Revd. Tiowa Diarra - National TI Representative		Wife: Madeleine Children: Sarah (16) Esther (14) Solomon (12) Jean and Jeanne (5) [ages in 2005]
C/O Partners in Mission Rue 47, Porte 100. Badalabougou Bamako, Mali, West Africa E-Mail: partnerspmgm@yahoo.com
He is involved in Teaching Ministry (Old Testament and Hebrew) and involved actively in Training and Mobilization for Missions.
Mr. Lamissa Sanogo - TI Contact
C/ O Partners in Mission Mail Box 2525 Bamako, Mali, West Africa
Lamissa Sanogo was on the Mali staff of MAF, but also part-time administrator with Tiowa in Partners in Ministry. He has a vision for involving business in tentmaking.

History of TI in Mali:

In May 2004 a tentmaker Consultation was held in Bulgaria, with the intention of developing TIE in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. A report was published which came to the notice of the Revd Tiowa Diarra of Bamako, Mali. He had recently applied for TIE membership. As a result of reading the Report, and the GUIDELINES for setting up and operating a Tentmaker Information Exchange, Tiowa set out a plan for TIE in Mali. He wrote: “We have more than 10 millions of population in Mali. Christians are less than 2% in this Country. The harvest is great. Traditional mission strategy cannot further the gospel among the numerous un-reached people here. But, the Lord gave opportunity to train native African doctors, nurses, teachers, and soldiers, in tentmaking. They are sent to their normal duties as government workers in remote areas, to tiny communities.” Tiowa’s wider vision included the whole of French speaking West Africa: he added – We can train them in hundreds in French Africa, from Mauritania to Benin, and from Senegal to Gabon.” The TIE Board decided to appoint Tiowa as the TIE National Representative for Mali. Tiowa set out his development plan for Mali, commencing in 2004 :-

• Build up a base of tentmakers and tentmaker operations in and out of Mali. (2004)

• Mobilize Church Leaders and members to support the Mali Tentmaker Movement. (2005)

• Achieve a national survey of potential tentmakers in the nine regions of Mali. Design a survey form and recruit people for assisting in the survey. (2005)

• Select the most un-reached people and the most strategic places in Mali. (2005)

• Network the appointment of foreign tentmakers in western and northern Africa. (2006)

• Plan an International forum on tentmaking in Africa. (2007)

Progress:

The first courses were held in January and February 2005 and consisted of sessions on Anthropology and Mission (taught by Mrs Sue Smeltzer and the Revd Jeremy Coulibaly) and also Mr Schadrac, a linguist and translator with and Bible Society, and Miss Christianne Lauchestky.

Further sessions were planned on Islam – its history and challenges, and including Muslim evangelism by Stefan Henger.

In April 2005, Mr Ken Smith (TIE International Secretary), the Revd Canon Derek Green (TIE International European Director) and Mr Roger Wells (Director of TASK, UK) went to Mali for a mini conference to meet Tiowa and also delegates from Burkina Faso, Togo and Gabon. The purpose of this visit was to plan the tentmaker courses for Mail due in August/September 2005 and to have initial discussions on an “All Africa” TIE Conference in 2007. A committee of five was appointed and the delegates were each appointed “TIE Contact persons” for their respective Countries.

Tentmaker training courses have taken place in August and September 2005, and 31 potential tentmakers were given 40 hours of training:- 20 hours on tentmaker strategy and 20 hours on evangelism amongst Muslims.

Week before Christmas 2005:

Tiowa took 18 of his folk on a mission in northern Mali, to a place called Gao. Two Muslim men were converted. He was assisted by Josue Coulibaly, evangelist and SU staff Mali. SU notes were given out.

Throughout the development of TI in Mali, Tiowa has been encouraged by the support of Daniel Coulibaly of World Vision.