C15 Environmental Stewardship In Tanzania

 “God created a beautiful garden and entrusted it to us.
We must rise as faithful stewards of His creation.”
~ Bishop Daudi Ndahana
 
The Avocado Fruit Seedling Distribution Initiative is a key component of the Anglican Diocese of Kibondo, Tanzania’s ongoing environmental conservation and creation-care campaign. We have successfully raised 9,644 high-quality avocado seedlings, which will be distributed to families and parishes with church farmlands. This initiative promotes environmental restoration, strengthens parish economies, and supports long-term diocesan sustainability. The Bishop highlights that fruit trees offer both ecological and economic benefits: improving soil health, restoring green cover, and providing food and income for families. He reminds us that as they plant and harvest these fruits, they’ll enjoy the blessing of their labor: eating from their own land, selling produce to support their households, and contributing to community well-being.
 
Bishop Daudi’s vision is that God’s original mandate for humanity in Genesis 2:15 is a
divine instruction that still stands today. We are called to protect, preserve, and nurture the earth with faithfulness.Widespread deforestation, irresponsible land use, and environmental neglect have contributed to the climate challenges we now face and are a warning that creation is groaning under human carelessness. His vision is for us to take an active role in restoring God’s creation in Tanzania.
 
Presenters
Joel Prather, Rector, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Daudi Ndahana, Bishop, The Diocese of Kibondo, The Anglican Church of Tanzania
Jackson Ashery Maombi, Community Development Office, The Diocese of Kibondo,
The Anglican Church of Tanzania
 
Fr. Joel is married to Tammy Prather, who lead a Congressional Development Workshop at BPG 2022, and they have one son who attends Illinois State University. He has served as a parish priest in Wisconsin since 2014 and prior to that he and Tammy planted a new congregation in the Diocese of Dallas. He is passionate about mobilizing congregations to serve the most vulnerable locally and worldwide.
Bishop Daudi was consecrated the second bishop of the Diocese of Kibondo on October 5, 2025. He and his wife Olivia have five children, the oldest of whom is married and has their three grandchildren and the youngest who is in elementary school. They are also raising their young niece and nephew. Bishop Daudi has served as a diocesan General Secretary (Canon to the Ordinary) and grew Kasulu Bible College from humble beginnings to become Lake Taganyika Theological College. He and Olivia also founded THESPO - Tanzanians Helping the Elderly and Single Parents Organization.
Jackson and his wife Elizabeth have four school-aged children. Jackson oversees the diocese’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative which has purchased, distributed, and trained members in planting 9,644 avocado seedling and 38,791 pine and eucalyptus seedlings, the Diocesan Health Center which is poised to become one of the only full-service hospitals in the region, and the diocese’s Savings and Credit / Self-Help Groups which offer mentoring in economic resilience and entrepreneurship through the local parishes.