May 2014 - Issue 2

In This Issue

Rev. Chinyama Lilema - New Principal for NTCCA

The Power of Story - Delivered to a People of Story

Noah Sibanda, part 3: Equipping pastors to lead the church

A Divine Lecture Hall

"He Leadeth Me" - a graduate interview

Prayer requests and praises

Join the people at Divine Hope church as they reach out to those sitting for exams.

Pray for the transition at NTCCA as Revs. David and Marquita Mosher and Rev. Lilema take new roles.

Pray for African storytellers. May they become even more enthused at sharing the greatest story ever told.

Pray for all those involved in pastoral education. Those who send, those who go and those who teach. Pray for the recent graduates to find churches to pastor or to plant new ones.

Explore the Africa Region

Come to the website:www.africanazarene.org
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rch of the Nazarene - Africa Region

Le Coin Nazaréen

Noticias Nazarenas

Rev. Chinyama Lilema - New Principal for NTCCA

The Board of Trust of Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa has selected Rev. Chinyama "Joe" Lilema as the next principal following the retirement of Rev. David Mosher.

Rev. Lilema has served as the academic dean at NTCCA since 2007. He also currently serves as the academic advisor for the BA in Christian Ministries offered at NTCCA in partnership with Africa Nazarene University. Prior educational positions include Central Field Extension

Rev. Chinyama Lilema

Education Coordinator, education coordinator for private schools and school teacher. Rev. Lilema also has ministry experience as a pastor, district evangelism leader and district superintendent.

He graduated in 2009 with a MA in Religion from ANU. His BTh. ('91) was earned from Canadian Nazarene College through a program offered in Swaziland.

Rev David W Mosher said, "Rev Lilema has the gift of bringing calmness in the midst of turmoil and wisdom when dealing with emotional reactions of others. Being a son of Central Field, he will be able to encourage support from the districts. I can see the spiritual growth of students, staff and faculty at NTCCA."

Regional education coordinator, Dr. Greg Crofford, said, "We welcome Rev. Lilema to the team of institutional heads and look forward to his contribution both in the Central Field and on the Africa Region."

The Power of Story - Delivered to a People of Story - by Ray Neu

The power of story was recently discovered by two different groups of leaders who met in South Africa. The first group was the Regional Mission Team, who only meet twice a year, yet permitted time in their very busy schedules to experience this for themselves. The second group were selected leaders from across the Africa South Field.

Small group practice

Both groups were amazed, thrilled and inspired by the power of shared story as they participated in these highly interactive Bible Stories. Dr. Woodie Stevens, SDMI Director and I, creator of this story training model, were on hand to present the stories and the subsequent training. The model is rather simple yet the effect is profound and life-changing.

One leader declared, "This is going to revolutionize the church worldwide!"

What brought about such enthusiasm? A highly reproducible and deceptively simple process of telling Bible stories, followed by investigative, open-ended questions. There is no lecture involved --- at all. This 'flipped' model turns the normal teacher into a facilitator and brings the listeners into the forefront as they answer these questions with the insights they gain through guided discovery.

South African storytellers

The results were impressive. Devotional time ran long, no one cared. Story sessions during training 'flew by' even though they were 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The time sped by quickly because of the high level of engagement and participation from everyone in the groups.

This model, formerly called, "Bible Trekking" is now being internalized into the future and immediate plans of the Regional Mission Team. They developed a new name, which they felt would appeal to Africans, which is "Let's Talk". This name reflects the shared relationships that occur during the discussion as well as the aspect of listening to the story.

Everyone experienced the reality of how powerfully stories can talk to us. Many shared their ideas and plans for how they see this new model being effective in all types of ministries across the African continent.

This is a tool that anyone can use. I believe that God will use this model of sharing Bible stories to raise up a vast army of new workers for God's harvest fields!" Let's pray that it is so!

Noah Sibanda, part 3: Equipping pastors to lead the church

Rev. Sibanda and his wife, Margaret, are both ministers. She is gifted in door-to-door evangelism. She can listen to people and love them into the fellowship. She is evangelistic. His gifting is in preaching and teaching. Rev. Noah says, "When I am alone, I don't know my right from my left. When she is alone, she doesn't know her left from her right. But when we are together, we know what we need to do. That's what marriage

is. Together we are complete and strong."

On a visit to the Gweru area, Rev. Collin Elliot told Rev.Sibanda to saturate the place and not to try to plant churches at great distances. Ten churches have been planted within a 25 km range of the original church.

A church plant begins with door-to-door evangelism. This is followed by a major campaign using a tent, chairs and a PA system provided by Noah's Farm. The gospel is preached Wednesday through Friday. The JESUS film is shown on Saturday. Finally on Sunday, a service is conducted. Once the preaching point is established a theological student is assigned. That student begins as the pastor while still in school. It gives her or him a place to seek the vision of God.

The relationship between local church and future pastor is crucial. If a local church cannot produce another church then Rev. Sibanda feels they should not produce another pastor. If the mother church is planting a church, the student can go to the baby church during school breaks. The students will get real training and they will grow. They will have a place to be visionary. The mo

Pastor Noah and
a future pastor

ther church already has a pastor who has the vision for them; a student will feel stifled following the vision of another. They will naturally want to try their own ideas and practice what they are learning.

The Gweru area has had several graduates from NTCCA in Malawi. Through the project these young men and women were helped to fulfill their calling of being ministers. All of them are ministering in the Church of the Nazarene today here in Gweru, Zimbabwe.

Some of the theological students become chaplains in the police force or the military. This is another opportunity for the church to be known and respected in the area.

Rev. Noah concludes, "The call is important in the life of a pastor or chaplain. If the Church of God in general will ever fulfill the Great Commission, it will do so through pastors who have a call of God - pastors who have a passion and zeal to win lost souls. For that reason it is very important for elders to carefully and prayerfully equip young people as pastors for they will have to carry the torch forward."

A Divine Lecture Hall - by Amy Crofford

How do you plant a church in an urban area? How do you preserve Nazarene youth who attend secular universities away from their home provinces? Rev. Mashangu Maluleka had a vision of a Church of the Nazarene in the

Stained glass window depicting miners

South African capitol, Pretoria, based at the Tshwane University of Technology.

Seven years ago, a few students registered a student organization that has grown into the Divine Hope Church of the Nazarene. Sunday School is held in lecture halls. Students ask questions and actively participate in the discussion. Bibles are open and laughter is common.

Miss Lillian.

Church is held in a large auditorium. Before even entering, people are greeted with a hug and a smile. Just inside the door is a book table staffed by the enthusiastic Miss Lillian.

The service is seamlessly lead by many musicians and other leaders. The church has over 200 people praising God.. Every service is videotaped and for sale for those who miss a week or want to share a service with others.

There is more to the church than a Sunday morning service. There are fourteen small groups that meet throughout the week. There is a mid-week service. The people actively participate in Gauteng District events. The community is strong.

After the service, newcomers are invited to share juice and a snack. They are personally welcomed to become a part of Divine Hope by Rev Mashangu and Remember Maluleka who explain that they do not expect students to transfer their membership from their home church, but rather to see Divine Hope as a place to encounter God while at university.

Special events r

elated to the university also dot the calendar. The church takes part in New Student Orientation welcoming students when they first arrive. A major emphasis is to pray for students who are sitting exams. The last prayer meeting for exams saw 2,000 students in attendance. The next three-hour prayer session for exams will be held on May 25th.

Rev. Maluleka's vision is not for this church alone, but rather for every secular university in South Africa to have a Divine Hope Church of the Nazarene. It is a big vision, but one that would bring glory to God.

Editor's note: Pretoria and the surrounding area are transitioning to the name Tshwane.

"He Leadeth Me" - a graduate interview by Marquita Mosher

Eric Sitemba was born on September 3, 1990 the fourth of eleven children. Three of his siblings have passed away and that makes him the second oldest in his family.

Eric Sitemba

I am from Choma in Kalomo District of the Southern Province of Zambia. My home church is located on the South District of Zambia.

In 2006, I came into contact with the Church of the Nazarene. When a pastor came to the secondary school to preach I became convicted of my sins and repented. Through this group at the school I learned more about Bible study and prayer. It was through the influence of this pastor that in 2007 I realized that God was calling me to ministry and could use me in the same way to reach others for Christ. The Holy Spirit continued to work on my weaknesses. Before I became a Christian I could become annoyed quickly with people, but God has continued to work in my life. I finished secondary school in 2009.

Life at NTCCA has impacted my prayer life. I came to NTCCA in 2011. When I first came I was just interested in getting the diploma and maybe working in a different field, but I now want to do ministry for God in whatever area he would lead. The influence of being involved in ministry activities and the prayer times with other students have helped me to focus on the work of the Lord. It has helped me to commit to prayer in all things. NTCCA life has helped me in my relationship with other people. It has also helped me to improve and broaden my use of the English language. Through my relationships with other students and lecturers I have grown spiritually.

I have been the leader/monitor for our class as well as participating in various roles in student government. I like music and "He Leadeth Me" is my favorite hymn. I have enjoyed being a part of the NTCCA choir as well. I want him to continue to lead me in the ways I should go.

God has called me to pastor and I may need to do some studies in business to have some means of support, but the important thing is to pastor. I would like to be a help with churches that are struggling to grow. I want to help them have an impact on their communities for Christ.

Amy Crofford, editor -- news@africanazarene.org