Touching lives of children in Malawi - by Rev. Simbarashe Kanenungo 

Rev. Chipi Kadyamaliro has been working with children in his community since 2003. He has a gift of reaching out to them in an amazing way. Through his ministry with other Malawian pastors, they are reaching out to many children in their communities. He has mobilized nearby churches to reach out to them. The number of holistic child-focused community development centers (CDCs) has grown from one to six.

Pastor Chipi and one of the village elders  welcoming the  visitors

In August, I, as the Africa Child Development Coordinator, traveled to Chiimba area to conduct training on holistic child development. Representatives from the seven CDCs gathered to learn more of how they can be effective in holistic ministry to children. The training was made possible through the partnership between NCM-Africa, NCM-Canada and Chiimba Church of the Nazarene.

We conducted the four-day intensive training to help the passionate children's workers to have an

Mission coordinator Rev. Wellington Obotte reviewing the lessons with the participants

 NCM-Canada had collected some teaching materials and shipped them to Malawi. The container included teaching aids like blackboards and other CDC supplies. We are thankful for the materials that they supplied to help the learning of the children in the centers.

After the training, the youth team from Canada arrived under the leadership of Jodi, Alvin and Glenda. They are a part of the group of Canadian youth that raised funds to support the work of the CDCs in Malawi. The team also brought soccer balls and other small things. They visited the CDCs and conducted a Vacation Bible School in each. The team ministered in Chiimba, Mpuzi, Kudziwe,

Jodi, Pastor Chipi and Canadian team

 Mwenda, Chiwoko and Kambewe. These churches already minister to children even though they have limited resources. They are making a difference in the lives of orphans and vulnerable children.

The Canadian youth team had a great experience of their lifetime where they learned of how they are making a difference. They were touched to see how some of these children are living in poverty, but when you look at their faces, they are smiling and happy.

Lillian Anyango Awanda, 12 years old  

On April 22, 2012, we had a very great day in our Central Church of the Nazarene, Nairobi. Ten of us children had been attending membership classes at the church. It was a great time for us to know who we Nazarenes are and what we believe in. We children now know that we Nazarenes are a family of believers in Jesus Christ and we have 16 Articles of Faith that guide us in our daily walk with Christ.

Our pastor, Rev. Frederick Opondo, took us through the Church of the Nazarene Manual whereby we were to agree to abide by the Manual - the guide for our church. This was one of the special days in my life that I will always remember; I learned so much and now am confident that I know we are 'The Nazarenes' and Jesus was also one.

Lillian Anyango

We received gifts that are precious - a Bible and an Evangelism Cube. We are to use these gifts as we share with others the life and love of Christ and the impact He has made in our lives.

I am blessed to have a great church family. I appreciate my parents, friends, and teachers for being great friends as I went through these membership classes.

________________________________________________

Editor's note - One week later, on April 29, Central Church celebrated a baptism service.

Kingdom Kidaha, 13 years old

Baptism is a sign of showing the world that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. After the day I was baptized, I saw many things in my life. If I intended to commit sin, I remember that holy day that I was baptized. I remember the Ten Commandments and I stay away from sin.

Baptism is a choice you have to make. It is not just to feel the excitement and going around telling people that you are baptized. It is as if, when you are out of the water, you have left all your sins in the water and come out clean with no sin in your heart.

Baptism was practiced in Jesus' time. It is not something new. If you are baptized, just stay in God's path and do not take a reverse turn. Go straight to God through Jesus and get to Jesus through baptism.

Note: These stories first appeared in Teacher's Transform, the Children's Ministry Newsletter for the East Africa Field. If you would like more information about this newsletter, send an e-mail to nazteachersworkshop@gmail.com.

The thirty-sixth annual district assembly of Malawi Central District was called to order by Rev. Paul Mtambo, Africa Central Field Strategy Coordinator, on September 14, 2012 at Area 25C Church of the Nazarene. The first order of business was the report given by Rev. Oswald Dimba, district superintendent.

As delegates and friends waited for the result of the ballot for district superintendent an impromptu ladies choir was formed. These were pastors, delegates and friends singing with joy the praises of God.

Rev. O. Dimba giving report, Rev. C. Phiri interpreting

Rev. Oswald Dimba was re-elected to a four year term. There was jubilant celebration as the results of the ballot were read. The delegation also gave a wonderful love offering for Rev. and Mrs. Dimba.

Taurai Manzi, a third year Nazarene Theological College - Central Africa student from Zimbabwe, said, "I was positively changed by the way the district assembly was handled. I saw things I had learned in Pastoral Theology and History and Polity of the Church of the Nazarene put into practice."

Nixon Nzunga, an NTCCA student and member of Central District of Malawi, commented, "Hearing the reports, watching the elections and seeing how the delegates participated were amazing. I personally learned a lot in the areas of finance, seeing how important it is to pay budgets. I saw that the elections were conducted in a fair and democratic way."

Admire S. Manyere, an NTCCA student, said, "On this day, I saw how the church is and how you can handle situations. The main part that took time was the election of the district superintendent. In that situation, I saw how good the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene is. This was a practical event for me. If we follow the Manual there should be no questions of what took place."

Impromptu ladies' choir

Rev.Oscar Dama, chairman of the ministerial credentials board and librarian at NTCCA said, "I found this year's assembly to be a very productive one. The delegates showed concern for failing to pay their district budgets, but promised the assembly that they would change. I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit in all the activities that took place during the assembly. My conclusion is that the assembly was very good and the election of Rev. Dimba was not by mistake. We prayed as a district that God would give us a godly leader. Rev. Oswald Dimba is the answer to our prayer. Our district has a bright future."

The camp for Street Kids Center AMI4 is always meaningful to each child. This year, we took 83 children out of 350 to camp because of the cost involved. These children are the best in their classes; most of them are in the top three.

2 Timothy 2:2

Our theme for this camp was "MAMPITA NY FANILO." In English it means

PASSING THE TORCH. We took the main idea from Jesus passing the Great Commission to His disciples and Paul passing the torch to Timothy.

Frederic RANDRIANARISOA is in the middle of the photo. He is 22 years old and the oldest at SKC this year. He got his"baccalauréat" (French high school diploma). He got A- on the end the high school exam. This was a big surprise for him because he was even afraid he might have failed. He wants to be construction engineer. He is the second boy from the SKC who has been successful in this exam.

He said that this camp was very different because the theme and the Bible teaching touched his heart. He wants to be involved more than before in the ministry now. He got the torch. Also, his leader

Three young leaders from the Street Kids' Center

allowed him to lead the group and it made a big difference. He enjoyed the food a lot, of course, he said. He liked the game bearing each other to reach the goal and hunting the leaders. He was very happy with the fellowship and everything he saw on the screen during Pastor Ronald's teaching.

Olivier RAZAKAHARINAIVO in the white tee shirt is 17-years old. He is in grade 12. He is one of our stewardship committee at church and the Sunday school teacher for 10-year-olds. He is studying in public school which means that he is very smart.

He was very happy during the camp. He said he had fun and got a very serious message. He was also asked to lead his group and he liked that a lot. He said he learned a lot and loved all the activities. His group committed to take the torch and to pass it.

Lovasoa Emilien RAKOTONDRAVAO, Olivier's brother, in blue, is 15-years old and in grade 9. He is the Sunday school teacher for 4-6-year-olds. He is always in second or third rank in school.

Children's prayer circle

He enjoyed the fellowship of his group. He said, after the first message, he wanted to know if each member of his group was saved or not. So, he talked to them one-by-one to make sure that they knew Jesus Christ as their Savior. He said that about 7 received Christ in their heart. The other children had assurance of their salvation before. This was when they committed to pass the torch.    

He appreciated the Bible teaching, it was very clear.   

Pastor Marie Kamara was born on May 16, 1959 at No. 3, White Street, Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone. As a youth she attended the Young Women's Christian Association Vocational Institute where she completed the fifth form (Matriculation). As an adult, she became a third grade clerk as a civilian employee for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed forces.

Marie was brought up as a Christian from childhood and was a member of the West Africa Methodist Church; however, she never knew about God's redemptive work that He did for mankind through His Son Jesus Christ.

Marie has five children: Aveil, Umar, Msu,Victoria and Matilda. She tells how during the war in their country everyone that came to work one day was trapped. There was an air raid and the doors were all closed. She was afraid she was going to die as there was no way to escape. She thanks God who always makes a way for escape. He sent a cleaner who helped her to jump over a wall and find her way out. Immediately after she left bombs fell and the building was brought down. One of her work mates, a soldier, died in the building. Marie wrote: "I will never forget that day, ever in my life."

Her husband deserted her, leaving her with the five children. Everything turned upside down, for she had felt that her husband was everything for her.

Pastor Marie Kamara

She tells about it:

I forgot about my job and about even thinking about my children. I felt as if I had lost my life. All hope was shattered and I was left alone, but thank God a friend named Gloria, who was a believer, came to my rescue. She told me that all was not lost and took me to her church, the Wonders Church International, to meet her pastor. There I met another challenge and I did not know about God's prevenient grace that was guiding me. I thought the pastor was the answer and I wanted to explain my ordeal with my husband to her. She refused to give me an audience. My only option was that if I wished to talk to her I should start attending their weekly church services. I was hoping to see her for my deliverance, truly since that time we never talked. But thanks be to God who loved and cared for me.  

One day during one of the weekly services a message was preached about God's salvation plan. The glory of God came down mightily and everyone felt the presence of God. By the grace of God I gave my life to Christ that day. From that day, that very moment, I felt an inner peace knowing how Christ had died that we could be restored, I experienced a change. The feeling and thoughts about my husband, and what he did to me, disappeared. There I got all of God without knowing it. He forgave my sins and I became His child. Thanks be to Jesus Christ for His death on the cross.

Marie began enrolling in NTI (Nazarene Theological Institute) classes in March 2009. Her first course was in Evangelism and Church Planting with Rev. Frank Mills from Ghana as the instructor. She was taught how to plant churches and train leaders. She never knew that she had a God-given ability to plant churches.  

Pastor Joseph Jalloh reported that during July two new fellowships were begun on the Peninsula/West Zone-one at Gbendebu and one at Goderich. These two locations are fairly close to each other down the coast (southwest) from Freetown 3 - 4 miles. Marie Kamara, had started these fellowships through contacts she had in both villages. Each of these fellowships had ladies leading them.

Editor's note: The continuation of Marie's story including her sanctification experience and an exciting recent development will appear in the next issue of Out of Africa.