History

The first missionary for the Church of the Nazarene in Eswatini was Rev. Harmon Schmelzenbach, who arrived with his family in Piggs Peak in the northern mountainous area of Swaziland in December 1910. Schmelzenbach’s scriptural mandate was to “teach, preach, and heal.” Generations later, the reach of Schmelzenbach’s ministry has expanded to include a Nazarene university called Southern Africa Nazarene University, five high schools, 43 primary schools, 150 churches in 4 districts of Eswatini, Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital (RFM), and 20 rural clinics. In many communities you will see a clinic, a school and a church. All of this network throughout Eswatini represents our official partners.

The Eswatini Partnership

In 2008, Dr. David Busic, senior pastor of BFC, and Dr. Loren Gresham, president of Southern Nazarene University, had a vision to reach out to Eswatini, the country with the highest rate of HIV and TB in the world. They were welcomed by Swazi health, education, and church leaders. BFC recruited Barbi Moore to work with this partnership, formed an Eswatini Leadership Council, and set about enlisting local medical professionals, business leaders, and other willing and talented people to join the effort in Eswatini. Since that time, 10 couples and one individual have given a year or two of their lives to live in Eswatini and represent the partnership. Our on-site coordinators have built trust and friendship with our Swazi leaders to allow this partnership to exist.

On-site Coordinators

The experience and passion of our on-site coordinators have been a great gift to this partnership. Each individual has brought their gifts and talents to this ministry. We are so grateful for Harlan and Barbi’s calling to this role!

Rev. Will and Karis Stemen – 2008-2009
Brent and Rev. Michaele LaVigne – 2009-2010
Andy and Amy Curry – 2010-2011
Evan and Rev. Andrea Mosshart – 2011-2012
Dustin and Amanda Hogan – 2012-2013
Seth and Kaylee Carley – 2013-2014
Rev. C. Dale and Emmalyn German – 2014-2015
Rev. Ron and Sara Willard – 2015-2017
Jess Jenkinson – 2017-2018
Doug and Margaret Eaton – 2018-2022
Harlan and Barbi Moore – 2023-present

Short-Term Teams and Partners in Eswatini

Over 800 people have volunteered on short-term teams that build, paint, clean and serve in clinics, schools, churches and at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital (RFM). Three nurses’ housing units have been built and Bhalenkani received a new clinic. Churches have received new roofs. A new school was built at Mhlaba. The first public dental clinic was established at RFM. Training has been provided on the prevention of AIDS and booklets provided through the Ministry of Health on pediatric standardized care. We also have established two Child Development Centers that minister to children who are at-risk. The partnership has been a key catalyst with the Southern Africa Coca Cola Foundation in providing 52 water wells to communities in need. We also support the HIV Task Force as they visit hundreds of homebound patients giving palliative care with over 130 imbedded community care supporters. Eswatini has received support from organizations like Heart to Heart International, Dean McGee Eye Institute, and churches in Kansas, Canada, California, and Texas who have also joined this partnership.

Swazi 5K

The Swazi 5K began in 2008 when Karen Dedmon became passionate about helping Swaziland.  She and her husband Scott had been on early teams to Swaziland (now called Eswatini) and saw ways they could get involved to help with targeted needs in this southern African nation.

Karen is a labor and delivery nurse and saw the needs of women and children.  Scott is an architect and saw clinics, nurses housing, churches and schools that needed to be built or renovated.  They also wanted more people to go and visit Swaziland to become as passionate as they were about this nation.  Scholarships could be provided to help with travel, if an event like a Swazi 5K could be started.  A great thank you to the Dedmons for their passion and work to see the Swazi 5K come to fruition and to gather a great committee to work together on this annual event.

Scott and Karen gave leadership to the Swazi 5K for 11 years and raised $256,492.00 to help targeted ministries in Eswatini and in Bethany with their After-School Program.  Even though they retired after the 2019 event, they have left a talented committee in place to continue their legacy of excellence.