Introductions #1 and #2

We're in a bind: at the top of our web page we say we want to connect Africans and Americans, but during this training and deputation time we know many more Americans than Africans. For now, the solution is just to acknowledge that and to make the introductions we can. They're important ones, because the former mission fields are maturing and national leaders are taking their rightful place. There are many examples. Korea is sending out its own missionaries. Brazil is starting its own Nazarene university. The African region and African churches are led by impressive national leaders. We'd like to introduce two of them to you.

The first two of these are the Director of the Africa Region, Eugenio Duarte, and Mulonda Batubula, pastor of an embattled Nazarene Church in the Congo.

Rev. Duarte faced a challenging dilemma as a young man: the new national government of Cape Verde, his home country, was so impressed by his work as assistant to the former Portuguese governor that they offered him a "full ride" scholarship to an engineering school. It would have been the answer to many young men's prayers, but it was not the answer to Eugenio's. The Lord led him to the Nazarene Seminary in Cape Verde where he prepared for the ministry. After completing his education, Rev. Duarte continued to distinguish himself--first as a Nazarene pastor, then as a Nazarene field director and finally, in this new appointment as director of the Africa Region of the Church of the Nazarene.

Rev. Duarte deals with the on-going challenges of a Nazarene leader and pastor, as indicated in the regional priorities: Helping children, youth and adults become disciples; Education and training for clergy and laypeople; Developing new generations of leadership; Establishing the church in new African countries; and Practicing Compassionate Ministry. Each of these is worthy of passionate prayer: eternities are at stake.

Beyond the regional priorities of discipling, educating clergy and laypeople, raising up leaders and churches and practicing compassionate ministry, Rev. Duarte must deal with the unique, heart-wrenching challenges of the African continent. Last year, for example, the Nazarene Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was caught up in what has been called "The Silent War." Eight Nazarene churches and Nazarene 2 schools were destroyed. Four lay Nazarenes and 2 pastors from the South Kivu district were killed and 18 injured. Over 2,600 Nazarenes fled into the bush looking for a place to hide.

Byonga Nazarene Church is located in a village that has been attacked 98 times since the war began eight years ago. Pastor Mulonda Batubula has lost 3 children in that time, one by gunshot and two to malaria as they hid in the bush during some of the worst fighting. A faithful member of the Nazarene church since 1993, Pastor Batubula has been arrested 3 times in recent years. Twice the rebels took him because he refused to send young people from the church to fight, and once the government accused him of consorting with the rebels. The district superintendent said of the pastor, “Pastor Batubula says these people need the message of holiness the most. He would choose to die rather than leave the area. He is preaching holiness as the only hope, and trusting the Lord for a better future here or everlasting life."

We are humbled and challenged by this fierce commitment to the gospel. Our own concerns about our new assignment grow small and unimportant when placed in the context of the challenges and concerns of our world-wide Nazarene brothers and sisters. Imagine how these conditions grieve the heart of God. This context makes it even more impressive that at key times as we were trying to make our decision about coming to ANU, Eugenio Duarte sent us e-mails of encouragement and affirmation. Can you see why, as much as we are braced for the culture shock of our own transition, we would ask you to pray for Rev. Duarte and Pastor Batubula and the work God has called them to do? Thank you for partnering with us, and thank you for helping us begin to make the Africonnection: between North American Nazarenes, and their courageous brothers and sisters in Africa. If you'd like to read more about:

• Rev. Duarte's work, go to--http://www.africanazarene.org/wmafrica/Region/OutOfAfrica/News/tabid/122/Default.aspx



• Pastor Batubula and the Silent War, go to--http://www.ncm.org/news_pr060331.aspx

Next in the "Introductions" series: Professor Leah Marangu, Vice Chancellor (President) of Africa Nazarene University.

Don't forget, if you want to share your comments with other readers of our blog, you can do so at www.africonnection.org.

Notes from the Road #2

We're in our fourth day at Mark's folk's house in Brazil Indiana--about 60 miles west of Indianapolis and 15 miles east of Terre Haute where we did our most recent deputation. Mark's dad is a wonderful steward of the two city lots the Lord has given them on the north side of town. He plants half a lot in garden and about half a lot in fruit trees, with generous sprinklings of flowers and other landscaping all over the property. We are loading up on fresh corn, tomatoes, onions, peaches, strawberries and other good things from the garden and fruit trees. It's wonderful to be eating healthy again after the "imposed grease/starch/sugar" diet of the road trip.

Thanks to ALL of you who have asked how Mark's mom Charlotte is doing. The answer is, she's doing remarkably well--her energy level is up and her pain level is down. She is still struggling, as always, to keep her diabetes "count" stable, but she has been cheerful and engaged and active! Some of you who are this age (82) or have parents this age may recognize the "Sundowner effect" which brings sadness or loneliness as the evening unfolds. When that happens, Mom's multiple decades as a church pianist are an amazing resource of hope and joy and reassurance as she plays "My hope is built on nothing less..." and "Nothing thrills my soul like Jesus..." and "There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood..." Thanks for your prayers. They're working wonders.

We are trying to get ahead of the reading assignments for the classes we'll be taking later this fall. Nancy is reading Philip Jenkins "The Next Christendom", which Mark reviewed in the blog a couple of weeks ago. Mark is reading "The Gods of Management" which explains four different styles of leadership to prepare us further for those roles on the mission field.

We are making plans to visit Indianapolis Colts spring training which is being held at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, an engineering and sciences school, 12 miles away. We're also making plans to visit our old stomping grounds, French Lick, Indiana--early home of ISU and Boston Celtic standout Larry Bird, and also home to a circa 1920's hot spring and spa which has recently undergone a stunning multi-million dollar renovation.

We'll be in Indiana through August 22 and then drive back to Kansas City on the 23rd to be ready for classes the following Monday. Thanks for your love and your prayers as we venture out!

Thanks Terre Haute First!

We had a great Faith Promise weekend with the folks at Terre Haute First, Pastor Mark Fleschner and his family, Youth Pastor Jason and his wife and precious baby boy, Phil "The Pirate" Kruger and HIS family, Tom who did all the preparations for the Saturday evening dinner, and lots of others. This is a vibrant church which is retaining the good from the past, but being sensitive to new ways it can serve the Kingdom and its community.

In some respects, the weekend was a model of how God is at work in the hearts of his people and how missionaries like us get to be a tiny part of facilitating that work--kind of divine sub-contractors! For example (and we'll disguise these a little just to respect confidences): one young lady told her mother she wanted to come and spend a year at ANU; a proud Mom introduced us to her daughter who acknowledged a call to missions at NYC in St. Louis just a couple of weeks ago and had been awarded a denominational mission trip; a concerned woman came to us asking how she could help provide a scholarship to a young woman at ANU; a young dad had just acknowledged a call to ministry and asked to stay in touch in case his call might someday include missions. Praise the Lord for how he works in the hearts of his people! We're in the process of following up with each of these good people to help them discover God's will as it unfolds in their lives. Thank you Terre Haute First for making a number of Africonnections this past weekend!