Enabling effective ministry in Africa www.africanpastors.org
APF News and PrayerJuly to September 2016
Inside:
Prayer Points
Remembering Dorothy Almond
Kenya Calling
In the UK
GrowingGreener inMalawi
01 www.africanpastors.org
To date in 2016 there have been
• Twooverseasvisits.ThefirsttoRwanda (where meetings also took place with some of our Burundi contacts) and Uganda; the second saw GeoffHoldervisitMalawi– thefirsttimeAPFhasreachedMalawifor several years
• UK Regional Events will have taken place in the North West, South West andSouthEast–withNorthEastandWestMidlandsregionaleventsplanned in October (see p2 for details)
• Nine Sunday church visits to advocate forAPFandpreach
• Significantprogresstowardthedelivery of our mid to long term objectives, not least the mapping of keyAfricanregionsandidentificationofpotentialAfricanRegionalPartners
In the midst of all this activity I was remindedbyRevDrMichaelOkwakol,PresidentoftheAll-AfricaBaptistAllianceandoneofourpatrons,whenwemetinKampalainAprilandhadasignificantconversationthatanimportant and somewhat unique aspectofAPFsministryisto“pastor the pastors who pastor the pastors!”
Thankyouforhelpingustodothat–andinsodoing–contributetobringingcommunity transformation through the localchurchinAfrica.
Thank YouRev David Stedman
01 www.africanpastors.org
From the CEO
The first 6 months of 2016 have been busy and eventful.
Rev Dr Michael Okwako
Enabling effective ministry in Africa 02
In the UK
Enabling effective ministry in Africa 02
Golf Day 2016 The second annual fundraising
golf day will take place at
CanterburyGolfClubonFriday
28th October. There are already
seven teams provisionally
booked and although it is a long
way for some of our supporters
to travel Canterbury is a mature
parklandcourse–arealtreat
toplay–andexcellentvalueat
£40 per player for breakfast, use
of the driving range, 18 holes,
dinnerandsomeexcellentprizes.
Contact [email protected]
for more information.
UK ConferencesSat 8th October
NE Regional Conference
Stockton Baptist Tabernacle,
Stockton-on-Tees
Sat 29th October
West Midlands Regional
Conference
Queens Road Baptist Church,
Coventry
Aussie Advocates for APF SteveandDawnExleyrecentlybecameinvolvedin
supportingAPF.Theyhavecontributedfinancially,
took part in the Lycra Challenge sponsored ride last
September and donated items to Recycle 4 Good
Causes on our behalf. They have a young family and
long-standinginterestinAfricanmissionhaving
served short term with various agencies in Zambia,
Uganda and Kenya. The Lord has called them to
emigratetoAustralia–theyleftjusttwoweeksago
onthisnewadventure–andintheluggagetheytook
withthemwasmaterialrelatingtoAPFtosharewith
friends in their new church in Sydney. We are grateful
to Steve and Dawn for their enthusiastic involvement,
wish them well in this new chapter and look forward
toagrowingnetworkofsupportfromdown-under!
The Exley Family
03 www.africanpastors.org
Growing Greener in Malawi
Last April, Geoff Holder visited the New Life Christian Church (NLCC), an APF partner in Malawi. NLCC is an independent network of about 280 congregations scattered throughout rural communities in Malawi and Mozambique and overseen by Pastor Lloyd Chizenga.
Lloyd is determined to see the church as the driving force for rural community development, making a positive difference in people’s lives
APFsupportedNLCCindeliveringtwo
training conferences in villages in the Shire
Valley region each attended by over 200
church leaders (both men and women).
Together,weexploredsomeofthe‘roots’
of the many challenges faced by rural
communities and discussed the potential
ofthelocalchurch,followingJesus’s
exampleofservantleadership,tobethe
key agent of community change.
During the workshops it became clear
that the major challenge facing rural
communitieswasfoodsecurity.Poorsoils
and changing rainfall patterns due to
climate change have meant that producing
enough food to feed everyone in a rural
household is becoming increasingly more
difficult;afactunderlinedbytheMalawian
government’srecentdeclarationofa
State of Emergency.
Enabling effective ministry in Africa 04
Familiesarestrugglingtomakealiving
from small farms on marginal land and
traditionalwaysofgrowingmaize,the
staple crop, are no longer working. During
the2015-16plantingseason,farmers
planted in November (as they traditionally
always have done) but no rain came. They
tried again in December but no rain came.
Finally,theyplantedinJanuarybutstillno
raincame.Althoughsomerainhasnow
fallen, there is no seed left to plant.
Soil degradation is equally a problem. In
the dry season, bare soils turn to dust
and blow away. When it rains, tropical
downpours just wash any remaining
nutrients into the rivers.
ForLloydthisisacauseforgreatconcern
especiallyassomanyMalawiansdepend
onsmall-scaleagriculturefortheir
livelihoods.Heexplainedthatwhenyour
children are hungry, nothing else really
matters. Desperation was driving parents
to sell their daughters into early marriage,
poornutritionwasdamagingchildren’s
development and hunger was forcing
young men to leave their families in search
of work in the cities.
APFisnowhelpingNLCCdeliver
asignificantChristiansustainable
agriculture project equipping local
churches in training farmers to adapt
their practices to meet the challenges of
climate change and soil degradation whilst
sharing the Good News of Jesus. Simple
buteffectivesustainablefarmingmethods
like‘no-till’cultivation,composting,
mulching,agro-forestry,budgetingand
marketing provide farmers with the skills
and knowledge to adapt to the challenge
of climate change whilst protecting and
enhancing their soil so they can grow
more and feed their families.
Using the Bible as a starting point, Lloyd
andhisteamoftrainersknowthatit’s
essential that the church serves the
community both practically and spiritually.
“Jesus’s example of leadership was servant-leadership,”Lloydexplained.“We know we’re called to serve the rural communities.”
Through NLCC, lives are being changed
both practically in the here and now, and
foralleternitytocome.Pleasevisitour
websitetofindoutmoreandsupport
LloydchanginglivesinMalawithroughour
Growing Greener initiative.
84%of Malawians depend on
small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods.
Training conference, Ngabu
05 www.africanpastors.org
After having made two brief visits to Kenya to establish personal contact with Kenyan colleagues Dave Stedman will be returning for a ministry trip in late July.
Kenya Calling
The main objectives for the trip are:
• tovisitAPFcontactsintheir
locations gaining a better
understandingofthecontextin
which they serve and share with
them in delivery of training with
a view to developing long term
partnerships around
agreed objectives
• tospendanextendedperiodwith
RevAbrahamKoech,VicePrincipal
ofKapsabetBibleCollege(Africa
Inland Church) who has capacity
and a sense of call to pastor
pastors and train trainers regionally
Dave will be visiting a variety of networks, taking part in regional
conventions and day conferences for pastors and wives in south
westKenya.Heisbeingaccompaniedbyournewesttrustee,
Nelly Lukwo, together with Rev Dr Kate Coleman and Rev
ChamKaur-Mann,allrepresentingNextLeadershipwhowork
totransformgloballeadershipfromthe‘insideout’andequip
leaders for the future.
Above: Rev Cham Kaur-MannBelow: Rev Abraham Koech
Enabling effective ministry in Africa 02Enabling effective ministry in Africa 06
Abrahamisexcitedabouttheupcoming
visit:“WearedelightedthatAPFwillbe
visiting our college and ministering to our
students and regional leaders. It is a privilege
tobeabletohosttheteamattheprincipal’s
lodge and we pray for the partnership to
flourish.ToreceivevisitorsfromUKisan
encouragement in itself and we pray the
Lord will richly bless our time together.”
It will also be good to travel with Kate
ColemanandChamKaur-ManfromNext
leadership.Kate–aformerpresidentof
Baptist Union of Great Britain and the
EvangelicalAlliance-hastakenakeen
interestinAPF.
In addition to the time in Kapsabet the
team will also spend two days at Central
Rift Baptist Convention assembly in
Kericho as well as two one day conferences
withRenewalMinistryFellowshipand
GraceCalvaryChristianMinistry,bothin
Siaya County.
Themes for the conferences range from how
tobeaneffectivepastorinthe21stCentury
to more typical topics such as discipleship,
stewardship, family values and income
generation. There will also be preaching
opportunities in local churches close to
Kapsabet Bible School where Dave will
be speaking at the end of year service for
students and faculty.
“I believe that APF is called to be a powerful force for empowerment, change and transformation in Africa because so much of what it does is designed to strengthen and support those, particularly church leaders, who promote and inspire change. Much of my ministry is committed to the development and release of leaders, particularly in Africa and other parts of the Global South, so I am very excited by this opportunity to work with APF and I’m very much looking forward to all that God will do! “
Rev Dr Kate Coleman
07 www.africanpastors.org
Remembering Dorothy Almond
It’s not every day that you have to say goodbye to an old friend, but recently APF had to bid farewell to someone who has had a huge impact on the organisation. LastApril,SisterDorothyAlmondMBEpassed away at the age of 91. Born in Westhead, Lancashire she was just 15 whenshefirstfeltcalledtoserveGodinAfrica.In1956DorothyjoinedtheChurchArmyandwassenttoTanganyika(laterTanzania)workinginMwanzabeforebeingrelocated to Kongwa, where she joined thestaffofStPhilip’sTheologicalCollege.In 1983 she moved to Dodoma where she continued to teach theological students untilretiringin1988.Dorothy’s32yearsofteachinginTanzanialeftahugelegacythatwasrecognisedwithanMBEfromthe Queen in 1989. Back in Lancashire, she began writing a series of New Testament
commentaries in Swahili.
“WhenwejoinedAPFin1998,Dorothywasoneofourfirstcontacts.Atthattime,shewasusing her notes from teaching inBiblecollegesinTanzaniato produce Swahili language BiblecommentariesforAPFto distribute amongst pastors inEastAfrica.Itseemsthatatone time she had taught all the AnglicanBishopsinTanzaniaincludingBishopFrancisNtiruka, who was helping her editthecommentaries.HerinfluencecontinuesasherBible commentaries are still in great demand. It was always a privilege to spend time with her, aware that her love for the Lord andhispeopleinTanzaniadid
not diminish.”
Revd. Ralph Hanger, APF Director 1998-2010
Enabling effective ministry in Africa 08
Today,APFareintheprocessofmovingDorothy’sSwahiliNewTestamentcommentaryset online so it will be freely available to equip andsupportanewgenerationofAfricanpastors.AstheinternetexplodesacrossAfrica,with3Gand 4G mobile services and broadband access widely available, church leaders will soon be able toreadDorothy’sworkfromtheirphone,laptop
or in one of the many internet cafes. You may want to honour Dorothy’s life and work by making a contribution to APF’s literature ministry.
“The Bible Commentaries were Dorothy’s‘retirement’project.Despite admitting herself that they might be getting a bit dated, there remains nothing like them availableinSwahili.Dorothy’smany years living, breathing and working in the country she was writing for ensured her Bible commentaries were deeplycontextualised.Ithinkthis is why her work is still so popularinTanzaniatoday.Itwasa real pleasure to read through herworkand,alongsideSIM,reproduce the commentaries inthreevolumes.Another6000 people or more have now
benefittedfromthatalone.”
Revd. Ian Enticott, APF Director 2010-2014
“We have known Dorothy for many years and have especially fond memories of the time whensheworkedasPrincipleofStPhilip’sTheologicalCollegein Kongwa where we worked as a team training men and womenforGod’sservice.Shejust gave and gave and gave. Those that were trained under her leadership came out as Godly men and women with fruitful ministriesinTanzania.Maytheseeds she sowed in the lives ofmanyofGod’schildreninTanzaniacontinuetogrowand
flourishforthegloryofGod.”
Most Revd. Donald Mtetemela, former Archbishop of Tanzania
1. MichelleAnderson,FinancialCoordinator, managing day to day record keeping and reporting, future planningandnewstaffpensionregulations
2. SouthEast(KentandEastSussex)Regional Event at Canterbury Baptist Church
3. DaveandGeoffbothspeakingatCanterbury Baptist Church this morning
4. GeoffHolderbalancinghisUKCoordinator role with family and church commitments, whilst studying anMScinSustainableDevelopment
5. Dave Stedman, who has travelled many miles in recent weeks, representingAPFatRegionalEventsandinnewchurchcontacts–foragood response from that investment in time and resources
6. APFSupportersDawnandSteveExleysettlingintolifeinAustralia,gettingsettled in a church and spreading the wordaboutAPF
7. OurAfricanPatrons:BishopGodfreySehaba,Morogoro,TanzaniaandRevDrMichaelOkwakol,basedinKampala, Uganda
8. OurUKPatrons:RtRevChristopherCocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, and Rev David Kerrigan, General Secretary, BMSWorldMission
9. UK based agencies with whom we are developing closer links: Afrinspire,OperationAgri,OperationMobilisationSpecialProjects,SchoolConnect and Solar Links
10. Successful funding applications for training, literature and solar bakery projects submitted earlier this year
11. ForthenewonlineversionofourSwahili NT commentary set to be well used and for funding to enable a reprint
12. Trustee,NellyLukwo,flyingtoUganda with Kate Coleman and ChamKaur-Mann(NextLeadership)for a conference in Kampala before linking up with Dave Stedman in Kenyanextweek
13. StaffandTrusteesmeetingwithYeomansMarketingforaFundraisingDiscovery Workshop today. Yeomans specialise in helping Christian charities maximisetheirfundingpotential
14. TrusteesmeetingattheAPFofficesinCanterbury
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July Prayer Points
15. TrusteesJohnMartin(Chair)andJohnChambers (Treasurer) during this seasonoftransitionforAPF
16. The trustees collectively ensuring good governance with the right balance of visionary faith and pioneering pragmatism
17. DaveStedmanfliestoNairobiandwill link up with trip coordinator Edith Wamalwa,NellyandNextLeadershipTeam tomorrow
18. Kenya team travels to Kericho
19. Dave and team speaking at Central Rift Baptist Convention assembly today and tomorrow
20. Delegates at the conference to benefitfromteachingonstewardship,discipleship and family values
21. Travel to Kapsabet Bible College, Dave will preach at the end of year service
22. Day conference for Nandi Central regional leaders and wives at Kapsabet Bible College
23. Day conference for Grace Calvary ChristianMinistry(GCCM)pastorsandwives at Butere, Siaya County
24. Team members taking part in Sunday services and afternoon services in variousAfricaInlandChurchesaroundKapsabet today
25. DayconferenceforRenewalMinistriesFellowshippastorsandwivesatYala,Siaya County
26. Rev Simon Laboso, who is Regional Overseer of the Central Rift Baptist Convention
27. RevAbrahamKoech,VicePrincipalofKapsabet Bible College
28. BishopEdwardAmwayi,GeneralSecretaryandPastorJacksonIsaiahSikolia(Treasurer)ofGCCM
29. Dave Stedman returning to UK today
30. KateColeman,ChamKaur-MannandNellyLukwoastheyreflectontheministryofAPFinwestKenya
31. PastorDanielOdourGwara,overseerofRenewalMinistriesFellowship
Enabling effective ministry in Africa 10
Please Pray
1. ForChristianleaderswhocontactusfrom places beyond the current scope ofAPF–suchasPastorJacobNyokdisplaced from his home in Jongei State toanIDPcampoutsideJuba,SouthernSudan
2. ForthesuccessfulappointmentofRegionalPartners(coordinatorsandtrainers)inAfricasoastodevelopandmultiplytheworkofAPF
3. Forsufficientfundingtobeavailablefor us to invest a realistic budget in RegionalPartners,projectsandon-going monitoring
4. Individuals and agencies with which MOUshavealreadybeenagreedandfor the review process that will take placeduringDave’sNovembervisit:RevCharlesMunyamahoro(FreeMethodistChurch, Rwanda), Walubo Jude (UCE, Uganda),FACT,UgandaandAtirirBibleSchool, Uganda.
5. OverthenextfewdayswewillbeprayingforsomeofourTanzanianfriends and partners
6. PastorHeavenlightLuoga,DeeperLifeMinistry,whohasaheartforservingand equipping pastors and their dependents in Karagwe region and beyond
7. Cassia,Heavenlight’swife,withaheartforunder-privilegedandoftentraumatised women in DRC
8. RevCanonAbsalomVyakendeandRevObadiah Eustace at Kagera Theological College and hoping to host Dave Stedman in November
9. EmmanuelMhinawhoworksforMorogoroDioceseoverseeingtheirsolarand literature ministries independently andinpartnershipwithAPF
10. RevAmosNkini,DirectorofEducationfortheLutheranDioceseofMohshiandhas a vision to provide basic IT training to help pastors access online training and resources
11. BishopFrancisNtiruka(retired),PastorYonaandReheemaMwanza,withtheirrespective ministries to students in and around Dodoma region
12. OtheremergingpartnersinTanzania:FatherAsheriNdahani(TangaDiocese)andPastorAnthonyApollo(Karagwe)
13. Financesforareprintofthe3volumeSwahili New Testament commentary set which is in high demand by many rural pastorsespeciallyinTanzania
14. ForthewifeofAPFPatron,BishopGodfrey Sehaba, who has kidney diseaseandneedslong-termandcostlymedication in Dar es Salaam
15. The work of Soma Biblia, publishing and distributing literature throughout Tanzania
11 www.africanpastors.org
August Prayer Points
16. ForwisdomasAPFseekstorespondwith compassion to the many pastoral needs we meet and requests received
17. Formorecollaborativeworkingandbetter communication between UK agencies and local churches with an interestineastAfricasoastodeliverstrategic and sustainable solutions to some of the needs we encounter
18. The ongoing Let There Be Light campaign to provide solar technology in various forms to Christian community leaders to improve living conditions, save money and enable evening study
19. PlanstoproduceshortvideostopromotetheworkofAPFonlineandforuse in church services, also the use of online resources for communication and trainingpurposesinAfrica
20. DaveandGeoffseekingtomakestrategic links and connections, formal and informal, with other UK agencies withsimilargoalsandvaluestoAPF
21. RecruitmentofRegionalAdvocatesandLocalFundraiserstohelpraisetheprofileofAPFandsupporttheministry
22. Wise stewardship of all resources availabletoAPFbothhumanandeconomic
23. Overthenextfewdayswewillbepraying for friends and partners
in Uganda
24. RevDrJuliusTwongeirwe(ProclamationTask),RevPeterMugabe(GeneralSecretary, BUU) and Benon Kayanja (Cyan International)
25. Gifted personnel with a heart for reaching the unreached such as Elebu MoseswhomovesfromTesoRegiontoSouth Sudan for ministry
26. RevPaulKyalimpawho’sagriculturaland theological teaching is widely used
27. Growing contact with Gary Skinner, LeadPastorattheinfluentialWatotoChurch in Kampala
28. RevAlfredWonyakainhisemploymentwithInter-ReligiousCouncilofUgandaandvoluntaryworkwithNorthMbaleDiocese and Bulambuli Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (BIRD)
29. The partnership between Soroti RangersRFC,TagRugbyTrust,CanterburyRFCandSchoolConnectto develop rugby in north and east Uganda whilst educating young people insexualhealth
30. WaluboJude’sextensiveministrytochildren and youth through schools, diocesan links and NGOs, his political aspirations and for new development opportunities as he steps aside from day to day involvement in UCE
31. Pastorsreceivingtrainingatnationaland regional Bible schools such as Uganda Christian University, Jinja SeminaryandAtirirBibleSchool
Enabling effective ministry in Africa 12
Please Pray
1. We continue to pray for friends and partnersinUganda:BarefootPower(providers of solar technology) and UgandaChristianLawyersFraternity
2. PastorEsomuFrancis,PrincipalofAtirirBible School, occasional lecturer at Jinja SeminaryandkeentopursueGod’scallto wider teaching ministry perhaps in partnershipwithAPF.Therearemanyopportunities that could be pursued but lack of funding is holding this back.
3. PlansandfundingforDaveStedman’sNovember/December trip to Rwanda, Burundi,NWTanzaniaandUganda
4. PreparationandmarketingfortheRegional Events being held at Coventry andStockton-on-TeesinOctober
5. Overthenextfewdayswewillbepraying for some of our friends and partners in Burundi
6. Aboveallweprayforpeaceandanend to hostility within Burundi and the return to their homes of more than 1 million people displaced and living in refugee camps in DRC, Uganda, TanzaniaandRwanda
7. RevPierreCelestinstudyingforanMAat Uganda Christian University but also ministering to his people in refugee camps in SW Uganda
8. Established friends in Burundi such as Rev Yves Ndayikunda (Ceprodilic) and RevFelibienNdintore
(Bujambura Diocese)
9. RevSilasNtukamazina,GeneralSecretary of Union des Eglises Baptistes du Burundi who met with Dave in Kigali earlier this year
10. Baptist Union of Denmark worker, RasmusHylleberg,hashadtomovehis family from Bujumbura to Kigali because of security but travels frequently by road to pursue the very well-establishedpartnershipbetweenBUD and Eglises Baptistes du Burundi.
11. PartnershipopportunitiesforAPF,Baptist Union of Denmark and Eglises Baptistes du Burundi to deliver rural training for pastors and wives
12. ContinuedguidanceastoAPFfutureministry in DRC. This is likely to be restricted to major towns in the east where access and security is easier and partners in neighbouring countries have existinglinks(e.g.HeavenlightLuogaandCharlesMunyamahoro)
13. In the meantime we continue to stand alongsidelong-standingcontactssuchasRevStephaneMakata(KatangaDiocese)andRevBertinMwanya(PresidentoftheCongoPastorsFellowship)
14. AsAPFpersonneltravel,listenandlearnfromourAfricanpartnersmaylessonslearned be communicated to the UK churchforthebenefitofallandingrowing fellowship
13 www.africanpastors.org
September Prayer Points
15. ForplanstoregularlybringAfricanpastors to UK to bless and encourage the UK church
16. Overthenextfewdayswewillbepraying for friends and partners in Rwanda
17. Give thanks for the obvious economic growth in parts of Rwanda, especially in and around Kigali
18. DaveStedmanspeakingatAllHallowsChurch, South Cerney, Gloucestershire
19. Bishop Samuel Kayinamura, overseeing theFreeMethodistChurchinRwanda
20. RevCharlesMuyamahoro,whorecentlycompletedanMAatUgandaChristianUniversity and who oversees the GakenkeandRulindoFreeMethodistandBaptistPastorsFellowship,inadditiontopastoring a large Kigali parish
21. Rev Canon Emmanuel Kayijuka, GeneralSecretaryandFrancoisXavierTwahirwa,FinancialDirectoratTheBible Society of Rwanda who supplies Kinyarwanda Bibles and Study Bibles distributed this year
22. EzechiasNtirengaya,DirectorofChildren,YouthandFamily,atScriptureUnionwhohasdistributedAPFSafariBooks through his networks
23. BishopNathanAmooti (Cyangugu Diocese) and his vision to
develop a regional training college for preparing clergy
24. RevDrAntoineRutayisre,PrincipalofKigaliAnglicanTheologicalCollegeandfortheexcellentfacilitytobewell
usedandaccessibletoAnglicanclergyand also ecumenically as a potential venue for conferences
25. Rev Gato Corneil, General Secretary, and the impressive team at the national secretariatofAssociationofEvangelicalBaptistChurchesofRwanda(AEBR).
26. ForthepossibilityofAPFpartneringwithAEBRandBaptistMissionofCanada to make even better use of the theological resource centre beneath thesecretariatofficesaswellasopportunities to travel with Gato to visit AEBRchurchesinNovember
27. DaveStedmanspeakingatFavershamBaptist Church
28. ForPastorMatugomaJaphet,thefounder of Eglise Evangelique de le Bonne Volonte a small denomination of 11 churches
29. Forthe600KinyarwandaBiblesprovided to EEBVR in partnership with OMSpecialProjectstobewellused
and strengthen individual faith and church growth
30. PlansforDaveStedmantospeakatEEBVRAnnualAssemblyinNovember
Enabling effective ministry in Africa 14
Please Pray
The vision of APF is to empower Christian leaders and enable effective ministry that brings community transformation through the local church.
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