Church of the Nazarene
A word from the Regional Director
Welcome to the Africa Region! Greetings in the Powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is a blessed privilege for my family and I to serve the Lord in the great continent of Africa.
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The Dream
I still vividly remember the dream I had about Africa a few years ago. In that dream, I saw the African continent. Suddenly, a cross came from the sky and was planted right in the middle of Africa. The cross made a hole from where blood started to burst and gradually cover the whole continent from West to East and South to North and I heard three words: Healing, Reconciliation, Restoration.
The Symbol
In the late 1960s, the West-African poet David Diop wrote one of the most famous poems about Africa where he symbolizes her as a Baobab Tree. One stanza says: “That tree over there, splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers, that is your Africa springing up anew patiently, obstinately and whose fruits acquires the bitter taste of liberty.”
The Two Anchors
Africa is an old continent with a young population and is known for her passion, resilience,
faith, and hope for life. As a Church, the Lord has given us the opportunity to share the Full Gospel in such a time as this. We won’t be able to fulfil His mission without these two anchors:
- The Manifest Presence of God in each of our initiatives. (Knowing who we are serving).
- Being driven by the reason of our mission. (Knowing why we are serving).
The Four Values
We are longing to see the four values of Authenticity, Presence, Relevance, and Interdependence drive all our regional initiatives.
Enlarge the place of your tent!
“Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not spare them; Lengthen your ropes and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread out to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities.” Isaiah 54: 2-3 (NASB)
Today, the Church in Africa is in a pivotal time of fast-paced growth and transition in a rapidly changing, steadily urbanizing and increasingly youth-populated continent.
Our Mission in such context is to make Christlike disciples in the nations of Africa with a Vision to see communities transformed by Christlike disciples, bringing peace, healing, and restoration through our values of authenticity, presence, relevance, and interdependence.
Our main purpose is:
- “To Possess the nations”: Going where the Church is not yet.
- “To Resettle the desolate cities“: Resourcing and Developing the Church.
We are sensitive to the direction God is leading the Church and see this as an opportune time to enlarge our tent: to diversify our perspectives and operations to include the emerging and growing parts of the continent, integrate local leadership with regional and missionary personnel for ministry and increase collaboration for the transformation of lives and communities for Christ, thus expanding our reach and impact.
Our Five Mission Opportunities:
- Francophone Africa
- Sahel Sahara
- Nigeria missions
- Urban Ministry
- African Diaspora
Our Five Ministry Objectives:
- Discipleship
- Leadership
- Education
- Connection
- District Development
Our platform strategy:
The Africa Region Hubs is a participatory and innovative initiative of missional realignment and organizational renewal aimed at expanding and strengthening the capacity of the Church of the Nazarene to accomplish its Mission in Africa. The time has come to move forward and extend the Church’s reach to new frontiers. As such, strong emphasis will be placed on establishing three hubs comprising key leadership presence and resources.
We invite you to join hands with us in following God’s Kairos for Africa as He guides us in expanding and increasing His Church’s presence and relevance for healing, peace, and restoration.
Together, let’s extend our tents and see the fostering of a spirit of oneness in Africa in making Christlike disciples in the nations: “Tuko Pamoja” (We Are Together)!
Daniel A.K.L.GOMIS
Africa Regional Director
