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RECENT ARTICLES:Helping a community care for others by Gina Grate Pottenger
As lead pastor of the University Church of the Nazarene at Africa Nazarene University (ANU) in Nairobi, Kenya, Gift Mtukwa receives visits from many people in the church and the surrounding community who hope the church will give them something.
“Every Sunday I would leave the pulpit and people would say, ‘Pastor, I don’t have this, I don’t have that,’” he says.
He sees it as a mindset of dependence. His pastoral team, which includes three other part-time pastors, is trying to engender in the people the ability to solve their own problems and care for their own needs, and then mature to the point where they are oriented toward helping others.
“We teach people that we are not just here for what we can get; we are here because we love God. We should not come expecting to get, but to come to see what we can give.”
The church was first planted by Mtukwa, a theology lecturer at the university, and a team of leaders in 2008 because, although there were chapel services during the school year, there was no permanent church presence when school was not in session. The church plant at first struggled to attract people from the community because they thought a church on a university would only be made up of highly educated people. They didn’t feel they could fit in.
The church plant team began to focus on ministering to the children in the community. Over time, those children brought their parents. So the church began to grow. Today it averages about 200 people weekly for worship.
Mtukwa and his other three pastors have seen a gradual change in the thinking of the congregation, many of whom at first came to the church primarily for handouts. He recalls one woman who used to live in a dilapidated house that badly needed repairs. After being part of the church for some time, she was motivated to take the initiative to fix the structural issues.
“She did the things that she could do. For the most part you can see that her life is actually transformed,” Mtukwa said. “She took ownership of her problems. I think that’s very important for us to see that we are helping people realize they have what it takes to provide for themselves, they don’t have to seem helpless. But also seeing how can they be of help to other people.”
As part of the church’s efforts to transform the community around ANU, it launched a compassionate ministry. The church family was challenged to buy extra items whenever they shop for groceries and bring them to the church. In this way they started a food ministry, so that they can provide food to families who are truly in need. The congregation are so dedicated to this ministry that they are running it themselves, without involvement from the pastors.
They also began providing breakfast before Sunday worship services, because they realized that many children who came to the church had not yet eaten that day. Some of the adults are now joining in the breakfast as well.
The church became aware that there were many teenagers in the community whose parents didn’t have the fees to enroll them in secondary school, which unlike primary school is not free. If the teens don’t complete secondary school, they will never be able to go to a university. So the church got together to create a scholarship fund, and are sponsoring three youth.
Through Mtukwa’s experiences with the culture of dependence around the church, he decided to study the theology of work for his PhD thesis, which he is doing through Nazarene Theological College, in Manchester, UK. The thesis will center on 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-15, in which Paul says that people who do not work should not eat, and discourages idleness.
“I’m asking the question, is there more to what Paul is saying than just to provide for themselves. What role does work play, what role does it play in his theology, in the life of the community of faith.”
Solid, well-grounded theological education is critical to the future of the church in Africa, he says. That’s his motivation for teaching and training pastors at ANU, and continuing his own education.
“If the church is actually growing in Africa as the missiologists say, my question is what kind of Christianity will that be? Is it going to be biblical Christianity or something else?
“I think training is very important. People need to be prepared for ministry before they actually do ministry. They can, of course, be trained on the job. They need to know the Bible, history of the church, theology and practices, how to do ministry. I see all that as an important part of preparing pastors.”
Mtukwa says that due to lack of theological understanding, syncretism is a problem in Africa – people mix different pagan rituals and beliefs with the gospel. There are also cults which have taken root and deceived many.
He knows this particular danger personally. As a new believer, he went out into his city looking to buy his first Bible. He found a bookseller peddling Bibles, and he bought one and began studying it fervently. Then a Christian friend saw it and explained that it was a different version of the Bible, published by a cult. His friend went and found him a Christian Bible to study.
He doesn’t want others to fall into deception and false beliefs.
“I want people to embrace biblical Christianity rather than Christianity mixed with traditional beliefs that are not centered on the Bible. I want to train people to read the Bible and to teach it to their communities, and have their lives changed and those that they teach as well.”
He also wants African Christians to embrace a global, missional orientation.
“When the gospel was in Europe, they decided to take the gospel to other parts of the world. We need to say, how are we going to benefit the rest of the world with the gospel? Are we going to produce missionaries to go around the world to preach the gospel?”
Ayudando a que una comunidad se preocupe por otros by Gina Grate Pottenger
“Every Sunday I would leave the pulpit and people would say, ‘Pastor, I don’t have this, I don’t have that,’” he says.
He sees it as a mindset of dependence. His pastoral team, which includes three other part-time pastors, is trying to engender in the people the ability to solve their own problems and care for their own needs, and then mature to the point where they are oriented toward helping others.
“We teach people that we are not just here for what we can get; we are here because we love God. We should not come expecting to get, but to come to see what we can give.”
The church was first planted by Mtukwa, a theology lecturer at the university, and a team of leaders in 2008 because, although there were chapel services during the school year, there was no permanent church presence when school was not in session. The church plant at first struggled to attract people from the community because they thought a church on a university would only be made up of highly educated people. They didn’t feel they could fit in.
The church plant team began to focus on ministering to the children in the community. Over time, those children brought their parents. So the church began to grow. Today it averages about 200 people weekly for worship.
Mtukwa and his other three pastors have seen a gradual change in the thinking of the congregation, many of whom at first came to the church primarily for handouts. He recalls one woman who used to live in a dilapidated house that badly needed repairs. After being part of the church for some time, she was motivated to take the initiative to fix the structural issues.
“She did the things that she could do. For the most part you can see that her life is actually transformed,” Mtukwa said. “She took ownership of her problems. I think that’s very important for us to see that we are helping people realize they have what it takes to provide for themselves, they don’t have to seem helpless. But also seeing how can they be of help to other people.”
As part of the church’s efforts to transform the community around ANU, it launched a compassionate ministry. The church family was challenged to buy extra items whenever they shop for groceries and bring them to the church. In this way they started a food ministry, so that they can provide food to families who are truly in need. The congregation are so dedicated to this ministry that they are running it themselves, without involvement from the pastors.
They also began providing breakfast before Sunday worship services, because they realized that many children who came to the church had not yet eaten that day. Some of the adults are now joining in the breakfast as well.
The church became aware that there were many teenagers in the community whose parents didn’t have the fees to enroll them in secondary school, which unlike primary school is not free. If the teens don’t complete secondary school, they will never be able to go to a university. So the church got together to create a scholarship fund, and are sponsoring three youth.
Through Mtukwa’s experiences with the culture of dependence around the church, he decided to study the theology of work for his PhD thesis, which he is doing through Nazarene Theological College, in Manchester, UK. The thesis will center on 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-15, in which Paul says that people who do not work should not eat, and discourages idleness.
“I’m asking the question, is there more to what Paul is saying than just to provide for themselves. What role does work play, what role does it play in his theology, in the life of the community of faith.”
Solid, well-grounded theological education is critical to the future of the church in Africa, he says. That’s his motivation for teaching and training pastors at ANU, and continuing his own education.
“If the church is actually growing in Africa as the missiologists say, my question is what kind of Christianity will that be? Is it going to be biblical Christianity or something else?
“I think training is very important. People need to be prepared for ministry before they actually do ministry. They can, of course, be trained on the job. They need to know the Bible, history of the church, theology and practices, how to do ministry. I see all that as an important part of preparing pastors.”
Mtukwa says that due to lack of theological understanding, syncretism is a problem in Africa – people mix different pagan rituals and beliefs with the gospel. There are also cults which have taken root and deceived many.
He knows this particular danger personally. As a new believer, he went out into his city looking to buy his first Bible. He found a bookseller peddling Bibles, and he bought one and began studying it fervently. Then a Christian friend saw it and explained that it was a different version of the Bible, published by a cult. His friend went and found him a Christian Bible to study.
He doesn’t want others to fall into deception and false beliefs.
“I want people to embrace biblical Christianity rather than Christianity mixed with traditional beliefs that are not centered on the Bible. I want to train people to read the Bible and to teach it to their communities, and have their lives changed and those that they teach as well.”
He also wants African Christians to embrace a global, missional orientation.
“When the gospel was in Europe, they decided to take the gospel to other parts of the world. We need to say, how are we going to benefit the rest of the world with the gospel? Are we going to produce missionaries to go around the world to preach the gospel?”
Ayudando a que una comunidad se preocupe por otros by Gina Grate Pottenger
Como pastor principal de University Church of the Nazarene (Iglesia del Nazareno de la Universidad), enAfrica Nazarene University(Universidad Nazarena de África, o ANU) en Nairobi, Kenia, Gift Mtukwa recibe visitas de muchas personas de la iglesia así como de la comunidad en la que se encuentran, quienes esperan que la iglesia les dé algo.
“Cada domingo al dejar el púlpito, hay gente que se me acerca diciendo, ‘Pastor, no tengo esto, me falta aquello,’” cuenta Mtukwa.
Él ve esta situación como una mentalidad de dependencia. Su equipo pastoral, el cual incluye otros tres pastores de medio tiempo, está intentando inculcar en las personas la habilidad de resolver sus propios problemas y de suplir sus propias necesidades, para así poder madurar hasta el punto en que ellos puedan reorientarse para ayudar a otros.
“Nosotros le enseñamos a la gente que no nos encontramos aquí para ver qué podemos obtener; estamos aquí para servir a Dios. No debemos venir esperando recibir, sino que debemos venir para ver qué podemos ofrecer.”
La iglesia fue plantada por Mtukwa, un profesor de teología de la universidad, y un equipo de líderes en 2008 ya que, a pesar de la existencia de servicios de capilla durante el año lectivo, no existía una presencia permanente de la iglesia cuando lasclases no estaban en sesión. En sus comienzos, la iglesia enfrentó dificultades para atraer a la gente de la comunidad, ya que ellos pensaban que una iglesia dentro de las premisas de una universidad sería compuesta sólo por gente con un alto nivel de educación. Ellos no creían que pudieran formar parte de la misma.
El equipo que plantó la iglesia comenzó por enfocarse en ministrar a los niños de la comunidad. Con el transcurso del tiempo, esos niños trajeron a sus padres. De este modo la iglesia comenzó a crecer. Hoy tiene un promedio de 200 personas que concurren semanalmente a sus servicios de adoración.
Mtukwa y sus otros tres pastores han visto un cambio gradual en la forma de pensar de su congregación, muchos de los cuales inicialmente se acercaron a la iglesia para recibir limosnas. Él recuerda una mujer que solía vivir en una casa dilapidada que necesitaba reparaciones urgentes. Luego de haber formado parte de la iglesia por algún tiempo, ella se vio motivada a tomar la iniciativa de reparar los problemas estructurales.
“Ella hizo aquellas cosas que le eran posibles. Uno puede ver en gran manera que su vida ha sido verdaderamente transformada”, dijo Mtukwa. “Ella se hizo responsable de sus problemas. Yo creo que es muy importante que podamos ver que estamos ayudando a la gente a darse cuenta de que ellos tienen lo necesario para proveer para sí mismos, ellos no tienen por qué sentirse perdidos. Por el contrario, ellos incluso pueden llegar a ver cómo pueden prestar su ayuda a otras personas.”
Como parte de los esfuerzos de la iglesia para transformar la comunidad alrededor de ANU, University Church dio comienzo a un ministerio de compasión. La congregación fue desafiada a comprar artículos extra cuando fueran de compras al supermercado, para traerlos a la iglesia. De este modo comenzaron un ministerio de alimentos para así poder proveer comida a las familias que realmente se encontraban en necesidad. La congregación está tan dedicada a este ministerio que ellos mismos se ocupan de dirigirlo, sin el involucramiento de los pastores.
Ellos también comenzaron a ofrecer un desayuno antes del servicio de los domingos, ya que se dieron cuenta de que muchos de los niños que asistían a la iglesia llegaban sin haber comido nada. Algunos de los adultos ahora también se reúnen para el desayuno.
La iglesia se hizo conciente de que había varios adolescentes en la comunidad cuyos padres no contaban con dinero para pagar sus estudios secundarios, los cuales a diferencia de la educación primaria no son gratuitos. Si los adolescentes no completan la escuela secundaria, ellos jamás podrán asistir a la universidad. Así fue que la iglesia se reunió para crear un fondo de becas, y hoy en día están patrocinando a tres jóvenes.
A través de las experiencias de Mtukwa con la cultura de dependencia alrededor de la iglesia, él decidió estudiar la teología del trabajo para su tesis de doctorado, el cual él está cursando a través de Nazarene Theological College en Manchester, Reino Unido. La tesis se centrará en 2 Tesalonicenses 3: 6-15, en el cual Pablo dice que quienes no trabajan no habrán de comer, y donde habla en contra de la holgazanería.
“Estoy preguntando, '¿Hay algo más a lo que Pablo se refiere aparte de simplemente proveer para uno mismo? ¿Qué papel cumple el trabajo, qué papel cumple en su teología y en la vida de la comunidad de fe?'”
“Una educación sólida y bien fundamentada es crítica para el futuro de la iglesia en África”, dijo Mtukwa. Ésta es la motivación para educar y capacitar pastores en ANU, así como para continuar con su propia educación.
“Si la iglesia está realmente creciendo en África como los misiólogos dicen, mi pregunta es, '¿De qué tipo de cristianismo se trata? ¿Se tratará de un cristianismo bíblico o de algo diferente?'”
“Creo que la capacitación es muy importante. La gente debe estar preparada para el ministerio antes de llevarlo a cabo. Por supuesto, ellos pueden ser capacitados durante la práctica. Lo que necesitan es conocer la Biblia, la historia de la iglesia, la teología y las prácticas, cómo hacer ministerio. Veo a todo eso como parte de la preparación de pastores.”
Mtukwa dice que debido a la falta de entendimiento teolgógico, el sincretismo es un problema en África – la gente mezcla diferentes rituales y creencias paganas con el evangelio. También existen cultos que han echado raíz y han confundido a muchos.
Él conoce este peligro en particular en forma personal. Como un nuevo creyente, él se dirigió a una ciudad en busca de su primera Biblia. Él encontró un vendedor de libros que intentaba vender biblias, y así que le compró una y comenzó a leerla asiduamente. Luego un amigo cristiano vio su Biblia y le explicó que se trataba de una Biblia Atalaya, publicada por los Testigos de Jehová, y que se trataba de un culto. Su amigo le consiguió una Biblia cristiana para que él pudiera estudiar.
Él no quiere que otros caigan en la misma confusión y sigan creencias falsas.
“Quiero que la gente pueda adoptar un cristianismo bíblico en vez de mezclarlo con creencias tradicionales que no están centradas en la Biblia. Quiero capacitar a la gente para que puedan leer la Biblia y así enseñarla a sus comunidades, y que sus vidas puedan cambiar así como las de aquellos a quienes enseñan.”
Él también quiere que los cristianos africanos adopten una orientación global y misionera.
“Cuando el evangelio llegó a Europa, ellos decidieron llevarlo hacia otras partes del mundo. Nosotros debemos preguntarnos cómo habremos de beneficiar al resto del mundo mediante el evangelio. ¿Vamos a producir misioneros para que vayan alrededor del mundo predicando el evangelio?”[ Traducido por Ed Brussa.]
'I have chosen you' by Disha Daborah Dongardive
“Cada domingo al dejar el púlpito, hay gente que se me acerca diciendo, ‘Pastor, no tengo esto, me falta aquello,’” cuenta Mtukwa.
Él ve esta situación como una mentalidad de dependencia. Su equipo pastoral, el cual incluye otros tres pastores de medio tiempo, está intentando inculcar en las personas la habilidad de resolver sus propios problemas y de suplir sus propias necesidades, para así poder madurar hasta el punto en que ellos puedan reorientarse para ayudar a otros.
“Nosotros le enseñamos a la gente que no nos encontramos aquí para ver qué podemos obtener; estamos aquí para servir a Dios. No debemos venir esperando recibir, sino que debemos venir para ver qué podemos ofrecer.”
La iglesia fue plantada por Mtukwa, un profesor de teología de la universidad, y un equipo de líderes en 2008 ya que, a pesar de la existencia de servicios de capilla durante el año lectivo, no existía una presencia permanente de la iglesia cuando lasclases no estaban en sesión. En sus comienzos, la iglesia enfrentó dificultades para atraer a la gente de la comunidad, ya que ellos pensaban que una iglesia dentro de las premisas de una universidad sería compuesta sólo por gente con un alto nivel de educación. Ellos no creían que pudieran formar parte de la misma.
El equipo que plantó la iglesia comenzó por enfocarse en ministrar a los niños de la comunidad. Con el transcurso del tiempo, esos niños trajeron a sus padres. De este modo la iglesia comenzó a crecer. Hoy tiene un promedio de 200 personas que concurren semanalmente a sus servicios de adoración.
Mtukwa y sus otros tres pastores han visto un cambio gradual en la forma de pensar de su congregación, muchos de los cuales inicialmente se acercaron a la iglesia para recibir limosnas. Él recuerda una mujer que solía vivir en una casa dilapidada que necesitaba reparaciones urgentes. Luego de haber formado parte de la iglesia por algún tiempo, ella se vio motivada a tomar la iniciativa de reparar los problemas estructurales.
“Ella hizo aquellas cosas que le eran posibles. Uno puede ver en gran manera que su vida ha sido verdaderamente transformada”, dijo Mtukwa. “Ella se hizo responsable de sus problemas. Yo creo que es muy importante que podamos ver que estamos ayudando a la gente a darse cuenta de que ellos tienen lo necesario para proveer para sí mismos, ellos no tienen por qué sentirse perdidos. Por el contrario, ellos incluso pueden llegar a ver cómo pueden prestar su ayuda a otras personas.”
Como parte de los esfuerzos de la iglesia para transformar la comunidad alrededor de ANU, University Church dio comienzo a un ministerio de compasión. La congregación fue desafiada a comprar artículos extra cuando fueran de compras al supermercado, para traerlos a la iglesia. De este modo comenzaron un ministerio de alimentos para así poder proveer comida a las familias que realmente se encontraban en necesidad. La congregación está tan dedicada a este ministerio que ellos mismos se ocupan de dirigirlo, sin el involucramiento de los pastores.
Ellos también comenzaron a ofrecer un desayuno antes del servicio de los domingos, ya que se dieron cuenta de que muchos de los niños que asistían a la iglesia llegaban sin haber comido nada. Algunos de los adultos ahora también se reúnen para el desayuno.
La iglesia se hizo conciente de que había varios adolescentes en la comunidad cuyos padres no contaban con dinero para pagar sus estudios secundarios, los cuales a diferencia de la educación primaria no son gratuitos. Si los adolescentes no completan la escuela secundaria, ellos jamás podrán asistir a la universidad. Así fue que la iglesia se reunió para crear un fondo de becas, y hoy en día están patrocinando a tres jóvenes.
A través de las experiencias de Mtukwa con la cultura de dependencia alrededor de la iglesia, él decidió estudiar la teología del trabajo para su tesis de doctorado, el cual él está cursando a través de Nazarene Theological College en Manchester, Reino Unido. La tesis se centrará en 2 Tesalonicenses 3: 6-15, en el cual Pablo dice que quienes no trabajan no habrán de comer, y donde habla en contra de la holgazanería.
“Estoy preguntando, '¿Hay algo más a lo que Pablo se refiere aparte de simplemente proveer para uno mismo? ¿Qué papel cumple el trabajo, qué papel cumple en su teología y en la vida de la comunidad de fe?'”
“Una educación sólida y bien fundamentada es crítica para el futuro de la iglesia en África”, dijo Mtukwa. Ésta es la motivación para educar y capacitar pastores en ANU, así como para continuar con su propia educación.
“Si la iglesia está realmente creciendo en África como los misiólogos dicen, mi pregunta es, '¿De qué tipo de cristianismo se trata? ¿Se tratará de un cristianismo bíblico o de algo diferente?'”
“Creo que la capacitación es muy importante. La gente debe estar preparada para el ministerio antes de llevarlo a cabo. Por supuesto, ellos pueden ser capacitados durante la práctica. Lo que necesitan es conocer la Biblia, la historia de la iglesia, la teología y las prácticas, cómo hacer ministerio. Veo a todo eso como parte de la preparación de pastores.”
Mtukwa dice que debido a la falta de entendimiento teolgógico, el sincretismo es un problema en África – la gente mezcla diferentes rituales y creencias paganas con el evangelio. También existen cultos que han echado raíz y han confundido a muchos.
Él conoce este peligro en particular en forma personal. Como un nuevo creyente, él se dirigió a una ciudad en busca de su primera Biblia. Él encontró un vendedor de libros que intentaba vender biblias, y así que le compró una y comenzó a leerla asiduamente. Luego un amigo cristiano vio su Biblia y le explicó que se trataba de una Biblia Atalaya, publicada por los Testigos de Jehová, y que se trataba de un culto. Su amigo le consiguió una Biblia cristiana para que él pudiera estudiar.
Él no quiere que otros caigan en la misma confusión y sigan creencias falsas.
“Quiero que la gente pueda adoptar un cristianismo bíblico en vez de mezclarlo con creencias tradicionales que no están centradas en la Biblia. Quiero capacitar a la gente para que puedan leer la Biblia y así enseñarla a sus comunidades, y que sus vidas puedan cambiar así como las de aquellos a quienes enseñan.”
Él también quiere que los cristianos africanos adopten una orientación global y misionera.
“Cuando el evangelio llegó a Europa, ellos decidieron llevarlo hacia otras partes del mundo. Nosotros debemos preguntarnos cómo habremos de beneficiar al resto del mundo mediante el evangelio. ¿Vamos a producir misioneros para que vayan alrededor del mundo predicando el evangelio?”[ Traducido por Ed Brussa.]
'I have chosen you' by Disha Daborah Dongardive
My name is Prema Shriram Nikam and I live in Pune, India. Since I was a child, I was taught to worship idols and pray to all the gods which my parents told me about. I was told that all gods are alike. But my heart never agreed to what my parents and relatives told me. I often asked my friends, how can there be so many gods? There must be one supreme God. And if all gods are one then who created all these castes and religions? My friends could not answer my questions. Probably even they were in search of the truth but did not find answers to the similar questions. Or maybe they simply accepted the lie that the world had to offer to them.
I got married young. In my in-law’s home, I put the same question before all my relatives and my husband. I requested my husband to tell me about only one God whom I will serve with all of my heart. However, all he could say was, “All gods are one and all need to be pleased. If you worship only one, you may grieve and cause anger to the others. They might even curse our family.”
These answers did not satisfy me. My thirst for the one and only God increased with each passing day. In the midst of this chaos, a still voice in my heart said to me, "I have chosen you even before you were formed in your mother’s womb."
Later, I gave birth to my son and then to my daughter. As my husband is a government servant, we had to shift into one of the government quarters away from my in-laws. So, now it was just my husband, me and my two children living together -- a small family. This is where my life transforming experience began.
All of a sudden I began to have a severe headache. I felt as if something heavy was placed on my head and it was pressing me down. My husband went on regular tours. My children were little and dependent. I could not look after my children and my daily chores as my headache was getting worse. So, I told my husband about my situation. The first thing we did was see a good doctor. Soon we got the CT scan reports. The reports were normal. So the next best thing we thought was, pleasing every god that we know by visits to important worship places in the country. We tried every god and every idol. One day we went to Ahemad Nagar for a ‘special pooja’ called ‘Darga’. But all our efforts failed.
It was at Nagar that we met one of my husband’s friends, who told us about a new name: "Jesus." He told us that many were healed in the name of Jesus. He asked us to visit a pastor who could pray over people so that they may be healed from their ailments. So, we visited the pastor. He prayed for me. I began to put my trust in the name of Jesus. I felt His healing touch. Soon I had no headache anymore.
I began to pray and read the Bible every day. That is when I began to know Jesus is much more than a healer. I came to the knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus. I felt loved by Jesus. The Bible taught me that Jesus died for my sins and has offered me forgiveness and eternal life in heaven. As I went on reading the Bible, God spoke to me from the Bible's book of Jeremiah 1: 4-5: "The word of the Lord came to me saying, before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." These were the same words which comforted me before I even knew the name Jesus and before I even started to read the Bible. I FOUND MY SAVIOUR!
Thereafter I began to go to church every Sunday with my children. Currently, I go to the Church of the Nazarene, Pune, and I praise God for my church family, my Christian brothers and sisters. My children are growing in the love and fear of the Lord. However, my husband has not yet openly accepted Jesus in his heart. Sometimes I look at him from the kitchen early in the morning and watch him pray quietly in his heart. I continue to pray for him so that God may strengthen him and give him courage to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour irrespective of what the society has to say about his faith.
As for me and my children, we try to share the love of Jesus with our neighbours and relatives in every way possible, so that they too may be a part of the Heavenly Kingdom of Jesus with us.[Disha Daborah Dongardive is a member of the Church of the Nazarene, Wanowarie, Pune, India. She is serving at the local church as Sunday school president. She holds a Masters of Arts degree besides, B. Com and B. Ed, and is currently pursuing theology. She is working with a renowned school of SDA in Pune as a teacher.]
Missionary profile: Edwin and Wendy Lopez
I got married young. In my in-law’s home, I put the same question before all my relatives and my husband. I requested my husband to tell me about only one God whom I will serve with all of my heart. However, all he could say was, “All gods are one and all need to be pleased. If you worship only one, you may grieve and cause anger to the others. They might even curse our family.”
These answers did not satisfy me. My thirst for the one and only God increased with each passing day. In the midst of this chaos, a still voice in my heart said to me, "I have chosen you even before you were formed in your mother’s womb."
Later, I gave birth to my son and then to my daughter. As my husband is a government servant, we had to shift into one of the government quarters away from my in-laws. So, now it was just my husband, me and my two children living together -- a small family. This is where my life transforming experience began.
All of a sudden I began to have a severe headache. I felt as if something heavy was placed on my head and it was pressing me down. My husband went on regular tours. My children were little and dependent. I could not look after my children and my daily chores as my headache was getting worse. So, I told my husband about my situation. The first thing we did was see a good doctor. Soon we got the CT scan reports. The reports were normal. So the next best thing we thought was, pleasing every god that we know by visits to important worship places in the country. We tried every god and every idol. One day we went to Ahemad Nagar for a ‘special pooja’ called ‘Darga’. But all our efforts failed.
It was at Nagar that we met one of my husband’s friends, who told us about a new name: "Jesus." He told us that many were healed in the name of Jesus. He asked us to visit a pastor who could pray over people so that they may be healed from their ailments. So, we visited the pastor. He prayed for me. I began to put my trust in the name of Jesus. I felt His healing touch. Soon I had no headache anymore.
I began to pray and read the Bible every day. That is when I began to know Jesus is much more than a healer. I came to the knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus. I felt loved by Jesus. The Bible taught me that Jesus died for my sins and has offered me forgiveness and eternal life in heaven. As I went on reading the Bible, God spoke to me from the Bible's book of Jeremiah 1: 4-5: "The word of the Lord came to me saying, before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." These were the same words which comforted me before I even knew the name Jesus and before I even started to read the Bible. I FOUND MY SAVIOUR!
Thereafter I began to go to church every Sunday with my children. Currently, I go to the Church of the Nazarene, Pune, and I praise God for my church family, my Christian brothers and sisters. My children are growing in the love and fear of the Lord. However, my husband has not yet openly accepted Jesus in his heart. Sometimes I look at him from the kitchen early in the morning and watch him pray quietly in his heart. I continue to pray for him so that God may strengthen him and give him courage to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour irrespective of what the society has to say about his faith.
As for me and my children, we try to share the love of Jesus with our neighbours and relatives in every way possible, so that they too may be a part of the Heavenly Kingdom of Jesus with us.[Disha Daborah Dongardive is a member of the Church of the Nazarene, Wanowarie, Pune, India. She is serving at the local church as Sunday school president. She holds a Masters of Arts degree besides, B. Com and B. Ed, and is currently pursuing theology. She is working with a renowned school of SDA in Pune as a teacher.]
Missionary profile: Edwin and Wendy Lopez
Edwin and Wendy Lopez are missionaries serving the Mesoamerica Region since August 2013 in Panama. Edwin is part of the regional communications team and Wendy is the regional personnel coordinator. Previously, Wendy was the finance coordinator for the Caribbean from 2006 to 2010, and the Mesoamerica Special Projects Coordinator from 2010 to 2013.
They have two children: Joshua, 14, and Jeremy, 3 months.
They shared their story of being called to and serving in missions with Engagemagazine.
Engage: How did you first recognize God’s call to be involved in missions?
Wendy: I went on my first Work & Witness trip to the Dominican Republic in January 1997. That trip transformed my life. Shortly after returning, in a mission service I prayed “Here I am, Lord, use me." After that service, God continued to open doors through local and district Nazarene Missions International (NMI) and mission events. My calling was confirmed at the 2005 General NMI Convention.
Engage: What is your favorite aspect of what you do in your present assignment?
Wendy: I love to serve. As regional personnel coordinator, I have the privilege of serving the 80 missionaries in the Mesoamerica region. In our region we have missionaries from 14 different countries. It is inspiring to see the diversity of our missionaries. I appreciate the opportunity I have to serve them and their families.
Engage: Please share a story of a significant event or moment that has happened in your current assignment.
They have two children: Joshua, 14, and Jeremy, 3 months.
They shared their story of being called to and serving in missions with Engagemagazine.
Engage: How did you first recognize God’s call to be involved in missions?
Wendy: I went on my first Work & Witness trip to the Dominican Republic in January 1997. That trip transformed my life. Shortly after returning, in a mission service I prayed “Here I am, Lord, use me." After that service, God continued to open doors through local and district Nazarene Missions International (NMI) and mission events. My calling was confirmed at the 2005 General NMI Convention.
Engage: What is your favorite aspect of what you do in your present assignment?
Wendy: I love to serve. As regional personnel coordinator, I have the privilege of serving the 80 missionaries in the Mesoamerica region. In our region we have missionaries from 14 different countries. It is inspiring to see the diversity of our missionaries. I appreciate the opportunity I have to serve them and their families.
Engage: Please share a story of a significant event or moment that has happened in your current assignment.
Wendy: As part of our ministry in Panama, we have the opportunity to minister in the town of Samaria. This is a very populated, low socio-economic part of Panama City. In this part of town, crime, drugs and alcohol are part of daily living. However, we are seeing how the church is making a difference in this community. Currently, we are working with Pastor Amable Polanco, the church leadership and the national/field Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) leadership in developing a child development center (CDC) that will service this community. As part of this center, we will offer nutritional hot meals for the children, assistance with their homework, medical clinics and life/work skills for the teens. Through the ministry of this CDC we hope to break the generational cycle from which a lot of the children/teens in Samaria come from. We pray that we can change the future of Panama by reaching one child/teen at a time for Christ.
Engage: How do you maintain a close relationship with God and your family in the midst of the demands of missionary service?
Wendy: We have daily family devotions. We read the Bible and pray together.
Engage: What are the rewards of what you do?
Wendy: Changed lives!!!!
Engage: What are some aspects of the culture where you live that you have come to love or embrace?
Wendy: We love Panamanian/Caribbean food! ☺ We love the people of the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. We have very diverse and rich cultures in our region.
Engage: What do you like to do for fun?
Wendy: I love to read. Joshua and Edwin like to work on computer and “techy stuff.” For now, baby Jeremy likes to sleep. ☺
Engage: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Wendy: I was born in Puerto Rico. Edwin was born in the Dominican Republic. Joshua was born in Miami, Florida (USA). Baby Jeremy was born in Panama. We are a very international family.
Engage: What advice would you have for others exploring a possible call to missions, or embarking on their first missionary assignment?
Wendy: Listen and obey God’s calling. Where God calls, He provides. Don’t worry about the future; God is already there.
Engage: Other comments?
Wendy: We love being Nazarene missionaries. We appreciate the opportunity to serve God and our church. Thank you!
UK church comes alongside Latvian immigrant community by Gina Grate Pottenger
Engage: How do you maintain a close relationship with God and your family in the midst of the demands of missionary service?
Wendy: We have daily family devotions. We read the Bible and pray together.
Engage: What are the rewards of what you do?
Wendy: Changed lives!!!!
Engage: What are some aspects of the culture where you live that you have come to love or embrace?
Wendy: We love Panamanian/Caribbean food! ☺ We love the people of the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. We have very diverse and rich cultures in our region.
Engage: What do you like to do for fun?
Wendy: I love to read. Joshua and Edwin like to work on computer and “techy stuff.” For now, baby Jeremy likes to sleep. ☺
Engage: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Wendy: I was born in Puerto Rico. Edwin was born in the Dominican Republic. Joshua was born in Miami, Florida (USA). Baby Jeremy was born in Panama. We are a very international family.
Engage: What advice would you have for others exploring a possible call to missions, or embarking on their first missionary assignment?
Wendy: Listen and obey God’s calling. Where God calls, He provides. Don’t worry about the future; God is already there.
Engage: Other comments?
Wendy: We love being Nazarene missionaries. We appreciate the opportunity to serve God and our church. Thank you!
UK church comes alongside Latvian immigrant community by Gina Grate Pottenger
Latvia was among the countries particularly hard hit by the global economic crisis that began in 2008, suffering from a high of more than 20 percent unemployment by 2010. Although that figure has fallen to about 9 percent last year, waves of emigration have cost the country more than 600,000 of its citizens in the last 15 years, as the young and educated move west for the promise of greater prosperity.
That’s why many Latvians have moved to the United Kingdom, with a significant number making a home in Barnsley, just west of Manchester.
Zane Pavlovica and her family moved to Barnsley in 2012 and the first thing they did was to look for a church. They found their church home at the Church of the Nazarene in Barnsley.
The church reached out to them and made them feel welcome. As the family made contacts in the Latvian community, they began to dream of holding Christian meetings with others from their culture and in their own Latvian language.
The church encouraged them, so what started as a small Saturday prayer time in the Pavlovicas’ home in August 2012 has now grown to a Sunday afternoon worship service with an average of about 30 Latvian-speaking adults and 20 children. The group livestreams their services on the Internet so that other Latvian-speaking believers around the UK, who live too far away to attend, and even some in Latvia, can participate in the worship from their computers. A worship service might average more than 150 views.
That’s why many Latvians have moved to the United Kingdom, with a significant number making a home in Barnsley, just west of Manchester.
Zane Pavlovica and her family moved to Barnsley in 2012 and the first thing they did was to look for a church. They found their church home at the Church of the Nazarene in Barnsley.
The church reached out to them and made them feel welcome. As the family made contacts in the Latvian community, they began to dream of holding Christian meetings with others from their culture and in their own Latvian language.
The church encouraged them, so what started as a small Saturday prayer time in the Pavlovicas’ home in August 2012 has now grown to a Sunday afternoon worship service with an average of about 30 Latvian-speaking adults and 20 children. The group livestreams their services on the Internet so that other Latvian-speaking believers around the UK, who live too far away to attend, and even some in Latvia, can participate in the worship from their computers. A worship service might average more than 150 views.
Being able to worship with others in their shared language and cultural style is important to Pavlovica and the other members of the congregation.
“To read the Bible, to be together with others and pray together, I just have seen the fruit of that in my life,” she said. “It’s comfort, support. Because I am Christian I just can’t imagine that I could live different. I know there is God and He needs to be praised; He is worthy to be praised. He’s the source of my life.”
The Latvian congregation interacts regularly with the English Nazarene congregation, doing community activities together such as picking up litter, bringing their children to the English kids’ club, and going on day trips to places like the zoo. The two congregations have held several joint house group meetings so they can pray and worship together informally.
Newton and a Latvian translator recently taught a 10-part English language class for people from the Latvian-speaking community in Barnsley. A local school that has a higher proportion of Latvian-speaking students supported the language classes, which expanded awareness of what the Church of the Nazarene is offering to the immigrant community.
“Because of the relationships I have with the school, they help promote these classes. If one school promotes something, another school thinks it’s good. If they grasp hold of it, it spreads.”
“To read the Bible, to be together with others and pray together, I just have seen the fruit of that in my life,” she said. “It’s comfort, support. Because I am Christian I just can’t imagine that I could live different. I know there is God and He needs to be praised; He is worthy to be praised. He’s the source of my life.”
The Latvian congregation interacts regularly with the English Nazarene congregation, doing community activities together such as picking up litter, bringing their children to the English kids’ club, and going on day trips to places like the zoo. The two congregations have held several joint house group meetings so they can pray and worship together informally.
Newton and a Latvian translator recently taught a 10-part English language class for people from the Latvian-speaking community in Barnsley. A local school that has a higher proportion of Latvian-speaking students supported the language classes, which expanded awareness of what the Church of the Nazarene is offering to the immigrant community.
“Because of the relationships I have with the school, they help promote these classes. If one school promotes something, another school thinks it’s good. If they grasp hold of it, it spreads.”
The Nazarene church has made the building available to support the immigrant community in other ways, such as access to computers and Internet for doing paperwork and applications. People in the church help to explain and translate doctors’ and school notes for parents. They also explain cultural information, such as which trash cans are for which types of rubbish.
“The heart is the gospel, but out of that comes a sense of caring for those who have needs,” Newton said. “They help themselves and then if they have questions they ask people like me and or I find out other people who can help them.”
The church building has become a central meeting point for the community at large. It has a representative on the Ward Alliance, the Crime and Safety Group, and its pastor is chaplain to the Royal British Legion Group. The church runs a youth club. It has also put on workshops like money management, computer classes, parenting and drug awareness. All these groups, and others, meet at the church regularly, which means numerous unchurched people pass through the doors each week.
On Sunday, 7th June, the Barnsley Church of the Nazarene Celebrated 60 years of serving the community for Christ. Twenty years earlier in 1935, Calvary Holiness Church held a tent campaign and planted a church. On 11th June 1955, the two merged together. On Sunday the Latvians led the music with guitars, drums and a keyboard as well as singers. Former Barnsley Nazarene Pastor Rev. Ken Prescott preached and everyone enjoyed lunch provided by the Latvians. They held their own worship in the afternoon in Latvian language.
Heart of God: Recruiting for the choir by Howard Culbertson
“Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,
sing praise to the Lord”[Psalm 68:32]
“We cannot have too much singing to God,” wrote Charles Spurgeon in comments on Psalm 68:32 for his Treasury of David book.
The Psalm 68:32 phrases about singing powerfully illustrate the priority God wants us to give to world evangelism. Furthermore, the idea of people around the world bursting out into songs of praise to God makes me think of those surprise “flash concerts” which choirs sometimes give in public places (example: http://youtu.be/SXh7JR9oKVE).
“The heart is the gospel, but out of that comes a sense of caring for those who have needs,” Newton said. “They help themselves and then if they have questions they ask people like me and or I find out other people who can help them.”
The church building has become a central meeting point for the community at large. It has a representative on the Ward Alliance, the Crime and Safety Group, and its pastor is chaplain to the Royal British Legion Group. The church runs a youth club. It has also put on workshops like money management, computer classes, parenting and drug awareness. All these groups, and others, meet at the church regularly, which means numerous unchurched people pass through the doors each week.
On Sunday, 7th June, the Barnsley Church of the Nazarene Celebrated 60 years of serving the community for Christ. Twenty years earlier in 1935, Calvary Holiness Church held a tent campaign and planted a church. On 11th June 1955, the two merged together. On Sunday the Latvians led the music with guitars, drums and a keyboard as well as singers. Former Barnsley Nazarene Pastor Rev. Ken Prescott preached and everyone enjoyed lunch provided by the Latvians. They held their own worship in the afternoon in Latvian language.
Heart of God: Recruiting for the choir by Howard Culbertson“Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,
sing praise to the Lord”[Psalm 68:32]
“We cannot have too much singing to God,” wrote Charles Spurgeon in comments on Psalm 68:32 for his Treasury of David book.
The Psalm 68:32 phrases about singing powerfully illustrate the priority God wants us to give to world evangelism. Furthermore, the idea of people around the world bursting out into songs of praise to God makes me think of those surprise “flash concerts” which choirs sometimes give in public places (example: http://youtu.be/SXh7JR9oKVE).
As I envision a global “flash concert” of praise to the Lord, I start unpacking what Psalm 68:32 means for the cause of world missionary outreach: Psalm 68:32 means that as we “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20), we should include invitations to join the worldwide choir!
I hear a clear call in Psalm 68:32 to people everywhere to acknowledge the one true God, the God who reveals Himself to us through the pages of the Bible. This verse is not simply an exhortation to be happy and to give praise to something or somebody. Psalm 68:32 calls all people everywhere to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Perhaps the most compelling relationship Psalm 68:32 has with world evangelism is that it evokes Paul’s words to the Romans about those who have yet to hear the Gospel. Romans 10:14 asks: “How shall they believe in (or sing about!) Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). The only possible answer to that question is that if people from every nation are going to join us in singing to God, they do need to know about Him. The question we should be asking each other is: If there are people alive today with little or no access to the Gospel, shouldn’t we be doing something to get the Good News to them?
In Psalm 68:32 I also see a glimpse forward to how global Christianity has now become. Those words were written a thousand years or more before the birth of Jesus. At that time, little was known about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob outside of the Middle East. Now, the people of God can be found all over the world. These 20 centuries of Christian missionary outreach have been fruitful even though we still have a ways to go to make sure that people from every tribe and tongue and “kingdom” hear the call to give praise to God.
Finally, scholars say Psalm 68 is possibly the oldest poem in the book of Psalms. If it is, then the words of verse 32 signal that world missions may well have been, as Dave Davidson has said, “on God’s mind from the beginning.”
May all people everywhere praise God. Let’s make sure they all -- every one of them -- get invited to join the choir!
Coming back to Jesus by Gina Grate Pottenger
I hear a clear call in Psalm 68:32 to people everywhere to acknowledge the one true God, the God who reveals Himself to us through the pages of the Bible. This verse is not simply an exhortation to be happy and to give praise to something or somebody. Psalm 68:32 calls all people everywhere to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Perhaps the most compelling relationship Psalm 68:32 has with world evangelism is that it evokes Paul’s words to the Romans about those who have yet to hear the Gospel. Romans 10:14 asks: “How shall they believe in (or sing about!) Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). The only possible answer to that question is that if people from every nation are going to join us in singing to God, they do need to know about Him. The question we should be asking each other is: If there are people alive today with little or no access to the Gospel, shouldn’t we be doing something to get the Good News to them?
In Psalm 68:32 I also see a glimpse forward to how global Christianity has now become. Those words were written a thousand years or more before the birth of Jesus. At that time, little was known about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob outside of the Middle East. Now, the people of God can be found all over the world. These 20 centuries of Christian missionary outreach have been fruitful even though we still have a ways to go to make sure that people from every tribe and tongue and “kingdom” hear the call to give praise to God.
Finally, scholars say Psalm 68 is possibly the oldest poem in the book of Psalms. If it is, then the words of verse 32 signal that world missions may well have been, as Dave Davidson has said, “on God’s mind from the beginning.”
May all people everywhere praise God. Let’s make sure they all -- every one of them -- get invited to join the choir!
Coming back to Jesus by Gina Grate Pottenger
Rai’s* father was a priest in a traditional religion and ran a monastery in Nepal. A dedicated theologian, his father wrote many religious texts and songs. He was raising his family in the traditions and rituals, which included worshipping idols in the temple.
The monastery attracted tourists who visited and sometimes also camped outside its walls.
One day, Rai, a teenager, went to visit the tourists’ camp to see if they wanted to make any offerings to the gods in the temple. He noticed that the door to the temple was open. He thought maybe the tourists had visited to make an offering to the idol.
Then he realized that one of the tourists had gone into the temple simply to change her clothes. Then another woman followed her and did the same.
“Deep down in my heart I was angry. I wondered why they are not worshipping our gods,” he says.
Did they not revere the gods? If not, which god or gods did they worship?
After this, he began to question whether the idols were true and real. Then he discovered that his father had actually made the idols himself.
“From that day I started not fully trusting these gods,” Rai says.
Around this time, someone on the street gave him a tract and a booklet about Jesus Christ. He read the materials and found them so interesting that he read them again and again.
“I found nothing is God. The real God is living in us. I accepted Jesus within a year.”
But his father and other people pressured him against following this different religion. Some even warned him that he would die because of his choice. So, uncertain of his new faith but wanting to know the truth, he began an eight-year journey of exploring various religions to find the real God. He visited numerous monasteries and temples. He also traveled to Tibet and studied another religion’s highest god there.
All of these different religions and beliefs rang false to him, giving him no peace or satisfaction. Instead, he kept coming back to Jesus.
“Finally, I confessed and renewed in my mind” faith in Jesus Christ. When the matter was settled once and for all in his heart and mind, and he believed firmly that Jesus is the true God, he joined a church and began to serve in the Sunday School.
He entered a theological college to earn his master’s in divinity because he realized God was calling him to be an evangelist. He studied there with a Nazarene pastor. After studying together for some time, he asked the pastor if they could minister together. The pastor checked with his leader, and then agreed to take on Rai as an assistant pastor and evangelist at his Nazarene church. Together they quickly planted a new church.
Rai also joined a JESUS Film ministry team, and has been part of planting five additional churches. He visits these new groups of believers regularly to disciple them. He has also been part of a group that established an additional 10 house churches.
Rai is part of a group of pastors and volunteers from churches in Nepal who are delivering food and tents and other relief items to people in the Sindhupalchok District, an area which has reported the most casualties during the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25. Rai and other church leaders are leading ongoing, disaster relief efforts by the church to people in Sindhupalchok, as well as long-term redevelopment.
*Name changed for security
____________________________
The monastery attracted tourists who visited and sometimes also camped outside its walls.
One day, Rai, a teenager, went to visit the tourists’ camp to see if they wanted to make any offerings to the gods in the temple. He noticed that the door to the temple was open. He thought maybe the tourists had visited to make an offering to the idol.
Then he realized that one of the tourists had gone into the temple simply to change her clothes. Then another woman followed her and did the same.
“Deep down in my heart I was angry. I wondered why they are not worshipping our gods,” he says.
Did they not revere the gods? If not, which god or gods did they worship?
After this, he began to question whether the idols were true and real. Then he discovered that his father had actually made the idols himself.
“From that day I started not fully trusting these gods,” Rai says.
Around this time, someone on the street gave him a tract and a booklet about Jesus Christ. He read the materials and found them so interesting that he read them again and again.
“I found nothing is God. The real God is living in us. I accepted Jesus within a year.”
But his father and other people pressured him against following this different religion. Some even warned him that he would die because of his choice. So, uncertain of his new faith but wanting to know the truth, he began an eight-year journey of exploring various religions to find the real God. He visited numerous monasteries and temples. He also traveled to Tibet and studied another religion’s highest god there.
All of these different religions and beliefs rang false to him, giving him no peace or satisfaction. Instead, he kept coming back to Jesus.
“Finally, I confessed and renewed in my mind” faith in Jesus Christ. When the matter was settled once and for all in his heart and mind, and he believed firmly that Jesus is the true God, he joined a church and began to serve in the Sunday School.
He entered a theological college to earn his master’s in divinity because he realized God was calling him to be an evangelist. He studied there with a Nazarene pastor. After studying together for some time, he asked the pastor if they could minister together. The pastor checked with his leader, and then agreed to take on Rai as an assistant pastor and evangelist at his Nazarene church. Together they quickly planted a new church.
Rai also joined a JESUS Film ministry team, and has been part of planting five additional churches. He visits these new groups of believers regularly to disciple them. He has also been part of a group that established an additional 10 house churches.
Rai is part of a group of pastors and volunteers from churches in Nepal who are delivering food and tents and other relief items to people in the Sindhupalchok District, an area which has reported the most casualties during the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25. Rai and other church leaders are leading ongoing, disaster relief efforts by the church to people in Sindhupalchok, as well as long-term redevelopment.
*Name changed for security
____________________________
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