January 2015 - Issue 1

In This Issue

How to use the Africa Journal of Wesleyan Theology

Prayer

Pray for the Zimbabwean and Mozambican graduates as they continue to serve in their local churches as pastors and church leaders.

Pray for the new pastors and churches that are being started on the Zimbabwe East District.

Pray for the leaders in the areas touched by Ebola. Ministry continues. Youth revivals are held and Nazarene Theological Institute courses continue to be taught.

Pray for the JESUS Film teams across the region as they provide a Christian example from the setting up of equipment to the planting of a new church.

Pray for regional leadership as plans are made for the three regional conferences.

Praise God for the growth of the church in 2014-numerically and spiritually. Pray that both will continue in 2015.

Ebola updates

For three stories recent concerning Ebola, go to the new Africa West website, here.

Explore the Africa Region

Come to the website:www.africanazarene.org
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@NazAfrica

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rch of the Nazarene - Africa Region

Le Coin Nazaréen

Noticias Nazarenas

Graduation for Zimbabwe East - by Gary Sidle

The first graduation for Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa extension students to be held away from the NTCCA campus in Malawi was held on 13th December 2014 at the Avondale Church of the Nazarene in Harare, Zimbabwe. Africa Southeast Field education leadership including Principal Rev. Joe Lilema, Rev. Benson Phiri (academic dean), Rev. Oscar Dama (chaplain) along with Field Strategy Coordinator Rev. Paul Mtambo and I (field education coordinator) made the trip.

A crowd of close to 200 attended with 8 Diploma in Ministry students graduating. The Zimbabwe East District also took the opportunity to recognize and present certificates to 27 students who completed the Road to Emmaus which is an introduction to ministry course that prepares students to enter into the extension education program and minister in the local church.

Diploma in Ministry Graduates
and Emmaus Road Certificate Recipients

Rev. Mtambo spoke and served communion as a part of the ceremony and worship time. Afterward, lunch was served for the graduates, families and friends. The atmosphere was festive. The entire event was deemed a success with the large crowd attending and positive feedback by the field and district leadership.

The following day, the field leadership split up and attended local churches pastored by the diploma graduates and churches involved with the extension education program. Some of these churches are new church plants, but show signs of growth.

Liberian Youth working for the Kingdom - by Tee T. Latahn

The NYI of the Karnplay Zone- Liberia Central District Church of the Nazarene recently ended a three-day revival and training conference in Loelay. The conference brought together 143 youths from six of the ten churches within the zone.

Teachers and preachers at the conference taught on faithfully serving Christ while still young and strong. The youth were challenged to be good examples and never let anyone look down on them. Interestingly, everyone memorized I Timothy 4:12 as a key verse.

During the Loelay revival, more than ten people gave their lives to the Lord and the Loelay Church was strengthened. The youth raised money and contributed ten packs of nails to the construction of Karnplay Church of the Nazarene. They also planned to start an agriculture project (vegetable production) to raise funds for training and youth development.

On the last day of the conference, a youth magnetic network plan was introduced by which every youth was motivated to touch the lives of others and lead them to Christ.

Women in Ministry - JESUS Film Stories

The Church of the Nazarene has always held that God calls women to ministry and has not barred any office or position to them. These JESUS Film stories reflect different aspects of that call.

We praise the Lord for the results of the JESUS film showing in this location because most of the people who responded to the calling at the end of it now attend the Sunday service.
The assigned leader for the new church is Pastor Florine. She is the mother of two street children. Her boys attend the Street Kids Center. She is in the second year of pastoral study given by the Institut Théologique Nazaréen. Pray for her as she is pastoring the new church. Pray also that a lot of street kids' parents will follow her way. (Madagascar)

A female politician saw the women setting up to show the JESUS film in her home village when she came to visit her parents. Her curiosity about these women led her to bring her parents to the showing. They all gave their hearts to Jesus. (Togo)

My name is Ayaba and I was a Christian. When I gave my life to Jesus, I had the call to preach the Good News to people. The leaders of the church would not accept my divine call. They said

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a woman has no right to preach and that women should be silent in society. This is what discouraged me. I said until women have the right to preach, then the woman is nothing in the eyes of God. It is only men who will be saved. So, I decided to stop going to church. But today, I was surprised to see women who were bringing the JESUS Film for evangelism. That told me that the Church of the Nazarene does not reject God's call of women. Starting today, I became a Christian in the Church of the Nazarene. (Togo)

Testimonies from the Seminário - by Jonas Sitoe

On November 29, the Seminário Nazareneo em Moçambique held its Commencement. The twenty graduates in theology and the three in Biblical Studies originate from different parts of the country. After three or four years of preparation, the new pastors celebrated the victory with many words of gratitude to God and to their leaders. When asked what the preparation time meant, we received the following responses:

Philip Eusebius, Nampula province, "I thank God for the time I was here in the SNM. They were years of great learning, not only in the theological and pastoral area, but mainly in the formation of my character. I learned not only how to be a good shepherd, but also to be an approved Christian. "

Lucas Luis Grimone, province of Zambezia: "The years of study meant a lot to me. I had great difficulty at first with the language, with writing and even understanding the lessons. But my teachers helped me a lot. They gave me tips to make myself understood in a simple way and encouraged me to continue studying. I thank each of them for the support they gave me. "

Lina Coletina Matusse, Maputo Province: "Studying at the Nazarene Seminary was a great blessing in my life. When I went, I thought it would just learn more about the Bible. But as time went on, I realized that my inside was changing and it was so strong that I, with the help of my teachers, and especially the dean, ended up deciding to get married officially. Before I lived with my husband without being married, but no one knew it at the SNM. I thank God who has done His work in my life. "

Abel Julian Mapsanganhe, Gaza province: "I am very happy to know that I won despite all barriers over these three years and managed to graduate. Before I met Jesus I was a drunk, living in tents and did not want to know anything about God. But when Jesus reached me and called me to the ministry, he changed everything in my life. Bei Mozambique map

ng in the seminary made me learn a lot. Not only in classes which were very important to me, but mostly day-to-day with my teachers and colleagues. In fact, my character was being enhanced mainly at those times. I just have no words to express my thanks for the teachings I received and the revivals that I had the opportunity to participate in. I want to be a good shepherd and reach many young people who, as I have been, are stuck in vices and sin. "

Hélder Eugenio Muahala, Inhambane province: "I want to thank the seminary for all you did for me in the time I studied here - even for the practical things like clothing donations, soap, and notebooks. Now that I'm coming home, I hope to serve the Lord with all the strength of my youth and encourage others to come to the seminary to prepare. Some are afraid of what they will face here, but the truth is that God is faithful and He helps us in all things. "

We praise God for the life of every worker who helped to prepare these graduates for better work in the Kingdom of the Lord. We pray that they will continue serving the Lord and build on the power of the Holy Spirit, a fruitful and benevolent ministry.

How to use the Africa Journal of Wesleyan Theology

Imagine having a resource that is thoroughly Wesleyan to help deal with the questions your congregation, zone or district faces. This resource exists. It is the Africa Journal of Wesleyan Theology (AJWT).

Journals are written at a relatively high academic level and will not appeal to everyone, but the ideas and concepts contained in it can.

Here are a few steps to use the AJWT at your local church, zone or district:
1)     The leaders should closely read the article that was chosen as the basis for the discussion or training. Examine every Bible verse cited. Discuss the topic and how it relates to the local context. Predict what questions may be asked and the best biblical response.
2)     With much prayer, choose who will lead the discussion or session. Will it be led by an individual or be a panel discussion?
3)     If the leaders have any questions about the article or something they would like to have clarified, ask the article writer or Dr. Greg Crofford, the journal editor.

Once prepared, invite the congregation, zone or district to deal with the topic. This could be done on a weekday evening, a weekend get-together, or at a convention or assembly.

The Mariasburg Church of the Nazarene (RSA) did an evening Question & Answer session with one of the writers. Of the evening, layman Angelo Pieterson said, "It was encouraging and empowerin

Rev. Dr Patrick Thomas

g. We are always ready to learn how not to push people away, but to lead them to God."

If you have a church that likes an academic challenge, consider using the Journal as material for an adult Bible study. Everyone could download the journal from the Wesleyan-Holiness Digital library and spend a longer time comprehensively discussing each article.

Editor's note: If you have a question or topic that you think would be good for a future issue. Please send your idea to Amy Crofford, here.

Read the digital version of the Africa Journal of Wesleyan Theology, volume 1, here. Note, the second volume is scheduled to be released in March.

LuVerne Ward, managing editor