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Dr. Filimao Chambo
Africa Region Has Declared 2012 the Year of Celebrating Holiness!
"Worship the Lord in the beauty of his holiness." Psalms 96:9
The Church of the Nazarene in Africa Region is continuing to expand and grow. In the year 2011 we reached a total membership of 549,463 and our work is in 42 of the 54 countries of the continent of Africa
As we expand and grow it is critical that we refocus on our primary objective as a denomination: To preserve and propagate Christian holiness as set forth in the Scriptures through the conversion of sinners, the reclamation of backsliders, and the entire sanctification of believers. The up coming "Celebrating Holiness" initiative was designed as a catalytic agent for this.
I invite you to join the Africa Regional Mission Team and Regional Advisory Council, as we pray for a holiness revival in the Church of the Nazarene in Africa. Pray for ongoing holiness revival to all churches and spiritual renewal to our leaders and members. Pray this revival will lead to an awareness of need, a focus on prayer and fasting, personal, and corporate confession and repentance, as well as, the people of God engaged in a covenantal and accountability relationship with God and the Church in 2012.
As we walk in holiness before the Lord, we can fulfill our mission and make Christlike disciples in Africa and in the world. It is my hope and prayer that clergy and laity will be ignited for Christ and his holiness.
I wish each and every one of you a Blessed and Happy New Year!
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ"
(1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Filimao Chambo
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Africa Region Facts
The Continent of Africa:
- There are 54 countries on the continent of Africa:
- 48 continental nations and 6 island nations
- Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent:
- 11.7 million square miles
- Population of 1 billion people (as of 2009)
The Church of the Nazarene at Work - Statistics:
- The Church is in 42 of the 54 countries on the continent of Africa
- The Church began in the north of Africa in Cape Verde in 1901
- The Church began in Swaziland in 1910
- From 1901 to 1950 the church was in four countries only
- From 1950 to 1980:
- Total Membership = 37,000
- Total countries entered = 9
- From 1980 to 1990:
- Total Membership = 71,121
- Total countries entered = 19
- From 1990 to 2000:
- Total Membership = 173,690
- Total countries entered = 35
- From 2000 to 2011:
- Total Membership = 549,463
- Total countries entered = 42
- The work of the Church of the Nazarene in Africa is new work:
- 78.5 % of the work is about 30 years old or less
- 61% of the work is about 20 years old or less
- Today there are 119 districts distributed in seven strategic fields:
- Central
- East
- Horn
- Lusophone
- Middle
- South
- West
- There are 4,237 organized and 4,195 preaching points
- There are approximately 4,000 Trained Clergy across the continent
- There are over 6,750 learners at Nazarene Institutions preparing to be pastors
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Initiative Phases
Prayer and Fasting for Spiritual Renewal
(22 February - 8 April 2012)
Prayer & Fasting Resources - Holiness Heritage
Core Values Resources
Holiness Revival: (8 April - 27 May 2012)
Sermon Outlines - Holiness Heritage
Core Values Resources
Description
This initiative is intended to complement and enhance the current work of the local churches, districts and fields in furthering the creation of a spiritual environment on the Africa Region where God is given freedom to bring on going, holiness revival to all churches and spiritual renewal to the leadership and membership on the continent of Africa. The recommended course for this initiative is a 50-day guided study and reflection leading to personal and corporate Holiness as it relates to the Wesleyan tradition with the desired outcome being a call-to-action leading to an awareness of need, focus on prayer and fasting, personal and corporate confession and repentance, engagement in a covenantal and accountability relationship with God and the Church.Objectives of the Initiative
- 50-day guided study and reflection that leads to personal and corporate holiness revival
- Through awareness of need
- Obedience to God's call to be a holy people as revealed in the Scriptures
- Through focus on prayer and fasting
- Through personal and corporate confession and repentance
- Through engagement in a covenantal and accountability relationship with God and the Church
- The creation of a catalytic agent that promotes on-going, personal and corporate revival on the Africa Region
The critical objective of this initiative is that this effort will be a catalytic agent in ongoing "holy" Christian fellowship, the conversion of sinners, the entire sanctification of believers, their upbuilding in holiness, and the simplicity and spiritual power manifest in the primitive New Testament Church (Manual, 2009-2013).
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