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia, withdrew its invitation.

“Together building the body of Christ and strengthening global fellowship” is the vision for hosting the global Anabaptist church,” said Bishop Nelson Kisare of Kanisa la Mennonite Tanzania (Tanzania Mennonite Church, or KMT).

There are more than 46,000 Mennonites in Tanzania in two MWC member churches: Kanisa la Mennonite Tanzania and Kanisa La Mennonite La Kiinjili Tanzania (Evangelical Mennonite Church of Tanzania, or KMKT).

“We expect approximately 1,500-2,000 participants from outside of the continent and 500-1,000 from other countries within Africa,” said Liesa Unger, MWC manager of international events. “Tanzanian church leaders expect more than 2,500 local participants to join the entire assembly and another 200 for the closing mass worship service on Saturday.”

KMT is the oldest national Mennonite church in East Africa, established in the 1930s. Waves of revival moved through Tanzania from the 1940s to 1960s. Tanzanian evangelists from Mennonite churches carried the gospel into Kenya, establishing the Mennonite church there.

In 1971, the national church’s name was changed from English to Swahili, reflecting the African leadership of the church, which had begun with the appointment of pastors Ezekiel Muganda and Andrea Mabeba in 1950 and Bishop Zedekiah Kisare in 1964. Emmanuel Hagai serves as general secretary, today and Nelson Kisare serves as presiding bishop.

KMKT was formed in 1988 as an outgrowth of KMT. In 2005, it was recognized as a church by the national government. Their mission is focused on sharing the gospel, engaging youth in following Jesus and participating in church activities and in serving the community through voluntary blood donation and helping the poor. John Sean serves as general secretary and Lameck Manji as presiding bishop.

Mennonites in Tanzania run a number of schools from primary to post-secondary and several hospitals or health centers.

“Our Africa caucus supports this invitation for our worldwide Anabaptist family to come to Tanzania,” said Samson Omondi, Executive Committee representative for Africa and bishop in Kenya Mennonite Church.

MWC logistics coordinator Nel­son Martínez said MWC hopes to have Assembly Scattered tour options not only in Tanzania but also in other parts of East Africa to allow smaller groups to experience the region and worship with local congregations.

“For years, it has been our dream to hold Assembly 18 in Africa,” said MWC general secretary César García. “This draws to a close our decade of Renewal, marking 500 years of Anabaptism with a celebration on the continent where Anabaptism is growing the fastest.

“We look forward to this opportunity to build relationships and deepen our understanding of brothers and sisters in Tanzania as we participate in mutual gift sharing through this mass gathering.”

Unger said: “Despite some anticipated challenges, we think that holding the assembly in Arusha will be a unique and positive experience. The fact that it is happening in a relatively small place will help us to come closer together. The engagement of the churches will bring joy and many helping hands to the assembly.”