hearing african voices€¦ · 24/04/16 poland with partnership trust 15/05/16 st luke’s,...

Enabling effective ministry in Africa www.africanpastors.org

APF News and PrayerApril to June 2016

Inside:

Prayer Points

Joined up thinking

In Africa

In the UK

HearingAfricanVoices

01 www.africanpastors.org

I have stayed in more hotels in thepast 18 months, both around UKand east Africa, than I can remember… some of which have been morecomfortable than others and one ortwo have provided some good dinnerparty stories!

The work is exciting and there are manyencouragements but life is disjointed –when I’m here in UK I feel the need tobe there in Africa, and when I’m therein Africa … so please pray for me, andfor Geoff Holder – and our families – aswe spend significant amounts of timetravelling and away from home.

2016 began with a Staff and TrusteesDay of Prayer in Birmingham. Therewere several useful words andreflections as well as an opportunity toreceive up to date news from many ofour friends and partners in Africa.The word that spoke loudest to me wasthe reminder that we need ‘to keepbringing Africa into the room’ – in ourpraying, planning, delivery, and UKprofile we both serve and are shapedby the ministry in Africa.

I hope you will appreciate hearing thevoices of some of our African partnersin these pages.

Thank YouRev David Stedman


From the CEO

Welcome to the spring 2016 editionof News and Prayer …I am writing this from a thirdfloor hotel room in the cathedral district of Derby.Cyra and I are here to visit the church and receptionvenue for our firstborn son’s wedding in April.

Enabling effective ministry in Africa 02

In the UK


Volunteer Opportunities –Regional Advocates andLocal ActivistsIn order to maintain and build the profile of APF across

the UK we are seeking to identify enthusiastic and

motivated people to act as champions for APF across

regions or within local churches and communities. If you

might be interested in considering such a role please

contact Geoff Holder at the APF office to find out more.

Regional EventsSeveral Regional Events are planned

for 2016 (see engagements below).

These are being designed to appeal

both to existing and potential

supporters. If you would like to host a

Regional Event we would be delighted

to hear from you.

02/04/16 to 17/04/16 Geoff Holder in Malawi

17/04/16 Beltinge BC, Kent

24/04/16 Poland with Partnership Trust

15/05/16 St Luke’s, Grayshott, Surrey

22/05/16 St Peter’s and St Paul’s, Cranfield, Beds

24/05/16 APF AGM

29/05/16 Harvest of Blessing Ministry,Tottenham, London

05/06/16 St Saviour’s, Retford, Nottinghamshire

12/06/16 St Peter’s, Maghull (NW Regional Eventon Saturday 11th June)

26/06/16 St Chad’s Church, Bristol (SW RegionalEvent in afternoon)

03/07/16 Canterbury Baptist Church(SE Regional Event on Saturday 2nd July)

14/07/16 Trustees Meeting

17/07/16 to 29/07/16Dave Stedman and team in Kenya

18/09/16 All Saints Church, South Cerney,Gloucestershire

25/09/16 Faversham Baptist Church, Kent

09/10/16 All Saints Church, Eaglescliffe andStockton Tab (NE Regional Eventon Saturday 8th October)

23/10/16 Herne Bay Baptist Church

28/10/16 Golf Day

30/10/16 Queens Road Baptist Church, Coventry(Midlands Regional Event on Saturday29th October)

03/11/16 Trustees Meeting

06/11/16 to 07/12/16Dave Stedman in Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda

Golf DayAnother fundraising golf day will be

taking place in the October half-term

week. This will be at Canterbury Golf

Club on Friday 28th October.

Dates and Engagements


In Africa

UgandaA series of day conferences,attended by pastors, wivesand other local churchleaders took place in Tesoregion at Kumi, Palissa andAtirir to mark the imminentretirement of Bishop JohnEcheru, who has had a longassociation with APF. DaveStedman had the privilege ofpreaching at a special serviceto honour the ministry ofBishop John who pioneeredthe planting of more than100 village churches in theregion during his ministry.

RwandaDave Stedman visitedRwanda in late Februaryand early March. He taughtat a conference of FreeMethodist and Baptistpastors in Gakenke region,visited churches linkedwith Eglise Evangeliquede le Bonne Volonte anddistributed 500 KinyarwandaBibles (in partnership withOperation MobilisationSpecial Projects). He alsohad several useful meetingswith national leaders fromthe Anglican, Free Methodistand Baptist traditions.

BurundiDespite continuing politicalinstability we continue tohave regular correspondencefrom church leaders inBurundi, notably FelibienNdintore, Yves Ndayikundaand Guy Nasasagare.A meeting with Rev. SilasNtukamazina, GeneralSecretary of the Union of theBaptist Churches in Burundi,took place in Rwanda duringthe CEOs visit in March.

TanzaniaMoney raised from historic book sales and held onaccount in Tanzania was redeployed and put to useas APF resourced a pastor training conference inlate February in Karagwe region. The conference,attended by 30 pastors, and their wives, froma variety of denominations, was organised anddelivered by APF partner Pastor Heavenlight Luoga ofDeeper Life Church.

A round upof our workand newsthroughoutAfrica.

Photo: Felibien Ndintore


RegionalCoordinators andLocal TrainersA number of Africanpartners are already fulfillingsignificant ministriesindependently and onbehalf of APF organisingand delivering training andoffering pastoral supportfor their peers. A key part ofour strategy for sustainedmultiplication and culturallyappropriate ministry in Africais to identify and formalisethese relationships. Weexpect to be able to appointand introduce at least threesuch personnel before theend of 2016.

LiteratureHistoric stocks of Safari booksand some picture sets storedin containers, book shopsand various denominationaloffices have been distributedduring the past year. AganoJipya, the III volume SwahiliNT commentary set hascontinued value especially inTanzania. We are exploringcost efficient ways ofreprinting and making thebooks available to downloadonline via the website.

BikesFollowing our LycraChallenge sponsored ridelast autumn, applications arenow being received fromAfrican partners for bicycleand transport grants to bedisbursed this year.

SolarThe Let There Be Lightcampaign to provide pastors’families with portable solarlamps remains open. Othersolar technologies are beingexplored including the useof solar powered ovens forbaking which protect vitalforests, save on firewoodor charcoal costs and canprovide an income forchurches and leaders.

KenyaA small team includingCEO, Dave Stedman, newtrustee, Nelly Lukwo andRevd Dr Kate Colemanfonder of Next Leadershipwill visit west Kenya in July.Conferences are plannedwith Grace Calvary ChristianMinistry, Central Rift BaptistAssociation, KapsabetAnglican Theological Collegeand Pentecostal pastors inSiaya district.

MalawiGeoff Holder will be workingalongside long-time APFpartner Lloyd Chizenkato take part in 2 pastorconferences in the ShireValley in April. More than 200pastors and their wives fromthe network of 120 churchesoverseen by Lloyd will attend.Geoff will also be networkingwith denominational leaderssuch as Bishop AlinafeKalemba to establish whereand how APF might have arole in the future.


We began the New Year with a Staff andTrustees Day of Prayer in Birmingham.Rev Dr Kate Coleman from Next Leadershipled us as we reflected on APF’s past andexplored what God was saying to us now.

The word that spoke loudest was the reminder that we need ‘to keep bringing

Africa into the room’. We need to ensure our praying, planning, delivery, and profile are

constantly shaped by African voices. Here are a few of the voices from APF’s friends and

partners in Africa that were shared that day:

HearingAfrican Voices

Please join me to pray that the pastors in Mwanzathat we may have unity. The village pastors someof them live and work in difficult situations, praythat God will provide for them and help them tobe firm in His work. Thank you so much and Godbless for prayers.

Thank you very much indeedfor your email and I am glad tohear from you. APF came to myprevious Diocese of Tabora, butI would like them to come andminister to us in the Dioceseof Western Tanganyika. Pleasepray for our ministry amongthe Refugees from Burundi andDemocratic Republic of Congo.

I am a pastor in a parish of around 300Christians. Half of them are children so weneed a strong team of Sunday school teachers.Pray for Christian commitment in evangelismto children and for the training of them we areplanning. All blessings.

Rev. Jean Baptiste Bugiruwenda, Rwanda

Pastor Timothy Sebastian, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Rt. Revd. Sadok Makaya, Bishop of

Western Tanganyika, Tanzania

Greetings in Jesus name! Prayfor street children here in Kigaliwho suffer hunger and healthproblems. Thanks and blessings.

Charles Munyamahoro, Rwanda

Enabling effective ministry in Africa 02Enabling effective ministry in Africa 06

Greetings in our Lord Jesus. Thank you fordedicating your time to pray for us. Ugandais undergoing the presidential campaign. Thesituation looks tough and spirits are not stable.Please pray for safe and transparent elections.

The instability has caused a lot of problemsincluding freezing of aid and support to thecountry. Please, pray for God’s intervention inorder to stop this vicious circle. Burundi musthave peace so that we can deal with issues todo with return of refugees, development, andreintegration. Please, pray for the safety andstability of the staff of Rema Ministries andtheir families especially.

Please pray for peace, forreconciliation and leaders whohave integrity. Our society issuffering since long time. Prayfor our ministry, our familiesand our brothers and sisters,refugees around our country.May God bless you.

Thank you very much for yourheart and commitment to theKingdom, especially for prayingfor us and the work of God inRwanda There are still needypeople we are not able to reachbut we know that God is at workbringing Shalom in Rwanda in somany ways. Thank you so muchfor having us on your heart.We also pray for you.I pray with you and my prayer will be coming

from the book of 2 Tim 2:2 because I amtraining pastors in Tanzania, so that God mayequip them with His knowledge, Amen.

For Morogoro Diocese, APF is of utmost importance. Our pastorshave been getting a wonderful training how to serve best ourLord Jesus Christ. Pray for God’s healing for Leah Sehaba, the wifeof our beloved Bishop, and pray for God’s provision of food to thepeople here. Famine has been a big problem in our communities.We hugely appreciate your prayers.

Pastor Prosper Ruvush, Uganda

Felibien Ndintore, Rema Ministries, Burundi

Pastor Richard Mwita, Tarime, Mara, Tanzania

Yves Ndayikunda, Ceprodilic

ADEPE, Burundi

Rev. Gato Munyamasoko,

Association des Eglises Baptistes au

Rwanda (AEBR)

Revd Frederick Stephen Chingwaba, Morogoro Bible School, Tanzania


For several hundred yearsin the West, there hasbeen a growing separationbetween society andfaith. Spirituality is oftenreduced to something onlypracticed privately andfaith often treated withsuspicion when it speaksinto politics and culture.

Joined up thinking

This is not the case in Africa were

spirituality affects many aspects of

everyday life. In rural communities

especially, traditional spirituality is often

the main influence on thinking about

relationships, health, luck (both good and

bad) and in decision making.

Land and food production are particularly

wrapped up in thinking about traditional

spirituality and when small-scale farming

sustains the vast majority of sub-Saharan

Africa’s population, it’s not something that

should be ignored.

Traditional spirituality holds rural

communities together but at the same

time can mean that positive change is

difficult. Many farmers, for example,

believe that the methods they use have

been passed down from generation to

generation and changing them could

insult the ancestors. Triggering the

wrath of an ancestor is not a good idea

as this can lead to misfortune, illness and

even death.

Like most African church leaders, Pastor

Valantine and his wife, Iride, from north-

west Tanzania, are first and foremost


farmers who rely totally on their land for

food. They spoke candidly to us about

the difference Jesus Christ has made.

They used to grow very poor bananas and

the family struggled to get by but they

explained that when you accept Jesus

Christ as your ancestor (the ‘firstborn from

amongst the dead’) then you are free to

do things differently without fear.

They bought a plot of land very cheaply,

the community thought it was cursed

and wouldn’t grow anything. Prayerfully,

Pastor Valentine planted new crops using

simple sustainable agriculture techniques

like composting and mulching he had been

taught be a local Christian community

development worker.

Before, the family struggled to scrape

by. Now, their top quality bananas, sweet

potatoes, and coffee beans sell for a

premium in the local market. Their family

is fed all year and four out of six children

have attended secondary school. Pastor

Valentine leads a community group

teaching others about Christian faith and

sustainable farming and many are growing

more food for their families as they

discover the freedom Jesus offers.

Africans understand that effective

mission provides for both physical and

spiritual needs. This is sometimes called

‘holistic mission’ and means that it’s not

good enough to simply support African

pastors with theological training, nor

only offer purely secular solutions to

community problems. APF are committed

to supporting leaders like Pastor

Valentine who are transforming their

communities with holistic training that

makes a difference in the here and now,

and for all eternity to come. It’s joined-up

thinking and an important lesson from

the African church that we in the West

need to remember.

Population dependant on small-scale farming: % (Data: World Bank, 2014)

88% 84% 84%75% 72% 69%

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1. Planning for the increased numberand new look Regional Events beingheld during the summer and autumn

2. Geoff Holder arriving in Blantyre,southern Malawi today

3. For Pastor Lloyd Chizenga from NewLife Church, who will be leading APFconferences this week

4. Geoff and Pastor Lloyd meeting withrepresentatives from communitiesin Mulanje District, Malawi, near theMozambique border

5. For opportunities to explorecommunity development challengesand opportunities with communityleaders in southern Malawi

6. For preparations for the APFconferences over the next few days,and pastors and wives travelling tothe conferences today

7. Day one of the APF conference inChikwawa District

8. For good rapport, trust and opennessat the Malawi conferences

9. Start of the APF conference inNgabu District

10. For pastors and their wives attendingthe Malawi conferences

11. Opportunities for partnership withSt Marks Welfare Committee, acommunity project run by Rev ChanjuBanda in Blantyre

12. Geoff and Pastor Lloyd exploringsustainable agriculture initiativestoday

13. Geoff meeting with the Bishop ofSouthern Malawi, Rt Rev. AlinafeKalemba

14. That APF would listen and learnfrom our African friends and partnersin Malawi

15. Pray for the wider fellowship of APFsupporters outside of the UK

16. Geoff returning to the UK today

17. Dave Stedman leading the serviceand speaking at Beltinge BaptistChurch this morning

18. Planning for Dave’s visit to Kenya inJuly, when he will be accompanied byAPF Trustee, Nelly Lukwo, togetherwith Rev Dr Kate Coleman from NextLeadership

19. Over the next few days we willbe praying for the planning andpersonnel involved in the trio toKenya in July


April Prayer Points

20. Rev Edward Amwayi and Rev JacksonSickolo from Grace Calvary ChristianMinistries who are coordinating aconference of leaders from acrossthe 40+ churches in their network aspart of the Kenya visit in July

21. Rev Abraham Koech, Vice Principal,at Kapsabet Anglican TheologicalCollege where Dave, Nelly and Katewill be staying in Kenya and sharingtime with staff and students

22. Rev Simon Laboso, who isresponsible for the Central RiftBaptist Convention. Dave and Katewill be speaking at the annualassembly of CRBC

23. Pastor Daniel Odour who coordinatesa network of Pentecostal and freechurch pastors in Siaya district whowill also be visited by Dave and theteam in July

24. Other Kenyan friends includingEdith Wamalawa from the CLCBooklink in Nairobi

25. Rev David ole Kereto who heads upthe Covenant Church Internationaland with 300 churches was identifiedin 2008 as the fastest growingdenomination in Kenya. CCI worksprimarily in rural locations amongstthe Maasai, and places its priority onevangelism

26. Rev Nicta Lubaale in Kenya whoworks to encourage churches torespond to poverty and on interfaithengagement

27. Revd. Canon Peter Karanja Mwangi,General Secretary of the NationalCouncil of Churches of Kenya (NCCK)

28. For Pastor Jacob Nyok who got intouch with us from Southern Sudan.He is from remote Jongei Statebut is living, along with most of hiscommunity, in a camp outside ofthe capital, Juba, because ofongoing violence

29. For other pastors and church leaderswho have contacted us recentlyfrom Southern Sudan, Somalia andEthiopia

30. For clear direction in the deliveryof APF’s strategy in Africa and inidentifying the right people todeliver it.


Please Pray

1. Pray for the successful appointmentof Regional Coordinators and LocalTrainers in Africa so as to developand multiply the work of APF

2. Individuals and agencies withwhich MOUs have already beenagreed: Rev Charles Munyamahoro(Free Methodist Church. Rwanda),Walubo Jude (Universal ChastityEducation, Uganda), Pastor PaulTenywa (Futures After Children areTraumatised, Uganda) and EsomuFrancis (Atirir Bible School, Uganda)

3. Funds to be made available to reprintAgano Jipya, APFs III volume Swahili NYcommentary set which is much neededin Tanzania, plus plan to make thebooks available as an online resource

4. Over the next few days we will bepraying for some of our Tanzanianfriends and partners

5. Pastor Heavenlight Luoga, DeeperLife Ministry, who has a heart forserving and equipping pastors andtheir dependents in Karagwe regionand beyond

6. Cassia, Heavenlight’s wife, with aheart for under-privileged and oftentraumatised women, in DRC

7. Rev Canon Absalom Vyakende andRev Obadiah Eustace at KageraChristian Theological College andkeen to host a future APF visit

8. Emanuel Mhina who works forMorogoro Diocese overseeingtheir solar and literature ministriesindependently and in partnershipwith APF

9. Rev Amos Nkini, Director ofEducation for the Lutheran Dioceseof Mohshi and having a vision toprovide basic IT training to helppastors access online learning andresources

10. Bishop Francis Ntiruka (retired),Pastor Yona and Reheema Mwanzawith their respective ministries tostudents and pastors in and aroundDodoma region

11. Other emerging partners in Tanzaniaincluding Father Asheri Ndahani(Tanga Diocese) and Pastor AnthonyApollo (Karagwe)

12. Planning and preparations for DaveStedman to visit Tanzania for anextended tour during the latter partof 2016

13. Our board of trustees: Mr JohnChambers (treasurer), Rev DavidHoward, Ms Nelly Lukwo, Rev JohnMartin (chair), Revd Richard Suffernand Revd Richard Tucker


May Prayer Points

14. Rev Andrew North who has beenexploring opportunities to serve withAPF as an advisor, occasional visitorto Africa and possibly as a trustee

15. Dave Stedman speaking at St Luke’sChurch, Grayshott, this evening

16. APF Patron, Bishop Godfrey Sehabain Morogoro Diocese, especially forhis wife who has kidney disease

17. Wise disbursement of pastoralhelp using proceeds from the JustChristmas appeal

18. The on-going Let There Be Lightcampaign to provide solar technologyin various forms to Christiancommunity leaders to improve livingconditions, save money and enableevening study

19. Dave Stedman attending Spurgeon’sCollege Council today

20. Established friends in Burundi such asRev Yves Ndayikunda (Ceprodilic) andRev Felibien Ndintore (BujumburaDiocese)

21. New contacts in Burundi such as RevSilas Ntukamazina (Union des EglisesBaptistes du Burundi)

22. Dave Stedman speaking at St Peterand St Paul’s Church, Cranfield,this morning

23. Dave Stedman meeting with RevDr Kate Coleman today

24. AGM and Trustees Meeting thismorning

25. Recruitment of Regional Advocatesand Local Fundraisers in UK tosupport the work of APF

26. Dave and Geoff seeking to makestrategic links and informalnetworking with other UK agencieshaving similar goals and valuesto APF

27. Safety and journey mercies for allAPF staff and partners as they movearound UK and Africa

28. Wise stewardship of resources bothhuman and economic

29. Dave Stedman teaching at Harvestof Blessings Ministry (UK),Tottenham, today

30. Dave Stedman researching with helpfrom African church leaders andtheologians and preparation of APFtraining materials later this year

31. A thorough-going long-termsustainable publicity and fundraisingstrategy that will enable UKpersonnel to focus more ondeveloping the work in Africa.


Please Pray

1. Partner agencies in Uganda suchas Proclamation Task (Rev Dr JuliusTwongeirwe) and Baptist Union ofUganda (Rev Peter Mugabe)

2. Key personnel providingmanagement, training and oversightof APF activities in Uganda suchas Rev Elebu Moses and Rev PaulKyalimpa

3. Growing contact with Gary Skinner,Lead Pastor at the influential WatotoChurch in Kampala

4. Rev Alfred Wonyaka in his variousduties for local NGOs, Diocese ofNorth Mbale and Inter-ReligiousCouncil of Uganda

5. Dave Stedman speaking at StSaviours Church, Retford, thismorning

6. Successful funding applicationsto extend training conferences in‘hard to reach’ regions of Ugandaespecially to be able to follow up onthe training delivered in BUU westernregion last November

7. Partnerships with School Connectand Tag Rugby Trust bringingcommunity enrichment to schoolsthrough the local church

8. Pastors receiving training at localBible schools and those receivingsponsorship to attend either JinjaSeminary or elsewhere

9. Eunice Nabafu and Suzan Kasoziand the work of Uganda ChristianLawyers Fraternity supporting justiceand human rights

10. The work of Barefoot Power inUganda supplying solar products andtraining through NGOs such as APF

11. North West Regional Events atMaghull during the day and eveningtoday

12. Dave Stedman speaking at St Peter’sChurch, Maghull, this morning

13. For increasing numbers of people tosubscribe to News and Prayer andsupport APF

14. Guidance as to APF futureopportunities in other nations suchas Mozambique and South Sudan

15. Disbursement of bicycle and travelgrants in response to applicationsand for the success of the LycraChallenge – Bikes for Africasponsored ride last September whichhas made this possible


June Prayer Points

16. The ministry of APF Patron, Rev DrMichael Okwakol, President of the AllAfrica Baptist Alliance

17. Guidance as to APF future ministryin DRC

18. Rev Stephane Makata, KatangaDiocese, DRC

19. Rev Bertin Mwanya, President of theCongo Pastors Fellowship

20. Thank God for the diverse supporterbase of APF and those who faithfullypray and give

21. For there to be a healthy balancebetween faith and pragmatism,strategic planning and thespontaneity of the Holy Spirit in allwe do as a charity

22. For a growing sense of fellowshipat all levels of our work andcommunication

23. Over the next few days we will prayfor key projects and personnel inRwanda

24. Rev Charles Munyamahoro helping tocoordinate APF activity in Rwanda

25. Staff at Bible Society of Rwanda andcontinued funding for KinyarwandaBibles from Operation MobilisationSpecial Projects managed anddistributed by APF networks

26. Jean-Baptiste Bugiruwanda andEzechias Ntirengaya at ScriptureUnion Rwanda

27. Dave Stedman speaking atSt Chad’s Church, Patchway thismorning and South West regionalevent in the afternoon

28. Revd Nathan Amooti, Bishop ofCyangugu, and his vision to developa regional training facility forpreparing clergy

29. Rev Dr Antoine Rutayisre, Principal ofKigali Anglican Theological Collegefor clarity and priorities amidstambitious plans

30. On-going training of Free Churchpastors, lay leaders and theirdependents in Rulindo andGakenke regions

31. Rev Gato and the secretariat ofAssociation of Evangelical BaptistChurches of Rwanda, especially hishighly-regarded work for peace andreconciliation.


Please Pray

The vision of APF is to enable effective ministry inAfrica by providing training, help and equipmentto pastors, churches and community leadersinternationally and inter-denominationally.

African Pastors FellowshipStation House, Station Approach, Adisham,Canterbury CT3 3JE

www.africanpastors.org

Tel 01227 812185Email [email protected] or

[email protected]

UK Registered Charity Number 282756 Des

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hearing african voices€¦ · 24/04/16 poland with partnership trust 15/05/16 st luke’s,...

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