General Superintendent Jesse C. Middendorf experienced history in the making in January and February 2007 with Nazarene brothers and sisters of the Africa Region.

A highlight of these historic events was the election in the Gauteng District in South Africa of Bethuel Mkonda, the district’s first Black superintendent. The Gauteng District was formed 12 years ago following the end of apartheid in South Africa as a merger of three racially separate districts. “The spirit in the assembly was a magnificent demonstration of unity and outstanding openness to the leadership of the Holy Spirit,” Dr. Middendorf said. “The historic occasion brought cheers and applause across the assembly. This humble and capable man stands tall as a man of vision, of great faith, and of deep spirituality.”

Traversing the continent in almost 30,000 miles, he presided over district assemblies where no district assembly had ever been held and ordained ministers where no general superintendent had ever visited or conducted an ordination service. As the first general superintendent to visit the Nazarene churches in Angola, Dr. Middendorf ordained three Angolan pastors, the first class of Angolan Nazarene elders. For the first time in the 25-year history of the Church of the Nazarene in Botswana, four elders were ordained, two of whom were charter members of the Botswana District.

This memorable tour marked the final official visit of Dr. Middendorf to Africa as jurisdictional general superintendent. Of his time there over the last two years, Dr. Middendorf said, “I have seen the church where our people are struggling with unimaginable poverty yet are joyously spreading the message of hope and holiness. I have seen pastors who are building great congregations with no buildings and others who with their people have sacrificially given and worked to build impressive sanctuaries and are reaching their communities with great effectiveness. I witnessed many districts paying 100 percent of the World Evangelism Fund and rejoiced that they were helping to fulfill the Great Commission with their giving.”

According to Regional Director Eugenio Duarte, Dr. Middendorf ordained 47 elders in January, 7 percent of all ordained elders in Africa. “This number shows not only a sign of growth but also of maturity of the church in Africa,” said Dr. Duarte.

“I will never view the church in quite the same way,” Dr. Middendorf reflected. “The African church with excellent African leadership is now home to 20 percent of Nazarenes in the world. They are our brothers and sisters in the fulfilling of the Great Commission.”