Growing Greener in Malawi · Growing Greener in Malawi. 01 To date in 2016 there have been • Two overseas visits. The first to Rwanda (where meetings also took place with some of

Enabling effective ministry in Africa www.africanpastors.org

APF News and PrayerJuly to September 2016

Inside:

Prayer Points

Remembering Dorothy Almond

Kenya Calling

In the UK

GrowingGreener inMalawi

01 www.africanpastors.org

To date in 2016 there have been

• Twooverseasvisits.ThefirsttoRwanda (where meetings also took place with some of our Burundi contacts) and Uganda; the second saw GeoffHoldervisitMalawi– thefirsttimeAPFhasreachedMalawifor several years

• UK Regional Events will have taken place in the North West, South West andSouthEast–withNorthEastandWestMidlandsregionaleventsplanned in October (see p2 for details)

• Nine Sunday church visits to advocate forAPFandpreach

• Significantprogresstowardthedelivery of our mid to long term objectives, not least the mapping of keyAfricanregionsandidentificationofpotentialAfricanRegionalPartners

In the midst of all this activity I was remindedbyRevDrMichaelOkwakol,PresidentoftheAll-AfricaBaptistAllianceandoneofourpatrons,whenwemetinKampalainAprilandhadasignificantconversationthatanimportant and somewhat unique aspectofAPFsministryisto“pastor the pastors who pastor the pastors!”

Thankyouforhelpingustodothat–andinsodoing–contributetobringingcommunity transformation through the localchurchinAfrica.

Thank YouRev David Stedman


From the CEO

The first 6 months of 2016 have been busy and eventful.

Rev Dr Michael Okwako

Enabling effective ministry in Africa 02

In the UK


Golf Day 2016 The second annual fundraising

golf day will take place at

CanterburyGolfClubonFriday

28th October. There are already

seven teams provisionally

booked and although it is a long

way for some of our supporters

to travel Canterbury is a mature

parklandcourse–arealtreat

toplay–andexcellentvalueat

£40 per player for breakfast, use

of the driving range, 18 holes,

dinnerandsomeexcellentprizes.

Contact [email protected]

for more information.

UK ConferencesSat 8th October

NE Regional Conference

Stockton Baptist Tabernacle,

Stockton-on-Tees

Sat 29th October

West Midlands Regional

Conference

Queens Road Baptist Church,

Coventry

Aussie Advocates for APF SteveandDawnExleyrecentlybecameinvolvedin

supportingAPF.Theyhavecontributedfinancially,

took part in the Lycra Challenge sponsored ride last

September and donated items to Recycle 4 Good

Causes on our behalf. They have a young family and

long-standinginterestinAfricanmissionhaving

served short term with various agencies in Zambia,

Uganda and Kenya. The Lord has called them to

emigratetoAustralia–theyleftjusttwoweeksago

onthisnewadventure–andintheluggagetheytook

withthemwasmaterialrelatingtoAPFtosharewith

friends in their new church in Sydney. We are grateful

to Steve and Dawn for their enthusiastic involvement,

wish them well in this new chapter and look forward

toagrowingnetworkofsupportfromdown-under!

The Exley Family


Growing Greener in Malawi

Last April, Geoff Holder visited the New Life Christian Church (NLCC), an APF partner in Malawi. NLCC is an independent network of about 280 congregations scattered throughout rural communities in Malawi and Mozambique and overseen by Pastor Lloyd Chizenga.

Lloyd is determined to see the church as the driving force for rural community development, making a positive difference in people’s lives

APFsupportedNLCCindeliveringtwo

training conferences in villages in the Shire

Valley region each attended by over 200

church leaders (both men and women).

Together,weexploredsomeofthe‘roots’

of the many challenges faced by rural

communities and discussed the potential

ofthelocalchurch,followingJesus’s

exampleofservantleadership,tobethe

key agent of community change.

During the workshops it became clear

that the major challenge facing rural

communitieswasfoodsecurity.Poorsoils

and changing rainfall patterns due to

climate change have meant that producing

enough food to feed everyone in a rural

household is becoming increasingly more

difficult;afactunderlinedbytheMalawian

government’srecentdeclarationofa

State of Emergency.


Familiesarestrugglingtomakealiving

from small farms on marginal land and

traditionalwaysofgrowingmaize,the

staple crop, are no longer working. During

the2015-16plantingseason,farmers

planted in November (as they traditionally

always have done) but no rain came. They

tried again in December but no rain came.

Finally,theyplantedinJanuarybutstillno

raincame.Althoughsomerainhasnow

fallen, there is no seed left to plant.

Soil degradation is equally a problem. In

the dry season, bare soils turn to dust

and blow away. When it rains, tropical

downpours just wash any remaining

nutrients into the rivers.

ForLloydthisisacauseforgreatconcern

especiallyassomanyMalawiansdepend

onsmall-scaleagriculturefortheir

livelihoods.Heexplainedthatwhenyour

children are hungry, nothing else really

matters. Desperation was driving parents

to sell their daughters into early marriage,

poornutritionwasdamagingchildren’s

development and hunger was forcing

young men to leave their families in search

of work in the cities.

APFisnowhelpingNLCCdeliver

asignificantChristiansustainable

agriculture project equipping local

churches in training farmers to adapt

their practices to meet the challenges of

climate change and soil degradation whilst

sharing the Good News of Jesus. Simple

buteffectivesustainablefarmingmethods

like‘no-till’cultivation,composting,

mulching,agro-forestry,budgetingand

marketing provide farmers with the skills

and knowledge to adapt to the challenge

of climate change whilst protecting and

enhancing their soil so they can grow

more and feed their families.

Using the Bible as a starting point, Lloyd

andhisteamoftrainersknowthatit’s

essential that the church serves the

community both practically and spiritually.

“Jesus’s example of leadership was servant-leadership,”Lloydexplained.“We know we’re called to serve the rural communities.”

Through NLCC, lives are being changed

both practically in the here and now, and

foralleternitytocome.Pleasevisitour

websitetofindoutmoreandsupport

LloydchanginglivesinMalawithroughour

Growing Greener initiative.

84%of Malawians depend on

small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods.

Training conference, Ngabu


After having made two brief visits to Kenya to establish personal contact with Kenyan colleagues Dave Stedman will be returning for a ministry trip in late July.

Kenya Calling

The main objectives for the trip are:

• tovisitAPFcontactsintheir

locations gaining a better

understandingofthecontextin

which they serve and share with

them in delivery of training with

a view to developing long term

partnerships around

agreed objectives

• tospendanextendedperiodwith

RevAbrahamKoech,VicePrincipal

ofKapsabetBibleCollege(Africa

Inland Church) who has capacity

and a sense of call to pastor

pastors and train trainers regionally

Dave will be visiting a variety of networks, taking part in regional

conventions and day conferences for pastors and wives in south

westKenya.Heisbeingaccompaniedbyournewesttrustee,

Nelly Lukwo, together with Rev Dr Kate Coleman and Rev

ChamKaur-Mann,allrepresentingNextLeadershipwhowork

totransformgloballeadershipfromthe‘insideout’andequip

leaders for the future.

Above: Rev Cham Kaur-MannBelow: Rev Abraham Koech

Enabling effective ministry in Africa 02Enabling effective ministry in Africa 06

Abrahamisexcitedabouttheupcoming

visit:“WearedelightedthatAPFwillbe

visiting our college and ministering to our

students and regional leaders. It is a privilege

tobeabletohosttheteamattheprincipal’s

lodge and we pray for the partnership to

flourish.ToreceivevisitorsfromUKisan

encouragement in itself and we pray the

Lord will richly bless our time together.”

It will also be good to travel with Kate

ColemanandChamKaur-ManfromNext

leadership.Kate–aformerpresidentof

Baptist Union of Great Britain and the

EvangelicalAlliance-hastakenakeen

interestinAPF.

In addition to the time in Kapsabet the

team will also spend two days at Central

Rift Baptist Convention assembly in

Kericho as well as two one day conferences

withRenewalMinistryFellowshipand

GraceCalvaryChristianMinistry,bothin

Siaya County.

Themes for the conferences range from how

tobeaneffectivepastorinthe21stCentury

to more typical topics such as discipleship,

stewardship, family values and income

generation. There will also be preaching

opportunities in local churches close to

Kapsabet Bible School where Dave will

be speaking at the end of year service for

students and faculty.

“I believe that APF is called to be a powerful force for empowerment, change and transformation in Africa because so much of what it does is designed to strengthen and support those, particularly church leaders, who promote and inspire change. Much of my ministry is committed to the development and release of leaders, particularly in Africa and other parts of the Global South, so I am very excited by this opportunity to work with APF and I’m very much looking forward to all that God will do! “

Rev Dr Kate Coleman


Remembering Dorothy Almond

It’s not every day that you have to say goodbye to an old friend, but recently APF had to bid farewell to someone who has had a huge impact on the organisation. LastApril,SisterDorothyAlmondMBEpassed away at the age of 91. Born in Westhead, Lancashire she was just 15 whenshefirstfeltcalledtoserveGodinAfrica.In1956DorothyjoinedtheChurchArmyandwassenttoTanganyika(laterTanzania)workinginMwanzabeforebeingrelocated to Kongwa, where she joined thestaffofStPhilip’sTheologicalCollege.In 1983 she moved to Dodoma where she continued to teach theological students untilretiringin1988.Dorothy’s32yearsofteachinginTanzanialeftahugelegacythatwasrecognisedwithanMBEfromthe Queen in 1989. Back in Lancashire, she began writing a series of New Testament

commentaries in Swahili.

“WhenwejoinedAPFin1998,Dorothywasoneofourfirstcontacts.Atthattime,shewasusing her notes from teaching inBiblecollegesinTanzaniato produce Swahili language BiblecommentariesforAPFto distribute amongst pastors inEastAfrica.Itseemsthatatone time she had taught all the AnglicanBishopsinTanzaniaincludingBishopFrancisNtiruka, who was helping her editthecommentaries.HerinfluencecontinuesasherBible commentaries are still in great demand. It was always a privilege to spend time with her, aware that her love for the Lord andhispeopleinTanzaniadid

not diminish.”

Revd. Ralph Hanger, APF Director 1998-2010


Today,APFareintheprocessofmovingDorothy’sSwahiliNewTestamentcommentaryset online so it will be freely available to equip andsupportanewgenerationofAfricanpastors.AstheinternetexplodesacrossAfrica,with3Gand 4G mobile services and broadband access widely available, church leaders will soon be able toreadDorothy’sworkfromtheirphone,laptop

or in one of the many internet cafes. You may want to honour Dorothy’s life and work by making a contribution to APF’s literature ministry.

“The Bible Commentaries were Dorothy’s‘retirement’project.Despite admitting herself that they might be getting a bit dated, there remains nothing like them availableinSwahili.Dorothy’smany years living, breathing and working in the country she was writing for ensured her Bible commentaries were deeplycontextualised.Ithinkthis is why her work is still so popularinTanzaniatoday.Itwasa real pleasure to read through herworkand,alongsideSIM,reproduce the commentaries inthreevolumes.Another6000 people or more have now

benefittedfromthatalone.”

Revd. Ian Enticott, APF Director 2010-2014

“We have known Dorothy for many years and have especially fond memories of the time whensheworkedasPrincipleofStPhilip’sTheologicalCollegein Kongwa where we worked as a team training men and womenforGod’sservice.Shejust gave and gave and gave. Those that were trained under her leadership came out as Godly men and women with fruitful ministriesinTanzania.Maytheseeds she sowed in the lives ofmanyofGod’schildreninTanzaniacontinuetogrowand

flourishforthegloryofGod.”

Most Revd. Donald Mtetemela, former Archbishop of Tanzania

1. MichelleAnderson,FinancialCoordinator, managing day to day record keeping and reporting, future planningandnewstaffpensionregulations

2. SouthEast(KentandEastSussex)Regional Event at Canterbury Baptist Church

3. DaveandGeoffbothspeakingatCanterbury Baptist Church this morning

4. GeoffHolderbalancinghisUKCoordinator role with family and church commitments, whilst studying anMScinSustainableDevelopment

5. Dave Stedman, who has travelled many miles in recent weeks, representingAPFatRegionalEventsandinnewchurchcontacts–foragood response from that investment in time and resources

6. APFSupportersDawnandSteveExleysettlingintolifeinAustralia,gettingsettled in a church and spreading the wordaboutAPF

7. OurAfricanPatrons:BishopGodfreySehaba,Morogoro,TanzaniaandRevDrMichaelOkwakol,basedinKampala, Uganda

8. OurUKPatrons:RtRevChristopherCocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, and Rev David Kerrigan, General Secretary, BMSWorldMission

9. UK based agencies with whom we are developing closer links: Afrinspire,OperationAgri,OperationMobilisationSpecialProjects,SchoolConnect and Solar Links

10. Successful funding applications for training, literature and solar bakery projects submitted earlier this year

11. ForthenewonlineversionofourSwahili NT commentary set to be well used and for funding to enable a reprint

12. Trustee,NellyLukwo,flyingtoUganda with Kate Coleman and ChamKaur-Mann(NextLeadership)for a conference in Kampala before linking up with Dave Stedman in Kenyanextweek

13. StaffandTrusteesmeetingwithYeomansMarketingforaFundraisingDiscovery Workshop today. Yeomans specialise in helping Christian charities maximisetheirfundingpotential

14. TrusteesmeetingattheAPFofficesinCanterbury


July Prayer Points

15. TrusteesJohnMartin(Chair)andJohnChambers (Treasurer) during this seasonoftransitionforAPF

16. The trustees collectively ensuring good governance with the right balance of visionary faith and pioneering pragmatism

17. DaveStedmanfliestoNairobiandwill link up with trip coordinator Edith Wamalwa,NellyandNextLeadershipTeam tomorrow

18. Kenya team travels to Kericho

19. Dave and team speaking at Central Rift Baptist Convention assembly today and tomorrow

20. Delegates at the conference to benefitfromteachingonstewardship,discipleship and family values

21. Travel to Kapsabet Bible College, Dave will preach at the end of year service

22. Day conference for Nandi Central regional leaders and wives at Kapsabet Bible College

23. Day conference for Grace Calvary ChristianMinistry(GCCM)pastorsandwives at Butere, Siaya County

24. Team members taking part in Sunday services and afternoon services in variousAfricaInlandChurchesaroundKapsabet today

25. DayconferenceforRenewalMinistriesFellowshippastorsandwivesatYala,Siaya County

26. Rev Simon Laboso, who is Regional Overseer of the Central Rift Baptist Convention

27. RevAbrahamKoech,VicePrincipalofKapsabet Bible College

28. BishopEdwardAmwayi,GeneralSecretaryandPastorJacksonIsaiahSikolia(Treasurer)ofGCCM

29. Dave Stedman returning to UK today

30. KateColeman,ChamKaur-MannandNellyLukwoastheyreflectontheministryofAPFinwestKenya

31. PastorDanielOdourGwara,overseerofRenewalMinistriesFellowship


Please Pray

1. ForChristianleaderswhocontactusfrom places beyond the current scope ofAPF–suchasPastorJacobNyokdisplaced from his home in Jongei State toanIDPcampoutsideJuba,SouthernSudan

2. ForthesuccessfulappointmentofRegionalPartners(coordinatorsandtrainers)inAfricasoastodevelopandmultiplytheworkofAPF

3. Forsufficientfundingtobeavailablefor us to invest a realistic budget in RegionalPartners,projectsandon-going monitoring

4. Individuals and agencies with which MOUshavealreadybeenagreedandfor the review process that will take placeduringDave’sNovembervisit:RevCharlesMunyamahoro(FreeMethodistChurch, Rwanda), Walubo Jude (UCE, Uganda),FACT,UgandaandAtirirBibleSchool, Uganda.

5. OverthenextfewdayswewillbeprayingforsomeofourTanzanianfriends and partners

6. PastorHeavenlightLuoga,DeeperLifeMinistry,whohasaheartforservingand equipping pastors and their dependents in Karagwe region and beyond

7. Cassia,Heavenlight’swife,withaheartforunder-privilegedandoftentraumatised women in DRC

8. RevCanonAbsalomVyakendeandRevObadiah Eustace at Kagera Theological College and hoping to host Dave Stedman in November

9. EmmanuelMhinawhoworksforMorogoroDioceseoverseeingtheirsolarand literature ministries independently andinpartnershipwithAPF

10. RevAmosNkini,DirectorofEducationfortheLutheranDioceseofMohshiandhas a vision to provide basic IT training to help pastors access online training and resources

11. BishopFrancisNtiruka(retired),PastorYonaandReheemaMwanza,withtheirrespective ministries to students in and around Dodoma region

12. OtheremergingpartnersinTanzania:FatherAsheriNdahani(TangaDiocese)andPastorAnthonyApollo(Karagwe)

13. Financesforareprintofthe3volumeSwahili New Testament commentary set which is in high demand by many rural pastorsespeciallyinTanzania

14. ForthewifeofAPFPatron,BishopGodfrey Sehaba, who has kidney diseaseandneedslong-termandcostlymedication in Dar es Salaam

15. The work of Soma Biblia, publishing and distributing literature throughout Tanzania


August Prayer Points

16. ForwisdomasAPFseekstorespondwith compassion to the many pastoral needs we meet and requests received

17. Formorecollaborativeworkingandbetter communication between UK agencies and local churches with an interestineastAfricasoastodeliverstrategic and sustainable solutions to some of the needs we encounter

18. The ongoing Let There Be Light campaign to provide solar technology in various forms to Christian community leaders to improve living conditions, save money and enable evening study

19. PlanstoproduceshortvideostopromotetheworkofAPFonlineandforuse in church services, also the use of online resources for communication and trainingpurposesinAfrica

20. DaveandGeoffseekingtomakestrategic links and connections, formal and informal, with other UK agencies withsimilargoalsandvaluestoAPF

21. RecruitmentofRegionalAdvocatesandLocalFundraiserstohelpraisetheprofileofAPFandsupporttheministry

22. Wise stewardship of all resources availabletoAPFbothhumanandeconomic

23. Overthenextfewdayswewillbepraying for friends and partners

in Uganda

24. RevDrJuliusTwongeirwe(ProclamationTask),RevPeterMugabe(GeneralSecretary, BUU) and Benon Kayanja (Cyan International)

25. Gifted personnel with a heart for reaching the unreached such as Elebu MoseswhomovesfromTesoRegiontoSouth Sudan for ministry

26. RevPaulKyalimpawho’sagriculturaland theological teaching is widely used

27. Growing contact with Gary Skinner, LeadPastorattheinfluentialWatotoChurch in Kampala

28. RevAlfredWonyakainhisemploymentwithInter-ReligiousCouncilofUgandaandvoluntaryworkwithNorthMbaleDiocese and Bulambuli Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (BIRD)

29. The partnership between Soroti RangersRFC,TagRugbyTrust,CanterburyRFCandSchoolConnectto develop rugby in north and east Uganda whilst educating young people insexualhealth

30. WaluboJude’sextensiveministrytochildren and youth through schools, diocesan links and NGOs, his political aspirations and for new development opportunities as he steps aside from day to day involvement in UCE

31. Pastorsreceivingtrainingatnationaland regional Bible schools such as Uganda Christian University, Jinja SeminaryandAtirirBibleSchool


Please Pray

1. We continue to pray for friends and partnersinUganda:BarefootPower(providers of solar technology) and UgandaChristianLawyersFraternity

2. PastorEsomuFrancis,PrincipalofAtirirBible School, occasional lecturer at Jinja SeminaryandkeentopursueGod’scallto wider teaching ministry perhaps in partnershipwithAPF.Therearemanyopportunities that could be pursued but lack of funding is holding this back.

3. PlansandfundingforDaveStedman’sNovember/December trip to Rwanda, Burundi,NWTanzaniaandUganda

4. PreparationandmarketingfortheRegional Events being held at Coventry andStockton-on-TeesinOctober

5. Overthenextfewdayswewillbepraying for some of our friends and partners in Burundi

6. Aboveallweprayforpeaceandanend to hostility within Burundi and the return to their homes of more than 1 million people displaced and living in refugee camps in DRC, Uganda, TanzaniaandRwanda

7. RevPierreCelestinstudyingforanMAat Uganda Christian University but also ministering to his people in refugee camps in SW Uganda

8. Established friends in Burundi such as Rev Yves Ndayikunda (Ceprodilic) and RevFelibienNdintore

(Bujambura Diocese)

9. RevSilasNtukamazina,GeneralSecretary of Union des Eglises Baptistes du Burundi who met with Dave in Kigali earlier this year

10. Baptist Union of Denmark worker, RasmusHylleberg,hashadtomovehis family from Bujumbura to Kigali because of security but travels frequently by road to pursue the very well-establishedpartnershipbetweenBUD and Eglises Baptistes du Burundi.

11. PartnershipopportunitiesforAPF,Baptist Union of Denmark and Eglises Baptistes du Burundi to deliver rural training for pastors and wives

12. ContinuedguidanceastoAPFfutureministry in DRC. This is likely to be restricted to major towns in the east where access and security is easier and partners in neighbouring countries have existinglinks(e.g.HeavenlightLuogaandCharlesMunyamahoro)

13. In the meantime we continue to stand alongsidelong-standingcontactssuchasRevStephaneMakata(KatangaDiocese)andRevBertinMwanya(PresidentoftheCongoPastorsFellowship)

14. AsAPFpersonneltravel,listenandlearnfromourAfricanpartnersmaylessonslearned be communicated to the UK churchforthebenefitofallandingrowing fellowship


September Prayer Points

15. ForplanstoregularlybringAfricanpastors to UK to bless and encourage the UK church

16. Overthenextfewdayswewillbepraying for friends and partners in Rwanda

17. Give thanks for the obvious economic growth in parts of Rwanda, especially in and around Kigali

18. DaveStedmanspeakingatAllHallowsChurch, South Cerney, Gloucestershire

19. Bishop Samuel Kayinamura, overseeing theFreeMethodistChurchinRwanda

20. RevCharlesMuyamahoro,whorecentlycompletedanMAatUgandaChristianUniversity and who oversees the GakenkeandRulindoFreeMethodistandBaptistPastorsFellowship,inadditiontopastoring a large Kigali parish

21. Rev Canon Emmanuel Kayijuka, GeneralSecretaryandFrancoisXavierTwahirwa,FinancialDirectoratTheBible Society of Rwanda who supplies Kinyarwanda Bibles and Study Bibles distributed this year

22. EzechiasNtirengaya,DirectorofChildren,YouthandFamily,atScriptureUnionwhohasdistributedAPFSafariBooks through his networks

23. BishopNathanAmooti (Cyangugu Diocese) and his vision to

develop a regional training college for preparing clergy

24. RevDrAntoineRutayisre,PrincipalofKigaliAnglicanTheologicalCollegeandfortheexcellentfacilitytobewell

usedandaccessibletoAnglicanclergyand also ecumenically as a potential venue for conferences

25. Rev Gato Corneil, General Secretary, and the impressive team at the national secretariatofAssociationofEvangelicalBaptistChurchesofRwanda(AEBR).

26. ForthepossibilityofAPFpartneringwithAEBRandBaptistMissionofCanada to make even better use of the theological resource centre beneath thesecretariatofficesaswellasopportunities to travel with Gato to visit AEBRchurchesinNovember

27. DaveStedmanspeakingatFavershamBaptist Church

28. ForPastorMatugomaJaphet,thefounder of Eglise Evangelique de le Bonne Volonte a small denomination of 11 churches

29. Forthe600KinyarwandaBiblesprovided to EEBVR in partnership with OMSpecialProjectstobewellused

and strengthen individual faith and church growth

30. PlansforDaveStedmantospeakatEEBVRAnnualAssemblyinNovember


Please Pray

The vision of APF is to empower Christian leaders and enable effective ministry that brings community transformation through the local church.

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Documents

Growing Greener in Malawi · Growing Greener in Malawi. 01 To date in 2016 there have been • Two overseas visits. The first to Rwanda (where meetings also took place with some of