Bringing Christ to the cities  Young leaders plant church to reach those migrating to the city

From left: Robby and Adonhetia Motubatse and Thulile and Dumisani Mavuso planted New Vision Church of the Nazarene in Ermelo, a South African industrial city in the Mpumalanga province.

 

Like many young professionals, Dumisani Mavuso moved to the city of Ermelo, South Africa, for work. He's a processing specialist at a chrome mining company, and his wife, Thulile, is a unit controller at Eskom, a power company.

 

Ermelo, a city of more than 40,000 people, is known for its mining and farming industries, which attract workers and their families to move to the city's middle-class suburbs.

 

Young professionals migrate to Ermelo for work,  often in mining or agricultural industries.

The population shift from rural areas to cities is happening globally. A major focus for the Africa Region is to follow this transition by planting more churches in the cities.

 

God placed a call on the Mavusos' hearts to start a church in Ermelo. In 2013, they took on a pastor role at a Nazarene church in Chrissiesmeer, a neighboring town.  

 

But their passion to plant a church near their home in Ermelo continued to grow. Many of their neighbors, other young families who moved to the city for work, did not have a church home.

 

"I would say here in Ermelo, most people who are really concerned about church and God are the older people," Thulile said. "For the younger generation, it's a thing of, you know, we're going to a club on the weekend."

 

There is an Ermelo Church of the Nazarene, where Thulile was raised, but it is located in the township, a residential area on the outskirts of town.

 

"We just saw the community and felt like people need to worship God closer to their homes," Thulile said.

 

The Mavusos' vision gained momentum when another young couple from their church, Robby and Adonhetia Motubatse, came alongside them with the same call. The couple also moved to Ermelo for employment; Robby is an animal scientist with the Department of Agriculture.

 

Robby said he had moved twice before for work, and both times he left a city, he felt God asking him, "What was your contribution to this area?"

 

"I would try to console myself, but I knew that I didn't contribute much," he said. When he moved to Ermelo in 2011, he wanted things to be different. "So it came to my heart to say, 'God, where I'm going now, I don't know the place, but I want to contribute to the Kingdom.'"

 

The two couples embraced their mission to plant a church. But they ran into some problems. For one, Robby said, it's more expensive to start a church in the city than in the townships. Secondly, they couldn't find a suitable space to rent.

 

"It was scary, because to start something in town, it needed a lot of muscles," Robby said. "But we just felt like if it's God who planted this idea in us, irrespective of the challenge of starting, then we'll take the bull by the horns."

 

The Motubatses opened up their garage to be used for church services, with the blessing of their neighbors and of their home church in Chrissiesmeer.

 

The new church, called New Vision Church of the Nazarene, held the first service in January of 2014. The couples now laugh thinking back at that small service of only nine attendees, including the four founders and the church secretary, Mrs. Priscilla Munzhelele. They had 20 chairs and were hoping for a bigger start.

 

"It was like we were crazy," Pastor Dumisani said. But the  nine began to grow. Within five months, up to 40 people were attending. In May of 2014, New Vision moved into a rented space. The following year, when their rented space was unexpectedly downsized, church members raised money and purchased a tent and chairs. One member, Mr. Collins, offered to let them set up the tent on his land in town.

New Vision members purchased a tent for worship services. (Submitted photo)

 

The church leaders began to see God making a difference in members' lives. Families who were going through struggles would call them for prayer and support, and would later report how God

helped them through. The church started two cell groups that meet during the week, and youth meet every Saturday.

 

Thulile envisions the church becoming a well-known center in the community where people with struggles such as drug addictions can come find help. Dumisani wants to go back to school for a marriage and family counseling degree. Robby recently registered at the Nazarene Theological College in Johannesburg to obtain a bachelor's degree in theology.

 

All four share leadership roles at the church. Pastor Dumisani typically preaches, Pastor Robby and Pastor Thulile organize Sunday school, and Pastor Adonhetia leads worship.

 

The topics of discussion, the style of music and the mode of outreach are all focused on drawing younger generations to Jesus, Thulile said. "We are looking in all those areas where we can try to meet them halfway to say, you know, Jesus is not this hard person, this dull (person) with no enjoyment at all," she said.

 

People gather in New Vision's original tent for revival. (Submitted photo)

New Vision held a revival week in May and invited Africa South Field Strategy Coordinator Rev. Mashangu Maluleka to speak. Up to 70 people squeezed into the 5-by-10-meter tent.

 

"It was very clear to me that the tent was too small for going forward," Rev. Maluleka said.

 

He was touched by the commitment of this small, young church to raise money for their temporary sanctuary. But he wanted the church to have more room to grow.

 

With the support of Africa Regional Director Dr. Filimao Chambo, the region and the Africa South Field partnered to buy New Vision a 9-by-15-meter tent, along with 100 chairs, two tables and a toilet. The money came out of a new urban ministry outreach fund.

 

"Fili and I are committed to this drive to the cities," Maluleka said. "... The main purpose, the main drive for reaching the cities, is responding to the 21st century reality that people are moving to the cities."

 

That reality is especially strong in South Africa, he said. During the apartheid era, black Africans weren't allowed to live in white suburbs and were pushed to government-built townships on the outskirts of cities. Now, 20 years after the end of apartheid, a diverse mix of young professionals are moving to the cities. The Nazarene Church needs to meet them there, Maluleka said.

 

"Most of our people are in the maintenance mood. They don't mind driving 100 kilometers back to the township church and leave the people here (in the city). So we need people who can think outside of the box, people who can go where people are," he said.

 

The founders of the New Vision church stand on land where a new tent will be installed to hold worship services. A member of the church is allowing the congregation to meet on his land.

 

Money is not an obstacle for God, Maluleka said.

 

"God will never give you a vision that he will not fund," he said. "God is not in the business of frustrating us. If he sends you to a city, if he sends you to something, he will resource you for something."

 

The pastors at New Vision want to take this gift they have received and multiply its impact.

 

"We want to see New Vision being a home to the community, and we also want to see New Vision contributing to the planting of other churches in other towns, even in our villages," Pastor Robby said. "We are being assisted now, as you are seeing, so we must be able to learn from that and also contribute to the success of other churches."

Mourning the loss of NCM Malawi coordinator

 

Alex Mkandawire unloads supplies from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries to those affected by the heavy flooding in Malawi. (February 17, 2015)

-By Holly Beech, Out of Africa editor

 

I was heartbroken to hear about the death of Alex Mkandawire, the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries coordinator for Malawi. He had been in the hospital with high sugar levels since May 31, and he passed away on June 18. He was a vibrant, active man in his 40s, and the news of his death came as a shock.

 

When I visited Malawi in February to write about the flooding, Alex was the one who met me at the airport and looked out for me during the three days I was there. I arrived in a new country alone, feeling a little apprehensive, and there was Alex holding a sign with my name on it and wearing a huge smile. He embraced me in a bear huge, burst into a hearty laugh, and off we went. My feelings of apprehension melted away.

 

During my short visit to Malawi, I grew to admire Alex and the joyful, peaceful way he served others. He was happy to tell me about his wife, Chimwemwe, and six children, the oldest being a few years younger than me.

 

We spent two days visiting rural villages to bring flood victims food, blankets and encouragement. Alex maneuvered the Land Cruiser around muddy ruts, across sketchy bridges, and through streams that still covered the roads after the flood. (I was thankful that his previous job had been as a driving instructor!) Even riding in the vehicle for 10 hours was exhausting, I can't imagine having to drive. But Alex never showed signs of weariness or irritation.

 

Alex served in his role as Malawi's NCM coordinator since 2008, bringing food, shelter and hope to people in desolate situations. His focus in ministry was food security, and he helped manage a food security project in northern Malawi, according to Africa Regional NCM Coordinator Rev. Cosmos Mutowa.

 

Hundreds of people from all walks of life attended Brother Mkandawire's funeral on June 21, Rev. Mutowa said. 

 

"We met with the wife after the burial service and consoled her and comforted her," he said. "It was a moving time. She shared with us about Alex's last moments, how he was concerned about the work he was doing and the people he was ministering to. He loved people and loved serving God in the work that he was doing." 

 

Brother Alex (right) helps distribute supplies to flood victims.

 Alex had recently earned a bachelor's degree in community development. Along with serving in disaster response and being a model of compassion, he also taught farmers in Malawi about agricultural conservation, Rev. Mutowa said.

 

"Through his leadership and knowledge of farming, many families have had their lives positively improved," he said.

 

I got to see Alex once more after my trip when he visited the Africa Regional Office in Johannesburg in March. His grin was as big as ever.

 

It is surreal to think that this passionate husband and father has passed away. I grieve for his family, for his friends, for the people he ministered to. We have to say goodbye, much too soon it seems, to an incredible disciple of Jesus. I praise God for his impact on this world while he was here, including the impact he made on my life and on my faith in just the three days I spent with him.

Church holds send-off service for global missionaries

Believers pray over the Elliotts at the send-off service at Moroka Church of the Nazarene in Soweto, June 20.

The family of believers in Soweto, Johannesburg, gathered last week to send off fellow South Africans to serve as missionaries on another continent. Reverends Collin and Shireen Elliott leave today, July 6, for their missionary assignment on the Asia-Pacific Region.  

 

Moroka Church of the Nazarene Pastor Tim and Mrs. Tembi Mogorosi hosted the send-off service on June 20, inviting believers from surrounding churches to celebrate with the Elliotts, encourage them, and pray for the journey ahead. Participants enjoyed songs of praise and shared a meal together.

 

When God calls missionaries, he is also calling the church to support them in prayer and finances, Africa South Field Strategy Coordinator Rev. Mashangu Maluleka said at the service. Food and living expenses are much higher where the Elliotts are going to live. It's the churches job to support those whom God calls, Maluleka said. This includes taking care of retired pastors and leaders, he emphasized.

 

Reverends Collin and Shireen Elliott sing together at the send-off service. They will arrive to the Asia-Pacific Region on July 7.

The send-off service is a reminder to believers to listen to God's call to serve, whether that be serving in another country or serving your neighbors across the street, Maluleka said. When God calls us, he equips us for the task, but he doesn't force us to follow, he said. We must accept the call and take action, supported by our church family.

 

AFRICAN MISSIONARIES

Editor's note: Out of Africa apologizes for wording used in previous articles that has led to confusion about missionaries from Africa. The Elliotts are not the first missionaries to be sent from Africa, but they are the first African missionaries on a global contract to serve in another region.  

 

"It is important to note that we do have other Nazarene African missionaries who are on a Global Missionary Contract who are serving in Africa," Africa Regional Director Dr. Filimao Chambo said. 

 

Africans have served as missionaries, both with the Nazarene Church and other organizations, for decades. One example is Ms. Ada Constance MacKenzie, a South African who served on a special assignment contract to Belize in the 1970s, followed by years of service in her home country.

 

Last year, 28 Africans served as missionaries on the Africa Region.

 

"We definitely celebrate and rejoice with the Church and those who have served in these capacities and other different types of contracts and conditions," Dr. Chambo said. "What we are celebrating now is the deployment of the Elliotts as the first African missionaries on a global missionary contract to be sent to another region."

 

The Nazarene Church has six global regions: the Africa Region, the Asia-Pacific Region, the Eurasia Region, the Mesoamerica Region, the USA/Canada Region, and the South America Region.

Nazarene Church launches global Justice Movement

 

The first organized event of the Justice Movement will focus on the need for clean water around the world. (Photos from the Justice Movement.)

 

The Justice Movement, a new project launched by Nazarene Youth International and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, is a global effort to equip and inspire young Christians to become social justice leaders in their communities.

 

The movement's first organized event is called "Just Water," which will look at the need for clean water around the world. Materials to hold "Just Water" events at your church - such as event guides, videos and small group study materials - will be available online in the coming weeks. Follow the Justice Movement on Facebook and  Twitter for updates, or sign up for email updates.

 

 

These events are meant to be more than weekend youth group activities. The goal of the Justice Movement is to continually disciple young Christians to live out their faith by being social justice advocates in their communities.

 

In August, Brooklyn Lindsey, an author, speaker and former youth pastor from Florida, was appointed as the Nazarene Church's Global Justice Advocate.

 

On the Africa Region, NYI leaders appointed Rev. Frank Mills as Regional Justice Coordinator. Mills is the Africa West Field NYI Coordinator and a district superintendent in Ghana. He has been working with youth for the past three years, training young leaders to engaging their churches and communities in seeking social justice. (Learn more about those efforts here.)

 

Nazarene Youth International leaders Mike Lilema (left), Frank Mills (center) and Zebedee Mazambi gather at the Africa Regional Conference in Johannesburg in March.

 

"The joy of bringing love and justice to the needy and marginalized should be the lifestyle of all young Nazarenes and not just a church program," Mills said in an email. "We will be excited to see Justice Movement groups formed within all NYI groups all over our region."

 

The issues raised by youth on the Africa West Field are shocking, he said, and there is a lot of work to be done. In his email, he listed the following concerns:

"I have heard...

...how owners of companies request sexual favors from girls before offering them a job even when they have met all required educational stipulations for the job in question.

...how girls have to stay at home and be caregivers and 'mothers' to their siblings to make it possible for parents to concentrate on educational needs of the family.

...how wealthy people grab farmlands from the poor farmers in the villages for fancy building construction.

...how rape victims are blamed for the unfortunate incident.

...how parents choose marriage partners for their kids and ignore their choices made.

...how ladies are not allowed to lead simply because they are female.

...how children are mistreated by guardians.

...how schoolteachers sexually harass students.

...how fathers become irresponsible and leave all responsibilities of the home to their wives.

...how the wealthy are given leadership positions based on financial status.

...how kids of poor parents have to stay out of class due to the inability to settle school fees.

...how some kids stay without food or medical care in schools because their parents could not settle feeding or medical fees."

 

Mills also listed ways youth can work toward solutions:

• "The young people usually address some of the above issues through concerts, role playing, dramas and speeches during special events;
• The young people sometimes organize debate over some of the topics, and the public and opinion leaders in the villages are invited to the debate.
• The young people sometimes educate the general public on some of these issues through writings on T-shirts.
• The young people invite the public, parents and friends to special 'tea party time.' During this exciting time, they find ways to address some of the issues mentioned above."

"The above-mentioned is by no means an extensive list," Mills said, "but through the Justice Movement, we will come alongside youth in their communities to see how we can together, battle together against these many social injustices."

Out of Africa moves to once a month

-By Holly Beech, Out of Africa editor 

 

For the past six months, I have been blessed to edit the Out of Africa newsletter from the Africa Regional Office in Johannesburg, South Africa. On July 1, I returned back to my home in Nampa, Idaho, USA, to continue working as a reporter for a local newspaper.  

 

I left South Africa with a heavy and grateful heart, knowing I would miss my beautiful "home away from home" and the friendships I had made.

 

Even though I am back in the states, the Africa Region has given me the opportunity to still help with the newsletter. I will continue to write and edit for Out of Africa in the coming months, assisting Africa Regional Communications Coordinator LuVerne Ward.

 

This transition comes with another change. From now on, Out of Africa will be published once a month rather than twice a month. Look for the newsletter in your email inbox on the first Monday of each month.

 

I hope to continue hearing from you and learning about what's going on in your church and community. Please feel free to email me and add me on Facebook.

 

It's been a joy to live in Africa and experience such warm hospitality. Thank you to everyone who has shown kindness and support along the way.