Filimao M. Chambo has been elected the new Africa regional director, according to the World Mission Department and the Board of General Superintendents. Chambo has been notified of the election, and has accepted.
Chambo, a native of Mozambique and resident of South Africa, replaces Eugénio Duarte, who was recently elected general superintendent.
In a statement to Africa Region Nazarenes, Duarte could not hide his excitement, saying, "Maria Teresa and I express our great joy and heartfelt congratulations to the African Church for the work done in preparing a son and daughter like Dr. Filimao and Rev. Samantha Chambo to lead the Church in Africa. They have been equipped in every way to take this responsibility, and with your prayers and support for the Chambo family over the years, you have helped achieve this milestone in the great history of the Church of the Nazarene in Africa.
"We are so proud of our church and proud of our African brothers and sisters," Duarte continued. "We celebrate this moment with you as we say congratulations to the fourth regional director for the Church of the Nazarene in Africa. We also are proud of the team with which the Chambos have been working more closely and we want to express our gratitude to each one for trusting them in the past. It is clear to all of us that Dr. Chambo's loving, firm, and holy character will continue to grow with you serving the purpose for which God gave him all the different opportunities and environments in which he could grow and become the man that he is today.
"It has been a real privilege to serve the Lord with the Chambos. With your help and support they will take the church in Africa to a new level of development and growth."
Chambo has been serving the Africa Region as coordinator of Nazarene Education and Discipleship (NED) services. He was appointed to this position in 2007 by Duarte, who was serving as regional director at that time.
As the region's NED coordinator, Chambo has been responsible for overseeing the education providers of the Africa Church, as well as the ministry services of Nazarene Youth International (NYI), Nazarene Missions International (NMI), Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International, and Children's Ministries in 36 countries on the continent of Africa.
To read more, check out the full story on NCN News