May 2014 - Issue 1

In This Issue

Noah Sibanda, part 2: Empowering laity to build the church.

Prayer requests and praises

Pray that the new believers from the Easter campaigns will continue to grow in their faith as they join small groups and learn more about Christ.

Pray for the lay people of the church to find and keep jobs despite tough financial times.

Pray for the JESUS film teams as they show the film and begin the work of planting churches every week.

Pray for the family of Le Bon Balibanga who passed away from typhoid. He was the 18-year-old son of Jacques Katambu Balibanga, the North Kivu District Superintendent in the DRC.

Pray for peace.

Explore the Africa Region

Come to the website:www.africanazarene.org
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Le Coin Nazaréen

Noticias Nazarenas

It is Finished

The Malawi Lowershire Easter Conference was held at the Bangula Church. The theme was "It is finished." Eighty-six people were baptized. Youth, adults and clergy had an opportunity to learn more about God and the Church of the Nazarene. Children were also given time for fellowship and learning deeper things about God. On Sunday, we had a Resurrection Service where different choirs sang praising God for the resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. Holy Communion was served and the District Superintendent Rev Gershom Kwerakwera preached. Many believed. -- Africa Central Field

For more "Easter across Africa" stories in Engage magazine, click here.

Noah Sibanda, part 2: Empowering laity to build the church

The Lord has continued to bless the people of Gweru. Lay people spread the gospel. God did not just save them from their sins, but through his church they were helped in practical ways. They bring their ideas and inspiration. They are not just people to tithe, but they go beyond willingly. They know what love is. The church has impacted their daily lives.

Newly-made bricks

Loveness is a church secretary. She started as a primary school student who then went to poly-technical school. She started a printing/typing business. Her studies are used in the church. She backs up the pastor who has the theological knowledge, but not the office skills.

Building physical churches requires several construction skills. Noah's Farm used project funds to buy a brick molder. It makes ten standard bricks and five block bricks at a time. It serves two purposes: to teach lay people how to make bricks and create jobs of their own, and to enable the growth of churches because every time a church building is needed they can make the bricks.

Knowing one building skill can lead

Measuring and cutting a tile

to others. Pastor Noah explains, "All things work for good to those who are in Christ Jesus, or should we say God works in mysterious ways, or maybe we should just say He has the plan, plans to prosper us. We were busy this one day working on the bricks project, making bricks. An idea came concerning our Sunday school class. The idea was that it will be cool if only we could put floor tiles, that way it will be easy to clean. Well, it came to pass also that on that same wonderful day, there came one of our 'older members' who had been living in South Africa for few years. When he heard about the idea he told us that he could teach the youths how to lay floor tiles. A week later the idea became a reality. While we were making final touches on a wonderful Friday, a couple came to church to inquire about our church services. They also wanted to know if these young men who were working on floor tiles could do the same job at their house. "Yes" was the answer.

Pastor Sibanda explains, "Since then things have never been the same for these young men: It all started with a Sunday School class room, then into this couple's house. Later it was a teachers' college, then a few houses before the recent hospital. These young men

The latest building project --
toilets for the church

are being lifted up by God in a very strange and wonderful way. My prayer is, that one of these days, they can be able to register their own company. With God all things are possible."

In the Gewru area, lay people can make the bricks, plan the building and lay the bricks. The only outside help they currently need is for installation of the plumbing.

These lay people allow churches to be self-sufficient. They pay their own bills and provide pastoral care. Educated lay people are the foundation for strong evangelism and sustained church growth.

Editor's note: Part 3 of this series will address equipping young people for ministry.

I was an animist - JFHP newsletter

"I believed in spirit protection," said Kabore in Burkina Faso. "I was an animist and loved the fetish of my family. I believed this fetish would protect me against everything on this earth.

I began to doubt its power when I got sick. I was unable to be healed despite following all the sacrifices of sheep, chickens, and goats. Nothing was as I wanted.

That's when a neighbor who already knew Christ asked to pray for me. I said yes and a week later, I was up and around. I want to say thank you to Jesus. Tonight, I gave my life to Christ because of the projection of the JESUS Film. I thank you. Please continue to pray for me."

For more great stories, click here to subscribe to the JFHP Prayer and Praise newsletter.

I have a story... now what?

Out of Africa

submission guidelines:

100-500 words
At least one picture
Stories must be original. If you use another source, cite it so we can get permission to use it.
Include a one sentence bio of yourself as the writer.

Youth are encouraged to submit as well as adults.

Stories we are looking for:

Annual events and special events: graduations, district assemblies, evangelistic campaigns, Easter campaigns, Christmas programs, youth camps, etc. These stories should be submitted within a week of the event.

Ongoing ministries: youth ministering in prisons, children cleaning the church community, any ministry that reaches out to the community or transforms the world. As these are ongoing, there is no submission deadline.

Training and seminars: teacher's training, women clergy, district superintendent training, district and field meetings, and so on. For these, in addition to the story elements, please send a digital copy of materials that could be used by others to put on a training or seminar. These materials may be posted on the website as a downloadable resource. These should be submitted within a week of the training or seminar.

Profiles of leaders: Interview the leader - asking them to tell their personal story with Christ including any turning point in their life. Give them a chance to give advice and share their favorite Bible verse or song. Ask about the leader's current position how God empowers them to do it.

Testimonies of changed lives

Book review - contact the editor before writing a book review so there is no duplication.

If you have any questions, please, contact Amy Crofford, editor, at news@africanazarene.org

Check out the Holiness Today editorial by our General Superintendent in Jurisdiction and son of the soil, Dr. Eugenio Duarte -- "Memories Matter"

Amy Crofford,Out of Africa editor