Africa Nazarene University: We stand with Garissa by Holly Beech, news@africanazarene.org
Empty, labeled chairs at prayer sessions at ANU this month represented those affected by the Garissa attacks.
NAIROBI, KENYA - Africa Nazarene University was not immune to the fear and dread that rippled across Kenya this month after militants stormed Garissa University College.ANU in Nairobi is 370 kilometers (230 miles) from the attack site. But the news that on April 2 a handful of Somali militants gunned down 142 students at Garissa - some while they were still in bed - rattled the entire country.
"I was really shocked and outraged," said ANU student Ms. Diana Karuri, chairperson of the Executive Student Council.
An ANU student prays for victims of the Garissa attack at a special prayer session on April 10. (Photos: Africa Nazarene University)
"And I think it really hit home because these are students just like me."Many ANU students asked, 'Could something like that happen here?'
"People are looking at their environments more than before, to try to see how they can escape in case of an attack," said Rev. Gift Mtukwa, a lecturer in ANU's religion department.
Groundskeeper Mr. Simon Mutiso Mutinda said, "(Students) are asking, 'have you taken measures to make sure we are safe?' And the answer is yes."
Although never having experienced an attack, ANU, along with other Kenyan institutions, have been looking at ways to tighten security to lower the risk of any possible attack in the future, the school's public relations officer Ms. Wambui Mwangi said.
Ms. Diana Karuri,
Executive Student Council
chairperson, ANU
"Within the campus, of course you worry about what can happen, but I think the general atmosphere is calm," Ms. Karuri said.As students quietly went about their exams last week, there was a somber mood on campus, said Mr. Kimutai Kemboi, a student and former student council chairman.
"There is a lot of brokenness. There is a lot of struggle. It's just hard, it's hard," he said.
The struggle isn't just a physical concern for safety, but it's a struggle to guard one's heart against hatred and bitterness, he said. Painful questions cropped up when details of the attack emerged. Mr. Kemboi said he was initially angry that Kenya was being attacked again and that the militants chose such vulnerable targets.
The al-Shabab militants that carried out the Garissa attack, along with numerous other attacks in Kenya over the past few years, reportedly singled out non-Muslims. The group used this same tactic when raiding Nairobi's Westgate mall in 2013, according to the New York Times.
Mr. Kimutai Kemboi, ANU student
"We are all human, so sometimes we can look at things from that prism as a human being and start asking God, where was he," Mr. Kemboi said.He cautions fellow Kenyans against letting their pain become discrimination against Muslims or Somalis. "If it's a blanket condemnation, it will not help anything, (such as), 'Because it was promoted by a Muslim, so all Muslims are terrorists.' That type of thinking doesn't help," he said.
Several students at ANU are Muslim. Respect for all religious backgrounds and love within a community are major values at the school, Ms. Karuri said. The attack has not created tension or division among the students, she said.
"Our students don't see Muslims as the problem, they understand that those who do such things misrepresent Islam and that they have been radicalized," Rev. Mtukwa said. "... Even when some students ran away from the (Garissa) campus, Muslims took them in and did a lot to help Christians who had been injured."
ANU REACHES OUT TO THE HURTING
In the days after the attack, families of Garissa students gathered at the Chiromo Mortuary in Nairobi for the agonizing task of identifying victims' bodies. ANU staff and students met with the families there, offering comfort, food and prayers. ANU staff members were among those providing counseling services to affected families at makeshift clinics, ANU Assistant Chaplain Ms. Rachael Ngugi said.
ANU Vice Chancellor Leah. T. Marangu issued a statement for the university, saying the school was deeply saddened by the attack and mourns with all those affected.
In chapel, students and staff were reminded to depend on God's protection. "Our hope is that Christ's peace will guard our hearts and minds to be fixed on Him and not on fear," ANU Chaplain Dr. Cindy North said.
Mr. Mutiso Mutinda asks Christians around the world to pray for wisdom for Kenya's leaders as they decide how to move forward. Also pray for the ANU community, which, he said, is hurting.
"In our weak and most delicate situations, we don't have the strength of our own. It comes from above," he said. "When Jesus is speaking about the Helper, the Counselor, the Comforter, he is talking about the Spirit who will come. Especially in the most difficult moments of our life and of our faith, he will come and encourage us. ... We are not in it alone."
Peace march calls for end to violence against foreigners by Holly Beech, news@africanazarene.org
Thousands gathered in Durban on April 16 for a peace march denouncing xenophobia. Photos: Gabriel Benjiman
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - Thousands of people participated in a peace march last week in Durban, South Africa, decrying the violence against foreign nationals that has erupted this month.The violence has caused thousands of foreigners who are living in South Africa to flee their homes for displacement camps, and many have closed their shops. Six people have died in the last two weeks, according to the BBC, and more than 300 have been arrested.
This is not the first time such animosity toward immigrants has boiled over in South Africa. Tension is reportedly rising over jobs, as South Africa's unemployment rate is 24 percent.
"Armed groups have targeted shops run by African immigrants, accusing them of taking jobs from locals," BBC reports. "Thousands of foreigners have fled their homes to shelter in makeshift camps, and neighbouring Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique have announced plans to evacuate citizens."
The current situation in Durban is deeply concerning, said Rev. Stanley Ushe, the district superintendent of KwaZulu-Natal, where Durban is located.
"I know a group of people who have been displaced and are now staying in tents, and their properties have been looted," he said.
Pastor Gabriel Benjiman at the peace march.
Pastor Gabriel Benjiman of Morningside Community Church of The Nazarene in Durban attended last week's peace march.Nazarene families who are foreign nationals in Durban have been affected by the upheaval, Benjiman said. Some of the families have lived in Durban for over a decade, he said, but are now afraid to send their children outdoors or even to school.
Other church members who were living in informal settlement camps outside of Durban have now left, Benjiman said. He hadn't been able to contact them as of April 17.
"I have gone out to look for these families and was asked to leave the settlement for my safety," he said. "But we will continue to attempt to locate these brothers and sisters."
Church members are collecting blankets, canned and dried food for the displaced who are seeking refuge, Benjiman said, and some families have offered a place to stay for victims.
The peace march was a collective community effort to take a stand against xenophobia, and an estimated 10,000 people participated. Before the march, Pastor Benjiman and other religious leaders of various faith backgrounds met with local government officials.
"As a Nazarene minister, I ... felt the need to add a holiness/Nazarene voice to the discourse, especially because I pastor a multiethnic, multiracial church in the city," Benjiman said.
"We marched, we spoke with our feet and placards calling for a united Africa," he continued.
Religious leaders in Durban call for peace at the march on April 16.
"I was moved to deep emotions as a group of three foreign national teens clung to me and chanted with me: 'Phansi xenophobia! Phansi!' Meaning: 'Down with xenophobia, down!'"However, even the peace march was not immune to chaos. Eyewitness News reports that police used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas to quell a large group that was disrupting the event.
Rejoicing after the rain
Malawi churches celebrate Easter after severe flood season submitted by Rev. Gershom Kwerakwera, Lower Shire District Superintendent
With their lives still shaken by the loss of homes, livestock and crops to severe flooding earlier this year, church members in Malawi's Lower Shire District gathered for a three-day Easter Holiness Conference over the Easter weekend. Hundreds of people attended, and dozens were baptized.
"We are very thankful for the relief items that have been assisting us during the time of floods," said Lower Shire District Superintendent Rev. Gershom Kwerakwera. "Thank you also to all people who have been praying for us here in Malawi Lower Shire District and sending their assistance! God bless you!"
Rev. Gershom Kwerakwera dances with the congregation at the Easter Holiness Conference in Malawi.
The Lower Shire District was one of the areas hit hardest by the flooding, which was caused by heavy rainfall in January and claimed the lives of more than 100 people in Malawi. Some of those who died were members of the Nazarene Church. The water forced thousands of people from their homes, some of whom are still living in displacement camps. (Click here to read flood coverage in Out of Africa.)
During the evening services, The JESUS Film was shown, and special prayers were offered for people's marriages, health and salvation.
"It was a time of celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Holy Communion was served," Rev. Kwerakwera said. "The choirs and praise teams for men, women and youth presented their sweet melodies."
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries responds to people in need across the globe in areas such as natural disasters, human trafficking and disease. To support NCM's aid in situations such as the Malawi flooding, click here.
Through the eyes of the Africa Regional Director
Dr. Filimao Chambo
Africa Regional Director
In March, Africa Regional Director Filimao Chambo attended ordination services in Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He shared his thoughts about the services with Out of Africa:Reflections from the DR Congo trip:
"DR Congo is one of the poorest countries in the world, but it is also one nation where I have seen so many people eager to have someone pray with and for them. There were many people at the church who asked me and the other guests to pray for them. But we also had people ask for prayer at the airport, hotel, and streets.
There is a huge hunger to hear from God and to see the coming of the Kingdom of God in the church and in the lives of the many individuals who are seeking God's face. The people of DR Congo are expectantly waiting on the Lord, for him to do something supernatural to bring transformation in their personal lives, in the church and the nation. It is my prayer that the Lord will indeed bless DR Congo. As I pray for DR Congo, I also pray that the Lord will bless Africa.
Dr. Eugénio Duarte, general superintendent for the Nazarene Church, prays for a newly ordained minister
at a service in Lubumbashi, DRC, in March.
We had wonderful ordination services - wonderful praise and worship - excellent preaching by Dr. Eugénio Duarte, General Superintendent in jurisdiction in Africa.Most of the leaders who were ordained are graduates of ITN (Institut Théologique Nazaréen, or Nazarene Theological Institute). I congratulate the ITN team for their commitment to train and equip leaders for ministry. We are seeing the fruits of their work.
Stéphane Tibi, the field strategy coordinator for the Africa Central Field, and his wife, Sandra Tibi, are providing excellent leadership to the church in DR Congo. The Lord is calling Stéphane and Sandra to call the church to refocus on prayer, with special emphasis on hearing and listening to the voice of the Lord.
There are many stories of how the Lord is speaking to his people, healing the sick, bringing reconciliation amongst the church leaders, people's lives being transformed and many other miracles. We are seeing great signs of a revival in the church in the Africa Central Field."
Children from the Nazarene school in Kinshasa, DRC, welcome Dr. Duarte.
Reflections from the Malawi trip:"The majority of those who were ordained in the Malawi Central District were introduced to the Lord and the Church of the Nazarene through a Christian ministry in the schools in Malawi. There is a strong emphasis in reaching out to children and youth in most schools in Malawi. It was wonderful to hear how this ministry has prepared the way for many young people to hear about salvation and a call to ministry.
I also heard people say that they came to faith because someone was preaching at the marketplace - another way to prepare the way for the Lord, so that the people could see God's salvation. There were some who talked about The JESUS Film, revivals, local church ministry, as avenues that the Lord used for them to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
As the Church, we have countless opportunities to share the Good News. We should never retreat. People need to hear about God's grace and be invited to respond to his grace for the forgiveness of sins and transformation of their lives."
PRAYER REQUESTS
- Please prayer for all those affected by the attack on Garissa University College in Kenya. Prayer for survivors, for victims' families, for school and national leaders. Pray that God will comfort those who are mourning and will bring peace and forgiveness. Pray that bitterness will not take root and that Kenya's leaders will respond wisely.
- Lift up Africa Nazarene University in prayer. Pray for God's protection over the campus. Praise God that the love from the ANU community is making an impact in Nairobi. Pray for students and staff as they grieve over the tragedy in Garissa. May the Holy Spirit be near to them and strengthen their hope and faith.
- Pray for families who have been displaced or are living in fear because of the rise in attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa. Pray for God's love to be seen through the actions of Nazarenes responding to this situation.
- Pray for strength, discernment and joy to overflow in the lives of the Nazarene Church's newly ordained ministers in Africa. Praise the Lord for their dedication and service.
- Our hearts and prayers continue to be with those who have lost loved ones to Ebola. Continue to pray for the eradication of the disease and for God's healing power to touch hearts, lives and communities.
The Nazarene Church is in 42 countries in Africa, with more than 600,000 members in six fields.
What would you like to see in Out of Africa? Email us at news@africanazarene.org.
@NazAfrica
Holly Beech, editor
17 Botes Street
Holly Beech, editor
17 Botes Street
Johannesburg
Gauteng
South Africa
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