Africa
A Vision for a Transformed Africa
We have a vision to see the Church of Jesus Christ powerful, unified and effective in reaching Africa with the most important message in the world – the gospel of the kingdom.
We long to see every nation in this great continent come under the influence of the Lord.
We long to see the TRANSFORMATION of villages, towns, cities and nations.
While churches remain divided and ineffective in making disciples and fail to be a holy influence in their nations, witchcraft, Islamic fundamentalism, tribal conflict and corruption continue to threaten the nations of Africa.
In ACMI Africa we are committed to providing a fellowship that will help ministers across the body of Christ to have a vision for their people, villages, cities and nations and that will provide opportunities for unity, excellent training and most important of all bring glory to God.
History
Richard Kerridge and his wife Dianne first traveled to Africa 1987 and a call to minister to African leaders commenced to grow in their hearts.
ACMI Africa commenced in Malawi in 1994 when Richard, an executive member of ACMI, came from Australia to hold the first ACMI Conference in Africa. Together with Pastor Nedson Milanzi, the ACMI Malawi chairman, a wonderful story of unity, fellowship and leadership teaching in African nations commenced.
Much has happened from a very small beginning. The concept of ACMI has broadened and spread beyond Malawi and has been warmly welcomed by many African pastors in numbers of nations.
ACMI Africa Now
ACMI Africa at present has members in 16 African nations with over 4000 members. ACMI Africa has been the most successful ACMI Zone in the world and is setting an example for others to follow.
In the hands of African and Australian leaders with a heart for Africa to guide ACMI Africa it has an exciting future ahead.
ACMI Nations – latest information and reports
Angola
Pastor Cherene from Mozambique travelled to Angola and met with some pastors who organised an ACMI Angola chapter. A coordinator, Rev Domingos Lukata, and an executive were chosen. Plans are in progress for some of our ACMI Ambassadors to go to Angola to hold a meeting with pastors and to determine the way ahead. Recent communication between the International chairman and Rev Lukata indicate a positive future for ACMI Angola.
Botswana
There has been some interest in Botswana for ACMI to be established there. Pastor Richard Dube visited Botswana to introduce ACMI. Recently there has been some initiative taken by the ACMI Botswana pastors and a visit by Pastor Kerridge, Pastor Meadth and Pastors Dube and Tapfuma in September 2008. Meetings held in Gaborone and organised by Pastor Tshapiro Moyo attracted about 20 pastors. We are now waiting to see if there is any further response from pastors in Botswana. Contact Tshepiso Moyo (+267 318 0400; 71652867 (cell) )
Burundi
Pastor Wandera has travelled to Burundi to commence ACMI there. A provisional leadership has been chosen. It is now a matter of having the time, finances and interested supporters available to see Burundi go ahead. It appears that a number of Burundi pastors are eager to have ACMI well established there.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Because of the size of DRC and the civil wars within the nation it is difficult to have DRC commence for the whole nation. It is likely that we will divide it into areas with separate leaderships. We are considering a southern region that borders Zambia and a Kinshasa region. Pastor Kerridge and Pastor Hernandez travelled to Kinshasa in June 2008 to see about commencing ACMI there. As yet there has been no response. Bishop Wandila, from Zambia, is interested in taking ACMI to southern DRC.
Kenya
ACMI is one of the more recent nations to become well established with conferences and meetings taking place. Together with Pastor John Wandera from Uganda the African Zone Chairman went to Kenya to have the first ACMI conference, which was well attended by many pastors. Pastor Silas Wekesa was appointed the first chairman. He is a reasonably young man, however in spite of facing some early difficulties is continuing to do a good job.
Malawi
Malawi is where ACMI commenced in Africa and has been one of the most successful ACMI nations. Pastor Nedson Milanzi was the first African national chairman and has done an outstanding job to establish ACMI in Malawi and even introduce it to other nations.
There are many other fine dedicated regional and district leaders. ACMI in Malawi is operating very well in some places, but not so well in other places.
Liberty Christian Church has been connected to Malawi from the beginning and in the early years regularly sent Pastor Kerridge and others to minister there. In more recent years, because of the growth of ACMI in other nations he has been unable to visit so regularly however returned again in 2007.
ACMI in Malawi has been especially effective in connecting pastors from across denominational barriers and some of them are regularly working together to preach the gospel and minister throughout the nation.
Pastor Milanzi’s own ministries have grown a great deal in recent years and because of this his time for ACMI responsibilities have needed to be restricted. This is understandable, however it is now time for others to rise up and take more leadership responsibility. Proper delegation to regional leaders will be a key for future success in Malawi.
Mozambique
Mozambique has been one of the more successful ACMI nations. Pastor Ernesto Cherene did an excellent work to see ACMI established in numbers of the provinces. He delegated to others and with the help firstly from Liberty Christian Church and then from Parkside Ministries International and Pastor Peter and Dawn Owen.
Because Pastor Cherene responsibilities as the overseer of many churches he resigned and Pastor Lede was elected as the new national chairman. The way Pastor Cherene has resigned and yet remained a member and very supportive of ACMI in Mozambique is a wonderful example to us all.
The language difficulties have caused some problems however having Pastor Prince in Mozambique and Sister Elda Duarte in Australia, who are excellent in Portuguese and English, has made things easier.
Because of the size of Mozambique it is very important that the regional and district executives operate successfully. Mozambique has found to have a number of regional conferences, instead of one national conference better. Rather than pastors having to travel long distances the speakers travel to the regions.
Pastor Peter and Dawn Owen and their church visit Mozambique every tw years and are doing a great work to support the work of ACMI in Mozambique.
Namibia
Pastor Dube, Pastor Tapfuma and Pastor Kerridge did visit Namibia and have had some ACMI meetings in Windhoek. However it failed to become properly established. Those meetings were fairly small and there did not seem to be a great deal of on-going interest. With genuine interest we would return.
Nigeria
Nigeria is at present quite a distance from the other parts of Africa where we are operating. This greatly increases the expenses involved. We have members there and are waiting for the right time to go to establish it as an ACMI nation.
Rwanda
Pastor John Wandera and Pastor Kerridge are at present discussing establishing ACMI in Rwanda. There has been some interest shown there by a number of pastors.
South Africa
We had numbers of conferences in South Africa however for various we are no longer holding conferences there. If South Africa is keen to have ACMI re-established we are certainly willing to meet with those who are interested.
Swaziland
Swaziland was established some years ago under the leadership of Pastor Robert Kasaro, who is still a member of ACMI and still in contact with the ACMI chairman. In June 2008 Pastor Kerridge visited Swaziland where a very successful ACMI conference was held. Now with Pastor Ojo as Swaziland chairman the future of ACMI in this nation looks very bright.
Tanzania
ACMI in Tanzania commenced well however had not been operating in recent years. As a result of visits by Pastor Wandera and the efforts of Pastor Focus Komba in Dar es Salaam, ACMI Exec. members Pastor Kerridge and Pastor Meadth travelled to Tanzania for two conferences in September 2008. Very successful meetings were held and ACMI is now operating very successfully under the leadership Pastor Komba and his national executive.
Uganda
ACMI in Uganda under the leadership of Pastor John Wandera has been a great example of how to plant ACMI in a nation. Pastor Wandera has had a very good understanding of the ACMI concept. This has helped him to not only have ACMI successfully working in Uganda, but to also help to establish it is Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania. For this reason Pastor Wandera has been made an ACMI Ambassador. His responsibilities as national chairman have been taken by Pastor Perezi Were.
Liberty Christian Church helped to put on the first couple of ACMI national conferences, which were very successful. Since then Pastor David McDonald and The Edge Christian Church (Toowoomba, Australia) have been tremendous in helping ACMI in Uganda carry on successfully. Each year they send teams and finance conferences as well as helping in Uganda in other significant ways.
Zambia
ACMI in Zambia started slowly however under the leadership of Bishop Medson Wandila has grown greatly and gone into most of the provinces.Bishop Wandila has worked extremely hard and is to be congratulated for his efforts.
Now that ACMI in Zambia has extended its borders so far it is time for ACMI in Zambia to move to a far more regionally run organisation.
An excellent ACMI conference in Kitwe in 2007 is a good example of how delegating to the regional executive can be very successful and help to take the burden from the shoulders of the national chairman.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has been one of the most successful ACMI nations thanks to strong leaders and strong executives who have been able to deal with problems as they have arisen. Thanks must go to Pastor Richard Dube who has shone as an example of a man who has understood the philosophy of ACMI and been a very willing servant-leader. That Zimbabwe is the only nation at this stage with two ACMI Ambassadors is proof of its heart for ACMI in Africa.
Another reason for the success of ACMI in Zimbabwe has been its connection with overseas pastors and churches. Pastor Pete Waljaard helped in the initial stages. Liberty Christian Church has always had some connection with Zimbabwe, and South Burnett Ministries led by Pastor Lyle and Anthea Slinger have had a large ongoing impact over a number of years.
Zimbabwe ACMI has had numbers of well attended regional conferences without the aid of Australia. While there is no intention for the connection between Australia to stop I am confident that ACMI would continue in Zimbabwe with or without outside help. The major challenge for ACMI Zimbabwe is to learn from Pastor Dube and be ready to carry on with excellent leadership when he steps aside.