The Schmelzenbach Memorial Scholarship gives academic opportunities to African leaders enrolled in the online programs offered through the Northwest Nazarene University Graduate School of Theology. Students will be equipped with a formative and transformative education preparing them to make a powerful impact throughout their communities. Would you please pray for these scholarship recipients as they are equipped to serve Africa in profound ways? If you would like financially to support this scholarship fund then go to nnu.edu/giving or click the button below.
My name is Celeste Chaguala and I was born into a Christian family. During my teenage years I was involved in church programs and rarely missed a gathering with other teens at my church where I enjoyed fellowship and times of learning the Word of God. In my encounter with God when I was 17 years old, I sensed God speaking to me in a very special way. I couldn’t discern what and how exactly He wanted to use me but I was certain of His call on my life. As time passed, ministry opportunities opened for me to help work and witness teams that came to Mozambique to build the bible college SNM (Seminário Nazareno em Moçambique). It was during my time of working with those who came to Mozambique on mission trips that my desire to serve in missions was planted and every time a work and witness team came my desire grew.
I served as music leader for the Portuguese service in Maputo and also worked at the Nazarene Bible Institute typing TEE books for the training of pastors. After three years as a typist, I moved to Nazarene Seminary where I worked as a secretary and accountant’s assistant, and three years later I served at the regional level as Lusophone Field Literature Coordinator. I also served God in the Church of the Nazarene where my husband, Admirado, was the Senior Pastor. For a period of time I worked for Samaritan’s Purse which expanded my experience working with pastors of different denominations.
In 2015 I began serving full-time in the Church of the Nazarene. My husband and I are missionaries in the Church of the Nazarene serving in our own country but are open to wherever God would lead us. We have two children, Noel and Shirley. I now serve as SDMI coordinator for the Africa Region. When I accepted this responsibility, I knew it was time to begin my theological studies and enrolled in the pastoral ministry Master’s program at Northwest Nazarene University. Please pray for me for God’s guidance as this is my first time studying in English, which is my third language, and also in an online program. I’m happy to serve the Lord and the Church of Christ! My desire is to do God’s will until the last day of my life.
From the time I was 14 years old I dreamed of studying at a Nazarene University. My parents were pastors in Cabo Verde, and then missionaries in Africa, and I lived and breathed being a Nazarene.
I received my degree in Psychology in Portugal and then returned to Cabo Verde to study at SNCV (Seminario Nazareno de Cabo Verde) to prepare for pastoral ministry, which I believed God was calling me to do. Many people told me I should stay in Portugal to complete my masters degree however I had planned to study at a Nazarene University. I started my ministry as a pastor in 2009. I am married and have two children, I pastor a church, I speak Portuguese and the only option was taking classes online.
In 2016 I met Dr. Gabriel Benjiman at a District Assembly in Cape Verde. I shared with him about my dream and he introduced me to Northwest Nazarene University. In August 2017 I applied to NNU and was accepted but it was a long process before I would begin taking classes as I needed transcripts from the college I attended in Portugal and it took three years to obtain them due to communication problems. In 2020 the evaluation of my transcripts was completed and I was notified by NNU that classes would begin in October. I was now a District Superintendent, running a new district in this pandemic and moving from one island to another. I was worried about paying for school and finding the time to study but God has provided both. I am now in my second semester at NNU, living my dream and loving each day.
I am married to Ailton, we have two children, Graça and Benjamin. I am living out God ́s call as a minister and working on my masters degree at a Nazarene University. God is perfect and His grace is more than amazing. I praise Him every day because in all this process His hand was evident and, in each step, He sent angels (the people He used) to open doors. I saw and continue to see miracles every day. I thank the Lord and all His angels. The way I can thank Him is to do my best to make Him and all those who helped me proud and blessed.