Mission: Kilimanjaro 2026

Singing praises for salvation

By GARY FALLESEN, Climbing For Christ founder

Our team gathered for a group photo at Karanga Camp 13,100 feet (3,995 meters) up Mount Kilimanjaro. As we waited for everyone to arrive, a song broke out. Then another. The group photo morphed into a time of worship.

The singing drew a crowd. People from other expeditions climbing Africa’s tallest mountain came to listen. What they then heard was a presentation of the Gospel.

Jonas Minja, one of the many guides and porters in Climbing For Christ’s Kilimanjaro Chapter, used the opportunity to preach. Ears were open. Hearts received.

In the end, nine people who declared Jesus as their Savior were prayed over by our team.

Jonas Minja, left, leading new believers in prayer at Karanga Camp during Mission: Kilimanjaro 2024, Part 2. (Photo by Gary Fallesen)

It was the second outreach expedition we’d done as part of our years-long disciple-making training of the Kilimanjaro Chapter.

“Fishing all night does not grant you 100 percent (guaranteed) fishing, but casting  your net in deep waters by His direction will yield more than expected,” said Damson Samson, C4C’s Africa coordinator. “Climbing for Christ – with mountain outreach – has brought a different dimension (to sharing the Gospel).

“We thank God for the grace that we are going at the right direction, and it is yielding more to His glory.”

The harvest is plentiful on the mountain as tens of thousands trek Kilimanjaro each year and hundreds are working as guides and porters.

The stories of the lost being found are endless.

Damson recalls one of the men who received Jesus at Karanga Camp in July 2023 came to our quarterly chapter training in January 2024. He wanted to share what God had done in his life.

Ernest Aloest Ngowi from Marangu (one of the gateways to Kilimanjaro) came back after our group photo-turned-time of worship and salvation to ask for private prayer. He wanted to be reconciled with his son, who had gotten a job and moved away. Ernest has always supported his son, but now the son was ignoring the heartbroken father.

“After I had prayed for him, a wonder happened,” Damson said. “The son called the father and sent him 500,000 Tanzanian shillings (about $200 USD). He received it with tears. He never thought such a kind thing would happen to him. He knew this was God at work answering his prayers on the mountain. He came (to the meeting) to witness to us and tell what heaven has done.”

Heaven has come near those in the Kilimanjaro Chapter who are obedient and sharing the Good News of Jesus on and off the mountain. They sing praises to the Lord.

HERE AM I. SEND ME! We will GO in March. Members of the Kilimanjaro Chapter – more than 60 guides and porters – will be introduced to a new study, “Church Planting & Books of Acts.” It is the fifth book in their training, which began in 2017. We will then conduct our fourth outreach expedition on the mountain. Email info@ClimbingForChrist.org if you are interested in teaching and trekking.