November 2012, Issue 2 |
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Prayer requests and praises
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A developing heart for missions on the region as expressed through intercessory prayer.
His provision for all our needs.
Please pray for:
--Melodie Ravel and other African youth as they reach out to children and their peers.
-- the lessons learned at the PALCON about leadership, evangelism and stewardship to be remembered and passed on to those who could not attend.
--the Holy Spirit to speak through the teachers at our educational institutions, especially when speaking of holiness.
--more lives to be radically transformed and consecrated to making Christ-like disciples.
--funding for scholarships so that our emerging leaders can get the education they so dearly want and need.
--eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to share God's work in our daily lives.
--former missionary, Anna-Marie Lokard who is recovering form a heart attack.
--Africa Lusophone Field Strategy Coordinator Paulo Sueia who has malaria.
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Connect with the Church of the Nazarene Africa Region
| Come to the website: www.africanazarene.org
or check out our Facebook pages: English, French, Portuguese
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Melodie's story - by Gina Pottenger
| Melodie Ravel is following in her father's footsteps as host and producer of her own Christian radio program for children ages 6 to 12 in Madagascar.
The 13-year-old is in the process of developing 30 eight-minute broadcasts of a Malagasy-language show she calls "Who Are Jesus' Friends?" The show's theme is how someone can be friends with Jesus. Melodie includes Bible stories as well as stories from her own life.
 | | Melodie Ravel |
The programs are available through Wooma.net, but when she has three months worth of shows, she will be able to offer them to FM radio stations across the island nation. Radio is still a primary communication tool in Madagascar, where many families and children listen to FM radio regularly.
"It's for the children here who don't know about Jesus' love and I want them to know about Jesus," she said. "I hope that they will be [saved] and know about Jesus."
Melodie spends between 20 and 45 minutes writing the scripts and recording the shows with guidance from her father, Rev. Richard Ravelomanantsoa, who produces two Nazarene radio programs in Madagascar. She uses both a radio backpack set and spends time in a recording studio.
Richard's program is "Called Unto Holiness," a 10-minute broadcast first available in South Africa. But he is planning to promote it to FM radio stations in Madagascar, as well. For five years he has also produced a program called "From Genesis to Revelation" that also airs in Swaziland.
 | District Superintendent Richard Ravelomanantsoa
in the studio |
Richard takes his own experience to mentor his daughter in radio ministry.
"She watched what we did and after, we just let her do it by herself. But we try to guide her,especially the doctrinal [aspects]. I'm so proud of her progression as I see right now."
Melodie, who is the youngest of three sisters, said she hopes to continue in radio and possibly expand into television communications when she grows up. Right now, she loves school, particularly English and physics, and she also loves music, swimming and playing basketball.
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| Elliott appointed Assistant to the Regional Director for Church Growth & District Development - Dr. Filimao Chambo, Regional Director for Africa | I am pleased to announce that Rev. Peter Collin Elliott has accepted an appointment as Assistant to
 | | Revs. Collin and Shireen Elliiott |
the Regional Director for Church Growth and District Development. In this assignment, Elliott will facilitate the church planting movement throughout the Africa Region in collaboration with the Field Strategy Coordinators and Regional Director, assuring that training and implementation of mission practices are consistent with regional strategy and missiological principles, and work in collaboration with Field Strategy Coordinators and district leaders to facilitate the creation of new districts - pioneer areas and district phase changes. He will serve as Regional Secretary, responsible for coordination of statistics, credentials, and a directory of regional personnel including pastors, district superintendents, educators and other ministry leaders. In addition, he will provide supervision in legal matters across the Africa Region.
Rev. Elliott will assume his new responsibilities effective December 1, 2012 while continuing to serve as Africa South Field Strategy Coordinator.
More about Rev. Elliott's appointment will be shared in the next issue on December 17. |
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Pastors and Leaders Conference 2012 - by Samuel Oketch, Kenya
| The first conference under the name PALCON was held at Africa Nazarene University (ANU) from October 24-28, 2012. The theme was "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew steadfast spirit within me" from Psalm 51:10. The Committee of National Events comprising all six district superintendents in Kenya and other leaders from the Africa East Field organized the event.
The conference was attended by pastors, youth, women, and various leaders from each of the six districts in Kenya and many ANU students bringing a total of 250 participants at the conference. PALCON was also attended by inv
 | Attendees took copious notes.
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ited guests among them the regional director, Dr. Filimao Chambo, and the general superintendent with jurisdiction of Africa, Dr. Stan Toler, and his wife, Linda.
Everyone was encouraged by the attendance of this first PALCON. The planning committee had planned for 200 people; however, 250 people turned up and paid the required fee to attend.
Participants were re-energized by the various speakers during the conference; Maurice Miyayi, Lake Victoria District Children Ministries Coordinator said, "What we have learned in this conference is so good; I wish we had all these materials in a pamphlet form so that we can read and implement them when we go backhome."
PALCON started on a very high note with a call to continued holy living from Rev. Don Gardner, Africa East Field Strategy Coordinator. Other excellent speakers during the conference were:
o Rev. Hollingsworth - Profile of Shepherd
o Rev. C. B. Glidden - Spiritual Leadership in the Local Church
o Dr. Stan Toler - 5 Secrets of Exceptional Leaders and The Power of One
o Rev. Wes Humble - Leadership/Vision/Outreach
o Dr. Dan Schaffer - Empowered to Preach Holiness
o Dr. Keith Grove - Practical Principles of Stewardship
o Rev. Larry Moore -Stewardship: Open the Floodgates
o Rev. Marty Hoskins -How Beautiful are your Feet
o Dr. Daryll Stanton - Psalm 51:10
o Mrs. Linda Toler - Lessons Learned on my Journey with God
o Rev. Terry Armstrong - Pastoral ministry: Traveling on the other side
o Rev. Don Gardner & Rev. Elijah Kingori - Spiritual Leadership
 | Sunday morning prayers
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At the end of the conference which was on a Sunday, Dr. Toler preached from 1 Samuel 17:15-51 on the topic "David's Tipping Point" and almost all the participants moved to the altar for prayer. They were then commissioned by Dr.Chambo to follow the teachings of the Bible passage and make Christlike disciples and plant reproducing holiness churches in every people group throughout Kenya.
This Sunday service was also attended by Professor Leah Marangu, ANU vice chancellor, and her husband, Professor John Marangu. She lauded the unity of the church and the institution.
I left the conference having a renewed heart and steadfast spirit to be genuinely saved, genuinely sanctified, genuinely called, genuinely equipped, and genuinely burdened to reach my generation with the message of holiness, today.
We hope PALCON will be a yearly event of the church in Kenya.
--Rev. Sam Oketch is the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Coordinator for the Africa East Field.
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Remembering the Nations - Intercessory Prayers
in the University Church of the Nazarene -- by Evans Katanga
| -- University Church of the Nazarene meets in Jernigan Chapel on the campus of Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi, Kenya. The senior pastor, Rev. Gift Mtukwa, teaches in the School of Theology.
The Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:16-20, is quite clear on every believer's role with regards to spreading the gospel far and wide. However, one critical question that comes to the minds of most Christians is: How do I contribute to the task of fulfilling the Great Commission if I am not a missionary?
At the Un iversity Church of the Nazarene, we intercede for those we may not be able to physically reach with the message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. During each Sunday worship service, we allocate time for a pre-chosen member of the church to give a brief introduction or background of a chosen nation and then lead the congregation in the first intercessory prayer for that week. After this communal prayer, each attendant is tasked with the responsibility to remember the mentioned country in daily prayer throughout the week. The background and introduction also highlight particular details that are researched issues requiring divine intervention through prayer.
While we allow the children's church service to begin and run concurrently with the adult/ youth service, the international prayer is conducted prior to the children's departure for their service. This prayer is done as per the guidance and support of the Nazarene Mission International coordinator in our local church.
The NMI leader is responsible for choosing any country across the world - regardless of whether or not the Church of the Nazarene has any marked presence there. This system of conducting these prayers is so implemented because the fundamental mission to reach all the people with the gospel of Jesus Christ is something that we take quite seriously, and it's only a matter of time and resources before the name of this holiness-propagating institution is known to all nations of the world. We allow diversity to be noted in the different individuals chosen to lead this prayer - as a means to express how the role of fulfilling the Great Commission is truly a responsibility that every believer should endeavor to honor.
 | Associate Pastor
Evans Katanga |
Under the guidance of the NMI leader, the chosen individual would make a presentation similar to the sample included herein.
Presentation - The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the largest and potentially richest countries of the world, but one of the few that are and have been engaged in a never-ending war for quite some time. Some of the major issues needing our prayers include: peace, democracy and fairness during all elections in the country, improved health, cohesion and stability in political, judicial and religious circles.
Prayer - Our Heavenly Father, we praise and adore you. We thank you for the nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo and its people. Thank you for the abundant natural resources that you have blessed this nation with. We would like to remember this country in prayer today and request your divine intervention to restore peace, reconciliation and stability in this country. May you allow the people of Congo to co-exist in harmony, love and unity particularly when they cast their votes to elect political leaders. May their judiciary system, religious affiliations, health facilities and political circles work efficiently and serve the people of Congo and beyond. We know that you hear our prayers and you have excellent plans in store for this great nation, and we trust that you will restore this nation to glory. We pray all this, in Jesus name. Amen!
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The Lord always provides --by Shelly Miller
| When embarking on a new ministry assignment, I think that we mothers and wives are bombarded with thoughts that perhaps our husbands are not. As the mother of 3 children, Abigail, 6 1/2, Malachi, 5, and Elijah, 9 months, I think that I tend to try to bear the load of nurturer and caretaker by myself. Our kids did not ask to be a part of this ministry, but yet we feel that they are such an important and vital part of our ministry as God has called our whole family, not just my husband, Ronald, or me.
As the mother, we think of all of these things about our children. What's the healthcare like where we're going? What's the schooling situation? How expensive is food? Will there be friends for them or will they turn into one of those weird reclusive kids who can't function socially? When you're a missionary and a home schooling mom, I think that these feeling are a bit magnified (or, dare I say, blown out of proportion).
 | | Malachi's 5th birthday |
As Africa Region Specialized Assignment missionaries in Swaziland and now Madagascar the last 2 ½ years, I have begun to cling to Psalm 37:25-26 where David says, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing." (NIV) God has given this promise to both Ronald and me.
We have some dramatic stories where we had R60 ($8) in our bank account and there were still 20 days until payday and the Lord provided for us. We also have less dramatic stories, but no less meaningful to us. Once, a care package came from a church (that was not even a LINKS church) with baby clothes for Elijah, our newest baby, in sizes 6-9 months when we had only 2 articles of clothing for him in that size.
The Lord always provides for us. Sometimes the provision is remarkable and other times it's in the form of a care package from Grandma or a great find at a departing missionary's garage sale, but the Lord always provides for his children...and ours.
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Pastor Marie Kamara of Sierra Leone, Part 2 - by Paul Dayhoff
| Editor's note: For the beginning of Marie's story, click here.
In January 2010, Marie Kamara began starting home cells. Early in June, she assisted a young man, who had also attended several Nazarene Theological Institute classes, to start still another cell among some soldiers in a military compound. God helped her to plant churches in Lumley,
 | | Pastor Marie Kamara. |
Juba, Gbendenbu, Goderich Laka, Hamilton, King Tom and Congo Town. These are all in the West Peninsula Zone of Freetown. Each of these fellowships has a leader. She was still (in June 2011) depending on God to do more and raise more leaders there.
Pastor Marie Kamara is an emerging leader who is working with and reporting to Pastor Joseph Jalloh. Marie received her district minister's license in October 2010. She was elected to the district advisory board and is now in training for the work of the treasurer. She continues to be an inspiration to others and boldly enters new places to spread the gospel.
Marie continued her testimony:
I want to thank God for allowing me to attend NTI classes - for His grace, strength and divine enablement. I never knew what it meant to be entirely sanctified - to experience the second work of grace. I was struggling in my Christian life until I had the class on the doctrine of holiness. There was unconfessed sin in my life such as anger and unforgiveness. Our district superintendent, Rev Paul Martin, taught us in a way that I felt the Holy Spirit pointing out these things to me. Then I decided to go to God; I took a day quietly with the Lord in prayer and fasting. There the Spirit of God dealt with me. I repented of those sins. I bore malice toward my husband and was unable to forgive him for what he did to me and the children. Through the witness of the Spirit light filled my heart and love filled the whole capacity of my soul. It was through my complete surrender in obedience to God. I asked Him to take total control of my whole being - my family, job, money, emotions, actions, everything. I said, "Lord, all of this that I have; take it all." Then I knew that my heart had been cleansed. My desire changed and the love for God and others increased. My desire for self was gone and I am walking in the light by the Spirit of God. I am depending on the blood of Jesus to keep on cleansing me unto His glorious appearing. I know I am empowered for life and for service.
In June 2011, Missionary Sharon Martin reported that Marie had started working with a great group of young people at Lumley and the first group of members had just been received. Marie had just begun a theological education center in Lumley with fifteen students.
Editor's note: October 2012-- Sharon Martin adds this recent development: Pastor Marie Kamara will graduate from the Nazarene Theological Institute in January 2013. She has just received approval from the Africa West Field to receive a scholarship for Bachelor of Theology studies online from Nazarene Theological College-South Africa! She is a straight-A student in NTI and one of our teachers-in-training. She is also in training to become the National Education Coordinator for Sierra Leone. The church she pastors was recently officially organized, and she has started several other church plants the past 2-3 years. This is a huge answer to prayer for her further leadership development, as well as for the future of theological education in Sierra Leone!
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Do you know a story from the Africa Region Church of the Nazarene that would bring glory to God, encourage or challenge believers if told? Please, let me know.
Together, we can meet the goal of being an informed and inspired community making Christlike disciples in the nations.
Amy Crofford,Out of Africa editor
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