Pastors Huruma and Joyce Knone were married on December 7th 1996 at Ilala Assemblies of God in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania. The Nkones are blessed to pastor a thriving and growing church in the city of Dar Es Salaam. But, what is real challenging to them in ministry is lack of resources to reach many in the city of Dar Es Salaam. The other challenge affecting their ministry is cultural issues, the African culture of hiding some “truths” and not saying exactly what people are going through. The Nkones say the above is a challenge because they have a lot of young couples, Pastors kids (PKs), and youth who are hungry to see that the old culture change or dies. Such transformation needs time, prayers, and dedication.
Besides, the above challenges, the Nkones for the last seven years from (2001 to 2018), they lived at home with the blind dad who had a stroke. Taking care of that elderly parent, Bishop Papa Nkone was a great challenge and very stressful. They felt rewarded to do it, but, pastor Huruma Nkone, admits that his wife Joyce went above and beyond in taking care of her father in law. It was like taking care of a none-verbal child who is handicapped. Such stressors at home and in ministry come with a high price to anyone’s spiritual, emotional, and physical life. Moreover, if one is not careful, it can affect your health, marriage and ministry.
Finally, what Pastors Huruma and Joyce Nkone desire at the Pastoral Care Center at Kibaha, Tanzania is training of pastors. When pastors have been in the ministry for a while they find out that some of the things they were called into are so overwhelming and very difficult. At times, as noted above, the challenges and difficulties of ministry can affect the pastor’s health, marriage, spirituality, and relations with his children or his/her family at large. Therefore, re-training pastors who have already been in ministry for a while is of essence (i.e., refresher courses). Dr. Huruma Nkone said, “it is true and sad, that there are a number of Pastors, all over Africa, as I travel who are burnout.” Nkone added, “sadly, those pastors don’t know the way out of that pit. This ministry of Pastoral Care is needed now than never before to us who pastor churches in Africa” he concluded.