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Prayer requests and praises
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We praise God for:Safe travels to the General Assembly and Convention for the African contingent. Although some had difficulties, all arrived. His Spirit moving through the church both in Africa and around the world. Leaders who are faithful to God. We request prayer for:The family of Lydia Harrison. She died June 25 due to a brain hemorrhage. Lydia served with her husband at Nazarene Theological College in South Africa for many years.
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Explore the Africa Region
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10 Extraordinary Prayer Requests: Every Nazarene leader faithful to God, family, and church - by Filimao Chambo
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I grew up in a home where being faithful to God was a high priority. My parents, as leaders, strongly believed and modeled that faithfulness to God is an absolute necessity for anyone who desires to lead a faithful life to his or her family, church and community. As a result, I make it a priority to encourage church
leaders to set a good example. The world is searching for leaders who are faithful. "Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6); the world asks. It is our desire that those who serve within the Church of the Nazarene on the Africa Region are found to be faithful to God, family and His church. Thus, we intentionally make it a priority to pray for all leaders on the region.
I pray often that all leaders will "be rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know his love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19
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Transforming Power (part 2) - by Pastor Peter Tembo and Rev. Penney Sidle
| Editor's note: For part 1, click here
Leading up to the children's dedication service, since many of these families came from unchurched homes, Pastor Tembo informed them about living a Christian life. The community learned that the Power of Faith church values children. In this area, a lot of cultural practices on children take place regularly from birth to age 10 to 12 years. Pastor Tembo informed the parents that after dedicating their children to God - these practices must stop. Today, the church continues to monitor these families to help them be accountable for their children's spiritual development.
Pastor Tembo had met with all the parents dedicating children to encourage them to stop the cultural practices once their children were dedicated to God; the parents did
not need to participate in the cultural practices anymore. Pastor Tembo spent time with parents from the community who did not attend the church but wanted to dedicate their children. He went through the Manual and Articles of Faith so they knew the beliefs of the church before dedicating their children to God.
The dedication service included a message by Rev. Penney Sidle to parents about their responsibility to nurture their children in the Lord, and the need for parents to model for their children how to be disciples of Jesus. Since the dedication service Pastor Tembo reports that the parents in the church are working hard to disciple their children and even have a stronger relationship with their children.
Five parents, who had come to the dedication service to witness the dedication of their children, the following week informed Pastor Tembo that they wanted to be a part of the Power of Faith Church of the Nazarene.
The celebration day was a great day for this church to witness to the community through all the activities that took place. The day started off with the dedication service; 48 children were dedicated to the Lord that day. The message was a great encouragement to the parents and the church to work together to train these children to be disciples of Jesus. Many children shared Bible verses, songs, and poems with the congregation. A fellowship meal for everyone followed the service.
Through this day the community witnessed that the Power of Faith Church of the Nazarene values families, believes in families, and ministers to children. The community could see the unity and love present in this church. After this celebration day of dedicating the children to the Lord, the church is now ministering to about 20 more children. Pastor Tembo has had teacher training for Sunday school and children's church.
Please pray that Pastor Peter Tembo and his church will continue to be a light in the community of Garden House and that many more adults, youth, and children will be transformed by the message of holiness from the Power of Faith Church of the Nazarene.
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General Assembly - BGS Quadrennial Address given by Eugénio R. Duarte
| Editor's note: What follows are some highlights from the address given on June 24 at the General Assembly . I urge you to read the address in its entirety here. 
John Ngombe, General Board member from the Africa Region was remembered as a godly man who provided strong leadership to the church over many years. _____________________
Theology, polity, and system of mission each play an important role in bringing us together as Nazarenes.
However, nothing is more important in creating an international community of faith than the person of Jesus Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is in Christ that we share beliefs, values, mission, and responsibility
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It is God's Spirit that makes everything possible. Nazarenes are a church of the Holy Spirit. Many denominations worldwide are embracing the language of holiness. Even some religions that appeal to the postmodern mindset are focusing on holy living as a means to attract new followers. The Nazarene message of holiness is more than just a catchphrase. It is the powerful potential to engage a world that is crying out for transparency, integrity, and authenticity on the part of organized religion. Our message is needed, relevant, and very appealing.
The need is greater than it has ever been for our pastors to live and preach the holiness message. As the late general
superintendent Dr. Edward Lawlor once wrote, "Our task is to see that this message (of holiness) becomes the fulfillment of all the hopes and dreams of all mankind in this world of tension."
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Let me conclude this time together with some questions:
*In the coming year, will you prayerfully commit to lifting up Christ in all you do so that others may know who Jesus is?
*Will you look for opportunities "to seek and to save the lost" as Jesus taught us? (Luke 19:10 NIV) To help make Christlike disciples who become living stones acceptable to God through Jesus Christ?
*As we enter a new era filled with possibilities for the Church of the Nazarene, will you trust Him to give you greater passion for holiness?
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Conserving the Harvest - SDMI Workshop led by Daphne Mathabula
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Rev. Daphne Mathebula lead a workshop entitled "Conserving the Harvest."
Before the workshop began a few candy bars were passed out to some of the attendees, but not to all.
First, Rev. Daphne related the scope of Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International. It is not just Sunday School for children. It involves all ages, men and women, Bible studies, small groups, and more.
The main focus of the workshop concerned accurate record keeping. Rev. Daphne reminded listeners that good record would have several positive outcomes including:
* Determining how well the church was reaching their area geographically as well as by age and gender.
* Allowing better planning for events because the number of attendees could be projected accurately.
* Closing the back door of the church by recognizing when someone fails to attend regularly.
She concluded that we never plan anything without asking how many will be there. The expected number of people determines the place of the meeting and how many materials need to be prepared. It is important to plan, but that can only be done with reliable data. She then pulled out a large bag of candy bars and saw that everyone received one. She had planned well.
One attendee posed this question, "What can you do when a visitor gives you a non-existent address, a bad phone number, and probably a false name as well?" Rev. Daphne paused for a moment and replied that the church should use whatever name they have and pray for that person until the Lord brings him or her back to the church. At that point, continue building the relationship.
Rev. Daphne's enthusiasm, humor and wisdom represented the Africa Region well.
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New video from Africa Regional Communication
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Backpacks are changin  g the way radio is produced around the world. Melodie is from Madagascar and part of the My Media Generation of young people committed to Christ and passionate about using media and technology to share His love with their generation.
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I loved talking with so many Out of Africa readers at the Africa booth in Indianapolis. Thank you for stopping by and expressing your support.
This year, our continuing series focuses on the 10 Extraordinary Prayer Requests. What would you like to see as the continuing series for 2014? Please, send ideas. |
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Amy Crofford,Out of Africa editor
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