The district superintendents in Kenya with Africa  Regional Director Filimao Chambo, Africa East Field Strategy  Coordinator Don Gardner, and Dr. Graves

The growth of the Church of the Nazarene over the continent of Africa is more than a church growth or church planting program. It is a Movement of God taking place dramatically and swiftly by the power of the Holy Spirit. With this movement come the fruit of church planting and the rapid reproduction of pastors, as witnessed by Dr. David W. Graves, jurisdictional general superintendent for the Africa Region.

Dr. David and Sharon Graves traveled the Africa Region on 13 districts and had contact with many more, as representatives from other districts came together for joint meetings, rallies, and ordination services. The rapid growth necessitates more men and women answering the call of God to ministry, being trained, and completing the processes of ministerial licensing and ordination.

The Ethiopia South Central District exemplifies this exponential growth and ministerial credentialing. During the district assembly, pastors gave their reports by zones. One zone reported 25 new churches and a goal to plant 100 churches and become a district itself. The Ethiopia South Central Ministerial Credentials Board granted the renewal of 61 ministerial district licenses and issued 107 licenses to first-time recipients. In addition, five ministers moved from licensure to being fully ordained by Dr. Graves. Additional ministers are in the process of training. Ethiopia Nazarene Bible College reports 159 recent graduates, with a current total of 1,600 pastors in educational training, including 300 who are new this year.

At the Ethiopia Aleta Selam District assembly, the attendance was so great that effort was required to ensure that all pastors were inside the church. More people squeezed into the building, dozens of faces appeared at every window, and several hundred people stood outside listening to the proceedings via speakers. With membership increasing in one year by over 2,200, this district has 187 licensed ministers, and Dr. Graves ordained three elders. One of those had recently taken leadership of a church of over 600 members where the district superintendent had been serving as pastor.

On the Bansa-Bona District, the superintendent had been the only elder until recently when Dr. Graves ordained seven, including two of the district superintendent’s brothers. Several pastors from Bansa-Bona had previously gone into a very remote and unreached mountain village. They stayed for a month to preach, disciple converts, start a church, and train a leader. About 15 men from there who are now new Nazarenes walked for two days to come to the district assembly and formed an all-men’s choir to sing at the holiness rally. To the glory of God, there are now 14 churches in that remote area.
 

The first two elders from the Masai tribe in Kenya

As this pattern is being repeated across much of Africa, Dr. Graves is privileged to lay hands on a multitude of men and women being fully ordained into the ministry of Christ in the Church of the Nazarene. In addition to his ordaining many elders on individual districts, there were three combined ordination ceremonies. In Kenya, five districts came together for the ordination of 18 elders, the largest number ever ordained in that nation. People had traveled up to ten hours to attend this service, with many sleeping in the church the night before. “The church was full, with every chair, including the borrowed ones from Africa Nazarene University, filled,” said Dr. Graves. “Children were sitting on the floor, and many adults were sitting outside in the courtyard. There was a spirit of excitement and anticipation.” Two of the ordinands representing the Rift Valley District are now the first elders from the Masai tribe, the oldest and predominant tribe in Kenya. “A tremendous door to reach the Masai people could be opening,” Dr. Graves said.

In Tanzania 19 elders were ordained in a joint service of three districts, including the first husband and wife team ordained on the Tanzania Central District. Reporters from three newspapers interviewed Dr. Graves following this service. In Uganda, ten were ordained from two districts in a service that began with the singing of “Called Unto Holiness” by four children. These ordinations will allow some districts to meet the number of elders required to move forward from Phase 1 to Phase 2 districts.

New elders ordained in Uganda

Spontaneous praise, singing, dancing, hugs, and congratulations broke out as Nazarenes celebrated the accomplishments of these ministers and especially the grace of God being poured out on their quickly multiplying churches.

“It was a great privilege to be with these modern-day heroes of the faith,” said Dr. Graves. “They are truly writing the next chapters of the Book of Acts.”