Evangelism Ministries Newsletter ~ November 2013

Evangelism Ministries Newsletter ~ November 2013

Table of Contents:

•Talk of the Town

•The Wheels on the Bus...

•Atlanta on My Mind

•How Do I Get Involved?

•Lingo Legend

•Subscription Changes

HERE TO SERVE...

Bill Wiesman - Director
bwiesman@nazarene.org

Thea Ardrey - Coordinator
tardrey@nazarene.org

Shelma Warner - Assistant to the Director
swarner@nazarene.org

Joy Wilson - Special Events Assistant
jwilson@nazarene.org

UPCOMING EVENTS:

CP Assessment Center
Salem, Oregon
November 3-5

CPC & CT
Northeastern Indiana
November 4-8

CPC
Toronto, Canada
November 8-9 & 23

CPE, CPC, & CT
Valdosta, GA
November 17-20

CPE, CPC, & CT
Joplin District
Carthage, MO
December 9-13

CPE, CPC, & CT
Decatur, IL
January 6-10

CPC & CT
New England District
Windsor, NH
January 6-9

CPE, CPC, & CT
Calera, AL
January 13-17

CPE, CPC, & CT
Point Loma Nazarene
San Diego, CA
January 13-17

CPE, CPC, & CT
Indianapolis District
Indianapolis, IN
January 20-24

CPE & CPC
Virginia District
Woodbridge, VA
January 27-29

CPE, CPC, & CT
Northwest District
Spokane Valley, WA
January 27-31

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Talk of the Town

Being the topic of conversation in a small town isn't necessarily the goal most people set out to achieve. 

Yet for Pastor David Maiden and his wife Jan, they couldn't be happier to be the buzz of Rocky Ford, Colorado.  Find out what people are talking about...

Talk of the Town

Submitted by tardrey on Thu, 10-24-2013

News travels fast in a small town.  Any of Rocky Ford, Colorado’s 3,920 citizens, give or take a few since the 2012 census, could have gossiped about the retired couple who traded the warmth of Lake Havasu, Arizona for the cooler, soon to be snow-laden, Colorado city.  Or perhaps the rumor mills would have started churning about the newlyweds, in their seventies, who chose to marry each other quite some time after their first spouses passed away; not merely to bask in the glow of new love, but to spread the love of Christ by restarting the Nazarene church in Rocky Ford.

On April 29, 2013, less than two months after they tied the knot, David and Jan Maiden helped re-open the Nazarene church—this set against the backdrop of other local churches which had closed or had previously been re-purposed as a restaurant and event center. The Maidens’ mission was clear: share the hope of Christ with others and pray for God to bring salvation.  And that’s exactly what God has enabled them to see unfolding.

With the invitation of friends who attended the church, 10-year old Caleb, 10-year old Samantha, and 19-year old Kylie chose to become followers of Christ.  But the hope of Christ being preached by lay pastor David Maiden isn’t just for the young.  He personally invited Albert, a 99-year old with a zest for life, who is now attending the church.  Wanda, who invited many of those who were saved, and Susan, an original member, are just two of several who are taking their part in God’s story seriously.

Four converts, five baptisms, and one membership class later, Rocky Ford Church of the Nazarene is becoming the talk of the town—in a good way.  The Maidens are intent on winning as many as they can—perhaps even the entire city—for as long as the Lord allows. 

Pastor David, who preaches behind a pulpit Uncle Bud Robinson used, thinks he “might retire from the ministry” when he dies.  What a gift it will be to hear the buzz in Heaven of those from Rocky Ford whose lives have been changed by Christ’s love!

Written By: Thea Ardrey , Evangelism Coordinator for USA/Canada Region
Based on Interview with Pastor David Maiden, Rocky Ford Church of the Nazarene

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The Wheels on the Bus...

The wheels on this bus have been sanctified.  They go where God sends them.  It isn't just the wheels that are fully dedicated to God's work, but those who go with it; the people of Grace Harbor Church of the Nazarene in Green Bay, Wisconsin are intent on bringing the hope of Christ to their community. Learn more about how a bus can bring in God's Kingdom...

The Wheels on the Bus...

Submitted by tardrey on Wed, 10-23-2013

When people think of Green

Bay, Wisconsin, they might first think about the Packers.  But God is doing something much bigger here than our NFL football team could ever hope to do.  The Lord is at work and we are privileged our Clothes Connection bus has taken us to the front lines!

For the past few years, Green Bay Grace Harbor Church of the Nazarene has felt a call to plant churches.  We didn’t know how and we honestly had no idea where to start, so we started praying and seeking the Lord's direction.  We tried several doors along the way, but we kept finding them locked.  Eventually, the Lord led us in a direction we frankly thought was, well, crazy! 

We purchased a 1998 International school bus and converted it into a mobile clothes closet, calling it Clothes Connection.  Our intention was to use it to help build relationships with people in lower income neighborhoods throughout Green Bay.  Watching the Lord work was simply amazing as He performed miracle after miracle to launch this non-traditional church plant.

We launched in early September, right around the time you'd typically see buses transporting kids to school.  But our bus is on a different mission, God’s mission. We ask those we meet in a local park to participate in a short worship experience before choosing clothing on the bus; afterward, a hot meal is provided for each person.  

The Church of the Nazarene's Churches Planting Churches training was foundational for understanding how to approach this endeavor.  I've consulted the training material several times throughout this process. 

To this point, we have been able to build relationships with 54 families, which accounts for well over 200 souls!  We've had the opportunity to pray with people in the park as they made commitments to Christ.  We've been able to sit down with them and share a meal.  Grace Harbor has counted it a privilege to be able to see what God is doing through its church plant, Hope Community. The days ahead are bright, but the light is already shining and spreading here in Green Bay.  We will continue to nurture Hope Community and be ready to plant the next church as the Lord leads—whether we get there by bus or some other vehicle the Lord sets apart. 

Check out a video about our church plant, Hope Community Church of the Nazarene: www.HopeInGreenBay.com

Written by: Pastor Jeremy McLaughlin, Grace Harbor Church of the Nazarene
Completed Nazarene Churches Planting Churches (CPC) Training
Pictures provided by: Jon Hansen, Grace Harbor Church of the Nazarene

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Atlanta on My Mind
Rev. Mark Bane, Joplin District Superitendent
Reflections on Gracepointe Church of the Nazarene outside Atlanta

The Atlanta metro area has grown from five hundred thousand to around six million in population, while its mother Nazarene church “Atlanta First” (now Gracepointe) has been somewhat flat in its impact on this great city.  It has been said “Atlanta First Nazarene is a church whose influence was always greater than its size” and “Atlanta First has never reached its potential.”  The church began with hopes to reach the then rapidly growing city.  It launched in 1926 with 27 charter members.  Within a few years, 1931, the church grew to 200 attendees and plateaued at that size for 45 years.  For the past 42 years, Gracepointe has averaged around 300, with a few peaks under the influence of a great ministry family the Diehl Family.  Both father, Dr. Jim Diehl and son, Don Diehl saw the greatest days in the church’s history to that point when it peaked at just over 400 attendees.  Old First Church had some of the greatest pastors in the history of the Nazarene movement: Dr. Charles Strickland (former General Superintendent), Dr. Bill McCumber (Prolific author), Dr. Jim Diehl (former General Superintendent), Dr. Keith Wright (former District Superintendent), and Dr. Pal Wright (former District Superintendent), with many other great pastors not mentioned.

Our time as pastor at Gracepointe began in December 2010.  We made a decision early to have a strong emphasis on evangelism and outreach.  As a result, we began two churches “Punto De Gracia Iglesia Del Nazareno” (Hispanic Parent Affiliated Congregation, pictured above) and the “Church on the Edge,” a church strategically planted to prepare for future launches into the city of Atlanta (Pictured below before and after launch).  The short story is that the old church began to grow to a size it had never reached in its previous 87 years.  Within a few years, old Atlanta First had 750 attendees worshiping weekly, while planting churches at the same time.  God had taken a great church that had been around a long time and breathed new life for a great future.  It was the perfect storm, but a good storm. The perfect storm sounds like an accident, however, God is always trying to make great things happen. When a group of Christians commit to listening and following the leadership of the Spirit, even when it looks unwise or imprudent, God is bound to bring a miracle.  That is what is happening to Gracepointe (formally Atlanta First Church of the Nazarene.)

Below are a few things we learned in our brief journey in this great church:

Be where God wants you to be:  I had been pastoring a significantly larger church when I went to Gracepointe, but it was clear God wanted me there.  If we will walk where He directs us, He will bless.  It is important for pastors to follow God’s leading.  It may be even more important that lay people listen and obey God when it comes to where and how long they attend a church.  There is a long list of great lay people (Mary and Pegi Hutchings, Holger and Marleene Schulz, Doug and Barbara Payne, Pat and Gerold Jemison, the Schrefflers, the Combs, etc.) who stayed, prayed, paid, and were committed.  When everything around them said go, they didn’t.  If our lay people saw the weight of their decisions and the importance of their faithfulness to the local church, as did so many people at Gracepointe, there would be many more stories like this one in our tribe.

Be self-aware:  The people of Gracepointe knew they needed to trust God to take them to places in ministry they had never been.  They were humble, self-aware, and eager to see God do a new thing, regardless of the cost.  I believe the best and most effective prayer warriors are self-aware people.  That is, people who recognize they are finished unless God comes on the scene.  Many people at Gracepointe were faithful to pray like they could do nothing without God and work like it all depended on them.

Go where people are hurting and need God:  It may seem intuitive for churches to do this, but it is not always the case.  Too many churches, like Atlanta first in those  days, left the hurting, lonely and needy people to move where it was safe, white, upper middle income, low crime rate, and comfortable.  The people of Gracepointe realized it was not safe to run from God’s mission to “The least of these,” (Matt 25:40) and began intentionally reaching the people who, for so many years, they had often times avoided.

Honor the past:  We started a traditional service to honor our senior adults and God blessed it.  That service grew as well as anything we ever did there.  There is a tendency today to disregard the old guard as useless relics who are in the way.  I have heard pastors speak as if the old saints are the greatest hindrance to the kingdom.  Jesus had trouble with the old guard as well (the traditional Jews many of whom influenced His crucifixion,) but He never disregarded them or sought to push them out.  He was honest with them but loved them and wanted them on board.  The result—Pentecost—was proof that these people, when they get a fresh wind from God, become world changers.  If it wasn’t for the Jews, there would have been little hope for the New Testament Church.  The greatest Jewish enemy to the new fledgling church, Saul, became the greatest contributor to the new, the apostle Paul.  I found that to be true at Gracepointe.  When the old guard is given dignity and honored, they become the best workers, supporters and friends to the new thing.  When they are disregarded and marginalized, they become opponents.  It would serve all ministers well if they recognized someone paid a price for those more traditional believers to be in the kingdom.  Honoring that sacrifice might help us recognize those we win will be the traditional group one day.  We reap what we sow.  If we honor the past, we can be more confident those young eager ones who come behind us might be more willing to honor the sacrifice we made to win those who came in under our watch.

We Nazarenes have churches all over the USA in major metro areas desperate for new life.  If you are in one of these churches, I pray you will be faithful, whether you are pastor or layman, to see your church become vital again and have a greater impact on your city.  A few sermon excerpts from P. F. Bresee fit today as well as ever before, “Cities are festering ulcers of human life where souls ripen fast for perdition.  Their riches will not save them.  If people are poor and needy, does it demand my loving sympathy?  Do I seek them because my Lord died for them?  Or do I want a little club or clique of men who are rich in this world’s goods and given to filling up their souls with worldly gain.”  “My message,” he said, “is to poverty and despair.  It comes as a white robed angel, with food for the hungry and care for the destitute, with hope for the despairing, bringing to every life the voice of infinite love which turns every possible earthly condition into a paradise.”  God would be pleased if we made similar efforts to breathe new life and vitality into these great places of worship across our land.  It is time we begin taking back territory in our cities we have lost to the Enemy.  God is with us as we go.

Written By: Rev. Mark Bane, Joplin District Superintendent
Photos Provided By: John Kouts (The Edge) and Ricky Reyes (Punto de Gracia)
Photo © Ted Lee http://www.flickr.com/photos/serpicolugnut/6773590373/lightbox/

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How Do I Get Involved?

PRAY for God to bring growth to the seeds we plant & water!

Church Planting Training
      - Church Planting Essentials & Churches Planting Churches
      - Become Certified to Train Others to Plant Churches
      - Become a Church Plating Mentor

Utilize Church Renewal Resources

Learn about the Different Models for New Churches

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Lingo Legend

Confused by any of the acronymns you've read?  Perhaps this will help!

BAM: Becoming A Mentor
CP: Church Planting
CPC: Churches Planting Churches
CPE: Church Planting Essentials
CT: Certified Trainer
DCPI: Dynamic Church Planting International

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Subscription Changes

If you wish to update your contact information or unsubscribe to our newsletter, please visit Nazarene Subscription Center.

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Evangelism Ministries
17001 Prairie Star Pkwy
Lenexa, KS 66220
(913) 577-2876

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