December  2014 - Issue 2
In This Issue
Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year
Excitement in Bujumbura
Cape Verdean Nazarenes respond to Volcanic Eruption
JESUS.Film training: Start with Jerusalem
Our Gift to You
He will be called... - JESUS Film Stories
Prayer

Please pray for the leaders in Africa

Pray for peace around the continent at a personal, community, and national level.

Pray for new districts, like the Burundi Pioneer District, to continue to grow numerically and spiritually.

Pray for established districts to impact their communities as did the church in Cape Verde.
Ebola
More information and resources can be found on the Africa West website.

Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year
Chambo Christmas Card

During the celebrations
of this Christmas season,
may you experience Joy and Peace
from the God who brings Hope.

From Dr. Filimao Chambo and family
and the Africa Regional Office

Digitally visit the Africa Region
Come to the website: www.africanazarene.org
  
@NazAfrica


null Church of the Nazarene - Africa Region
Le Coin Nazareen
Noticias Nazarenas
Excitement in Bujumbura - by Don Gardner
The atmosphere at the Burundi Pioneer District Assembly held November 7-8 was electric. The pastors, delegates and attendees celebrated having their own official address, which is important for government recognition and registration. Even a next-door neighbor (not a Nazarene ... yet) stated, "I am so happy to have the Church of the Nazarene in our community and so very close to my home. They re
Youth choir
ally care about our community."

The district had a powerful revival service on Friday night. It started out with a lot of excitement about being in their own facility - a building with a tin roof and papyrus mat walls. The thanksgiving and worship demonstrated enthusiasm for the blessings God has given them since last year. Friday Ganda preached a holiness sermon that challenged all our hearts. The altar was opened and many came to pray. God's presence was there through the whole service.

The next morning, the district assembly started early with choirs who had traveled form every church on the district. Three times as many people came compared to last year. Enthusiasm was high and one could tell that the people are taking ownership of their church. I preached a holiness message on surrendering to be filled with the Holy Spirit and what happens to one's heart when the Holy Spirit truly fills it. The altar was again lined with seekers for sanctification. The business of the assembly went on very well with most pastors giving great reports of growth in membership as well as spiritual growth. 

Rev. Friday Ganda says, "I am so proud of how our district superintendent, Rev. Luc Ntahobari, is leading his people. I am excited to see great spiritual and leadership growth in our pastors and leaders in Burundi. God has brought them far. Every church has contributed bricks, gravel and sand toward the construction of the new perimeter wall and they are still contributing truckloads of materials to develop their new district center."

God is growing His church in Burundi.
Cape Verdean Nazarenes respond to Volcanic Eruption - by David Araujo
The Fogo Island and Cape Verde awoke Sunday, November 23, with the eruption of the Pico volcano. After 48 hours, experts, authorities and the population concluded that the situation was much worse than the last eruption in 1995.
 
The government and other structures ordered the evacuation of Chã das Caldeiras region, at the top of the volcano, and the displacement of about 1,200 residents. People, for the most part, were installed in three reception centers (Achada Furna, Monte Grande and Mosteiros).
 
On the ground, volcano lava destroyed about 400 hectares, about 25 houses and many properties. The region, which is one of the most fertile of Cape Verde and a center of tourist attraction, is threatened to be totally devastated if the eruption continues at the current pace.
 
As the district superintendent, I challenged the Nazarenes to pray and fast for divine
DS Araujo looks at the food and water donations
intervention in favor of the affected church and population of the island. At the same time, a campaign was launched to raise money and food for the victims of the volcano.
 
Four days later, a team with two pastors and two lay people left Praia, the capital, for Fogo Island with about a thousand pounds of donations. Since then, a team of twenty people (11 pastors and laity 9) has been continuously in the three reception centers, distributing foodstuffs and counseling to people who are in a deep personal crisis.
 
The team has prayed with people and done spiritual activities, particularly with some believers who are among the displaced.  The team met with representatives of municipalities and reception centers to define the work to be developed.
 
At the center
Soon after the news, I met with the President and the Prime Minister whom I assured that the Church of the Nazarene, as always, will stand by the people of the islands.
 
The people need a lot of help. Chã das Caldeiras may disappear and with it a lot of history and a thriving economy. More than 1,200 people, mostly women and children, need housing, clothing, food and livelihood for their future.
 
In addition, they require a lot of spiritual help, advice, prayers and guidance.
 
This is one of the biggest challenges facing the Church of the Nazarene in Cape Verde in recent times. The church has been growing a lot. It is time to help with bread, shelter and Word of God. (Read about a miracle in this area in Nazarene history, start at paragraph 5.)
JESUS Film training: Start with Jerusalem - by Nzola Dieumerci
On Sunday, November 16, we boarded the bus to Goma city. At 2 pm, JESUS film team members and leaders of the North Goma Central District started our training with devotions from Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8. The group began to ask questions which led me to explain the importance the JESUS film ministry has as a partner with the district in the church planting movement.

The next day, I was surprised to see 36 leaders gathered for the training. Some were from local churches, others had traveled far. I began by saying that if a church wants to be more effective tomorrow in finding the lost, it must start acting like a more effective church today.

The assignment that Christ gave His followers was to reach the whole world. Start at Jerusalem, but don't stop there; work outward. The pastor or leader who wants only to reach his local community or city does not really have the mission perspective of a true disciple. I developed the topic by talking about the new solutions to impact our area. We must change our mentality. We must believe that God wants His church to make an impact in our areas. We should expect every Christian, pastor and church to multiply. This must become more than a goal; it must become a way of life. We also need to mobilize all believers to be involved. I ended by saying that we need to train more people so that we can be able to win new people.

After the training, we showed the JESUS film in KiSwahili which blessed many souls.
Our Gift to You
The 2015 Africa Regional Calendar with updated field names and countries.
   
He will be called... - JESUS Film Stories
Every Christmas, we read Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Yet, do we take Him for granted? JESUS film stories from the Africa West Field incarnate the names of Jesus.

Wonderful Counselor

My name is Edward. I am a teacher in a private school. I met the Lord Jesus when I had totally lost hope of living. This happened three months after I lost my wife and two children in a fire at our house. But Jesus comforted me and gave me new hope to live and believe in God the Creator.  If in the past I lived without religion, I led my life as I saw fit. Now he lives in me; my heart is filled with peace and love. (Benin)

I was deeply touched as I saw the way Jesus showed love and compassion to the woman who lost her daughter. I used to be a person who believed in vengeance, but as I viewed the film, I began to have a change of mind that same moment. I suddenly seemed to be able to release all the hurts and pains in my heart and I look forward that such behavior and thought will no longer be a part of my life. (Sierra Leone)

Mighty God

At night I do not sleep. I only have nightmares. During the JESUS film screening, I approached one of the pastors and explained my situation. He prayed for me and said that only Jesus can dominate Satan. That night I slept well. I note that I had been in this situation for more than two years. I believe that God delivered me from Satan and I will serve God forever. (Togo)

I am 32 years old. At the age of five, my grandmother introduced me to witchcraft - the mystical world. She gave me human flesh and I ate. Since then, I was at her service day and night. At the JESUS film, God delivered me. I decided to follow Jesus and threw away all my fetishes. I know many wizards will attack me and they will not leave me in peace, but I think Christ is stronger than they are. (Côte d'Ivoire)

Everlasting Father

I had a pretty miserable childhood because I lost both my parents when I was little. Today I want to give glory to God because he feeds me with his strength. God is so wonderful that I do not know how to give Him proper thanks for all the miracles in my life. He is my savior and my dad. (Benin)

I am 13 years old. The JESUS film showed me that God is always open towards sinners and want them to come to Him. He is gentle and graceful and seeks the good of all God's children. I pray that He gives me clarity so that I can be a good example for all the children of my generation. The Lord penetrated my heart and I am His child. (Benin)

Prince of Peace

I am 45 years old. I lost my father at the age of 3. I lived as an orphan because I was blamed for my father's death. I lived without love into adulthood. I left the village to flee my uncles, unfortunately, evil followed me everywhere. There was no room in my heart for forgiveness, or for love. I hated everyone, even my own children. But tonight, I am in tears of repentance because of what Jesus has done for me. Through the JESUS film, I found hope and especially peace with myself and I pray for my enemies. (Burkina Faso)

Merry Christmas!
Amy Crofford, editor