Nazarene journal

In many places across Africa the Church of the Nazarene shows the healing love of Christ through its healthcare ministries In Eswatini a hospital has served the community since 1927, while mobile clinics in Guinea-Bissau reach places where no doctor has ever gone before. This is not just medical care but the healing touch of our Lord Jesus Christ, reaching the sick and forgotten through His people. When Jesus walked the earth He healed the sick and carried the broken. Today, His church continues this ministry of compassion and healing. The gospel is more than words — it is action, care, and love. The church brings hope to the hurting and shows that faith and healing walk hand in hand. Healing is only one part of what our Savior is doing. He is also healing hearts and restoring lives. Everyone is invited to join this mission through service, prayer, or simply sharing His love with those around you. The church is a place where faith meets action and lives are transformed by the power of Christ.

Across Africa the Church of the Nazarene is growing strong in many countries Mozambique alone has over two hundred thousand members while Benin, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Ethiopia and others continue to see lives transformed through the gospel. What started as small gatherings has become vibrant communities filled with people discovering new life in Jesus Christ. This growth is not just a statistic but a reflection of how the Lord Jesus builds His church not with bricks or mortar but by changing hearts and drawing people into His family. Our Savior promised, “On this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it Matthew 16:18. This promise is alive today as the Church of the Nazarene spreads His love from village to city, family to family. The Redeemer calls each person to repentance, faith and forgiveness, creating a place of peace, hope and belonging. This is the church Jesus is building a community where everyone can find purpose and healing. The work of Christ continues through His church every day. People are invited to live in His love and share it with others. No matter your background or story, there is a place for you in this family. Our Lord Jesus Christ is calling all who seek truth and hope to join Him in building His kingdom here on earth.

y Kelvin Mulenga for Nazarene Journal Youth in Ministry Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. — Hebrews 13:7 God uses people to shape people. He speaks through those who’ve gone ahead. And He raises new leaders to carry the light forward. David Daka is one of many shaped by grace. God placed mentors in his life faithful men who prayed, taught, corrected and walked with him. Some have gone to glory, others still stand beside him but all played a part in what God is doing today. David’s story is not about titles but testimony. From youth ministry to worship, from local church to district leadership—God was preparing him. Between 2010 and 2022, he served in the Caravan ministry in Zambia South. In 2024, God allowed him to return to the Position of Caravan Director not just to serve but to surrender again to the mission. And God has been faithful. Children are being discipled. Lives are being formed in Christ. The Caravan has spread to places like Livingstone, Chipata, Kalebuka, Itezhi-tezhi, Nampundwe, and Lusaka. Not because of man’s ability but because of God’s mercy. Those who walk beside him Leaders like John Banda are reminders that God builds through community. This is not the work of one man. It is the work of One God, using many hands. It is Christ who calls. Christ who equips. Christ who sends. And through surrendered servants like David, God is building His Church. One child at a time. One heart at a time. “I thank God for being there for me in the time I was, and now that I’m back, I’m excited to be working for God again.” It’s not about being seen. It’s about being sent. It’s not about legacy. It’s about obedience. To God be the glory. Let the Church keep rising not in the name of man, but in the name of Jesus. Let the next generation rise not for the movement, but for the Messiah. Let the Caravan march on not for credit, but for Christ. And may we never forget: Every faithful servant is only what God has made them to be. Every lasting work is His. We give God thanks for what He has done, for those He has used, and for those He is raising still.

The Story of Mama Margaret Ngandu Though I was twice taller, I was half her age. It was Freedom Sunday. Just a few days after Zambia celebrated her independence on 24 October 2024. The air was full of remembrance. The songs were strong. The prayers deep. But nothing touched us more than the voice of one old woman. Mama Margaret Ngandu. She stood at the front. Not for show. Not for applause. But as a living reminder of where we have come from. She is one of the oldest members of our church. She joined Power of Faith Church of the Nazarene in the early days. Back when we were just a gathering under a tree Before the tent Before the building Before it all. She came forward slowly Her back slightly bent with age Her steps steady but not rushed And I stood beside her Half her age But fully aware I was in the presence of a story that needed to be heard. Mama Margaret began to speak. Her voice soft. But strong. She took us back to the late 60s To a Zambia that was still finding its feet To a time when worship was sometimes quiet because freedom wasn’t. She said, “I live in the shadow of time. Everything I see now was once only a prayer. Yes, we went to church because missionaries came. And that’s where the story begins. I wanted to bring you to understand a missionary’s life. When others described it as too challenging, missionaries still went. They left comfort for calling. They crossed oceans not knowing what they would find but knowing Who sent them. That’s the kind of faith that laid the foundation we stand on today. She reminded us how Missionaries Came to Africa at a time it was not fashionable to do so and the Church of the Nazarene entered Zambia in 1961 Because one missionary looked at this land and said “Yes, Zambia, I will go.” And that one “yes” planted a seed. A missionary’s life is not easy. They came not to be known, but to make Jesus known. They come not for comfort, but for calling. And because of that one life Others believed And people like Mama Margaret stood firm Even when it wasn’t safe Even when it wasn’t easy And now We worship freely We sing loudly We gather in a well-built church Because of the one Missionary Who said Yes to Gods Call. Mama Margaret stood there As living history As a bridge between what was And what now is At the end of the service Rev Peter Tembo led the church in honoring her. We presented her with a gift. A small token. For a life that has given us so much more than we could ever repay. There were no words big enough. But the moment was Amazing. Thank you, Mama Margaret Ngandu and Missionary thank you for Coming. For your voice For your courage For your walk And for standing so we could worship standing tall.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me —Isaiah 6:8 She was just a student nurse. A young woman searching for direction in the quiet of her heart. It was the year 1910 when Lillian Cole Short walked through the gates of the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute now known as Eastern Nazarene College. She came to study, but deep down she was also listening for something more. And there, in the middle of her training, she heard it. Africa. I first read about her story while going through the Nazarene Archives Facebook page. This version has been gently rewritten so it can speak clearly to everyone reading but the heart of the story remains true. At that time, the Church of the Nazarene was still young. And so was its mission.Though there had already been others serving in parts of Africa, Lillian became the very first person the church officially sent to the continent. It was 1916.The world was at war. and yet she went To a land she didn’t know. To a people she hadn’t yet met. She landed in the Kingdom of Eswatini known then as Swaziland. For ten years she served, from 1916 to 1926. She walked footpaths through unknown hills, learned to speak in places her voice had never reached. She gave her care, her heart and her hands to the people she came to love.Not for applause. Not for position. But because the Lord had called her. And her yes changed everything.Miss Lillian Cole Short wasn’t loud. She wasn’t well known.But she was faithful. And her faithfulness reminds us that the call to serve is not limited by gender or background. God still calls women today To go. To speak. To lead. And to serve. Stories like this are part of why I care deeply about seeing more women step into ministry. So today we remember her. A pioneer. A quiet strength. A woman who once walked African soil in obedience and love. May her story keep encouraging women to follow Christ wherever He leads. Originally found in the Nazarene Archives, with thanks for preserving stories that deserve to be retold. #WomenInMinistry #NazareneHistory #AfricaInMissions #CalledAndSent

Written by Kelvin Mulenga for Nazarene Journal We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. Hebrews 12.1 There are days that change everything. October 16 1907 was one of those days. A morning marked by unity. An afternoon marked by mission. An evening marked by identity. It was on this day in a quiet room in Chicago Illinois that what we now call the Church of the Nazarene began to rise not as a single voice but as a chorus of believers stretching coast to coast hand in hand spirit to spirit all committed to the cause of holiness unto the Lord. When Unity Was More Than a Word The Association of Pentecostal Churches of America and the Church of the Nazarene two bodies with hearts ablaze for the same mission chose not to compete but to converge. They had churches in Nova Scotia Iowa San Diego Seattle and even as far as Calcutta and Cape Verde. But on this day their reach wasn’t their power. Their oneness was. They voted. They wept. They worshiped. And in that sacred space the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene was born. A Morning of Leadership That morning Phineas Bresee was elected as the first general superintendent not by rivalry but by acclamation. The body didn’t need more ballots. They needed a shepherd. And they had found one. By the afternoon Hiram F Reynolds was elected as the second general superintendent on the third ballot. A man whose vision for global missions would take this church far beyond its own borders. That evening a name was chosen. Pentecostal. A word that then meant holiness in its purest most passionate form. This wasn’t about fireworks and frenzy. This was about power for purity and strength for service. That’s what Pentecost meant to our founders. What Does This Mean Today It means we are a church of unity. Birthed not in division but in merging mission fields and merging hearts. It means we are a church of courage. Where indigenous missionaries in Cape Verde and servants in India stood alongside voices from North America and dreamed of a shared future. It means we are a church where leaders rise not to rule but to rally. To gather the saints and move forward together. So Today We Remember We remember the faith of Bresee. We remember the vision of Reynolds. We remember the sacrifice of churches that gave up independence for impact. We remember the Holiness Church of Christ who sat in the room observed and later said Let’s meet again in the South. And one year later they did. At Pilot Point Texas where the church became truly national. A Church Born from Holy Collaboration Today we’re not just a church because of founders. We’re a church because of followers. Those who followed God’s leading when it meant releasing control merging identities and becoming something greater together. Let this be a reminder to us. The Holy Spirit still unites what the world tries to divide. The mission of holiness is still worth our surrender. And leadership is still about serving the mission more than self. To those carrying the mantle today may we continue in their footsteps with courage conviction and collaboration. And to our founders thank you for dreaming together so we could live the legacy today. .

Written by Kelvin Mulenga for Nazarene Journal “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.” —Galatians 6:6 When we speak of discipleship, education, and lasting faith in the Church of the Nazarene, we are walking on paths laid by people like Rev. E. P. Ellyson—a man whose dedication still shapes how we worship, learn, and lead today. He wasn’t loud. He didn’t chase titles. But he taught truth, built systems, and poured his life into making the church stronger—not just in structure, but in spirit. What Can We Learn from a Man Like Ellyson? He reminded us that true leadership begins with teaching not controlling. He showed us that a calling to serve is not limited to the pulpit, but can live in curriculum, in classrooms, and in campgrounds. He believed in the transforming power of discipleship, and his life’s work still speaks to every teacher, every pastor, every volunteer, and every soul willing to serve quietly and faithfully. Did You Know? E. P. Ellyson was elected as the third General Superintendent in 1908—the same year his wife Emily was ordained as an elder. He chose service over spotlight, declining re-election in 1911 and again in 1915—even when elected in absentia. He helped birth the Department of Church Schools, serving as its first Executive Secretary. He and Emily helped write Sunday School curriculum—shaping generations through words on pages. His name still lives on in buildings at Point Loma Nazarene University and MidAmerica Nazarene University—reminders that he built more than buildings—he built people. A Gentle Reminder to Today’s Servants You don’t have to be famous to be faithful. You don’t have to be loud to be lasting. You don’t have to hold a microphone to teach the Gospel. Ellyson’s life tells us that legacy is not built by noise, but by consistency—in prayer, in service, in the classroom, in the background. To every teacher, leader, curriculum writer, and quiet servant of the Church: Keep going. Keep teaching. Keep discipling. God sees. And so do we. We Remember, We Honor, We Learn E. P. Ellyson may have walked among the earliest architects of the Church of the Nazarene, but the foundation he helped lay still holds us today. To him we say: We remember your faith. We honor your service. And we walk in the wisdom you left behind.

To the Woman Wondering If Ministry Can Be Family—It Already Is By Kelvin Mulenga, Nazarene Contributor | Nazarene Journal – 2025 “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” — Psalm 126:5 There’s a quiet courage in the heart of a woman who says yes to God’s call. She doesn’t always stand in the spotlight. But she stands faithfully, prayerfully, purposefully. Rev. Lydia Barasa is one of those women. She is not just the wife of a missionary. She is a missionary herself. Not only a mother—she is a mentor, a teacher, a Bible study leader and a kingdom strategist. Together with her husband, Rev. Nicholas Barasa, they are Global Missionaries currently serving in Zambia, sent from Kenya, their homeland—a land rich in culture, language and heritage. They have left behind their families, their tribes, their comforts, and all that was familiar to them. They have laid it down at the feet of Christ, so that the mission of making Christlike disciples might continue in Zambia. We do not take this lightly. We see you. We honor your sacrifice. We love you. When I met Rev. Nicholas and Lydia Barasa at the Zambia South District Assembly, I encountered not just ministers but a couple that radiates unity, humility, joy and deep compassion. They were warm, loving, social and fully present. It was clear: this is what ministry as partnership looks like. Rev. Lydia has served in the Literature department for over 10 years on the Africa East Field, but her deepest passion lies in children’s ministry and church development. From leading inter-denominational Bible studies to organizing community outreaches, she continues to serve with quiet power and strategic love. And Rev. Nicholas his ministry spans youth coordination, pastoral leadership and education. From leading young people across Africa East to teaching in Bible colleges, his life is marked by vision and service. Yet what stands out is how his greatest leadership is expressed in how he stands beside his wife. When men of God make space for the women beside them to lead, the mission does not divide—it multiplies. This is the beauty of ministry as family. Not just his calling. Not just hers. But theirs—together. So to the woman wondering if ministry can fit around your motherhood, your background, your limitations— Look to Rev. Lydia. She didn’t wait for perfection. She started with what she had: a Bible study, a burden, a heart for service. And to the husband reading this—wondering how best to lead your family in ministry: Look to Rev. Nicholas. Leadership is not always standing ahead; sometimes, it’s standing beside. Ministry is not about who holds the microphone— It’s about who holds space for God to move. To every couple called together—may the Barasas remind you: This mission is worth it. Yes, it is hard to leave home. Yes, it is a sacrifice. But when done in unity, it becomes a living witness of the gospel itself. “May the Lord bless you and keep you… May His face shine upon you…” (Numbers 6:24–26) And may the seeds you’ve planted in Zambia flourish in generations to come. To Rev. Nicholas and Rev. Lydia Barasa—thank you. To every woman in ministry press on. To every man supporting her keep going. You are shaping the Church. Her Calling, His Support—Their Mission A Ministry Shared, A Mission Lived: Rev Lydia and Rev Nicholas Barasa

The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. — 1 Thessalonians 5:24 Nicole Johnson didn’t always picture herself behind a pulpit. She was a young mom, newly awakened to a deeper hunger for God. She had grown up around ministry volunteering in children’s church with her father at Eureka First Church of the Nazarene. But something shifted after she had her daughter. God stirred her heart. She started a women’s Bible study. She launched a small group for junior high girls called “Girls of Grace.” It was there—between giggles, tears, and scripture—that Nicole first sensed something deeper: A call. She didn’t chase a title. She followed the Spirit. In 2019, standing before a crowd of kids at a Nazarene camp where she was invited to speak, Nicole knew. The call was real. And it was hers. So she said yes. She enrolled in Nazarene Bible College Online, balancing ministry, family, and studies. In 2024, she completed her final classes and began preparing for ordination. Today, Nicole serves as interim pastor at Fortuna Church of the Nazarene, while also continuing her role as Family Pastor at Eureka First. She’s a preacher, a mentor, a discipler. But most of all—she’s living proof that God still calls women. To the Woman Reading This: God Is Still Calling Maybe your story won’t look like Nicole’s. But maybe, just like her, you’ve felt that quiet nudge. That whisper during prayer. That tug while teaching a Bible study. That moment when you look around and think: “Could God be calling me, too?” The answer is yes. Yes, even if you feel ordinary. Yes, even if you’re unsure. Yes, even if you’ve never seen another woman do what you feel God asking of you. Nicole didn’t start with credentials—she started with obedience. She didn’t begin with a title—she began with willingness. And so can you. Ministry isn’t reserved for the confident. It’s ignited in the obedient. It’s not about gender—it’s about grace. And it doesn’t require permission—it only requires surrender. You Don’t Have to Wait. Just Start. Start where you are. Gather a few girls. Lead a prayer group. Preach if you’re invited. Teach if you’re led. And study if God says prepare. Because the same Spirit who called Nicole in the quiet of “Girls of Grace”… …is calling you now. The Church needs women like you. Your daughters need women like you. And this world, more than ever, needs women who say yes to God. You just need to be faithful. Like Nicole. Thank you, Nicole for answering God’s call and becoming a living picture of what’s possible for every woman who dares to say yes.