YEAR 10, ISSUE 8 • OCTOBER 2013 Armenia BRITISH ISLES SOUTH summer camp YOUTH GO TO AFRICA changes kids By CIS Field Over a hundred children and teens took part this year in Armenia’s teen and children camps near Lake Sevan this summer. Amidst fun games, team building activities, meals, swimming and friendships developed, God’s presence was felt camp-wide. Reports state that large percentages of both kids and teens responded to both the altar calls and changed attitudes in general. Nine people were baptized. “Their parents testify to a spiritual change in the lives of many of the kids,” says Anna The British Isles South District youth mission team held an evangelistic campaign in Mwanza, Tanzania, Artsrunyan-Gonzales, director in July, followed by a leadership conference and workshops on AIDS prevention and understanding. of the Children’s Camp. In one specific case, “There was a boy By Matt Lee The team of 12 was split into three Eurasia Region Communications who was very nasty with his smaller teams of four who were led by parents and the parents didn’t adults, to be able to minister to the know what to do; they even The British Isles South District different age groups more effectively. wanted to take the child to a sent a youth Work & Witness team to There was a team for adults, led by special school, as they couldn’t deal Africa from July 24 to August 6. The Chris Lewis, a team for youth, led by with him anymore. However, his team consisted of 12 people, most of Sarah St. Clair-Whicker, and a team for parents were in crisis in their own whom were between the ages of 16 and children, led by Karen Lewis. relationship as well and almost 22. After the first day they also began divorced. This child came to the They had two specific assignments. holding discipleship seminars for camp, the pastors did their best The first was to hold an evangelistic new Christians. They kicked off the to spend time with him. Several campaign from July 27 to 30 in evangelistic campaign on Sunday by days after the camp the parents Mwanza, Tanzania, and the second was holding Sunday school classes and came to our pastor in Akhuryan to hold a leadership conference for the leading the morning church service. and were very thankful, noticing district, which included workshops, During the week, they saw many a big change in the child and they youth training and AIDS education. miraculous things, including the local are surprised with the miracle. On the Saturday before the witch doctor’s daughter coming to The child was able even to bring campaign began, they trained leaders Christ, one of the respected elders of the parents together to become in the church on how to follow up with the village surrendering his life to the a happy family. Now this child those who would attend the services Lord, several people being freed from is attending the Kids Club in during the week. This took place at the bondage to the enemy and seeing 76 Akhuryan. Kiseke Church of the Nazarene with people making decisions to follow “The parents came to our the pastor of the church, Erick Oguta. Christ. see “ARMENIA” page 2 see “AFRICA” • page 2 ARMENIA: Kids becoming leaders in ministry from page 1 pastor...noticing a big change in the child.” But it was not just changing attitudes in the camp. God even made plans beyond their expectations. “There was a girl from Yerevan (capital city) that we barely knew, and she told us that she wanted to come the night before we left. There was a misunderstanding. We tried to call and tell her not to come, but we couldn’t contact her. The next morning she showed up packed and ready for camp. During camp, she came to know Jesus. She now attends our youth group and helped a lot during the VBS as a volunteer,” says Lusine Melkonyan, the Armenian NYI director. Kids are becoming leaders in these ministries, and many are planning to Nine people were baptized at the Armenia teen and children’s camps where many youth experienced attend future camps. The effects of significant change in their lives and attitudes. camp are even allowing an openness of parents to send their children to Kids Clubs, which occur throughout the year, allowing for more ministry and discipleship exposure. AFRICA: Team conducted HIV/AIDS workshops from page 1 But for Chris, the trip’s organizer, Chris and his team led the training village church and churches that were there was one experience that stood far of the different leaders during the located in two different slums. and above all others. day and St. Clair-Whicker, along with Karen said, “Africa was an “It was the experience of baptizing Danny Watson, headed seminars encouragement and a blessing but 20 people in Lake Victoria.” that were directed toward women in there are also a lot of needs and so He and St. Clair-Whicker shared ministry, youth in ministry and AIDS many times I’d like to be able to help the duties of baptizing the people at education. more.” the end of their time in Mwanza. They St. Clair-Whicker said, “Quite Joanna Tamburello, 22, said, “The also baptized two people from their often there is a stigma attached to kids most powerful part of the trip was team: Jojo White and Jenny Rae. in the church in the slums. They had “Both of these young ladies wanted nothing but were praising God for to express their faith through the their life. It makes you realize the gift waters of baptism side by side with of life God has given us.” their African brothers and sisters,” said There were many powerful Chris, “I am sure that that day will be moments that happened on the trip. one that neither they, nor I, will ever People being delivered from evil forget.” spirits, people coming to Christ, the St. Clair-Whicker said her favorite hospitality shown to the Work & part of the trip was, “Every time we Witness team; the way God moved had a time of worship, the [teenagers] not only in the hearts and lives of the just gave it everything and praised God with AIDS and HIV, as if they’ve done Africans, but in the hearts and lives of so much and all of us came away really something horribly wrong … they don’t each of the members of the team as changed by that.” always know how it spreads or that well. On the Friday after the campaign, many [children] are born with it, so we Chris summed up the trip by they took a 12-hour bus trip to Nairobi, wanted to get that information across reminding the team, “While in Africa Kenya, for the second part of their to them.” we were able to see God’s power, and assignment. On Saturday morning they The following Sunday the four the God who lives in Africa lives in hosted a district leadership conference teams were sent to different churches your country, too.” at the Nairobi Central Church of the to experience worship in various ways Nazarene. including Central Nazarene Church, a Chaltyr church example of missional orientation By Zee Kleshchar and Gina Grate Pottenger Eurasia Region Communications It is often said that missions should be at the heart of every local church. That can certainly be said of Grace Church of the Nazarene, in Chaltyr, Russia. Although this congregation of about 100 is situated in a small town of only 16,000, it is touching people not only in nearby villages and cities, but people in and from many other nations. Situated near the Sea of Azov, the town of Chaltyr’s history goes back to 1779 when the town was founded by Armenians who lived in the area. Grace Church of the Nazarene was established in October of 1992. It consists mainly of Armenians as well as people of other nationalities, professions, and ages who are united in their love for Christ and each other. Vasiliy Mamchitz, the pastor, and his wife Svetlana, were the founders of Grace Church. The congregation, which started with four to five people, invited a group of believers from the To Samaria has gone on to plant Bible study immigrants’ home country. They sang “The “Ark” Church in Rostov- ministries in six surrounding villages folk songs as well as Christian ones, on-Don, a plant of Chaltyr, recently and towns, including Bataisk, Morskoy then testified about their lives and how celebrated its third anniversary. Thirty Chulek, Hapry, Crimea. There is also God has saved and worked in them. to 45 people (adults and children) a service meeting in the nearby town The evening ended with a prayer for attend every Sunday. During the week, of Rostov-on-Don, and one in a village the Christians in their home countries. there are two Bible study groups. They called Chkalovo. “We feel the call to spread the Good are praying for God to provide them a “We all have different education News to another nearby region called building soon. levels, ages, tastes and experiences. Myasnikovsky and we believe that In March 2012, Chaltyr planted However, there is something that God is preparing a glorious revival for another church in Chkalovo. The unites us. It is God’s love and faith in people there,” Vasiliy said. ministry is led by Pastor Arsen Him. Possibly, this is what makes us and there are 12 to 15 people who different from other people on the To Judea come every Sunday (out of the total street and makes us somewhat special,” On a more local level, the church population of 254).