Africa Lusophone Field to include all Portuguese-speaking areas
This past year I have been in conversation with FSCs, RAC members, some district superintendents, and other leaders about the strategy for missions in the Portuguese speaking countries in Africa. We have concluded that it would be advisable to expand the Africa Lusophone Field to include all the Portuguese-speaking countries and also Equatorial Guinea.
While Spanish is the primary-official language in Equatorial Guinea, we have learned that in recent years, Portuguese was also approved to be one of the official languages. It seems reasonable to assume that it will fit better to the Lusophone field.
As of 1 October 2014, the field will be formed as follows: Angola, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé e Principe. It will continue to be called the Africa Lusophone Field. |
Africa Central Field to become Africa South-East Field,
Africa Middle Field to become Africa Central Field
Several years ago, the countries of, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe were grouped together to form what we now know as the Africa Central Field. However, the mission of the church has expanded to a geographical area in Africa, which is officially, known as Central Africa in the maps of Africa and the world.
As of 1 October 2014, the Africa Middle Field will be renamed the Africa Central Field, which is consistent with the appropriate name of this geographical area. Many of the countries in this field are French-speaking and the word for "middle" in French is "central." The former designation caused confusion.
The countries of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are located between South and East Africa, hence the renaming of this field as Africa South-East Field. (ASEF).
Although field changes either in countries served or names used can be confusing for a time, I am sure we can quickly adjust.
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Church of the Nazarene - Africa Regional Office
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