Paul Whitaker
25th July 2008, 11:41 AM (11:41)
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The mission of the Africa Region and its director, Eugénio Duarte: To Make Christlike Disciples in Africa.
Africa’s vision and mission
South Africa
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The following report was given by Africa Regional Director Eugénio Duarte in the Out of Africa regional newsletter:
The concept of revision has given rise to great conversations among present-day leaders in the Church of the Nazarene. Consciously following the lead of the Board of General Superintendents, various teams have gathered around the denomination’s Core Values and the recently recast mission to prayerfully formulate goals and define strategies for present and future times.
In Africa, we continue convinced that the core skills and talents given to the Church in this part of the world must be used to follow God’s plan for humankind as revealed in the Scriptures. Current circumstances and timing cannot be ignored. As we continue to assess resources and opportunities, we realize the need to translate our reason for being, our focus and vision into a clear picture, and in so doing, we reviewed our vision and mission statements. On behalf of the Africa Region leadership team, I am honored to announce them.
Mission: To Make Christlike Disciples in Africa
The time that we spent discussing and praying about the mission statement of the Church of the Nazarene in Africa contributed to a deeper study of the denomination’s mission statement, hence the realization that Africa’s should emanate from it and, obviously, be focused on our dear continent.
We also realized that the Lord wants us to be “faithful and wise” (Luke 12:42); therefore we need to measure our progress in the journey availing ourselves of what constitutes our vision.
Vision: To realize personal Wesleyan holiness revival resulting in church planting movements in which disciples make disciples throughout Africa and the world
Personal Revival - Unless we, leaders and followers, allow the Holy Spirit to change us, fill us, and then use us, our goals and dreams are purely human and will not serve His purpose. The revival we need must be personal. Each individual must intentionally and constantly seek more from God and be eager to see their personal revival touching and affecting every one of those whom they have been commissioned to minister to with special attention for those in their critical inner circle.
Church Planting Movements - It is not happening on account of our strategy. It is by God’s design and power. But we also believe that He counts on our engagement and commitment to undertake His plan. We know that we are empowered to reason and chose actions and methods that work. Some actions and methods may not be customary, but God has the right to change everything, including our practices. He is using ordinary people to accomplish the extraordinary mission of making disciples through church planting movements. The fashions in which He does it vary, but the fabric that He uses to accomplish His objective is the same. Africa Region can reach 20,000 churches by the year 2012. Nazarenes are being called to plant churches and will do it successfully using monitored and encouraged freedom to dream and act in ways that are biblically and culturally suitable.
Disciple Making - Every Nazarene in Africa can and needs to be a disciple maker. Every ministry can and must provide resources and advice on mediums and tools for disciple making. Every local church can and must be a place where everyone is constantly and enthusiastically reminded and called to their reason for being. Every leader can and must be a model of dynamism, effectiveness, and efficiency in making disciples. All that our goal of 1,000,000 Nazarenes by 2010 takes is the serious commitment of each one to win and add one.
Throughout Africa and the World - The holiness disciple making effort of the Church of the Nazarene in Africa led by committed missionaries and nationals has paid off with 5,750 churches and 111 districts in 36 countries and areas as well as unofficial contacts and activities in six others of which four should become official, active, and reproductive by 2010. Although our focus is Africa, leaning on no human ambition, we believe that we cannot limit God in His use of the African church to reach out to other parts of the world.
Where are we heading? To the great celebration as stated in the Bible: “Halleluiah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:6-7).
--Eugénio Duarte
The mission of the Africa Region and its director, Eugénio Duarte: To Make Christlike Disciples in Africa.
Africa’s vision and mission
South Africa
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The following report was given by Africa Regional Director Eugénio Duarte in the Out of Africa regional newsletter:
The concept of revision has given rise to great conversations among present-day leaders in the Church of the Nazarene. Consciously following the lead of the Board of General Superintendents, various teams have gathered around the denomination’s Core Values and the recently recast mission to prayerfully formulate goals and define strategies for present and future times.
In Africa, we continue convinced that the core skills and talents given to the Church in this part of the world must be used to follow God’s plan for humankind as revealed in the Scriptures. Current circumstances and timing cannot be ignored. As we continue to assess resources and opportunities, we realize the need to translate our reason for being, our focus and vision into a clear picture, and in so doing, we reviewed our vision and mission statements. On behalf of the Africa Region leadership team, I am honored to announce them.
Mission: To Make Christlike Disciples in Africa
The time that we spent discussing and praying about the mission statement of the Church of the Nazarene in Africa contributed to a deeper study of the denomination’s mission statement, hence the realization that Africa’s should emanate from it and, obviously, be focused on our dear continent.
We also realized that the Lord wants us to be “faithful and wise” (Luke 12:42); therefore we need to measure our progress in the journey availing ourselves of what constitutes our vision.
Vision: To realize personal Wesleyan holiness revival resulting in church planting movements in which disciples make disciples throughout Africa and the world
Personal Revival - Unless we, leaders and followers, allow the Holy Spirit to change us, fill us, and then use us, our goals and dreams are purely human and will not serve His purpose. The revival we need must be personal. Each individual must intentionally and constantly seek more from God and be eager to see their personal revival touching and affecting every one of those whom they have been commissioned to minister to with special attention for those in their critical inner circle.
Church Planting Movements - It is not happening on account of our strategy. It is by God’s design and power. But we also believe that He counts on our engagement and commitment to undertake His plan. We know that we are empowered to reason and chose actions and methods that work. Some actions and methods may not be customary, but God has the right to change everything, including our practices. He is using ordinary people to accomplish the extraordinary mission of making disciples through church planting movements. The fashions in which He does it vary, but the fabric that He uses to accomplish His objective is the same. Africa Region can reach 20,000 churches by the year 2012. Nazarenes are being called to plant churches and will do it successfully using monitored and encouraged freedom to dream and act in ways that are biblically and culturally suitable.
Disciple Making - Every Nazarene in Africa can and needs to be a disciple maker. Every ministry can and must provide resources and advice on mediums and tools for disciple making. Every local church can and must be a place where everyone is constantly and enthusiastically reminded and called to their reason for being. Every leader can and must be a model of dynamism, effectiveness, and efficiency in making disciples. All that our goal of 1,000,000 Nazarenes by 2010 takes is the serious commitment of each one to win and add one.
Throughout Africa and the World - The holiness disciple making effort of the Church of the Nazarene in Africa led by committed missionaries and nationals has paid off with 5,750 churches and 111 districts in 36 countries and areas as well as unofficial contacts and activities in six others of which four should become official, active, and reproductive by 2010. Although our focus is Africa, leaning on no human ambition, we believe that we cannot limit God in His use of the African church to reach out to other parts of the world.
Where are we heading? To the great celebration as stated in the Bible: “Halleluiah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:6-7).
--Eugénio Duarte