Church of the Nazarene
Africa Regional Newsletter
16 August 2010
Swaziland Nazarenes Celebration 100 Years
Ms Linda Braaten, Out of Africa Editor
The declaration was made: “A holiness church we will remain, Christian, Missional, raising the banner, serving the name of Jesus. Arise Church, Arise! We celebrate our victorious present and a glorious future!”
Drum majorettes marched, ladies sang, children danced, drama groups performed. The people waved, cheered and applauded in praise to God for His faithfulness. Under a brilliant winter sky and the warm African sun, the Church of the Nazarene in Swaziland celebrated 100 years of keeping the flame of holiness ablaze!
The programme included all age groups and ministries of the Nazarene Church and the Nazarene schools in Swaziland. Young strong voices stated emphatically; “God is very Holy, the Gospel is powerful, prayer is powerful.” The Manzini Nazarene High School choir joined their voices to proclaim; “Glory to the Lord. Lift up His name, Praise the King of Kings!” District Superintendent Rev Philemon P Dlamini reminded everyone that “Holiness is TO fear the Word of the Lord and to shun everything in opposition to God.”
Prime Minister Dr Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini joined the men’s choir in singing, “The God of the old days (all ages) is still the same today!” Dlamini brought greetings as a representative of King Mswati, saying that the message of Rev Harman Schmelzenbach many years ago calling the people to repent was the message of Jesus Christ, and the same message that is taught today. He remarked that the footprint of the Church of the Nazarene could be seen all across Swaziland through the HIV/AIDS Task Force, in health care, in education. He said, “The Church of the Nazarene is one of the great benefactors of the world.”
Dr Samuel Hind, who was six months old when he arrived with his missionary parents in 1926 and stayed, presented a brief history of the Church of the Nazarene in Swaziland. He asked why the church does various ministries and answered, “My Bible teaches that Jesus went about to all the villages, preaching, teaching and healing. Jesus ministered to the whole person.” Hind challenged all Nazarenes to take care of the whole person.
Harman Schmelzenbach III told how he had been born in Swaziland, made a decision to follow Christ, and been totally sanctified. His father preached repentance, and repentance opens doors for holiness which makes a difference in the lives of people. Repentance and holiness had made it possible for him and his wife Bev to serve as missionaries in Swaziland and Kenya. His prayer is that there will be one million members in Swaziland in another 100 years that will help take the world in the name of Jesus!
Dr Filimao Chambo, Regional Director for Africa, stated how Swaziland holds a special place in the history of the Church of the Nazarene beginning in 1910 in Swaziland. Today the Church is in 42 countries of Africa and has over 500,000 members. Chambo expressed appreciation to the Schmelzenbach family saying, “We can hear the sound of Harman’s voice calling to people to repent still today”. Chambo said, “ I congratulate the Global Church of the Nazarene for going to tell people about Jesus so that I can stand here today and say I am Filimao Chambo, and I am a child of God!” He further congratulated the Church in Swaziland for 100 years of faithful service to God.
Dr David Graves, General Superintendent in jurisdiction for Africa, said he was thrilled to see what God has done in the past in Swaziland. He presented the Word of God from Exodus 14. We must be willing to make sacrifices and work harder. We must be eager to serve and spread scriptural holiness. Let the celebration of the past 100 years push us forward. When things get difficult, cry out to God. He is able to meet all our needs. There is nothing to difficult for God! The same God the Schmelzenbach’s served is with us today. Graves challenged the church to remember the past and push forward, to stand firm in doctrine, commitment to the Lord, preaching and living scriptural holiness, evangelism in reaching and discipling new Christians. Graves said, “We cannot afford to relax or stand still! Get moving! This is a day to celebrate the past and a day of commitment for the future. A time to move forward in faith. We have a God who can open seas and move mountains.” .
Prince Masitsela read a message from King Mswati stating that this was a joyous moment for the whole nation. The Church of the Nazarene spread good news and took care of both the spiritual and physical wellbeing of the Swazi people. He thanked the church for producing sons and daughters of the soil, and for providing spiritual support to the nation of Swaziland. He expressed his happiness that the Nazarene Church is always guided by the wisdom of God.
Over 2000 people gathered to celebrate the Centennial of the Church of the Nazarene in Swaziland. Service Awards were presented to all pastors and district superintendents and their spouses for their dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The hymns of praise sung by school and church choirs and the Swaziland National Women’s Choir, all dressed in orange and black, lifted towards heaven in strong declaration that the Church is strongly planted in Swaziland and will be victorious; “We will conquer through the power of Jesus our Saviour.” The echo of the Halleluiah Chorus remains, “And He shall reign forever and ever. Amen!”
Ten New Elders Commissioned at Cape Verde District Assembly
Dr Filimao Chambo, Regional Director for Africa
The 57th Assembly of the Cape Verde District was held from 04 – 08 August with the theme, ‘Go Make Christlike Disciples in the Islands of Cape Verde’.
Rev David Araújo, District Superintendent, reported 375 new members by profession of faith and five new churches planted. He challenged the delegates ‘to go make disciples in all islands of Cabo Verde’ and thanked the pastors and lay leaders for a wonderful year of harvest. He thanked local churches for the impact that the ministries of NYI, SDMI, and NMI are making.
Plans to decentralize the ministerial training programme were presented which will make it possible for the great number of lay leaders who want to prepare for ministry to complete their theological studies outside of the residential institution, Seminario Nazareno de Cabo Verde (SNCV).
A graduation ceremony for the SNCV class of 2010 also took place. Dr Filimao Chambo, Regional Director for Africa, challenged the class of 2010 to be people of integrity. Chambo called the church to pray that the Lord would ignite a passion for and practice of Biblical holiness throughout the Church of the Nazarene on the continent of Africa.
The Assembly concluded with the ordination of ten new elders, the largest group of ordinands ever presented at one time on the Cape Verde District.
Masilela Appointed Swaziland Deputy Commissioner on Human Rights and Public Administration
Rev Collin Elliott, Africa South Field Strategy Coordinator
Rev Grace Masilela, long time evangelist and pastor of the Mbabne Church of the Nazarene on the Swaziland Central District, has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner on Human Rights and Public Administration by King Mswati in Swaziland.
Rev Collin Elliott, in making the announcement to approximately 1500 attendees at the South Field Nazarene Women’s Extravaganza on 07 August 2010, said, “On behalf of the Global Church of the Nazarene, we want to congratulate Grace for being an outstanding leader and ambassador for Christ”.
Tribute to Ethiopia DS Kariso Kea
Mr Steve Sharp, Specialized Assignment Missionary to Horn of Africa Field
Rev Kariso Kea, District Superintendent for the Bansa Bona District of the Church of the Nazarene in Ethiopia, passed away in the early hours of 03 August 2010, at the Addis Ababa Bethel Hospital from kidney failure. Rev Kea had suffered for the past three years.
Prior to becoming a Christian, Kea was an influential commander in the army fighting for liberation of the Sidama people. Although his heart was utterly changed by his encounter with Jesus, he kept the strategic mindset that served him so well during his army days, and put it to use as one of the foremost leaders in the church planting movement which swept across the southern part of Ethiopia in recent years. A planning meeting with Kea and other area leaders discussing their course of action for the district was like a meeting of generals planning out a campaign. Pins representing preaching points and churches being planted were arranged and rearranged for the greatest strategic advantage of the district. Personal ambition was not a factor - the leaders gave no thought to what might benefit or detract from them as individuals; only to what would build up the church.
This spirit of giving and sacrifice characterized Kea’s entire life and ministry. Zone leaders and pastors received encouragement from him. Instead of focusing on his own needs, such as buying a vehicle, he gave sacrificially to the leaders he served in order to lift them up and help them succeed.
A restaurant owner at the time when the church planting movement started to take off, Kia began to spend more and more time working for the church and away from home. His wife told him that the restaurant they owned was struggling with his absence. Together they sought the Lord, and felt that he needed to continue focusing on ministry while his wife ran the business. Not long after that business in the restaurant started to explode with people waiting in line to get in. Customers preferred to wait in line at his restaurant rather than go to another restaurant because of his kindness to them when he came to their villages. The Kea’s opened a second restaurant, and it was not long before there was a regular line in front of this one as well.
Kea was profoundly affected by the message of holiness; the belief that we can live pure and holy lives spoke to him deeply. In the early days of his association with the Church of the Nazarene, there was no church in his immediate vicinity. As a layman, he started a church in his home. Within eight months it had grown to more than eighty people, and there were five more churches stemming directly from the ministry of this one. One of these had planted another church by the time it was three months old.
This kind of incredible growth increased during his service as a district superintendent. Large numbers of churches multiplying themselves in this way and growing in a way that directly challenged the powers of darkness at work in the area. Under Kea’s leadership, at least four mosques became Nazarene churches, and approximately thirty witch doctors came to faith in Jesus. His ministry was a striking example of Jesus’ prediction about the church: “…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).
He is dearly missed.
JESUS – More Than Just a Story
JFHP Prayer & Praise, 04 August 2010
"I am just coming out of prison," said Manasse in Mozambique. "I was out six months when I saw the JESUS Film. I understood it was more than just a story. It was truth. Jesus came to save sinners. I am one of those Jesus saved. I am changed since I met Jesus during the showing. I was known in my community as a drunk and people were scared of me. I thank God for this opportunity to change my life. I want to follow Jesus as my Lord and Saviour."
10 Million Decisions Celebration
--Edited from JFHP Prayer & Praise, 04 August 2010
How big is 10 million? JESUS Film teams around the world recently reported over 10,000,000 decisions for Christ since the beginning of the JESUS Film Harvest Partners (JFHP) ministry 12 years ago!
These decisions are the result of JESUS Film team members using a variety of evangelism tools to share God's love. Through the JESUS Film, the primary evangelism tool, people see Jesus and hear Him in their heart language, many for the first time in their lives. God is using the film in powerful ways!
- Based on 2009 statistics, one person came to Christ approximately every 45 seconds!
- JESUS Film teams are comprised of three to five nationals with a passion to share the gospel message.
- More than 250 language translations are used in over 100 countries by 328 teams dedicated to reaching the people of their own culture.
Since the ministry's inception in 1998, its mission has been to share God's love with the lost to help fulfil the Great Commission.
Over 10 million changed lives are the result of the collaborative work of team members, regional leadership, donors, and prayer partners. Over 7,440 people gave to support the work, and we rejoice in the harvest of their faithfulness. Currently, 7,630 people receive the weekly Prayer & Praise email with testimonies of lives transformed and prayer needs.
Testimonies received from the field include physical healing, freedom from dark forces and witchcraft, reconciliation within families, and new lives in Christ. In Bangladesh, communities have renounced the worship of multiple gods and goddesses for the true God. In Malawi, one man shared a dream of a white-robed figure who stood in fire, offering him the choice of eternity. In El Salvador, the church is taking over gang controlled parks. In Brazil, people with addictions are finding freedom from bondage. In Indonesia, people are seeing JESUS in their homes. In Cuba, new work is opening in challenging areas.
JESUS Film Harvest Partners has established these aggressive goals for the ministry:
- 100 million evangelistic contacts (results to date 56,420,500)
- 15 million decisions for Christ (results to date 10,032,942)
- 6 million initial discipleship follow ups (results to date 3,557,080)
- 46,000 preaching points (results to date 23,663).
Note: In Africa Region,7,567,343 decisions for Christ!
Prayer Requests –
Please pray for:
Connie Mackenzie, former missionary to South Africa and current Africa South Field Treasurer, was readmitted to hospital with cellulitis in her leg and a leg ulcer. Please pray that the doctors will find the right treatment for Connie. Pray for her complete healing.
Adrian Matlock former mission corps volunteer with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, has been diagnosed with cancer. She is undergoing treatment at one of the top cancer hospitals in the USA in Houston, Texas. Adrian and her husband Brian are optimistic about a positive outcome. Please pray for them during this difficult time in their lives.
Rev Kilongo Masimango: No word has been received from Rev Kilongo Masimango, JESUS Film Coordinator for the French Equatorial Field, coordinator of the Goma JESUS Film Team, and pastor of the Birere Church of the Nazarene in Goma, DRC. He has been missing since 30 June 2010. Please pray for his safe return. Pray for his wife and children and other family members as they search for him. Pray also for the JESUS Film Ministry and fellow team members and members of the church he is pastoring.
Rev Errol Davids continues to suffer with a malignant brain tumour and paralysis. Errol is in Durban, South Africa, for medical treatment. Please pray for God’s touch on Errol’s body. Pray also for his wife Cynthia. Errol is the pastor of the Living Waters Church of the Nazarene in Manzini, Swaziland.
Dr Filimao Chambo, as he leads the Africa Region, his wife Rev Samantha, and their children Tsakani and Emanuel. Pray for Dr Chambo as he travels in the next weeks. Pray for safety and that God will use him and Samantha in all areas of ministry.
Dr David Graves, General Superintendent in jurisdiction for Africa, and his wife Sharon.
Rev Danilo and Marie Carvalho: Marie has received her visa for South Africa! Danilo is still waiting for an extension of his South Africa visa. The Carvalho’s also need their work permits for Angola. Please pray that God will intervene. The Carvalho’s are intern missionaries serving in Angola.
Margaret Scott injured her shoulder. Pray for continued healing and recovery of full movement.
Don Walker was scheduled to have surgery on 11 August. Pray that he will recover fully and quickly. He is a retired missionary who served in Papua New Guinea and Africa.
Cliff Couse suffered a massive stroke. Pray for his healing. Cliff is the stepfather of Sandy Cunningham, missionary serving at JESUS Film Harvest Partners in the USA and former missionary to Madagascar and Kenya.
Family of Rev Simeon Mandlate: Rev Mandlate passed away on 10 August 2010 after suffering with high blood pressure and diabetes. Mandlate pastored the Maputo Central Church of the Nazarene for many years and served as Principal of the Seminario Nazareno em Mozambique (SNM), as was on staff as a lecturer. Please pray for the Mandlate family as well as SNM faculty, staff, and students during this time of great loss.
Family of Richard Musongwa: Richard drowned in a boating accident on Lake Mweru. He was the 31-year-old son of Rev Bernard Musongwa, a pastor and district superintendent in Zambia for many years. There were eight people in the boat, four survived. Please pray for the Musongwa family as they go through this sorrowful and challenging time.
Family of Rev Samuel Dlamini: Rev Dlamini, former district superintendent of the Swaziland South District, passed away on 08 August 2010 after suffering from cancer. Samuel had been admitted to a Park Town Hospital in Johannesburg the previous week. Please pray for the Dlamini family during this time of great sorrow and loss.
Family of Rev Kareso Kea: Rev Kea passed away at the Addis Ababa Hospital in Ethiopia on 3 August 2010 from kidney failure. He was the district superintendent of the Ethiopia Bansa Bona district. He is survived by his wife, Yeshi, and six children, four boys and two girls. Please pray for the family during these difficult days.
A Worship Team from Kenya to Cape Town: A team of young adults from Africa Nazarene University and Central Church of the Nazarene in Nairobi, Kenya, will be in Cape Town, South Africa, to minister from 14 – 30 August 2010. Pray that they will be anointed and that God will use them to touch many lives.
District Superintendents Retreat: The 116 participants including district superintendents, field strategy coordinators, service coordinators, and other invited guests who will come together for a time of spiritual renewal and vision casting 4 - 9 September in Johannesburg, South Africa.
NTCCA: Pray for Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa (NTCCA) as they select the next principal and staff to replace Rev Jon and Dr Margaret Scott who leave in October.
Southern Africa Nazarene University: Pray for all aspects of this new University for the Church of the Nazarene in Southern Africa and it’s Christian influence in Swaziland and beyond to all areas of Africa.
From the Word
“As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’ Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.’” (Exodus 14:10,13,15-16).