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A Little Help Can Go a Long Way
By: Michelle Fadelli
The Kiatine Church of the Nazarene in Kenya, is helping to ease the burden of the most poverty-stricken though their Famine Feeding Center. Living a life of severe poverty, the many people, almost all women, who attend this center see it as their last resort to survive.
Daily life for these is more than a struggle, its a fight to the death. Each day, they rise early in the morning to look for odd jobs or small tasks. If successful, they can then buy food for their evening meal. If not, many try to borrow food from their neighbors, if their neighbor has nothing, then both go hungry. Many of the people that come to this center go to be without food two or three nights a week. Their success in raising money or finding food does not affect them alone, however, as many are responsible for children. Some of the dependents of these women are orphans from the many disasters inflicting Africa, like famine, TB, HIV and others.
Sandra*, Jane*, and Michael* are three people the Center has impacted. Sandra, whose husband starved to death, is solely responsible for herself and her five children. Two months ago, her two sons, ages 9 and 13, went to the river to fetch some water. While there, the sand dam collapsed and smothered both of them. Two young lives lost in a tragedy that could have been avoided.
Jane is the sole survivor in her family. Her husband was lost to starvation and her two children to AIDS complications. Today, she takes care of five orphans who have no one else. Four months ago, Jane was preparing porridge for those children when she fainted from hunger and exhaustion. She fell into the cook fire and severely burnt her hands, neck and face. It was after this accident that Jane found hope in the feeding program. "I am now stronger, and care for my family, and am sleeping at night," she said. "If only I had this before I burnt myself."
Michael, one of the few men who attend the center, is a father of four. He said he can now work in his fields growing crops instead of spending his days looking for odd jobs and piece meal work. He is now supplementing the food he receives from the Center with crops from his own field.
All the participants in this program use the resources they receive to feed not only themselves and their dependents, but also their neighbors. Knowing intimately the suffering life can bring, those who attend the Feeding Center share what they can. When asked about sharing her food, one participant said with tears in her eyes, "What would Jesus want us to do?"
*All names have been changed.
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Swaziland Garden Project
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Some of the garden ministry beneficiaries harvest green maize
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By Achsah Mutowa
A significant percentage of the Swaziland population is either infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. To some extent this has had adverse effects on the labor force and subsequent economic production in the kingdom as some of those who are infected are no longer able to work to support themselves and their families. It is with this background that Mary Magagula, Evelyn Shongwe and other members of the Nazarene AIDS Task Force initiated the garden project in Swaziland in 2004. The project was implemented a couple of years later, in 2006 and it is currently running in Luve, Ngiliji, Zombodze, and Nthulwini.
The vegetable gardens are mainly worked and managed by people living with HIV and AIDS as well as widows and widowers in the community. The initiative seeks to generate income for people living with HIV and AIDS, orphans, widows, widowers, and vulnerable children as well to provide nutritional support for the same. Vulnerable children and orphans are also provided with school supplies acquired with some of the money that is generated by the project. This project also aims to provide support for the task force's home-based care program which assists people living with HIV and AIDS. Care givers visit the sick, bathe, feed, and take them to the hospital if need be. Similarly, they assist with other household chores such as washing and cleaning. Care supporters also provide counselling to both the infected and affected.
The garden project is not without challenges. It has limitations in the area of human resources to work and manage the gardens consistantly. This is because most of the workers are facing health challenges as they are managing their HIV/AIDS condition, while others are committed to alternative livelihood activities in order to suppliment income.
Another challenge lies in the area of proper management of the gardens as most of the workers lack adequate knowledge of proper farming methods. Initially, the gardens were being planted harphazardly, thereby negatively affecting the quality and quantity of the yield. To address this, the task force called in an agriculturalist who conducted a month long assessment of the project after which he advised the group on proper farming methods appropriate to the terrain.
This initiative also faced the challenge of financial resources to fully establish and sustain the project. According to Mrs. Shongwe, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries has been supportive over the past few years, and it also linked the task force with donors such as the Coca Cola Foundation among others. At Luve, The Coca Cola Foundation donated funds for the sinking of a borehole, and the purchase of a water tank, a solar panel to power the pump, and for pipes which were placed along the gardens. This has made a clean supply of water for consumption readily accessible and irrigation of the gardens much easier.
Solar panels at Luve donated by the Coca Cola Foundation
According to Mrs. Magagula and Mrs. Shongwe, community leaders and members are excited about the project, and they participate as and when assistance is needed, sometimes sending their children to help. In fact, the land that is being used for the gardening project was donated by community leaders. Apart from gardening, the project's beneficiaries are learning other income generating skills such as making dish washing soap, candles, archaar, and floor polish. They are becoming more self reliant as they generate their own income and take care of their nutritional needs.
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Retiring missionaries recognized at 89th General Board
 The Church of the Nazarene's Global Mission department was pleased to announce the following three retiring missionaries during the final meeting of the 89th Session of the General Board on Monday in Overland Park, Kansas. The missionaries were presented with a sculpture as a token of thanks. Global Mission would like to express its deep love and appreciation to all three individuals for their many years of selfless dedication to God, the church, and all of those whose lives have been impacted by their ministry. Together, the three have given 53 faithful years of service to the Church of the Nazarene. Barbara Messer Years of Service: 38 Zambia (1975 - 1976) Malawi (1976 - 1988) Kenya (1989 - 1993) South Africa (1993 - 2002) Pastor to Missionaries (2002 - 2012) Howie and Bev Shute Years of Service: 15 Ethiopia (1997 - 2008) South Africa (2008 - 2012) |
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Famine Reminders
The task of doing something for so vast a need as the famine victims and the refugee host communities can be daunting. Here's a practical list of different ways to help.
PRAY
-for wisdom for our church leaders who are planning and coordinating a response to this crisis.
-for organizations (like UNICEF, Red Cross, Helping Hands Africa, NCM and many others) who are already working hard in the camps and surrounding areas.
-for the lives in the camps, those traveling to the camps, and those facing the tough decision to battle the elements and leave, or risk staying.
-for volunteers who are giving their time, money and energy to this monumental need.
-RAIN. Good, slow, quenching rain that will refresh the lands, the crops and the people.
GIVE
-donations to NCM's relief efforts in the Horn of Africa can be given electronically here
-for U.S. residents, checks can be marked "ACM1519" and mailed to the
Global Treasury Services
PO Box 843116
Kansas City, MO
64184
-for Canadian residents, checks can be made out to
Church of the Nazarene Canada (Famine Relief)
20 Regan Road Unit 9
Brampton, Ontarios
L7A 1C3
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Prayer Requests & Praises
-Rev. Al and Wendy Siebbles in the passing of their son, Wayne, as well as Donna, Wayne's wife.
-House churches and church plants throughout Africa.
-Children still needing sponsorship throughout Africa to cover school and food costs for the upcoming school year.
-Please pray for the family of White Mashawu. White, Lay Pastor of the Kikolon'a Church of the Nazarene in the Zambia Northwest District, passed away on 18 February 2012.
-Please pray for the family of Mr. John Tshabalala. John, an elder in the Tshiawelo Church of the Nazarene passed away on the 25th of February, 2012.
-Please pray for the family of Rev. Florence Chirwa. Florence, wife of Re.v Goodwin Chirwa (District Superintendent of the Drakensburg District in South Africa), passed away on the 23rd of February, 2012.
-Please pray for Dr. and Mrs. Bustle as they retire this coming month and for the new Global Mission Director, Verne Ward and his wife Natalie as they transition into their new roles.
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Western District Makes History in Africa
By: Rest Kanju  | |
Rev Mariam S. Sekela the new DS for the Western District
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On 18 February 2012, the Western District Church of the Nazarene sat for its 14th Annual Assembly. Chaired by the South East Africa Field Coordinator, Rev. Collin Elliot; the Assembly began in earnest and after receiving a beautiful report of the outgoing and retiring District Superintendent, Rev. Tsuvulani Wassenaar Ngobeni; the Assembly Chair led one of the lengthy open ballot elections for a new DS. After several rounds of voting Reverend Mariam Salphy Sekela emerged with a clear majority and was effectively elected as the new DS for the Western District. What makes this unique is that Rev. Sekela has now broken norm and tradition of leadership as she became the first woman DS in the Africa Region.
Rev Sekela is a committed member and leader in the church of the Nazarene and she has been a pastor for the Garankuwa Zone 6 Church of the Nazarene. Her church has, for a number of years, been faithful in meeting all its budget obligations and thus contributed positively in the growth of the Western District. Rev Sekela was born in Hammanskraal on the 29th of May 1970. She is the only child of the late Mr. J.M and Pastor M.P Sekela. Her parents received Christ and joined the Church of the Nazarene in 1982 at Mabopane under the late Pastor and the late Mrs. Maenetja. She received Christ as her personal savior in 1983 and was baptized in 1984. Her call for the ministry came as early as her high school days. After a long period of contemplating and praying, she finally enrolled at the Nazarene Theological College in 1997 and completed her studies in 1999, graduating with a Diploma in Theology.
She started her work as a Pastor in the Western District in the Church of the Nazarene, Ga-Rankuwa Zone 6 in 2000. She received her ordination on 26 January 2003. Since 2000, she has worked and pastored Garankuwa Zone 6.
On 18 February; Rev T.W. Ngobeni handed the baton to Rev.Sekela in a fully packed assembly marked by expressions of joy and celebrations. The Western District Church of the Nazarene would like to salute Dr Rev. TW Ngobeni for an excellent service in the Western District over the years and welcome in Rev. Sekela as its new DS.
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Rains and Floods in Mozambique
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Flooded Roads in Mozambique
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By Carlos Bauza
Mozambique suffered heavy rains in January and February of this year. The Mozambican government issued a "Red Alert" for federal agencies and other agents to help in cases of disasters and calamities. They remained ready to take necessary measures to help.
"The rains continue forcing the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Company, the country's largest, to increase the release of water from two thousand cubic meters to three thousand five hundred cubic meters per second. Through an announcement from Alberto Ntukumula, the voice of the council of ministers, It was shared the situation is similar in neighboring countries.
The cyclone Eline provoked winds over 100 kilometers per hour in the Indian Ocean, and sent torrential rains in the central and southern area of the country, leaving about twelve thousand families displaced. It also left several roads impassable with several areas isolated for some time. Most of the crops of cotton, wheat and rice are completely under water with many families losing all their crops for the year.
The Carlos Bauza family had been traveling from Maputo to Beira on January 21st. When they arrived in Xai Xai, they received phone calls from fellow missionaries, Dave and Marquita Restrick worried and asking where they were. The route where they had just traveled no longer existed. The waters first crossed the road about three meters wide. In a few minutes it was 10 meters wide and just a few hours later, the road was covered over 70 meters wide. The water flowed like a river covering the route they had just taken. There were many cars, trucks and people trapped on both sides that could not cross for days. It was a desperate situation with very little water and food. Some people were even bitten by snakes.
 It was sad to see so many families with all their belongings on the side of the road without anywhere to go. They had lost their homes and farms. Unfortunately, the forecast is for heavy rain through the month of March.
We have many Nazarenes suffering amid this situation. Pastor Andice de Quelimane said "the water level in the church reached knee high. Five Child Development Centers were also destroyed on January 17.
In the North Chinde province of Zambezia, several churches (Ilha Salia, Nhamitundo, Minde and Brenquinho) were destroyed from the heavy rains.In Zambezia High Molocue district, two churches with tin roofs were left with no roof at all.
The Child Development Center in Morrumbala was partially destroyed, while 1200 homes were destroyed with families displaced and their farms submerged and lost.
 Pray for our brothers in these areas. Pray the Lord provides a way for them to restart their lives and gives them the strength to rebuild their homes and feed their children.
Also pray for the material losses with so many churches destroyed that need rebuilding in order to continue coming together to worship our God.
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Tears of Joy
By: Friday Ghanda
God's Spirit is moving across French-speaking Africa. Two clear examples of God's hand at work are in Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 | | Burkina Faso |
Burkina Faso
It was a great day of joy, dancing and celebration as we were at the District Assembly today. As I stood up to read an appointment letter written by the General Superintendent, Dr. Stan Toller, the whole assembly broke into jubilation when they heard their own son's name read as the first national District Superintendent of Burkina Faso. Many were shedding tears of joy as they congratulated Rev. Joseph Tiendrebeogo. Neither Mary nor myself could hold our tears as we watched the man whom we found and identified, nurtured, and trained among many other young people who joined our beloved Nazarene Church.
As I remembered my first days in this country, when I had asked God to give me the right person for this country, I was keenly aware that God never let us down. Today I praised the Lord as I said, "Thank you God for fulfilling your promise".
Please join us in prayer for Rev. Joseph Tiendrebeogo as he takes charge of the Church responsibility amongst his own native people.
Also, pray with us as we venture into more of the unknown world in this area looking for more people to nurture, train and deploy. This is the reason why the Lord called Mary and me to the Mission Field.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Within the framework of spiritual awakening, strengthening of evangelization and the transmission of the message of Holiness, an evangelistic campaign was held in the Glory to God Zone (Paroisse Gloire à Dieu), Thursday 30 June 2011 in the afternoon. Three hundred people attended and some have resolved to follow Christ. The preacher of the day was the District Superintendent, Reverend Munyololo Déo.
What is most striking was the result: the Holy Spirit helped this Nazarene zone give birth to two congregations - a KiSwahili-speaking one led by Reverend Mapendo Mubigalo and a French-speaking one led by Reverend Lwesso Mwenyi.
Accompany us in prayer that they soon become fully organized churches.
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Lake Victoria District Revived
By: Rev. Don Gardner
The 14th District Assembly and camp meeting of the Kenya Lake Victoria District (LVD) took place on 12-14 January, 2012 at Brinkman Church of the Nazarene in Kisumu, Kenya. Brinkman church is in an urban housing community which hosts a nursery and primary school.
The church, which resides in Homa Bay located in southwestern Kenya, is 26 years old. Over the years, there have been numerous "re-organizations" of district boundaries. The present LVD was organized as a district in 1998 and it is the largest district in Kenya.
Although the weather was hot and dry, pastors, assembly delegates, lay members of the church, and guests from the Field Office came highly expectant of good things. They were not disappointed. Pastor Vitalis Ochieng writes: "This was a very wonderful assembly, like the first ones we used to have, long ago. It is good to se the Holy Spirit moving in our church again."
Following the District Superintendent's report, and the chairman's devotional, there was a great time of prayer around the front of the church. The District Superintendent's report focused on positive things, like where the church has come from to where it is now as well as positive spiritual developments, etc. Among the delegates there was jubilant celebration of what God is doing and spontaneous celebration of His presence in the meeting. During the pastors' reports, several pastors shared about how the Lord was working in their congregations. They shared how revival was starting to take place in their congregations and of victory in their churches and communities. They were seeing people saved and sanctified, as well as local churches raising funds locally to purchase lands, including procurement of Tital Deeds, and building their own permanent church buildings. It was a time of real celebration of the Lord's hand at work.
Two pastors shared testimony of how they had been discouraged and felt defeated before coming to the assembly, and how they felt renewed following the assembly, and were going to take it home with them to their local churches.
Rev. Sila Onyango commented: "The Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of delegates, pastors and church leaders in a mighty way. This was something never expected from past experience; that was peace from above it transcends all the understanding."
 | | Lake Victoria District Superintendent Peter Okinyo, whose strong spiritual leadership has been credited through a successful and powerful district assembly. |
Rev. Okinyo's second assembly as DS demonstrated his strong spiritual leadership for the last two years. This district has faced serious problems in the recent past; it was a district in crisis due to leadership, financial, and spiritual issues. Rev. Okinyo's leadership has turned things back upright. Rev. Bessie Musimbi (AEF -SDMI Coordinator) reports: "We have been encouraged; healing is taking place in this district. We appreciate Rev Okinyo and his wife Grace and all the leaders who have been with him during this time."
Even during and following the District Treasurer's report, the delegates and guests broke out into praise and celebrated what the Lord has done this past year financially. I cannot remember EVER being in an assembly when the people cheered for the District Treasurer's report! Rev. Musimbi summed up the feelings of the attendees: "Praise be to God, Lake Victoria has been revived!"
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Where the Heart Is
By: Margaret Scott
 | | Author, Margaret Scott, and her husband Jon. |
Today is the day Jon and I take leave of one heartland, Malawi, then fly in three planes to arrive at another heartland, Boston. Today starts in summer and ends in winter. Today has 9 hours added to it, so it has 33 hours instead of 24. Today started as we managed to put all of our things into only three suitcases (a record low for us, I think). With great pleasure, we had given away more than three suitcases worth of presents during the three-week visit. On campus at NTCCA (Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa), we circled up very sweetly with beloved faculty members and students for one more time of prayer together.
We leave Malawi with many hopes:
- that the bachelors' level study programs offered by both Africa Nazarene University in Kenya and NTC/ South Africa to our diploma graduates will succeed with learners in and around Lilongwe,
- that the three Work & Witness teams scheduled for 2012 plus some other visitors will be able to stay on campus in order to avoid the brunt of the continual fuel shortages,
- that our most vulnerable friends, the refugees, may gain gracious favor in the hearts of those who are able to help them,
- that our long-time friend and co-worker, Rev. Albino Banda, from Mozambique will get corrective surgery for the back injury that has sidelined him from active ministry for month,
- that health and strength will continue to be granted to church leaders in Malawi for the heavy challenges they face day after day. The shortages of fuel and electricity are definitely among these challenges, but shortages of leaders trained properly for management, hospitality, accounting, special ed., early childhood education and curriculum design also make the task heavier for the current leaders.
These hopes move us to pray more often and more specifically. These hopes also reinforce our belief that cross-cultural partnerships within the global Church are one of the most significant keys to the completion of Jesus' mission charged to us, His disciples.
I come away from Malawi very certain that we folk in America, Europe and Asia, who are apparently "richer", have an important role to play as partners for the Church in Africa and other world areas where the Church is growing so fast. We bring to partnerships strengths like expertise, experience, material resources, planning and organizational skills. Our optimistic, "we-can-do-it" attitude is also a strength we have (as long as it's tempered by careful listening to our African partners). Christians from other cultures bring different gifts to our joint efforts - they contribute patience, long-suffering, faith, cheerfulness, resourcefulness, songs and dance! They bless us with these gracious strengths, wrought in the fires of difficulties and even suffering.
In the most successful partnerships, the Africans also contribute forgiveness. They forgive us for the decades of unfair practices and double standards that were used by most of the colonizers and even by some of the early missionaries. With forgiveness and mutual respect in place and with people on both sides motivated by the love of Christ, not by desire for personal gain, cross-cultural partnerships can provide great benefits for all the participants. Partnerships seem to be a relevant, rather new way for Nazarenes to personally participate in the Great Commission. The success of cross-cultural partnerships depends on RELATIONSHIPS which are enhanced by good communication, teammanship, selflessness, flexibility and trust.
During our years as global missionaries of the Church of the Nazarene, we have been the partners hosting on foreign soil for several Stateside initiatives which have been very successful. In 1992 at the beginning of the Nazarene work in Romania, three groups partnered with the infant church. Dr. Randall Craker, then pastor of a local church in Kirkland, WA, visited us, and recruited volunteer missionaries and Work & Witness Teams for the first three years of the work. Almost 200 people came with vision and love to bless Romanians because of his partnership with us on the field.
The second set of partners came to Romania from Great Britain. They came in droves, driving lorry loads of donated goods, time after time for more than a decade. Some of the Nazarenes there organized a formal charity called "RomAid" which spearheaded the truly amazing demonstrations of compassion from Northwest Europe. Others organized Work & Witness Teams and short-term volunteers from their local churches in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The third partnership group to Romania came from New England. Waves of volunteers came to help us conduct compassionate ministries and to start the Church of the Nazarene. One came to stay, Prof. Dorothy Tarrant, who only now in 2011 is retiring from the innovative Semester Abroad Program she envisioned, then established, first in Bucharest then in the geo-center of the country, Sighisoara. Students, faculty and other New Englanders poured themselves into people in Romania.
Jon and I made a list one time of over 900 people who visited Romania during the first eight years of the Nazarene work there. Dozens, maybe even hundreds, of meaningful relationships are STILL flourishing between Romanians and people from afar who responded to the Romania in the hour of need and flocked in to be their friends.
Effective and significant cross-cultural partnership between Mozambique and Northwest USA is another beautiful story which Randall and Robbinette Craker tell very well. Also Rev. David Rodes shares how a short visit to Zimbabwe lit a fire in him that burns for Africa and has led him to partnership with us years ago in Northern Mozambique and then in Malawi for the last four years. Effective partnering results in transforming infrastructures and systems through changed lives and empowered leadership.
Our second plane is about to board to fly to our stopover in Europe. We leave Africa on it - but Africa will never leave us. We are partnered for LIFE! The longest day continues but the whole story never ends.
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JoySpring 2012
By: Wezzie Phirir
Lilongwe, Malawi's capital city, is a beautiful location known for its high population due to industry. Thousands flock here. The over-population deprives local citizens of educational facilities as there are only a few and fewer still well-structured Christian schools.
JoySpring, the specialized Child Development Center, opened for business in September 2010 to fulfill the need to teach children from a Christian perspective and a Christ-centered curriculum in every age group. The building was dedicated to the Lord that it would raise, teach and care for God's own children in response to Matthew 25:40: The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' At JoySpring, we believe and find joy working for the Lord because of Christ who makes a difference in our lives. We exercise authority as God's agents. We do not direct the children for our own agenda or convenience, but we do direct them on God's behalf for their good.
 | | Preschool learners, ages 2 through 5, at JoySpring Child Development Center. |
According to the ages and size of the enrollment, the preschool was split into two sections still under one JoySpring roof. The 3, 4 and 5yr olds share the building which has demarcations inside. This has two classes with 24 and 16 students in each. The 2-year olds have their own apartment within the campus just a few meters from JoySpring. By 11:45 a.m., all the preschoolers are dismissed. Children can stay and play indoors as we have enough room to accommodate over 60 learners at once but during summer time, they play outside on a playground.
As a Christian institution, we believe in sharing the love of Christ with our neighbors. This hasn't happened unnoticed. When the preschool children are dismissed, the JoySpring building is then used for the afternoon program called "Friend-to-Friend," a ministry to about two dozen people who are mentally challenged and those with physical disabilities. Most of the time people with disabilities, even if they are minor, are denied the right to education and socialization because the culture here thinks they cannot do or produce much, but at their best, given time and space, they are so productive and able. When these special children of God come to JoySpring, they have a quality time with their teachers; as a result, one-on-one friendships are built. Joy Spring therefore enlarged its program by providing the learning materials for this second group of learners. Dedicated volunteer Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa pastors work to teach them.
This journey hasn't been easy. Water problems hit us in the dry season when the water table drops. We experience dry pipes and taps which make our ladies busy all the time (carrying water). Providing snacks for the Friend-to-Friend program becomes an issue when there is not enough money to buy them. But all in all, it has been a journey of continuous learning that will never end. I pray that God will give us wisdom to help and teach with zeal, young and old and that the community will benefit from us as we have benefited from them. As He has taken us this far, we hope that He will see us through and that the work He started, He will sustain for His glory!
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Holiness Week at Africa Nazarene University
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Pastor Darnell Starks Senior Pastor at Trinity Church of the Nazarene
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By Daryll & Verna Stanton
Holiness Week at Africa Nazarene University (ANU) is a concentrated period of time for spiritual growth of both staff and students with the aim of becoming a more Christ-like community. During the second week of every trimester, students and staff alike, gather in the Helstrom student centre every weekday at 10am for an hour-long chapel service. This trimester's Holiness Week ran from the 17th to the 21st of January 2012.
The speaker was Pastor Darnell Starks,theSenior Pastor at the Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Perth, Scotland, though he is originally from Chicago, USA. He began on Monday by challenging audience members to live their lives in line with God's purpose. From Tuesday through Friday he spoke on the purpose of humanity's existence, which according to him, is to love God first, and our neighbours as ourselves.
Rev. Starks wrote his masters' thesis on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King who served as the inspiration for his message. On Wednesday, he delivered an excellent sermon on the many positive effects Dr. King had on the African American community especially in the 1960's and 70's to present day. For the first time, African Americans had access to many opportunities that they never had in the past such as the right to vote freely, the right to education, and to much better job opportunities.
He described the racial tensions and persecution that took place in his family after they moved into a white neighbourhood. Rev. Starks underscored that they endured by loving their neighbours as Jesus commanded. He also related that racial tension to the religious factions in Scotland, as well as white on white tension over different religions. He also commented on tribalism that is rife in Africa. Rev. Starks challenged listeners to think beyond their tribes and live together lovingly in holiness as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Rev. Starks was kind and personable to all, and excellent as a speaker. Those who attended paid careful attention to his sermons, which were laden with pertinent themes. Some students have already given testimony to being saved. The Holy Spirit's presence was felt in the exciting praise and worship sessions and during the sermons.
Holiness Week is not only exclusive to Africa Nazarene University, but it is a culture in Nazarene tertiary institutions worldwide, because these schools derive their core values from the Nazarene Church which is founded on holiness principles. Holiness Week remains a central ANU tradition since the institution's inception in 1994. This trimester's theme for the university is 'Gaining and Maintaining Victory', may we all strive to live by it.
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Out of Africa Editor Brittany Leslie
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