Oregon pastor killed in semi crash
William Steinbrook, pastor of Gateway Family Fellowship Church of the Nazarene in Drain, Oregon, passed away on March 2.
In addition to pastoring, the 54-year-old worked as a roadside assistance mechanic. Around 11 p.m., Steinbrook was assisting a stalled semitruck on I-5. Oregon State Police reported Steinbrook was standing between the semi and his F-350 roadside assistance vehicle when another semi veered into the shoulder, pushing the stalled semi forward and pinning Steinbrook. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger sleeping in the second semi was also killed. The driver was taken to the hospital.
Steinbrook began serving at the Drain, Oregon, church in 2008. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rosemary, and is survived by his second wife, Abby.
Prayer is requested for all involved and the Gateway Family Fellowship church family.
Additional information will be added as it becomes available
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NTS launches Center for Pastoral Leadership; Middendorf named director Nazarene Theological Seminary announced the launch of its Center for Pastoral Leadership, under the direction of Jesse C. Middendorf, general superintendent emeritus for the Church of the Nazarene.
"NTS is excited about the presence of our new Center for Pastoral Leadership," said Carla Sunberg, NTS president. "Not only is NTS preparing missional pastors and leaders for the future of the church, but we also want to be a resource for those already active in ministry. Dr. Jesse Middendorf brings great incarnational pastoral and general church leadership to the table and we are thrilled to have him directing this new important
initiative."
Middendorf retired as general superintendent in June at the denomination’s General Assembly.
"In some ways, I see the last 46 years of my ministry as preparation for this next phase of service," Middendorf said. "Having seen leadership around the globe within the context of the Church of the Nazarene as well as within the context of the broader holiness movement, I believe that leadership is one of the most critical elements for the fulfillment of the mission of the church.
"The concept of leadership for me is entirely founded on the incarnation," he said. "We can appropriately use secular models of organization and leadership to a point; but there comes a place at which the Church is all together distinct and other. In a post-Christian era, the nature of Christian leadership has to be redefined, rearticulated, and engaged within the understanding of the incarnation."
All work within the NTS Center for Pastoral Leadership will be done within this understanding (the incarnation as the context for Christian leadership). The Center’s primary mission is to develop incarnational leaders in the church within the seminary context. It will offer a myriad of resources to ministers, including: host events, webinars and retreats; offer continuing education; produce, gather, and offer resources; and provide a place for meaningful dialogue and understanding around the need for genuine incarnational leadership in the church.2
The Center will endeavor to work closely with the USA/Canada Regional Office in the Church of the Nazarene’s Global Ministry Center in order to support its work with churches and ministers throughout North America. In addition, the Nazarene Global Consortium of Graduate Schools of Theology, of which NTS is a
part, will be a valuable resource partner.
As one of its first events, the Center for Pastoral Leadership will host NTS’s second Preacher’s Conference this fall. The September 30 – October 1 event is themed, The Preacher, The Leader, and the Incarnation: The Incarnation as the Context for Christian Leadership. Though the overall format will be similar to the event that NTS hosted last October, it will also include more panel discussions and teaching, in addition to times of
preaching and proclamation. Preachers and keynote speakers for this anticipated event will be announced soon on nts.edu and the NTS Facebook page. Registration will begin in late spring.--Nazarene Theological Seminary
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An ugly truth in paradise
Rachelle "Shelly" Miller is a missionary who serves with her husband, Ronald, on the Africa Region. She recently provided the following report about human trafficking in Madagascar:
Madagascar is a tropical island paradise. In the high plateau, the weather is near perfect all year long, with a rainy season in the summer months. Tropical fruits grow and are easy to buy. Organic vegetables are readily available throughout the year. The people are friendly and peaceful. Closer to the ocean, the beautiful beaches and palm trees beckon European tourists.
Amidst this paradise is an ugly truth: these beautiful beaches and tropical locales also attract sex tourists who come to prey on girls and boys. Madagascar ranks amongst the world's worst countries for human trafficking, due largely in part to the grinding poverty and poor educational standards attained by most. According to recent statistics by Oxfam, Madagascar is one of the worst places on earth to eat well. With the average Malagasy living on (US) $1 per day, parents may give away their daughters and/or sons as a last resort to avoid starvation.
The Church of the Nazarene and Compassionate Ministries International have established the Madagascar Street Kids Center. Children living in abject poverty are the ones most prone to human trafficking. Since the amount of money that can be made in a single evening can elevate a family's financial position significantly, it is difficult for girls to say no to the lure of being able to provide for their poverty-stricken families. The Street Kids Center offers the kids not only two meals a day but also basic education through the 4th grade and then
further assistance into mainstream education or vocational training after that. Madagascar does not have enough schools for the number of children on the island causing an educational crisis. Education is a key to combat enslavement to the human trafficking world. The Street Kids Center provides girls with skills by which they can obtain jobs, as well as teaching about the love of Christ. It strives to teach young men godly principles by which to live their lives, not ones of exploitation and lechery.
In addition to the Street Kids Center in Antananarivo, a pastor living in the main coastal port city of Tomasina has begun the groundwork for starting a Child Development Center (CDC) in her community to not only battle malnutrition and a lack of education, but to also help the children see that selling themselves, in this city where making a dollar or two by prostitution is easy, is not the way to go. Jesus has another plan for their lives — a better plan — even though life seems dark and dire (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
Within local communities in the capitol city, pastors are working to establish small CDCs to further combat these issues. They have started with a weekly feeding scheme and are hoping to expand, soon, to a daily program. We applaud these local pastors as they are funding these CDCs through projects of their own and not relying on outside funding.
The Church of the Nazarene is battling against poverty and evil, as are other organizations. Join us in prayer for this island nation of over 22 million people.--Church of the Nazarene Africa Region via Out of Africa 3
Related: "Freedom Sunday: A day to stand against human trafficking"
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Visayan Nazarene Bible College celebrates golden anniversary
Visayan Nazarene Bible College celebrated its 50th anniversary February 10 through 14 with a week of activities guided by a theme based on Isaiah 40:31, Soaring Higher With God.
The weeklong event began with a parade, including an anniversary float and a procession of cars carrying students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents from the college. After the parade, the VNBC Elementary Keyboard Class opened a ceremony with prelude music. Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama and Terry Lianto, representing Cebu Vice Governor Agnes A. Magpale, delivered inspirational messages. Elementary principal Jill Galarido then led the preschool, high school, elementary, and college students with a flag and balloon ceremony. The 50 golden flags represented the 50 years of God's faithfulness to the college and the balloons
signified the prayers for God's guidance and provision of the college in the succeeding years. A 50-voice choir from the college and the elementary departments directed by Adelma D. Cabantug sang "Lift High the Lord Our Banner" and "The Hallelujah Chorus" during the ceremony.
Each day of the week-long event featured sporting events, performances, seminars, and exhibit booths.
Services were held from 2 to 6 p.m. over three days. Special speakers included Shalimar Tamayo (Kids Ministry Made Easy), Luz Tamayo (Women Leadership), Jiji Harner (Emotionally Healthy Relationship), Bill Kwon (Is the Media Forbidden Fruit?: The Challenge of Christian Life in a Mediated World), Floyd T.
Cunningham (The Wesleyan Contribution to the Church of God), and Arnel and Christine Jotiz (Philippine Cross-Cultural Mission to Cambodia).
Tuesday night included a youth worship service led by Student Body Organization President Gifthir Elmido along with other high school students. Wednesday evening Josefin Anoos led the service and the guest speaker was Melvin K. Rigsby, Asia-Pacific regional International Board of Education coordinator. Pastors and
churches from the Central Visayas District led by District Superintendent Nilo Rosende participated in the Golden Anniversary Worship service.
On Thursday night, VNBC students, alumni, faculty members, and parents joined the cast of performers to sing and dance at the Musical Extravaganza led and directed by Rober Lantao, a faculty member at the college.
During the final Friday evening event, Dinner For A Cause, about 200 members of VNBC family, alumni, friends, and guests attended a dinner program with Floyd T. Cunningham as guest speaker. Cunningham is the former president and current academic dean of Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary. The event was a fundraiser intended to help VNBC rehabilitate its library building that was rendered unsafe for use after an October 15 earthquake. Students and alumni provided musical entertainment during the meal. Capping the Golden Anniversary Celebration, VNBC Academic Dean Annie Jean Montecastro led a ceremony recognizing
VNBC's pioneer graduates, past and current administrators, and its alumni currently serving the college.
The ceremony culminated in the awarding of a posthumous Distinguished Service Award to the late VNBC President Julie Macainan-Detalo for her exemplary contribution and lasting legacy to VNBC. A Julie Macainan-Detalo Scholarship Fund project was also unveiled to VNBC family and partners for the benefit of future, deserving young men and women who are called to ministry and who will attend VNBC for their ministry preparation. Mario Macainan, brother of Julie Macainan-Detalo, contributed the first "seed" fund of PHP10,000 (US$225) to the scholarship project.
"VNBC is not just celebrating its 50th year as a Bible college, it is also celebrating a golden anniversary to look back with gratefulness, to look now with rejoicing, and to look ahead with optimism as it hopes to soar under the strength and the power of God's mercy and His faithfulness," said Jun Cabantug, VNBC president.--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region
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M15 Conference website now live
The Mission 2015 Conference (M15) will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, February 9 through 11, 2015. The4 theme for the mid-quadrennial conference will be Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future. The official website for M15 is now live and can be viewed at m15conference.org.
This website will be the main form of communication about the conference. Through the website, you will be able to access:
Video interviews discussing the scope of the conference
Information about the Kansas City Conference Center Registration information (online registration opening soon) Information about plenary speakers, when announced Details about workshops and exhibits (coming soon) Conference schedule (coming soon)
In preparation for the M15 conference, the USA/Canada Regional Office released an online survey, to which almost 400 people responded. The survey asked questions about what topics attendees would like to see discussed at M15 and sought input on how to best advance the theme of the event. The results of this survey
have been compiled and are now available to view on the USA/Canada Region website.
Watch the M15 website for regular updates. The M15 conference also has a Facebook page, which will be updated every week.
If you have any questions regarding this conference please contact Event Coordinator Loretta Cloud at lcloud@nazarene.org.--Church of the Nazarene USA/Canada Region
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Additional NCNNews.com Stories This Week
Regional News
Africa
Togo churches create building-less orphanage
Larry Myer, JESUS Film coordinator for the Africa West Field, shares the story of a building-less orphanage in Togo.
Saturday, blessed Saturday! We began at Pastor John's church in Tvesie, Togo, hearing about the building-less orphanage. The area churches minister to 46 orphan kids from one year to 15 years of age in the homes of the church members. Each takes one or two kids, cares for their needs, their schooling, and their spiritual health and just loves on them.
What a witness it was to see the "church" truly ministering to the "widows and children" in their area. Pastor Feleicite, the lady in charge of keeping track of all these kids, was aglow with the radiance of Jesus though the Lord has not yet blessed her with children of her own. Later in the day, the children showed us what the Lord had been teaching them through song, dance, and a short drama.
The need began at the JESUS film showing in 2006 when homeless street kids attending the showing gave their hearts to the Lord. The church reached out to them and it has been going and growing ever since. --Church of the Nazarene Africa Region via Out of Africa
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GMC Flags of the Nations: Mali
Since September 1, 2009, the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center (GMC) proudly flies a flag each week of one of the many nations in which the denomination is present in ministry. Leaders were invited to send a national flag to be flown at the GMC alongside the flag of the United States*. The national flags rotate weekly, and photos of them raised are sent to the church leaders of that country.
This week: Mali
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Mali in 2010.
Mali had a population of 15,968,882 in 2013. Mali has not yet reported any Churches of the Nazarene.
Mali is on the Africa Region. For more information about the Africa Region, visit africanazarene.org.
Previous flags featured:
Argentina
Aruba
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia
France
Gabon
Guatemala
Germany
Ghana
Guam
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Conakry
Guyana
Haiti
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Liberia
Madagascar Mali
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Paraguay
Peru
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Suriname
Swaziland
Togo
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Venezuela
NOTE: Some countries cannot be represented in this project in order to maintain security of those working there.
* = The weekly highlighted flag is raised on the middle of three poles in compliance with U.S. government protocols. It flies to the left of the GMC host-nation United States flag, which flies above the host-state flag of Kansas. The Christian flag flies on the third pole.
The Global Ministry Center is the mission and service hub of the Church of the Nazarene.
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Eurasia
Nazarenes produce Lenten program for MTV Lebanon
For the second time, the Church of the Nazarene produced and is airing a Lenten season television program on MTV Lebanon.
Is2alouni 3an Yassou3 (Ask Me about Jesus) is a 25-minute show spearheaded by Bouchrieh Church of the Nazarene Pastor Ayman Kafrouny that will air twice a day from March 3 to April 17. A week after it premieres on MTV, it will begin airing on the Arabic-language Christian network SAT-7.
The program was 95 percent funded through Nazarenes' offerings to World Mission Broadcast.
Kafrouny's first Lenten program, Kad Oukmel (It is Finished), aired in 2012 and is now in reruns on a Catholic network. MTV liked it so much they asked Kafrouny to produce another show the following year. However, the costs were more than the team had received from World Mission Broadcast to fund the production, so
Kafrouny decided to spread out the filming over two years.
Running in 32 episodes, Is2alouni 3an Yassou3 has a three-part format. In one part, a well-known Middle Eastern celebrity spends four to five minutes on camera, concluding with a theological question for Kafrouny.
In a second segment, Kafrouny, who was a successful secular pop singer in the Middle East, leads a band in two songs that last for eight to nine minutes. The third part is about 11 minutes of Kafrouny answering the celebrity's question.
A closing graphic indicates that the Church of the Nazarene is responsible for the show, elevating the denomination's profile across the Middle East and other continents where Arabic-speaking people will access the show, such as North America and Australia.
The featured celebrities include people like Mona Herawi, a former First Lady of Lebanon who continues to be well-respected in social and political circles, famous journalists who have interviewed kings and powerful politicians, and some of the top actors in Lebanon, according to Kafrouny.
Every celebrity originated his or her own question, such as, why is there a part of Jesus' life we don't know anything about, where is God when He sees all these problems happening in the world, or is there really a5 hell?
"Really difficult questions," Kafrouny said. "It took me a month and half preparing the answers, sitting with theologians and researching. It wasn't spontaneous."
The show's format created the potential for ongoing relationships between Kafrouny and some of the celebrities who participated. Not only did they propose theological questions on camera, but afterward several sought out Kafrouny for further dialogue about Christianity.
Lebanon viewers will see a phone number for a Nazarene pastor in Beirut and will be able to text or call him to request follow-up. Viewers from other countries will be able to contact the Church of the Nazarene through the show's Facebook page, and ministry leaders will find someone in their country to follow-up with them.
A Christian bookstore in Lebanon gave $15,000 to rent about 10 billboards in prominent locations around the country to advertise the show.
"For us it's something unusual to see the cross and the name of Jesus on billboards on the street," Kafrouny said.
Is2alouni 3an Yassou3 faced some challenges in being developed. The production team planned to film in studios at MTV Lebanon, which are some of the best in the country. But a fire over the Christmas holidays burned down half of the studios, and those that were untouched were then overbooked for other programs.
Kafrouny's team was forced to find another studio which was unfinished, with only white walls and a white floor and no electricity. They had to rent decorations and a generator.
These unexpected factors cut into the budget. Fortunately, believers in Lebanon who supported the show made up the difference with donations.
"What an amazing opportunity for the Church of the Nazarene to present this program during the season leading up to Easter," said Lindell Browning, field strategy coordinator of the Easter Mediterranean Field.
"Since most people in Lebanon and throughout other areas of the Middle East remember Ayman Kafrouny as a secular singer, his testimony and teaching will have a tremendous impact... God is going to use this program to glorify and answer questions about the resurrected Lord Jesus."--Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region
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From bombmaker to pastor: Raju's story
As Raju* huddled in the small room he was sharing in his brother's house in Kathmandu, he knew his life was rapidly unraveling. He had gone from being a religious priest serving idols, to building bombs for an underground political party, to fleeing into hiding in the city.When he was growing up, his father was a priest in a religion serving many gods. Raju was training to be a priest, too, but from his earliest years he was more interested in politics. He got involved at age 11 when a close relative was killed by the government.
"It affected me and I started to think about why he was killed," Raju said.
As a child, he started recruiting people to join the opposition party. As he grew older, he trained new party members. Eventually he began building bombs and teaching others how to make them. Although he never actually used one of his bombs, the people he taught did use them in different places. He was involved in
protests and once spent a month in jail.
His 35 years of involvement in opposition politics came to a halt when the military began looking for him.
Although he had a wife and four children, he was forced to leave them behind for the anonymity of the capital city where he could hide in a room of his brother's house.
Stuck in the house day after day, afraid to go out for fear of being recognized and captured, he had lots of time to dwell on his situation and how much he missed his family. He couldn't see an end in sight.6
The only place he felt safe was a small tea stall where he would drink spiced, milky Nepali tea. The woman who owned the shop noticed he looked pale and anxious. She handed him a New Testament Bible and said, "Read this and you will get peace."
He took the Bible home but he didn't read it. He was not interested in exploring another religion.
One day, there was a knock on his door. When he opened it, soldiers from the army stood there. They were checking identity cards. He had gotten rid of his identity card, and so, afraid of the men, he grabbed the Bible and said, "I am a Christian? See, here is my Bible."
When the soldiers saw the Bible, they became friendly. They advised him to get an identity card through his local church, thanked him for his time and left.
"When I thought about that situation I thought [about] my previous work in making a bomb, [and] I was doing
the priestly work and all my work could not save me when I'm in danger," Raju said. "But the Bible saved me in such a critical hour. The Bible book itself saved my life, then what is inside the Bible? There must be a very, very good thing inside of it."
Now Raju was curious about this religion, and on Saturday he took the Bible and marched boldly through the city. But he didn't know where the church was. He saw another person and approached him, asking if the man knew a church in the area. The man turned out to be a pastor. Raju went with him to his church.
"I entered the church and the service started and I was sitting in the back and I was just looking at the things going on," Raju said. "That time the preacher was preaching on the sermon about [the] love of God. I came to realize only God can help me to live and I decided to accept Christ the same day."
When his brother learned Raju had decided to follow Jesus, he kicked Raju out of his house. Now he was homeless — he had no job, no money and nowhere to stay. The woman from the tea stall and the pastor found him some clothes and another place to stay, and they helped to integrate him into the life of the church.
For months, other people paid his rent and brought him handfuls of their leftover rice to eat. Having his basic needs met, sometimes through miraculous means, built his fledgling faith.
He also spent several years pursuing theological education.
When the political situation eased, Raju wanted to plant a church in his home village. About this time, he became acquainted with Dilli Ijam, the Church of the Nazarene's district superintendent in Nepal. When Ijam spent time with Raju and watched him in ministry, he realized Raju would be perfect for leading a
compassionate ministry seed project in his home district because of his background in agriculture. Raju agreed to take on the project and became more familiar with the denomination and its doctrines. He quickly decided to join the Church of the Nazarene.
While overseeing the seed project, Raju planted a Nazarene church in his home village.
But in reuniting with his family there were challenges. His wife, who was actively involved in Raju's former religion, was upset that he had become a Christian minister. She would not even drink a cup of water that he handed to her.
While his wife resisted his new faith, one at a time their daughters came to know Jesus personally. Soon they were all praying for their mother. They also became involved in the church, one of them serving as the worship leader, another singing in the choir and teaching the children, and a third daughter is active in Nazarene Youth International.
After five years, Raju's wife finally fell in love with Jesus, herself, and became a follower. Today, when Raju is absent from the church, she leads the services in his place.
"I am so much thankful that my whole family became Christian. We all are coming to Christ and I'm thinking it7 is... a big gain in my life," he said.
They have planted a second church that now has more than 50 members. On Saturdays, Raju works in the first church, and on Sundays he leads the second one.
"I personally can tell you this man has a very great strength to lead the ministry," Ijam said. "He doesn't hesitate telling Jesus Christ, just sitting by his neighbors, sitting on the bus or wherever. He has a capacity of preaching and he also has a capacity of teaching. His preaching, I tell you, it's very much influencing people."--Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region
*Name changed for security reasons.
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Ask the missionary: How have you developed spiritually?
Teanna Sunberg is a missionary who serves with her husband, Jay, on the Eurasia Region's Central Europe Field. She recently shared with Engage magazine about her experience as a missionary in a new culture. Question: How, as a missionary have you spiritually developed along the road? And how has this development helped you with your missionary work? -- Tristan Wood
Once upon a time, a little slip of a Kansas girl was planted in a rural hiccup between two lakes. She dreamt of slaying dragons on the oceans of a Green Peace ship and rescuing exotically unexplored rain forests. She spent her summer days imagining danger-treks through Harriet Tubman trails, but nearly a century had passed since those golden fields had seen slaves. Then, at 14, she became a Christian and the slaying of dragons faded. Green Peace was deaf to evangelism, the forests had no ears, and the history books had already heard the journeys of freedom men. And God? God wanted orderly, Christianly homes with safe citizens and predictable sermons of happily-ever-after lives.
So, it really is a shame that Baby X entered the picture a few years later.
The Bulgarian nurses called him Baby X. A screaming, squawking body of legs and arms and lungs ferociously announcing his arrival to a world that barely noticed. In a Slavic land where babies are bestowed with names like БожидаÑ€ (God's gift), РадоÑÂÑ‚ (Joy), КраÑÂимиÑ€ (Beautiful peace), X screamed a voiceless truth: Unwanted. Orphaned. Broken. Unclean. A sexual oops of a momentary passion with skin a little too olive, and hair a little too dark, with features a little too fine, and a genetic code clearly written: Roma.
One begins to wonder what God wants to do with unwanted babies.
One begins to wonder what God expects us to do with unwanted babies and unsolvable problems.
For the rest of the story, see Engage magazine.
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Mesoamerica
Guatemala church, CDC receive clean water through new well
Through a partnership between Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and Hands of Love, the Nazarene church in Raxruhá, Guatemala, now has a well. The well is important to the church, which has been affected by water scarcity.
Hands of Love has organized medical and dental trips to Guatemala for more than 10 years, visiting Raxruhá for the last five. The well project began last year when the group hired a Christian company whose ministry is drilling wells. After drilling 55 meters, pure, clean, clear water flowed at a rate of about 30 gallons per minute.
Now the church can provide clean water for all its programs, including the Holistic Child Development Center, which serves about 150 children three times per week.
The well will also provide water for some church and community members.
"We are confident that from this source will flow rivers of living water to show love to the community," said Helmer Juárez, NCM coordinator for the CA-4 Field. "We are very happy because it is a very rocky terrain where it is difficult to dig wells, but with the help of this machine, this has been possible. Glory to God!"
Hands of Love will return to Raxruhá for its fifth trip from March 20 to 30.--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region
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USA/Canada
Nazarene youth pastors involved in multiple fatality accident (updated)
Nathan and Hannah Capen from the Missoula, Montana, Church of the Nazarene were on their way to an NYI fundraiser on February 22 when they were involved in a head-on collision.
According to KRTV, Hannah (Johnson) Capen, 23, was driving a Ford F-250 pickup when she lost control on an icy road and crossed the center line, hitting a GMC vehicle. Hannah was killed as was a 9-year-old passenger in the GMC vehicle. Nathan spent two days in the intensive care unit and underwent shoulder surgery. He was released from the hospital on March 1. The driver and a 6-year-old passenger were also hospitalized.
Montana Highway Patrol reported road conditions were a factor in the crash.
The Capens married in July 2010.
A memorial service for Hannah will be held at 2 p.m. on March 8 at Missoula Church of the Nazarene.
Memorials may be made to the "Hannah Johnson Capen Memorial Fund" at:
Missoula Federal Credit Union
3600 Brooks Street
Missoula, MT 59801
All donations will go toward funeral costs and Hannah and Nathan's medical bills. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Prayer is requested for those involved and the Missoula church family.
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The long road to open shelter for human trafficking survivors
"It takes longer than you think."
That is the mantra of Rondy Smith when she talks about what it takes to develop a shelter for sex trafficking victims.
Smith began in 2011 to lay the groundwork for Rest Stop Ministries, a nonprofit rehabilitation center and shelter that is expected to open in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. in 2015. It will be closely tied to Hermitage Church of the Nazarene, where Smith is a long-time pastor.
The carefully-executed, four-year process of establishing the shelter will help to ensure it is adequately equipped to care for the special emotional, physical, psychological, economic, and spiritual needs of trafficking survivors.
Smith, who has been senior associate pastor at Hermitage for 13 years, began researching human trafficking several years ago. During a silent retreat in the summer of 2011, she sensed God leading her to spearhead the development of a ministry to women and girls who have been commercially sexually exploited.
For the rest of the story, see Engage magazine.
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Moving Ministers: February 2014
Moving Ministers from 2/1/2014 to 2/28/2014
Rev. Kevin D. Barrett Pastor to Pastor on 2/22/2014
Stonington to DuBois Emmanuel
Stonington ME Du Bois PA
Rev. Rena Barrett Pastoral Service to Pastor on 2/22/2014
Stonington to DuBois Emmanuel
Stonington ME Du Bois PA
Rev. Andrew Bays Student to Pastoral Service on 1/31/2014
Southwestern Ohio to Mount Vernon First
West Chester OH Mount Vernon OH
Rev. Terry A. Berry Unassigned to Pastoral Service on 1/1/2014
Kentucky to Bowling Green First
Louisville KY Bowling Green KY
Rev. Beth Bidle Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 2/2/2014
Indianapolis Grace Pointe to Richardson
Indianapolis IN Richardson TX
Rev. Dustin M. Bilbrey Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 1/5/2014
Brentwood Concord Community to Coastal Community
Brentwood TN North Port FL
Rev. Tom L. Boese Pastor to Pastor on 2/2/2014
Winfield to Cimarron
Winfield KS Cimarron KS
Rev. Timothy J. Brooks Pastor to Pastor on 11/1/2013
St. Petersburg Victory to South Portland
Saint Petersburg FL South Portland ME
Rev. Dana S. Brown Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 2/1/2014
Port Arthur Covenant to Huntsville Southeast
Port Arthur TX Huntsville AL
Rev. Dylon A. Brown Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 1/5/2014
St. Petersburg Victory to South Portland
Saint Petersburg FL South Portland ME
Rev. Cheston M. Bush Pastor to Pastor on 12/2/2013
Oxford to Clarksville Park Lane
Oxford MS Clarksville TN
Rev. Robert D. Claiborne Pastor to Pastor on 1/19/2014
Alamogordo New Beginnings to Roswell First
Alamogordo NM Roswell NM
Rev. Brianna L. Davis Student to Pastoral Service on 2/22/2014
Missouri to Carthage First
Bridgeton MO Carthage MO
Rev. Stephen R. Deese Pastor to Pastor on 11/24/2013
Gloster to Williamsburg
Gloster MS Williamsburg IN
Rev. Adam Tedman deWeber Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 11/1/2013
Marion First to Raleigh First
Marion OH Garner NC
Rev. Allan H. Franks Pastor to Pastor on 2/12/2014
Vallejo First to Loudonville
Vallejo CA Loudonville OH
Rev. Thomas A. Garrison Student to Pastor on 3/5/2014
Missouri to The Gathering
Bridgeton MO Columbia MO
Rev. Timothy B. Hancock Unassigned to Pastoral Service on 2/1/2014
North Central Ohio to Winter Haven First
Mount Vernon OH Winter Haven FL
Rev. Jacob Isbell Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 12/15/2013
Glendale First to Lantana Community Fellowship
Glendale AZ Bartonville TX
Rev. Toni L. James Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 1/12/2014
North Vernon to Anderson Parkview
North Vernon IN Anderson IN
Rev. Josiah C. Jones Unassigned to Pastoral Service on 8/3/2014
Northwest to Prescott Valley
Spokane WA Prescott Valley AZ
Rev. Christa Long-Jamison Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 2/17/2014
Raleigh First to Columbus Whitehall
Garner NC Columbus OH
Rev. Michael A. Lowenberg Pastor to Pastor on 4/1/2014
Beltrami Community to Watford Balmoral Road
Minneapolis MN Watford
United Kingdom
Rev. Nicholas Wayne McDowell Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 11/19/2013
Fairfield to New Albany Christ's Community
Cincinnati OH New Albany IN
Rev. David M. McNeely Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 11/25/2013
Pekin First to Des Moines Highland Park
Pekin IL Des Moines IA
Rev. Brandon L. Metzger Pastoral Service to Pastor on 2/20/2014
Kankakee Wildwood to Weidman
Kankakee IL Weidman MI
Rev. Nathan E. Otte Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 11/1/2013
Longmont to Waldron First
Longmont CO Waldron AR
Rev. Scott D. Pittman Unassigned to Pastoral Service on 3/1/2014
Philadelphia to Olivet
Frazer PA Georgetown IL
Rev. Andrew D. Rice Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 3/10/2014
Indianapolis First to Flint East
Indianapolis IN Flint MI
Rev. Scott J. Robinson Pastor to Pastoral Service on 12/31/2013
Gateway Crossing to Indianapolis Southwest
McCordsville IN Indianapolis IN
Rev. Philip M. Starr Pastoral Service to Pastoral Service on 2/1/2014
Grand Rapids International Fellowship to Lima Community
Grand Rapids MI Lima OH
Rev. Benjamin J. Thelander Pastoral Service to Pastor on 2/7/2014
Pittsfield to Iberia
Pittsfield IL Iberia MO
Rev. Jeremy P. Thompson Pastoral Service to Pastor on 11/1/2013
CrossRoads to Paulding
Chandler AZ Paulding OH
Rev. Jason W. Worthington Unassigned to Pastoral Service on 12/22/2013
Northeast Oklahoma to Yakima West Valley
Tulsa OK Yakima WA
Rev. Luis A. Yenco Student to Pastor on 11/3/2013
Mid-Atlantic to Hyattsville
Glen Burnie MD Rockville MD
Rev. Jonathan A. Young Unassigned to Pastor on 2/25/2014
Missouri to Monticello New Life Community
Bridgeton MO Monticello IA
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Vancouver W&W team reunites
Seven months after their trip to Nairobi, Kenya, a Work and Witness team assembled at Vancouver First Church of the Nazarene to hear an update in a Sunday service. Gail Andreas, a missionary from the denomination's Africa East Field, was the guest speaker.
The team of 10, led by Matt Smedley, went to Kenya last July to expand the two-room Kawangaware Nazarene Community School by adding five more rooms. They raised $35,000 for the project, which included furnishing the school with blackboards and schools desks. The expansion included space for an additional 125 students. Each team member raised an additional $3,000 for his or her personal journey.
In her report, Andreas showed pictures of the completed project filled with happy students. Andreas also helps lead Kawangware Church of the Nazarene and expressed her delight in what this expansion means to the church and the community it serves.
Vancouver First church is located on the corner of Kingsway and Windsor. The congregation, under the leadership of Grant Zweigle, celebrated 75 years of ministry to the City of Vancouver and surrounding area last year.--Church of the Nazarene Canada
Related: "Kenyan returns home on Work & Witness trip"
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Global Ministry Center News
91st General Board highlights
The 91st Session of the General Board, Church of the Nazarene, was held 21-24 February in Overland Park,Kansas.
The denomination's General Board is made up of 52 ministers and lay leaders representing the global church and elected by the regional caucuses at General Assembly. Convening in late February each year, the board has governing responsibility for the international Church of the Nazarene between general assemblies.
Florida appellate judge and Nazarene layman Charles Davis serves as board president.
The Board of General Superintendents presented its annual report during the event. To read this year's report, prepared by David A. Busic, click here.
This year's meetings ended with a missionary sending service, as is tradition.
"Our General Board meeting was excellent, and there was an air of excitement as we gathered," said David Wilson, general secretary. "We have many returning board members who served in the last quadrennium, but we also have 31 new board members who were elected at the General Assembly.
"One of my goals as general secretary has been to offer times of board development that would be beneficial and help provide a better understanding of the responsibility of our board. Dr. LeBron Fairbanks and Dwight Gunter II made a wonderful presentation in our first plenary meeting based on the book Best Practices for Effective Boards, which they wrote with James Couchenour."
Highlights of the 91st Session of the General Board include:
Arthur Snijders attended his first General Board meeting as Eurasia regional director
Frank Moore attended his first General Board meeting as general editor and editor of Holiness Today
Carla Sunberg attended her first General Board meeting as Nazarene Theological Seminary president
The General Board commissioned four missionaries on global contracts
Two retiring missionaries were honored
Oral reports were given by all officers, directors, and regional directors
Gerald Smith, Nazarene Publishing House president, announced he will not seek re-election
Corporate restructure documents were approved
A sabbatical program for general superintendents was approved
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Annual Report of the Board of General Superintendents
On Sunday evening, David A. Busic delivered the annual Board of General Superintendents' Report during the 91st Session of the General Board in Overland Park, Kansas. Busic's report, titled "For Such a Time as This," was enthusiastically received by the members of the General Board, officers, Global Ministry Center directors and staff, regional directors, Nazarene Publishing House leaders, and guests.
http://nazarene.org/files/docs/General%20Board%20Report%202014%20Final.pdf
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In Memoriam
The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received March 3-7, 2014.
Katherine (Brown) Angell-Mann, 101, of Wollaston, Massachusetts, passed away on February 28. She was the widow of retired Nazarene International Headquarters employee Edward Mann, who passed away in 2005.8
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Wesley Angell, who passed away in 1987.
Ann Kiemel Anderson, 68, passed away on March 1. She was an author and speaker who also served as dean of women at Eastern Nazarene College.
R. Edward Bass, 96, of Union City, California, passed away on February 26. He was a retired minister, serving in California and Arizona. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen Bass, who passed away in 2007.
John Cobbs, 71, of Escondido, California, passed away on January 17. He was a retired minister, serving in California. He is survived by his wife, retired minister Barbara Cobbs, who served in California.
Elva Doyle, 101, of Walnutport, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 12. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist Philip Doyle, who served in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Philip Doyle passed away in 2003.
F. John Fabrin, 87, of Central Point, Oregon, passed away on March 2. He was a retired minister, serving in Alberta and California. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Fabrin.
Betty Lynch, 89, of Norman, Oklahoma, passed away on February 28. She was the wife of retired minister, evangelist, and district superintendent W. M. Lynch, who served in Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, and on the Mississippi and Dallas districts as superintendent.
Joy (Ashley) Maish, 91, of Temperance, Michigan, passed away on February 27. She was the widow of retired minister Orville Maish Jr., who served in Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan. Orville Maish Jr. passed away in 2009.
Beverly McAllister Parker, 81, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away on February 25. She was a lifelong supporter of Southern Nazarene University, where the Beverly L. & Robert L. Parker Fine Arts Center is named in their honor. She is survived by her husband, Robert Parker. (story)
Jerry Slaymaker, 68, of Cottage Grove, Oregon, passed away on March 2. He was the husband of minister Cynthia Slaymaker, who serves at Cottage Grove, Oregon, Church of the Nazarene.
William "Bill" Steinbrook, 54, of Yoncalla, Oregon, passed away on March 2. He was a minister, serving at Drain, Oregon, Gateway Family Fellowship Church of the Nazarene. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rosemary Steinbrook, and is survived by his second wife, Abby Steinbrook. (story)
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section on ncnnews.com by clicking here.
Note: Please join with us in prayer for the families who have lost loved ones. Click on names for full stories, funeral information, local online obituaries, and/or guest books (if available). To submit an entry of a minister or church leader, send to submitnews@ncnnews.com.--Compiled by NCN News
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GMC employment opportunities
The following positions are available at the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center:
Global Ministry Center Media — Video Production Manager
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries — Computer Programming Coordinator
USA/Canada Nazarene Youth International — Program Assistant
Located in Lenexa, Kansas, the Global Ministry Center is the administrative, mission, and service hub for the denomination's ministries in 159 world areas. All GMC positions report to this location. For contact information, click on one of the job titles listed above.
Our Non-Discrimination Policy
The Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center offers equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, sex, or veteran status. The Global Ministry Center is an "at will" employer.
Our Faith-Based Organization
We are a faith-based organization. Acceptance of our Christian Code of Conduct is required and membership in the Church of the Nazarene is required for certain positions. The GMC and applicable remote work sites are smoke, alcohol, and drug free Christian workplaces.
Application Processing
Our Human Resources Office receives and processes many employment applications annually for a limited number of positions. While we regret that we cannot respond to each applicant, we do contact those individuals possessing the skills, education/training, and experience that best match the requirements of the open position for which the application was submitted.
An application must be completed by all applicants and an application must be completed for each position for which one wishes to be considered. Applications are retained for one year. Resumes are not necessary for entry-level positions, but they are preferred for professional level positions. Resumes may be submitted by mail.
Applying for Employment with the GMC
Application forms may be requested by calling (913) 577-0500, or obtained in person from Human Resources at the Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas, 66220, Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:30 Central Time. Completed applications may be mailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office at the same address.
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Collegiate News
SNU mourns passing of lifelong supporter
Beverly McAllister Parker passed away on February 25 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband, Robert, at her side.
Southern Nazarene University honored the lifetime generosity of Beverly and Robert Parker in May with the naming of the university's redesigned fine arts center, The Beverly L. & Robert L. Parker Fine Arts Center. In addition to Beverly's support of many events and initiatives over the years, her husband, Robert, was a long-time member of the SNU Foundation Board of Directors and continues to serve as an emeritus member of the Board.
Beverly's legacy of generosity and service to others is expressed in a special tribute to her in the lobby of the Parker Fine Arts Center this week, and her many friends and family members are invited to view the Center and tribute during business hours.
The family requests that those who would like to honor Beverly's memory do so by making a donation to the Beverly McAllister Parker Scholarship Endowment Fund at Southern Nazarene University:
Office of University Advancement
6729 NW 39th Exp.
Bethany, OK 73008
Since its establishment in 1992, nearly 90 students have completed their education in business, music, and science at SNU through the generosity of the Parkers.--Southern Nazarene University
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Shine.FM creates Spanish station
Born in Chiapas, Mexico, Daneli Rabanalez Hernandez came to the U.S. with her parents when she was 5 years old. Even though that move was difficult, today she sees how it was part of God's plan. Not just for her life, but for the lives of thousands of Hispanic people eager to hear Christian radio in their heart language.
Launching on March 3, Brilla.FM is a Hispanic radio ministry of the Shine.FM network and Olivet Nazarene University. Listen live at shine.fm/listennow
Shine.FM is committed to building stronger families and stronger communities. In addition to the 160,000 listeners who listen weekly through stations in Chicagoland, northwest Indiana and Indianapolis, thousands more stream Shine.FM, Brilla.FM, Shine Worship, and Shine RX3 online or through their mobile apps.
Brilla.FM's mission is to collect, organize, and broadcast Christian music of the Spanish culture. Broadcasting online, it will reach the entire Latin culture, not just the people of one specific country.
"In the U.S. today, the Hispanic population is now larger than the African-American population," Brian McIntyre, network general manager for Shine.FM, said. "God is using Brilla.FM to reach not only that group, but also people in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world with the message of Christ — in the language they speak."
Hernandez, an Olivet communication major from Arcola, Illinois, worked closely with McIntyre to make this a reality. She is the music director and also a program host.
Programming reflects the current focus of Spanish Christian music and is about 70 percent worship songs. These are performed in Spanish by Spanish artists. Music styles represented include salsa, norteño, bachata, rock, and contemporary.
The playlist features well-known Hispanic Christian music artists, such as Marcos Witt, Danilo Montero, Marcela Gandara, and Jesús Adrián Romero, with new artists being added all the time. Many are from Mexico with Spain and other Latin American countries also represented. Music by some English-speaking artists — Kari Jobe, Hillsong Young and Free, and Hillsong Global Project — in Spanish are becoming more popular.
McIntyre has gathered a team of inspired and dedicated broadcasters for this new station. Joining Hernandez are program hosts are from a variety of Hispanic countries, as well as the U.S., including:
Griselda Guzman, an Olivet communication major from Joliet, Illinois
Marcelo Fretes and Viviana Perez (morning team), who are youth pastors in Argentina. Viviana is originally from Ecuador.
Juan Manuel Fernandez (midday host), who is a youth pastor in Washington. He grew up in Costa Rica as the son of missionaries.
"Radio impacts the lives of many people," Hernandez said. "Seeing this happen for speakers of my native language is dear to my heart."--Olivet Nazarene University
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MVNU receives $30,000 grant for engineering program
The Community Foundation of Mount Vernon & Knox County awarded Mount Vernon Nazarene University a $30,000 grant for the new Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program.
The foundation concluded its considerations of 27 grant applications for February 2014 and selected MVNU to receive a $30,000 grant for Phase 1 of MVNU's brand-new Engineering Program. This additional funding is a great opportunity for MVNU and will be instrumental in the success of the new B.S.E. degree.
"MVNU is very pleased to be awarded this generous grant from the board of directors of The Community Foundation of Mount Vernon & Knox County," said Richard Sutherland, dean of the university's School of Natural and Social Sciences. "It will cover a substantial amount of our estimated first year expenses for equipment and infrastructure development supporting our new engineering program."
MVNU engineering students will study in a cutting-edge learning environment that will prepare them for a graduate school and/or a long and rewarding career. Students with this major will participate in a variety of science, mathematics, and engineering courses and receive hands-on training in the latest trends and technological advances. The B.S.E. degree will have two concentrations, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.
For more information about the new B.S.E. degree program, visit gotomvnu.com/engineering.--Mount Vernon Nazarene University
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Trevecca invites community to Experience Trevecca
Trevecca Nazarene University launched a new video this week that provides a glimpse into Trevecca undergraduate students' experiences. Experience Trevecca highlights important facts about Trevecca while connecting with diverse viewing audiences.
Video developers hope the clip will reach three audiences: future college students, Trevecca alumni, and donors and friends of the university. Experience Trevecca allows prospective students to view undergraduate life at Trevecca through the perspectives of current undergraduates in the hopes that they will make their own plans to visit the campus and experience Trevecca for themselves. For Trevecca alumni, the goal is to remind them of the value of their Trevecca experience and encourage them to tell others what Trevecca means to them. For donors and friends of the university, the purpose is to encourage their engagement with and support of Trevecca.
For all three audiences, the main goal is not simple viewing; it is action. Visit Trevecca and tell others. Share stories about Trevecca's influence on lives. Stay involved with Trevecca.
Watch Experience Trevecca here and share your own Trevecca experience on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag #ExperienceTrevecca.--Trevecca Nazarene University
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Contact us:
Nazarene Communications Network
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, KS 66220 United States
Voice: (913) 577-0562
Fax: (913) 577-0857
Email: ncnnews@ncnnews.com
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