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Prayer
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A Kenyan church leader wrote: "Thanks a lot for praying for Kenya's election; it was so peaceful. We thank the Almighty." We praise God for:Africans and others whom God calls to work cross-culturally. Ordinations which represent growth and health. Leaders who show a passion for God even as they walk through daily life. New Christians in the family resulting from the work and prayers of JESUS film teams. We request:
Holiness revivals to break out across the region.
Continued development of the next generation of leaders.
Travel arrangements for the African delegation to General Assembly and Convention be smoothly accomplished.
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Explore the Africa Region
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The purpose for missions
| Introduction to the farewell speech for the
Restrick's retirement celebration, February 17, 2013
Dear Mozambican Nazarene Brothers and Sisters,
We have sufficient reason to rejoice in the Lord. We have enough reasons to sing hymns to Your name. We have examples of His immeasurable love to justify the celebration with singing unto the Lord. If we are not ungrateful, dear friends, we must praise Him for His great love and His revelation before us.
If not for His great love, who were we to be considered children of God Almighty? If it were not for His servants who accepted to cross oceans, seas, rivers and numerous borders to get here, would we have achieved this privilege? How we would have achieved this freedom? If it were not for these brothers and sisters who agreed to leave their land, relatives, parents' home, habits and culture to come here, where would we be now? In darkness, brethren. It's true! ... In darkness. And what would be our final destination? Hell. Without any shadow of doubt. Hell.
But thanks to His love, we've reached the Light We are guided by the Light. That's why we aim to reach the sky. Our home. The home of God's people. Heaven is our final goal. We have faith in achieving this goal because these people, and called servants of God, showed us the way. Jesus Christ is our guide, our Way.
Editor's note: To read the rest of the speech
and see pictures of the event,
reply to this e-mail and I will send it to you.
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Holiness Revival in Eastern Kenya - by the Africa East Field News Team
| On a hot, dry day the Kenya Eastern District, led by Rev. Augustus Musili, held the 15th District Assembly on February 23, 2013 between 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at a rented hall in Kithyoko. 
Margaret Njuiki (AEF CDC coordinator) reports: "By 8:30 am, the district superintendant, district secretary, delegates, pastors, silent messengers (pages), recording secretaries, visitors, and children were seated waiting for the assembly to start at 9:00 am. There were 67 delegates and 150 visitors seated inside and about 20 or 30 outside. Fifty children also attended."
The field strategy coordinator, Don Gardner, says, "The Holy Spirit was at work from the very beginning of the assembly. Rev. Joseph Kisoi preached a powerfully anointed sermon on holiness lifestyle." When his interpreter missed a word or did not interpret what he said, Kisoi spoke in Kamba, the local language, so people could understand clearly. God used the message mightily. Twenty-four people came to the altar to pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Kisoi then chaired the assembly under the supervision of the field strategy coordinator. The youth and children actively took part in the assembly. The youth acted as recording secretaries and primary-aged children were silent-messengers. They had all been carefully trained and prepared to do their assignments very well.
Margaret continues, "This assembly moved my heart in a very special way. The reports included how the child development center is helping children to change. Their parents are coming to church to see what their children are learning."
Dorothy Kasura (AEF Literature coordinator) says, "The attendance and the reports given by the pastors and the elders showed such strong unity between the leaders and their district superintendent. Many of the churches are practicing ownership." The ownership is shown by doing church development themselves with no outside help.
Dorothy continues, "The blending of all age groups, from children to youth to adults was an indication of a strong church and district. Looking at this, I related it with the Early Church in the book of Acts. the growth of the church increased rapidly due to unity, sharing and fellowshipping together."
Rev. Gardner concludes, "There was an atmosphere of jubilant reverence and a strong sense of prayer and expectation laced with excitement about what God is doing across the district. Pastors' reports were of incredible victories of God's intervention in peoples' lives.
"This district is experiencing a holiness revival. They have planted numerous churches during 2012, and some of the new church plants have grown in excess of 300 members. For example, the church where the assembly was held is a new church, planted about a year ago, and it already has 386 members! This church has purchased their own land and are constructing, on their own, a semi-permanent 10m x 20m tin building, with plans to build a permanent stone structure as soon as possible." Praise God!
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JESUS and Mr. Duo - by Paul A. Parlot
| (Editor's note: I read about Mr. Duo in the JFHP Prayer & Praise Newsletter, but wanted to know more. Sign up for the newsletter here.)
The district superintendent, Rev. Sam Lama had just moved to Sianiquellie, the capital city of Nimba County which is the most populous county in Liberia and where iron ore is being mined. Because of the mining of Mount Nimba, many people from all walks of life make their journey to the mountainous area to seek a job to improve their lives.Because of this reason, the Liberia Central District is the fastest growing district in the country.
 | JESUS film team member
in Mailbox |
However, the Church of the Nazarene is being planted in an ocean of churches and must impress the minds of the people and make a difference. Since the Church started its JESUS film ministry in 2000, its focus is to make a difference with its distinctive doctrine of holiness. Another draw is that Jesus is being heard speaking people's own dialect or language. Whenever the people hear the news of our JESUS film showing in a particular area, they dare not miss it.
As usual, the JESUS film team gathered to pray weekly. On one of the occasions, while praying, it was announced that the team had to enter a town that still practices witchcraft activities in modern times. Many denominations have been attempting to plant a church in this town but failed.
The town of Mailbox is about 27 miles away from Sanniquellie, and off the main motorcar road, after the capital city, Karnplay, of that district. Throughout history, Mailbox has been known for its witchcraft activities. Its culture and livelihood depend on them.
When we first arrived in the town to canvas, the chief of the town, Zoe, openly opposed us, saying that there was no room for us to carry on church activities. "We will not allow anyone to preach in this town or show the film of Jesus that you are carrying about." This was an open challenge for us. Of course, the Holy Spirit was in control. We were bold to tell the chief and other elders of the town that we were coming back the next weekend. A week of prayer was held while canvassing continued.
The following week was time for us to gather the fruit of our harvest. As the film began, Jesus was speaking in their native tongue. Mr. Duo, whose mission was to disrupt the film showing, was arrested by the Holy Spirit and gave his life to Jesus! Mr. Duo said that he was born deep in witchcraft activities and had been involved with them ever since. He said, "Tonight, I have been defeated by Jesus and have turned my life over to Him". He further said that knowing Jesus meant all that he had been using in the dark world should be turned over to Him, to Jesus. He went and brought two items back, a hat and a bracket, which were the sources of his power in the dark world. But now he states, "I found Jesus and He has given me a new life."
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Seven ordained in Madagascar - by Shelly Miller
| On Sunday, the 10th of March, 2013, the Madagascar District held an ordination service at the Barbara Ann Boyd District Center with General Superintendent Dr. Stan Toler presiding over the proceedings. The District Center was packed to capacity with more people spilling out into the yard and parking lot. It's estimated that around 800 people crammed onto the property that morning, watching with excitement and anticipation as 6 women and 1 man became ordained elders in the Church of the Nazarene. The candidates for ordination, who all studied through the Institute Théologique Nazaréen (ITN), were Pastor Patricia, Pastor Rondro, Pastor Ninah, Pastor Josiane,Pastor Lise (Elisabeth), Pastor Brigette and Pastor Daniel.
 | | Malagasy ordinands, spouses and dignitaries |
Dr. Toler preached from Exodus 3, using the calling of Moses as his example. He encouraged the pastors, telling them that there would be days when they would feel discouraged and want to quit, but they must remember that they are cleansed, called and commissioned to be pastors - those who share the Word of God with others. He encouraged them to uphold the teachings in the Bible and also to preach the doctrine of holiness. He also shared tender examples from his own years in ministry and his conversion at the age of four. He explained how, as a teenager after his first time preaching, a man came up to him and told him he must never preach again. He said that while he spent most of the night in sleeplessness, the Lord clearly told him to do what he had been called to do.
As the service drew to a close, each of the ordinands came to the front with their spouses. They knelt at the altar and Dr. Toler, Rev. Collin Elliott, Rev. Chansi Chanda, Rev. Ronald Miller, District Superintendent Rev. Richard Ravelomantsoa and all ordained deacons and elders on the district laid their hands on each person, praying for them individually after Dr. Toler declared them ordained elders in the Church of the Nazarene. After this solemn moment, the ordination certificates were handed out and then the church was given an opportunity to applaud this great achievement for these hard-working pastors and their spouses.
The ordination of these 7 individuals means great things for Madagascar, a relatively "new" country to the Church of the Nazarene. We are excited about the church growth opportunities and the people that God is using in ministry in Madagascar.
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A tribute to Rev. Caiphas Masale'skhundleni Mnisi - by Cosmos Mutowa
| Rev. Caiphas Mnisi stood as a towering spiritual figure in the life of the church in Swaziland. He was mentor and spiritual father to many. When I enrolled at Swaziland Nazarene Bible College in the early eighties, Rev. Mnisi took me in as is his spiritual son and became my mentor and provided great counsel in my spiritual journey. Through his exemplary leadership, he molded many students and pastors and leaders who now serve across the breadth and width of the continent of Africa.
 | | Rev. C. Mnisi |
Rev. Mnisi exemplified what walking with God meant. He was a man of uncompromising consistency when it came things of God. His ministry as pastor of Fitch Memorial Church of the Nazarene saw many lives saved, transformed and sanctified. He impacted lives of not only students, pastors and the community around the church, but also missionaries and their families. Dr. Robert Gailey, the son of Dr. Charles Gailey who served in Swaziland for many years, shared with me how the life of Rev. Mnisi impacted his own life. Robert, who now lectures at Point Loma Nazarene University, said, "Rev. Mnisi's life personified Christlikeness and he exuded humility and godliness and lived what he preached."
Tom Nothstine, the son of Rev. Tom and Lauralee Nothstine, who served in Swaziland had this to say about Rev. Mnisi, "A memory that has always stuck with me from my childhood days on Siteki Mission Station is the many many times I saw Rev. Mnisi walking purposely somewhere with a Bible tucked under his arm. Even as a young boy I thought to myself, 'There's a man who is close to God.'"
 | | DS Rev. Timothy Dlamini |
Rev. Timothy Dlamini, the District Superintendent of Swaziland East district, speaking at the burial service of Rev. Mnisi shared with the mourners about how Rev. Mnisi impacted his own life and ministry. "He was a friend of all people, children, young and the old. His life modeled what it meant to be a servant leader and a faithful follower of Jesus Christ."
Rev. Caiphas Mnisi was born on 20 April 1924 in Vusweni, Ndlembeni, in Swaziland. He did his ministerial training at Nazarene Bible College at Siteki, in 1958 in Swaziland and after graduation he took up pastorate at White City Nazarene Church in Jabavu, Soweto (South Africa) where he was pastor for 5 years and then moved to Jabulane Nazarene Church in Soweto where was pastor for 7 years. He then returned to Swaziland where he became the pastor of Fitch Memorial Church in Siteki until his retirement 1989. I Because of the burning calling in his heart he came out of retirement a few years later and took up pastorate at Mahenjane Nazarene Church where he pastored until his death. He held many leadership positions within the Swaziland East District, including serving as a district advisory board member and on the Court of Appeals for many years.
He will be remembered for his deep fiery evangelistic messages that brought hundreds to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Rev. Mnisi is survived by his wife Joanna and two children, Maggie and Mandla, and 11 grandchildren.
Cosmos Mutowa is the NCM/HHA Regional Coordinator
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| Amy Crofford, Out of Africa editor
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