When the Church in a mission area matures and ages, its momentum of growth can slow.This is the challenge facing our maturing church in South Africa, where the Church of the Nazarene established mission work in the 1910s.

Local leaders are not content, however, to do things the way they always have. Almost 200 leaders from the nations that make up the Africa South Field (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland) gathered in mid-April for the Each One Win One conference in Johannesburg.

I was impressed with the interest and the hunger among the district superintendents and lay people who came for evangelism training.

"We are going to take this to our churches!" exclaimed a local leader.

"This is going to be part of our blood," said another participant.

The Each One Win One system to multiply pastors, churches, and members is so basic that it can be applied successfully in both younger or more mature districts and fields. For instance, our church leaders in Madagascar -- a younger mission area for our denomination—also received Each One Win One training recently, and said the plan gives them the "how-to" knowledge to multiply disciples.

The Each One Win One strategy involves the laity. This addresses one of the biggest challenges for local churches -- how to set up a system in which everyone works together, providing the same vision and plans, as well as "how-tos" for the laity.

Africa is in good hands with the leaders God has raised up within the Church. Regional Director Eugenio Duarte and Filimao Chambo provided exemplary teaching. David Johnson has a unique gift for highlighting local ministers and equipping them for their work. Pastor Richard Ravelomamantsoa, the district superintendent for Madagascar, stands out as not only a fantastic teacher and radio speaker, but a visionary who is going to lead the work of multiplying churches, pastors, and people. Collin Elliott, field director for the Africa South Field, set up the conference and is behind the new strategy push there.

The testimonies we heard in Johannesburg give credence to this being a catalytic thrust of leaders, taking back the vision to implement multiplication in their churches. I am very encouraged that this is going to happen.

Pray for the leaders and churches in the Africa South Field and Madagascar as they implement Each One Win One. It is not just about strategy; it is about bringing souls into Christ’s kingdom.

Louie E. Bustle
World Mission Director