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Mission Fields for All
Written by: Brittany Leslie
This past Sunday, I had the wonderful privilege of being publicly fought over. Often times, as a missionary, there is a tightrope walk between "back home" and "here at home." My "home" pastor and my "here" pastor were both making the case that my family belonged to them, and were only on temporary loan to the other congregation. It was playful joking but it made me mindful of all the wonderful people God has placed in my life. I've often run into the assumption that missionaries are special or impressive, and I'll be honest, I felt very special as Pastor Kendall and Pastor Elvis both staked their claim to us, but as one young person from our congregation who recently returned from his first short-term missionary experience proved, there's nothing "special" about missionary work.
For the past year and a half, my work has been to inform you of what God is doing across the continent of Africa. My assignment is changing and Amy Crofford, who is currently serving as the Africa Region representative for Engage magazine, will also be assuming the Out of Africa post.
This has been one of many ways in which I've learned that my ministry is fluid; ever changing with life and circumstances around me. I'm not called to a continent or city or people group. I'm called, simply, to serve. It's what we've all been called to, each and every day, right where we are or half-way across Africa... or Asia... or South America. Our mission field is right where God called each of us to, and that's where our skills and openness to His plan will make a difference. |
| South Africa to Ukraine... and Back
Written By: Stephen D. Phillips
My name is Stephen Dennis Phillips. I am currently studying law at the University of Johannesburg. This is my honor and final year. I attend the Church of the Nazarene, Eldorado Park. I have always had a passion for getting involved in the church and for the last two years I have served as the Nazarene Youth International President. Oh yes, I'm 22 years old.
I recently went to the Ukraine for a month with an organization called International Messengers. I took a Kairos course, English teaching class, and practical missionary training in preparation for arrival in Ukraine. We were 16 people total in the group. We represented Canada, USA, Russia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa. We held a camp in the Ukraine for the young people and I was getting to know the young people. I realized how closed they were at the start of camp and how they eventually would trust you. They started sharing about their struggles and through all of this, I realized that wherever you find yourself, people desperately need Jesus.
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Author, Stephen Phillips, center front with a little girl on his knee during the youth camp.
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One particular young person stood out for me. He was very closed off, not just to the group [of foreigners] but also to the young people [from his country]. I once asked him what does he want to be when he grows up? His response: "I want to make guns." I was taken aback and continued to share the love of Christ with him. One night, he approached me. I was not with my translator and found it difficult to communicate. I so badly wanted to share my testimony with him, but was limited because we both didn't understand the other's language. Out of frustration, I said a German word. Immediately he picked it up and asked me in return if I spoke German. I responded that I did, a bit, and proceeded to share my testimony in German and right there, this young man accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior!
I stood in awe that God brought me, a South Africa who speaks English and Afrikaans to the Ukraine, where people speak Russian and used my limited schooling of German to tell a young person about how great Gods love for him is. At the end of the camp, 25 young people had accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior. All 25 of them have been placed into small groups where they can grown in their faith and build Godly friendships. In our Kairos course, we learned that the Greek word "kairos" literally means a moment in the middle when something special happens. In the middle of that trip, something special happened and not just to those 25 young people, but also to the 16 young people who were there to witness it. |
Seminário Nazareno em Moçambique Hosts Mozambique Theological Educators Conference
Written by: David Restrick
From September 2 to 5, Seminário Nazareno em Moçambique hosted what is believed to be the first-ever conference of theological educators from across the country. Directors and academic deans from twelve different institutions met on the SNM campus to hear presentations and to discuss changing trends in theological education and financial sustainability which affect theological education institutions in Africa, and more particularly, in Mozambique. Participants also discussed ways in which the various institutions could further cooperation between themselves to further theological education in the country and to present a united front to the Ministry of Education for official recognition of theological programs.
 | | Rev. Reinhard Mattheis, director of ISTEM, welcomes participants to conference. |
The conference was sponsored by Overseas Council, International, an international evangelical organization dedicated to supporting higher theological education in the developing world. It's African representative, Dr. Victor Nakah, was one of the presenters of the conference. It was also sponsored by Instituto Superior de Teologia Evangélica de Moçambique, a consortium organization which includes Seminário Nazareno and the Assemblies of God Bible School in Maputo, in cooperation with Faculdade Teológica Sul-Americana in Londrina, Brazil, to offer masters level studies in Mozambique.
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| Crofford Appointed Regional Education Coordinator
Written By: Dr. Filimao Chambo, Regional Director
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Greg Crofford to serve as the Regional Education Coordinator (REC) for Africa. I am confident that Greg will do a great job leading us in education and clergy development.
Dr Crofford, currently serving as the Director of the ITN/NTI (Institut Théologique Nazaréen/Nazarene Theological Institute), a distance education programme that oversees the training of pastors and key lay leaders of the Middle and West Africa Fields, has been appointed REC effective 1 October 2012. Crofford replaces Rev Mark Louw who was recently elected as Asia-Pacific Regional Director. 
As REC, Crofford will be responsible to the Regional Director on all matters related to education systems and clergy development across the Region. Specific focus will be given to theological education and the ministerial courses of study provided by the two universities and the five theological colleges of Africa. He will serve as the key strategic link between the Africa Region educational providers and the International Board of Education (IBOE) for all matters related to the development of educational systems on the Region and with the office of Clergy Development for matters related to submission and validation of ministerial courses of study by the ICOSAC (International Course of Study Advisory Committee). As REC, Crofford will serve as the chief advocate for the educational processes for theological education as well as the development of clergy in Africa in both a Regional and Global context.
Greg and Amy Crofford began their missionary service in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, in 1994. From 1994 - 2001, Crofford served as Africa West Field Education Coordinator, overseeing the development and delivery of diploma level theological education through the Institut Biblique Nazaréen (IBN, now ITN/NTI) and Africa Nazarene School of Extension. In January 1999, the Croffords moved to Benin, a pioneer area of West Africa where, from January 1999 to June 2003, Crofford served as District Superintendent and oversaw the development of congregations in Benin and Togo. From June 2005 - May 2006, Crofford was the Director of the Séminaire Théologique Nazaréen d'Haïti, and Extension Education Coordinator. This assignment was interrupted when political unrest forced them to leave the country. Back in the USA, Crofford was an adjunct instructor in Bible, Missions, and Theology courses at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (2011), Southern Nazarene University (2008-2009), and Northwest Nazarene University (2004),while he pursued graduate studies at the University of Manchester, England. He was awarded the MA in Theology in 2005 and the PhD in Historical Theology in 2008. Crofford also holds the MDiv in Missiology (Cum Laude) from Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri, (1989), and a BA in Religion from Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, Massachusetts (1985). He was ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene in August 1991. He is a member of the Wesleyan Theological Society, African Society for Evangelical Theology, Junior Fellow, Manchester Wesley Research Center (Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, England), the Africa Region Course of Study Advisory Committee (ARCOSAC), a participant of the Global Theology Conference in Guatemala (2002) and Johannesburg (2000), and member of the Trust of Africa Nazarene University (2002).
Crofford is an avid reader and writer and has contributed articles on various topics to multiple publications including Global Wesleyan Dictionary of Theology (Beacon Hill, 2012); Streams of Mercy: Prevenient Grace in the Theology of John and Charles Wesley (Emeth Press, 2010), a monograph version of the 2008 Manchester thesis which is slated for release as an e-book in coming months; a review of James Schwenk's Catholic Spirit: Wesley, Whitefield, and the Quest for Evangelical Unity in Eighteenth-Century British Methodism (Scarecrow, 2008), Spring 2012 edition of the Wesleyan Theological Journal; a review of Kenneth Collins' book, The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace (Abingdon, 2007) in the Fall 2008 edition of the Wesleyan Theological Journal; The Dark Side of Destiny: Hell Re-Examined (Amazon Kindle E-Book, Feb 2012), an examination of four views of hell (unending conscious torment, purgatory, universalism and conditional immortality) in the light of Scripture and the character of God; authored four lessons for the 2012 NMI programme. He has also made a number of academic presentations and has regularly featured theological essays and "Ask the Missionary" columns for Engagemagazine.com. Crofford has also written numerous book reviews and was accepted to the Wesley Summer Studies Program of Asbury Theological Seminary (June 2012), contributes to the Wesleyan Theological Journal, and was chosen to write a paper for possible presentation at the next Global Theology Conference scheduled to meet at ANU in 2014. His personal weblog, "Theology in Overalls" can be found at www.gregorycrofford.com.
Prior to his missionary assignment, Crofford served as pastor of the Sedalia Church of the Nazarene (1988-1993) and minister of music of the Grandview Church of the Nazarene (1987-1988) both in Missouri, USA.Crofford brings a depth of knowledge and experience in theological education and leadership development to his new assignment that will be invaluable as he leads the Association of Nazarene Education Systems in Africa (ANESA) and continues to build the area of clergy development; two critical areas that are essential for the growth of the Church of the Nazarene throughout Africa. Greg and Amy have two sons, John and Bradley.
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New Gadgets to Get Work Done
Written By: Rochelle Miller
Last week, two gentlemen from our regional offices in Johannesburg made the trek over here to Madagascar (and it was a more dramatic trek as their flight was delayed by 12 hours, thanks to Air Madagascar--an airline you may well want to avoid). While it's always nice to have visitors from our home country (or one of our home countries) because they often bring things like Cadbury chocolates with them, it was also great because they brought a new gadget for the work here.
Many of you have likely heard of Jesus Film/Harvest Partners, an organization that has long been a partner with the Church of the Nazarene. The Jesus Film has been a very effective tool for evangelism, particularly in Africa, and they have also worked very hard to introduce other tools for evangelism.
For anyone who knows Ronald, they know that he loves evangelism. He loves the idea of walking the streets and going up to complete strangers and witnessing to them. For me, the idea of walking the streets and witnessing to complete strangers makes me break into a cold sweat. I guess that's one reason why Ronald and I compliment one another-where he is strong, I am weak; so very weak. My point here is, Ronald LOVES evangelism and the language barrier here in Madagascar has made it difficult for Ronald, himself, to do this.
The guys from Joburg delivered a little gizmo that is going to make ministry and evangelism not only easier for someone like Ronald (where the language is a problem), but also a way of sending teaching and training to all of our churches scattered around the island. This little device is called the Papyrus and the people at Renew World Outreach are responsible for it. Not only is the Malagasy Bible loaded onto the internal hard drive, but it comes with an SD card where we can load up to 8 gigs of audio information (about 140 hours of listening) such as sermons, teachings, pastoral training, etc. The speaker system on this little guy can be heard clearly in a room that can hold about 200 people AND (this is fun) the battery can be recharged by the sun (perfect for a country where we see the sun almost every single day of the year!). How great is that?! So, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
Now, in case you're thinking that the Papyrus can be abused by the people who have them, their hard drives have been locked, their USB is not a standard USB (they come with their own special cable) and they can only function using a particular SD card and particular software that is not readily available on the black market. If someone were to steal this device, they could do nothing with it but be forced to listen to the Bible in Malagasy all day long, as that is the default setting!
We're excited about putting these devices to good use. We always want to be good stewards of the gifts that God has blessed us with and not everyone in Africa is going to get these. We are excited to be a part of the Jesus Film's ongoing ministry in the world and the possibilities this holds for the people here. |
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Prayer & Praise
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-For Kenny Sidle, father to Gary Sidle (Zambia) who underwent open-heart surgery in Ohio, USA. -Mitchelle Duffy, daughter of Regional Office staff member Ronnie Poxton, who was admitted to the hospital. Michelle is 34 weeks pregnant and experiencing difficulty breathing. -For safe travels for Dr. Vern and Natalie Ward as they travel to and from South Africa. -For safe travels for all the Field Strategy Coordinators and others involved in the Regional Advisory Counsel meetings being held in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
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