Friday, October 3, 2014

Africa Region of the Global Church of the Nazarene Announcement from the Regional Director for Wednesday, 1 October 2014

Africa Region of the Global Church of the Nazarene Announcement from the Regional Director for Wednesday, 1 October 2014
From the desk of the Regional Director
September 30, 2014
Changes at the Field Level 

As the Church of the Nazarene continues to expand across the continent, it has become necessary to review the current structure of the fields and their names. 

Africa Lusophone Field to include all Portuguese-speaking areas

 
This past year I have been in conversation with FSCs, RAC members, some district superintendents, and other leaders about the strategy for missions in the Portuguese speaking countries in Africa. We have concluded that it would be advisable to expand the Africa Lusophone Field to include all the Portuguese-speaking countries and also Equatorial Guinea.

 
While Spanish is the primary-official language in Equatorial Guinea, we have learned that in recent years, Portuguese was also approved to be one of the official languages. It seems reasonable to assume that it will fit better to the Lusophone field.

 
As of 1 October 2014, the field will be formed as follows: Angola, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé e Principe. It will continue to be called the Africa Lusophone Field.
 
 
Africa Central Field to become Africa South-East Field, 
Africa Middle Field to become Africa Central Field

Several years ago, the countries of, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe were grouped together to form what we now know as the Africa Central Field. However, the mission of the church has expanded to a geographical area in Africa, which is officially, known as Central Africa in the maps of Africa and the world.

As of 1 October 2014, the Africa Middle Field will be renamed the Africa Central Field, which is consistent with the appropriate name of this geographical area. Many of the countries in this field are French-speaking and the word for "middle" in French is "central." The former designation caused confusion.

The countries of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are located between South and East Africa, hence the renaming of this field as Africa South-East Field. (ASEF). 

Although field changes either in countries served or names used can be confusing for a time, I am sure we can quickly adjust.
Church of the Nazarene - Africa Regional Office

Church of the Nazarene
Africa Regional Office
17 Botes Street
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
____________________________
From the desk of the Regional Director
September 30, 2014
Sueia to retire, Ferriera to become Lusophone FSC


I am pleased to announce that as of October 1, 2014, Rev. Adérito Ferreira will serve as the Field Strategy Coordinator of the newly expanded Africa Lusophone Field. Rev. Adérito is currently the pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Praia, Cape Verde. He is an excellent and well respected church leader. Both Pastor Adérito and his wife, Pastor Ester, are ordained elders, committed disciple makers and church planters. They have a passion to reach unreached people and to make them disciples of Jesus Christ.


Adérito was a professional worker in the area of aviation, when he sensed God's call to full-time ministry. He resigned his promising career in aviation to serve as a pastor. He has over 20 years of pastoral ministry.  He is a dynamic preacher and teacher of the Word of God and an eloquent speaker in revivals and conferences in Cape Verde, Portugal, Brazil and other world areas. 

Ester Ferreira initially served as a supportive pastor's wife. After sensing God's call to be a church planter, she studied and worked for ordination while she helped plant churches in Cape Verde. She currently serves as a pastor of one of the recently planted churches.

Their main role on the Africa Lusophone Field will be to coordinate church planting and church development and activities, through working with missionaries, districts leaders and other church leaders on the field, in collaboration with the region.

The Ferreira's have two daughters, Edlyze (26 years old) and Eliana (18 years old).

I am confident that the Ferreiras will provide excellent missional leadership for Africa Lusophone Field and take it to a new phase of growth and development. I congratulate the Ferreira's in this appointment. I invite you to keep the Ferreiras in your prayers as they resign from their current assignments and transition to assume the field responsibility.

I also want to take this opportunity to express gratitude to Dr. Paulos and Mrs. Rute Sueia for their leadership of the Africa Lusophone Field. I applaud their commitment to church development. The church expanded at a tremendous pace under Dr. Sueia's leadership. I wish the Sueias well, as they transition from this assignment to a full-time pastoral role in Matola, Mozambique. Congratulations, Dr. Sueia, for all that the Lord accomplished through your ministry and your team. Please, also pray for the Sueias as they transition.

Please note that Dr. Sueia will aid with the field transition until the end of the year.

 


 
Church of the Nazarene - Africa Regional Office

Church of the Nazarene - Africa Regional Office
17 Botes Street
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
____________________________

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