Africa
Researchers in Madagascar gear up for a major research of jungle villages in the rain forests of Madagascar. Praying fervently and equipped with waterproof windbreakers and hiking packs, they begin the challenge of getting the data on the church in their island country.
The DAWN Africa Team is comprised of the Regional Coordinators and are collectively responsible for the following countries: Liberia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Togo, Cameroon, Swaziland, Cote d’Ivore, Mali, Chad, Guinea, Gambia, Namibia, Angola, DRC, Gabon, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Reunion
Christophe Dewanou - West & Central Africa Regional Coordinator
Email: chrisbi@intnet.bj
Rev. Christophe V. DEWANOU was born in Porto-Novo in the Republic of Benin and committed his life to Christ at the age of 22. He is married and has five children. God called Christophe to full-time ministry and he completed his Bachelor of Theology at the West Africa Advance School of Theology in Lomé, Togo. He was the National Superintendent of the Foursquare Gospel Church of Benin from 1986 to 1992, and President of the Foursquare Gospel Church of Benin from 1992 to 1999.
In 2001 Christophe was appointed as the National Coordinator of DAWN Africa in Benin and later on West and Central Africa Regional Coordinator for DAWN Africa. His role is that of mobilizing and training church leaders in SCP (Saturation Church Planting) across West and Central Africa.
Christophe has trained more than 200 Church Planters and continues to be their mentor. He planted more than 100 churches and daughter churches in Benin and outside the country and was appointed Director of Missions for Foursquare Benin. His denomination has also chosen him to lead the Church Planting Movement in the country. Christophe Dewanou is the author of a book entitled “Le Tabernacle Portatif” (Portable Tabernacle) and he fulfills his role as Director of Bible Training on the Council of Evangelicals and Protestant Churches in Benin.
Steve Kabachia – East Africa Regional Coordinator
Email: stevekabachia@yahoo.com
Dr. Stephen Kabachia serves DAWN Africa in his capacity as East Africa Regional Coordinator. His responsibility is to mobilize and train leaders in SCP (Saturation Church Planting) in countries in East Africa. He lives in Nairobi, Kenya, is married to Jennifer and the couple have 8 children.
Dr. Kabachia completed his D. Min degree at Trinity International University in Deerfield, and an MEd through the University of Montevallo. He also completed an MA Miss. at Birmingham Theological Seminary; a BA at South Eastern Bible College and a Certificate at the Shanzu Teachers College.
His responsibilities currently include his roles as Bishop of the Agape Churches in Kenya and he is also the Senior Pastor of the Agape Fellowship Center in Nairobi, Kenya. He was appointed MANI Coordinator for East Africa, is a member on the board of FTT Afriserve Kenya, and Honorary Treasurer for the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya. In addition to the above, he serves as a board member of ICM, is the General Secretary of the Nairobi Pastors Fellowship, the Principal of Harvesters Bible College and an Africa Affiliate for Globeworks Ministry.
Kurai Chitima - Southern Africa Regional Coordinator
Email: kuraic@gmail.com
Pastor Kurai Chitima has fulfilled the role of Southern Africa Regional Coordinator since 2005. Prior to this he worked with DAWN Africa as research facilitator from 2000. Kurai’s involvement with the DAWN vision goes back to 1991 when he attended a Zimbabwe National Evangelism Task goal setting conference.
Kurai was a member of the team that set the goal to plant 34 more churches and oversaw the growth of Faith ministries from 6 congregations in 1991 to 42 congregations in 2000. In 1994 he led a team that planted a Faith Ministries church in Kuwadzana. The congregation now has a membership of over 600 and has planted 4 other congregations.
He is chairman of the Research Commission for the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe; completed his Bachelor of Business Studies, Masters in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Leadership and Management. He also holds a diploma in Biblical Studies and another in Evangelism and Discipleship. Kurai is currently a student at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, USA where he is completing a Doctor of Ministry. He is pastor of a growing congregation in Marlborough, Harare and his work experience includes senior ministry and leadership roles in church, government and non governmental organizations over a period of 22 years. He is married and has three children.
Dinah Ratsimbajoana – Indian Ocean Islands Regional Coordinator
Email: r.dinah@hotmail.com
Dinah Ratsimbajaona was appointed as the Madagascar National Coordinator for DAWN in 2004. In 2006 we appointed Dinah as Indian Ocean Islands Regional Coordinator. He was born in Antananarivo, Madagascar and fulfils his role as IOI Regional Coordinator from South Africa. He is married and has three children.
In 1991 he completed his T.S Agronomy in Algeria; and also completed a Diploma in Theology through SATS in Johannesburg and UNISA. Dinah successfully completed a DTS, SOE through the University of the Nations “YWAM” and in April 2005, the Church of the Nations ordained him as a Minister of the Gospel. He is the president of Madagascar Mission and has planted 106 churches in the Eastern rainforest of Madagascar. Dinah was also instrumental in erecting a radio station to support church planting in the south of Madagascar, which reaches out to the 500 000 least reached people group called the “Bara”.
Dinah’s role in DAWN Africa is that of mobilizing leaders for saturation church planting, providing GPS Research training and training church leaders in SCP (Saturation Church Planting) across the Indian Ocean Islands.
