Cape Verde Update
A Family Reunion in Cape Verde
Story by Tim Eby
Igreja do Nazareno
A New Generation in Cape Verde
A family reunion! That is what the 54th district assembly in Cape Verde could be described as. What a fa
ntastic time we had in the presence of nearly a thousand Nazarenes in Cape Verde as they celebrated what God has been doing this past year in the beautiful islands of the coast of West Africa.
Rev. David Araujo, a DS with ten years of experience was reelected nearly unanimously to another four years of service. The team of leaders that surrounds this capable leader demonstr
ated the very essence of great planning and a spirit of unity. Most meetings ended with large groups of people remaining around the church talking, laughing, and hugging one another.
This district is the first place on the African continent to plant a Nazarene church. They have already celebrated their centennial anniversary and there is a sense that this church is about 
to launch a whole new generation of Nazarenes. The largest class of ordinands in their history, nine pastors in all, stood before Dr. Jerry Porter on Sunday evening August 26th, 2007 to become elders in the Church of the Nazarene.
The service was packed and highlighted the goals and mission of the church to make Christ like disciples in all the nations. The service was even watched by Cape Viridians all around the world as they were 
broadcast live over the internet by the district communications coordinator Jose Heleno and his team. The first single pastors were ordained this year and it was a joy to see the church embrace these new pastors for the building of the kingdom.
Memorable moments were made in each service as the NMI, NYI, and Sunday school ministries took their turns in leading 
each evening. NMI in Cape Verde is not just creating awareness of missions but is active in missions. Councils from several churches opened new mission outreach points for the church this past year. The evening was filled with beautiful singing and tributes were given to those who continue to carry the heart of missions in the church by the district superintendents’ wife, Eunice Araujo.
The NYI had a dynamic camp with over a hundred in attendance this past 
year and they presented dramas and music specials during the assembly that communicated the message of Christian love with great impact. The service led by several enthusiastic youth pastors had the house jumping as they raised their voices in 
praise and celebrated in the heart language of Creole. The NYI has a goal to send their first youth outreach team to Guinea Bissau in the coming years as an active way to get young people excited about mission service.
The Sunday morning service was held in a large coliseum at the sports
complex in Praia. The children sang and danced to the Lord and great recognition was given to nearly a hundred Sunday school teachers and presidents in attendance 
that morning. Dr. Jerry Porter brought the message calling the assembly to love and unity in the body. We celebrated communion together and enjoyed the presence of the Lord.
Prior to the assembly, Dr. Oliver Phillips challenged the assembly of pastors and leaders t
o effective preaching and strategic ways of conserving the converts through discipleship and outreach. The evening preaching was dynamic as many leaders received renewal and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Leaders and educators from five other countries in West Africa attended these meetings in order to grasp what the maturing Church of the Nazarene should look like. It was great to see them challenged and rejoicing that God is doing great things in Cape Verde! Dr. Porter also extended his tour one extra day to give a leadership seminar on strategic principles of being a spiritual leader in the church.
Rev. Eugenio Duarte, regional director for Africa, summarized the week as one of the best trips he has ever had back to his 
home islands. “There is a new day in the life of this church as they go from a receiving church, to a sending church. Cape Verde has set goals to double their size by 2010 from 5,000 members to 10,000 members and I believe they can do it!” Already this year they have opened six new churches. Field strategy coordinator for West Africa, Rev. Mark Louw continues to promote the vision of a church planting movement that will spread like wild fire and we hope to see new churches started in new communities on every island in Cape Verde.
God has blessed the Cape Verde church with good leadership, great resources, and a new sense of unity and purpose. Let us pray for this new generation of Nazarenes that they may set an example for all of West Africa and to every nation on this continent.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Timothy R. Eby
Africa West Field
Sunday, September 30, 2007
