Missions in Malta: the Tanis Family

A city on a rock. Desolate in parts, and pristine in others, Malta lies at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s lost someplace between Tunisia to the west, Sicily to the north, and a stone’s throw from Libya in the south. It’s tiny in space and huge in population. Malta holds the number five spot for highest population density in the world (most populated in Europe). It can feel like a city-state. Think of Singapore or even Washington D.C. Apartments rise because there is nowhere to go but up. Mr. Bean-sized cars fly from lane to lane, vying for position (walking the streets is similar). And though there’s barely room to breathe, Malta still has trees and open space. It’s a paradox. Rough and calm, loud but silent, baren and beautiful, green and tan, stone and water: it’s everything at once.

Malta feels like the middle of nowhere.

But it’s not nowhere.

It’s everywhere.

And by that I mean there’s a little bit of every place embedded into Malta. The language is a mix of Arabic, Italian, Sicilian, and even a touch of English. And that’s due to British governance which lasted 150 years, ending in 1964. Sound like a mixed bag? You’d be right.

Though wars and regime changes and geopolitical struggles may adversely affect people, it does wonders for the food. I say that only with a little tongue and cheek. Maltese food reflects this: Turkish kebab, Italian pizza, British meat pies, and traditional Maltese fried rabbit. You can get Greek Mezza right after a first course of Octopus Stew with a side of spaghetti (don’t ask).

And it is at this crossroads where we met Luke and Anna Tanis and their children. My wife and I had the privilege to visit and get a little taste of the Gospel work in Malta. They minister here at a church in Gzira, close to the capital of Valetta. Their energy is infectious. You can feel the love they have for the people of Malta and the love they have for the God who made this wild and wonderful place. In a place where nearly 100% of the churches are Catholic, they minister at one of only three or four Baptist churches. And their ministry looks a lot like the food scene.

There’s a map on the wall at Bible Baptist Church with pins pointing to origins. Sunday sermon notes are available in multiple languages. It seems they come from all over to live in Malta. And it’s here that Luke and Anna show them the love of Christ.

Anthony Bourdain said once that, “… food, culture, people and landscape are all absolutely inseparable.” The Tanis family has set down roots into a rocky, diverse place to bring the Good News of Christ to people from all over the world, right at their fingertips.

anthony forrest