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Prayer requests and praises
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For the most up-to-date praises and requests, click here.
We praise God for:The success of "Our Hope" in Cape Verde. The inspiration of the Gunters. We request prayer for...Every Nazarene to be dependent on God only. Mary Chanda who has very high blood pressure. The doctors are trying to find the right medicine. She is very weak and has had difficulty walking and has been on bed rest at home. Mary and her husband, Chanshi, are missionaries in Zambia. Chanshi is the Field Strategy Coordinator for the Africa Middle Field.
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Explore the Africa Region
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Come to the website: www.africanazarene.orgCheck out our Facebook pages! Click the seal that corresponds to the language you would like to read.
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10 Extraordinary Prayer Requests:
Dependent of God Only - by Damy Gomis
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 | | Total dependence |
Can we depend on our Heavenly Father like the baby on the back of his mother? In many parts of Africa and the world, babies are held on the back of their mother and can spend all day in that position while their mother is working.
On the back of his mother, the child hears the reassuring heartbeat of his mother, and the sound of her voice. When he is hungry, he will start to cry and the mother will take him in her arms and breastfeed him.
In a similar way, we want to depend on our Heavenly Father, to be constantly attached and be in perfect harmony with Him. When hunger, financial needs, difficulties or challenges arise, we will not depend on humans or "tools" but on our God who is faithful, generous and all sufficient. Our Heavenly Father knows that we need them (Matt 6.32).
May we remember the promise of our Heavenly Father in Isaiah 49:15: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"
--Rev. Dany Gomis is the Africa West Field Strategy Coordinator.
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"Our Hope" in Cape Verde - by Rev. Antero D. De Sá Nogueira Fontes
| Editor's note: A
 | | Bringing the gospel everywhere. |
national evangelism outreach, "Our Hope," took place from November 1 to 15, 2012 in Cape Verde. The goal was to reach every person in the country with the gospel.
The district superintendent and other members of the National Evangelism Outreach's Support Commission, "Our Hope," view the results as very positive at the societal level,
as shown through the relationships with the country's institutions, the good ambiance lived at the local congregation level, and the record of pastors' and lay people's involvement.
The outreach has impacted all over the country and has represented for the Church of the Nazarene an opportunity for a new growth cycle.
The following were focal points:
- The realization of the A Church for Cape Verde conference about the past, present and future of the Church of the Nazarene in Cape Verde held in the Praia's Archive Museum on the 8th;
- The festival, which occurred in 5th July's Park, on 10th with Praia Citywide Choral's participation and also musical groups of Santiago Island and the interior. The festival was aired by Cape Verde TV.
- The encouragement and feedback received from several pastors and lay people of the diaspora;
- The conversion of hundreds of souls in every island and the identification of 30 places that will be the next organized churches.
 | Listening and sharing
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Amongst other benefits, it was emphasized that the outreach has contributed to convivial communion between the local congregations' members, overwhelmed the spiritual level, reached the society in general - with the targeting of specific detached people groups such as diseased people, mothers of at-risk youth, night watchmen, etc., allowed the distribution of more than 110 thousand brochures, and led to concentration meetings with Cape Verde banners in the roundabouts of the main highways of Praia city, capital of Cape Verde.
Given that it is the first experience of this kind at the national level, the Commission considered that it was a great opportunity for learning. The following suggestions were made for the future:
- To adopt the date of November 1-15 as the designed date for the national evangelism outreach, the first Saturday of November as the National Prayer Day and
 | | Visiting in homes |
the following Saturday as the day of the Lord's Supper and Communion (possibility of nearer churches' gathering); - To meet with the pastors during the District Assembly to share ideas and experiences;
- To analyze the brochures to be distributed.
- The outreach's evaluation and adequate follow up with the new converted should be made at local church level, under the responsibility of the respective pastors;
- Rethink the use of at least one hymn for the outreach and identical songs for the flyers at national level, to unify the message;
- Better focus on the training about the detached people for the evangelism;
- To concentrate on distributing brochures and flyers. The tee-shirts should be directed more for the "Brigades" (for the people who are in the ground).
This outreach represents a new form of evangelism in Cape Verde. The field is white for harvest.
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Embracing the World God Loves -by Rev. Samantha Chambo and Rev. Ezekiel Mnisi
| "It's about embracing the world God loves." These were the words of Dr. Nina Gunter to spur Nazarenes on the Africa South Field towards participating wholeheartedly in the mission of God. It was also the principle idea behind her husband, Dr. Moody Gunter's teaching on stewardship. "You cannot love without giving!" was the passionate declaration of Dr. Moody as he reminded the congregation that true holiness of heart and life leads to a life of biblical stewardship.
 | Learning together
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The Gunters traveled to various districts on the Africa South Field from January 6-12, and God used them in a powerful way to call the church back to the heart of missions and biblical giving. The end of every service saw the altars filled with lay leaders recommitting themselves to faithful service and sacrificial giving in the Kingdom.
Feedback from participants was very positive and highlighted the need for more such conferences. Rev. Timothy Mogorosi from the Gauteng District testified: "It became clear to me as Dr. Nina was teaching that we should not presume that our members understand all of these mission concepts. We need to keep on reminding ourselves about the objectives of the global church." Rev. Frank Mahlaba, Limpopo Northwest district superintendent said: "I would have followed the Gunters around to all the districts if it were not for an illness in our family. I feel very sorry for the churches that did not make it to attend this mission rally. They missed out a lot." The Northeast NMI district president, Mr. Mamiane said: "This was a great revival for our district! I was so happy to see all the young people present. This tells me that our church has the best future leaders."
Mr. Mashego, Drakensburg NMI president also sang the praises of God's operations on their district: "Dr. Moody highly encouraged us to give our lives to Jesus before we could give to the world, this will make giving easy."
The Gunters also voiced their appreciation for the obvious blessing of God's presence during these meetings. They said that they were so blessed by the enthusiasm and openness of the people and were very thankful that they had the opportunity to be used by God in this manner.
Rev. Jeffery Malebe expressed his appreciation to God for all He has done: "We appreciate the effort made by our regional leaders for organizing such a wonderful workshop. We thank them for bringing such outstanding leaders as the Gunters. This workshop was one of the most remarkable workshops I ever attended!"
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| Empowering Women for Christ-centered Leadership - by Felix Otiato | |
 Over 80 women converged on January 23 at the Jernigan Chapel of Africa Nazarene University's main campus for a conference on women empowerment facilitated by Dr. Nina Gunter. The event was appropriately themed 'Empowering Women for Christ-centered Leadership' and sought to give women leaders insights on how to dedicate their lives and service to the Lord.
Dr. Nina G. Gunter is a general superintendent emeritus in the Church of the Nazarene. She was elected at the 26th General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana, in June 2005, the first woman to be honored with the highest office in the church. Dr. Gunter is a preacher, teacher, and author, having written The Traveler's Psalm, Our Defining Moment, Christian Perfection,The Cross-Seize It! Share It!,
and Holy Leadership in a Hectic World. She is also a contributing editor to Leadership Journal.
Dr. Gunter drew from her immense experience and based her message on Luke 13:12-17. She encouraged the women to commit to the way of
Christ that empowers women in life and leadership.
The conference was part of Dr. Gunter's itinerary during her week-long visit to ANU together with her husband, Dr. Moody Gunter, where she delivered a series of sermons during ANU's Holiness Week. The holiness emphasis is a held at the beginning of every trimester to
dedicate it to God.
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Lake Victoria to Continue in the Same Spirit - by the AEF news team
| On January 12, Lake Victoria District re-elected Rev. Peter Okinyo to serve as the district superintendent at the 14th District Assembly in Nyakach, Kenya. Lake Victoria is the largest district in membership in the Africa East Field.
The sunny and humid day caused sweltering heat inside the stone church with a t
 | | Rev. Peter Okinyo |
in roof. Yet, pastors, district assembly delegates, youth, laymen, field office personnel, other visitors came. Dorothy Kasura Muthuri, Africa East Field Literature Coordinator, said, "The whole assembly started on a good note with a big turn up of delegates and members. The church hall was fully packed with other members sitting outside the church."
Rev. Elizabeth Musimbi, SDMI coordinator for AEF, reports: "The district assembly went on well and everybody was very excited. As we started the assembly, any one could tell that people had many questions on their faces. The district superintendent, Rev. Peter Okinyo, was finalizing his term of service. In this situation, the field strategy coordinator had to start with elections to allow enough time for the board of tellers to do their counting."
The assembly sensed the Holy Spirit moving following prayer before the election process. Rev. Don Gardner, Africa East Field Strategy Coordinator says, "There was a reverent mixture of excited apprehension regarding the re-election of the DS." People became quiet and reflective. There was also a strong sense of His movement as the devotional sermon was delivered. People participated in the message by remaining attentive, raising their hands, and shouting, "Amen!"
Rev. Musimbi continues, "The board of tellers took almost three hours in counting the ballots. After the yes/no vote for the district superintendent, the number of "yes" ballots did not reach 2/3 as indicated in the Manual (203.12)." Rev. Gardner took time to talk to the congregation about how the process would continue. The delegates took blank papers from the board of tellers to write the name of the person they wanted to be DS. The tellers collected them to count.
When the board of tellers brought back the report, Rev Okinyo had received 135 votes out of 178 (76%). The announcement of the election results was followed by an explosion of jubilant singing and dancing. Rev. Musimbi says, "All in all, Rev Okinyo has done a good job in his leadership in Lake Victoria district for the two years he has been there. We pray that he will continue in the same spirit to build the leadership in Lake Victoria."
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Book review: Practical Leadership - by Rev. Antero Fontes
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We have in the literature market several books that deal with leadership issues. Many of them relate definitions and notions. This booklet differ  s in the form in that it follows the autobiographic journey of the author in his leadership trip around African countries through trans-cultural environment exchanges. Here, the author's vision responds to the lack of practice for those who leave the institutionalized theological schools without good field training and to the danger of a leadership vacuum in times of transition. This handbook stands in the line of leadership discussion in "time of transition." Through his narration, the author shows how we should pass the baton to an emerging wave of leaders who are intentionally prepared to come up with the work. The strength of the author's system rests in the spirit of a family-team that he impresses upon the recruits.
If someone is interested in raising quickly, safely, and healthily a pool of prepared national leaders for field work, this booklet is a good starting point. This handbook also responds to the problem of young leaders' leaving from one's denomination.
Editor's note: This book is available through many booksellers in both digital and paperback editions. If you would like to be a book reviewer for Out of Africa, contact me.
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Is there a story, country or field you would like to hear more about? Let me know,
Amy Crofford,Out of Africa editor
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