Churches to stand united against human trafficking on FreedomSunday
Global Ministry Center
Nazarene congregations around the world are invited to participate February 22 in Freedom Sunday, a day set aside for the church to stand united against modern slavery, also known as human trafficking.
More people live in bondage today than at any other time in history — children, women, and men who have been forced into prostitution or labor through human trafficking. The U.S. Department of State estimates as many as 27 million individuals are victims of trafficking. It is a problem that reaches into communities in almost every country in the world.
This is the second year that the Church of the Nazarene will join other denominations within the Wesleyan-Holiness Consortium in observation of Freedom Sunday. In 2014, the Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents endorsed the Wesleyan-Holiness Consortium'sDeclaration for Freedom, a document that Nazarene leaders helped draft.
Freedom Sunday is a day to unite with thousands of other churches; participate through prayer, raise awareness, and give surrounding the problem of human trafficking; and celebrate what God is doing to set the captives free. The first Sunday of Lent was chosen to focus on the fast spoken of in Isaiah 58:6: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" (NRSV).
Churches can sign up and download free resources, including a bulletin, at ncm.org/freedomsunday.
The Church of the Nazarene is present in many countries where people are vulnerable to trafficking. The church, through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, partners with local congregations in anti-trafficking efforts that range from prevention and education to protection and rehabilitation. On Freedom Sunday, the church is taking a Freedom Offering, which will support the NCM Global Anti-Trafficking Fund, scholarships for trafficking survivors, preventing trafficking of children, and church-based prevention programs. To learn more, visit ncm.org/freedomsunday.--Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
____________________________More people live in bondage today than at any other time in history — children, women, and men who have been forced into prostitution or labor through human trafficking. The U.S. Department of State estimates as many as 27 million individuals are victims of trafficking. It is a problem that reaches into communities in almost every country in the world.
This is the second year that the Church of the Nazarene will join other denominations within the Wesleyan-Holiness Consortium in observation of Freedom Sunday. In 2014, the Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents endorsed the Wesleyan-Holiness Consortium'sDeclaration for Freedom, a document that Nazarene leaders helped draft.
Freedom Sunday is a day to unite with thousands of other churches; participate through prayer, raise awareness, and give surrounding the problem of human trafficking; and celebrate what God is doing to set the captives free. The first Sunday of Lent was chosen to focus on the fast spoken of in Isaiah 58:6: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" (NRSV).
Churches can sign up and download free resources, including a bulletin, at ncm.org/freedomsunday.
The Church of the Nazarene is present in many countries where people are vulnerable to trafficking. The church, through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, partners with local congregations in anti-trafficking efforts that range from prevention and education to protection and rehabilitation. On Freedom Sunday, the church is taking a Freedom Offering, which will support the NCM Global Anti-Trafficking Fund, scholarships for trafficking survivors, preventing trafficking of children, and church-based prevention programs. To learn more, visit ncm.org/freedomsunday.--Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
MNU students help revive Missouri church
Drexel, Missouri
Leaders from the Drexel, Missouri, Church of the Nazarene thought they might have to close due to low attendance and a slim budget, but they were not ready to give up. Now they are experiencing a resurgence, and the spirit of enthusiasm is palpable. The difference? Ministry students from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, are re-energizing the church with their presence and passion. Every Sunday they travel to Drexel to sing, preach, and teach this small group of believers, and they love every minute of it.
Jeren Rowell supervises Nazarene churches on the denomination's Kansas City District. In talks with the small church he learned they "weren't done." Rowell approached professors in the Department of Christian Ministry and Formation at MNU with an idea. What would they think about a partnership between students in the Introduction to Ministry course and the Drexel church? As Rowell and professors Don Dunn and Randy Cloud talked, they liked the idea of immersing students in what Rowell called a "live laboratory" — a real church that needed help provided by student ministers that needed experience. Rowell paved the way with the people of Drexel, who were open to the idea.
"They said 'Come practice on us,'" Dunn said of the congregants. "They know it is not going to be perfect and they are good with that. It's such good practice for our students, too."
The students are able to practice all the skills needed to hold church services. They preach, lead worship, conduct communion, teach Sunday School, handle outreach, and communicate with the congregation. The professors say the opportunity is unique not only due to the breadth of the experience, but also because these students are freshmen and sophomores.
"Our junior and senior ministry majors already have places of service that are required in their major, so these are first and second year students," Cloud said. "They are getting experience that can't be matched and is great preparation for the rest of their training."
Freshmen ministry majors Div Tosingilo from Iowa City, Iowa, and Jillian Mariani from Cincinnati, Ohio, are the two point people on the Drexel team. Working together, they recruit students from their class to preach, lead worship, teach Sunday School, and handle all Sunday responsibilities. They take it seriously, understanding that the people of Drexel depend on them each week. They took care to schedule local student ministers during the university's Christmas break so the church experienced no lapse in services over the holidays.
Eight to 10 students meet on MNU's Olathe campus every Sunday morning to carpool to Drexel. Sometimes they have a pianist, a guitarist, and a couple of vocalists to lead worship; other times two guitarists and a vocalist. There are always students who see this not only as a learning experience, but also as the opportunity to minister to others long before they complete their training.
"It's awesome to get this experience; this has confirmed my calling to pastoral ministry," Mariani said. "I said, 'If there is fruit to my preaching, then I will know my calling is true.' People have come to me after I preached and told me they needed to hear what I said. That let me know [my calling is] real."
Tosingilo echoes her thoughts.
"Whatever I was going through that week when I preached, I had a lady pull me aside afterwards and say, 'you really impacted my life.' That's what really matters to me," he said.
Cloud related a story about one Drexel young person who reached out to a MNU ministry student during the week.
"Our student recognized this person's need and was texting back and forth, following up with them," Cloud says. "They thought enough of the student to contact him when they needed help. That says our students are really taking over the pastoral responsibilities, not just the Sunday morning service."
Everyone involved agrees that it takes all parties to make this unusual partnership work. Cloud and the students agree that the Drexel congregation is just as enthusiastic as the students are. At Thanksgiving season, the congregation held the first potluck the church has had in years. There just weren't enough people to have a potluck before.
"You should have seen the food," Tosingilo said. Cloud added that the potluck made the people feel like things were back to "normal."
"They want to do a potluck for us every month," Dunn said.
Rowell is pleased with the partnership as a solution to the Drexel church's difficult situation.
"The church was in a different season, trying to determine what ministry should look like for them," he said about the time before MNU students started ministry there. "It is tremendous how this is working given the willingness and ability of Dr. Cloud and Dr. Dunn to mentor the students in this setting. That's what is making it work."
He also credits the church people themselves.
"They are extremely positive and excited about the energy there now," he said.
Drexel laymen are interested in taking the partnership with MNU further by utilizing the student ministers to have youth events and start a calling program.
Dunn has taken the idea a step further, creating a new program with MNU Church Relations Director Kevin Borger. Apostolos, which is Greek for apostle or one who is sent with a message, will provide ministry students for churches that need to fill a pulpit for one Sunday or longer. Students must complete the Introduction to Preaching course to be eligible. Then they will be trained by Church Relations staff to be placed in a temporary position.
MNU offers four majors in the Department of Christian Ministry and Formation. Students can major in Bible and Theology, Ministry, Intercultural Studies, and Youth & Family Ministry. For more information, visit mnu.edu.--MidAmerica Nazarene University
____________________________Jeren Rowell supervises Nazarene churches on the denomination's Kansas City District. In talks with the small church he learned they "weren't done." Rowell approached professors in the Department of Christian Ministry and Formation at MNU with an idea. What would they think about a partnership between students in the Introduction to Ministry course and the Drexel church? As Rowell and professors Don Dunn and Randy Cloud talked, they liked the idea of immersing students in what Rowell called a "live laboratory" — a real church that needed help provided by student ministers that needed experience. Rowell paved the way with the people of Drexel, who were open to the idea.
"They said 'Come practice on us,'" Dunn said of the congregants. "They know it is not going to be perfect and they are good with that. It's such good practice for our students, too."
The students are able to practice all the skills needed to hold church services. They preach, lead worship, conduct communion, teach Sunday School, handle outreach, and communicate with the congregation. The professors say the opportunity is unique not only due to the breadth of the experience, but also because these students are freshmen and sophomores.
"Our junior and senior ministry majors already have places of service that are required in their major, so these are first and second year students," Cloud said. "They are getting experience that can't be matched and is great preparation for the rest of their training."
Freshmen ministry majors Div Tosingilo from Iowa City, Iowa, and Jillian Mariani from Cincinnati, Ohio, are the two point people on the Drexel team. Working together, they recruit students from their class to preach, lead worship, teach Sunday School, and handle all Sunday responsibilities. They take it seriously, understanding that the people of Drexel depend on them each week. They took care to schedule local student ministers during the university's Christmas break so the church experienced no lapse in services over the holidays.
Eight to 10 students meet on MNU's Olathe campus every Sunday morning to carpool to Drexel. Sometimes they have a pianist, a guitarist, and a couple of vocalists to lead worship; other times two guitarists and a vocalist. There are always students who see this not only as a learning experience, but also as the opportunity to minister to others long before they complete their training.
"It's awesome to get this experience; this has confirmed my calling to pastoral ministry," Mariani said. "I said, 'If there is fruit to my preaching, then I will know my calling is true.' People have come to me after I preached and told me they needed to hear what I said. That let me know [my calling is] real."
Tosingilo echoes her thoughts.
"Whatever I was going through that week when I preached, I had a lady pull me aside afterwards and say, 'you really impacted my life.' That's what really matters to me," he said.
Cloud related a story about one Drexel young person who reached out to a MNU ministry student during the week.
"Our student recognized this person's need and was texting back and forth, following up with them," Cloud says. "They thought enough of the student to contact him when they needed help. That says our students are really taking over the pastoral responsibilities, not just the Sunday morning service."
Everyone involved agrees that it takes all parties to make this unusual partnership work. Cloud and the students agree that the Drexel congregation is just as enthusiastic as the students are. At Thanksgiving season, the congregation held the first potluck the church has had in years. There just weren't enough people to have a potluck before.
"You should have seen the food," Tosingilo said. Cloud added that the potluck made the people feel like things were back to "normal."
"They want to do a potluck for us every month," Dunn said.
Rowell is pleased with the partnership as a solution to the Drexel church's difficult situation.
"The church was in a different season, trying to determine what ministry should look like for them," he said about the time before MNU students started ministry there. "It is tremendous how this is working given the willingness and ability of Dr. Cloud and Dr. Dunn to mentor the students in this setting. That's what is making it work."
He also credits the church people themselves.
"They are extremely positive and excited about the energy there now," he said.
Drexel laymen are interested in taking the partnership with MNU further by utilizing the student ministers to have youth events and start a calling program.
Dunn has taken the idea a step further, creating a new program with MNU Church Relations Director Kevin Borger. Apostolos, which is Greek for apostle or one who is sent with a message, will provide ministry students for churches that need to fill a pulpit for one Sunday or longer. Students must complete the Introduction to Preaching course to be eligible. Then they will be trained by Church Relations staff to be placed in a temporary position.
MNU offers four majors in the Department of Christian Ministry and Formation. Students can major in Bible and Theology, Ministry, Intercultural Studies, and Youth & Family Ministry. For more information, visit mnu.edu.--MidAmerica Nazarene University
M-Power initiative to mobilize regional missionaries
Eurasia Region
Several years ago, a couple who attended a Church of the Nazarene in the Netherlands sensed God calling them into cross-cultural mission work, so they approached the denomination's Eurasia Regional Office to inquire about how they could become missionaries. At the time, there was not an established structure or method for the region to deploy missionary volunteers from within the region, and the couple met with a closed door. The couple researched other mission organizations and the Nazarene church lost an opportunity.
The Eurasia Region is now opening that door to Nazarenes across the region who sense God leading them into cross-cultural ministry.
M-Power, which stands for "mission power" and is a play on the English word "empower," is a new regional initiative to identify people whom God is calling into short-term missions and match them with sites in other cities or countries where the church is ready to receive them as co-laborers in the ministry.
Missionary volunteers make up 50 percent of the 100 missionaries on the Eurasia Region, but only 10 percent of those missionaries originate from within Eurasia. The rest are from North America, where there is an established structure designed to identify, train, and deploy missionary volunteers around the world.
Arthur Snijders, the regional director, and his wife, Annemarie, a church planter in the Netherlands, came up with the idea for M-Power after they had their own volunteer cross-cultural experience more than two years ago. At the time she was pastoring and Arthur was the district superintendent for the Netherlands. They spent their two month sabbatical teaching and training in Bangladesh and also spent time with pastors in India.
"That experience was very positive because we longed to see with our own eyes a country where the Lord would be at work in a much more powerful way than in our own country," Annemarie said. "We felt like we were spiritually dry and we needed to experience a fresh touch of the Lord. We visited Bangladesh and that was a life-transforming experience in the sense that we experienced what it was to be in another culture that was so different from our own and sense the presence of the Holy Spirit. For the people of Bangladesh, the solution to nearly every problem was prayer. As a group of leaders, they would go to the person in need to pray about the situation, and the situation would change. We felt both ashamed, but also the wonder of what it is to encounter the bride of Christ in other people and places."
Arthur decided to make missionary deployment one of the region's four priorities when he took over as director in late 2013. Annemarie became the Mobilization coordinator.
"Fortunately there is a team of people to help out because this is so big that we could never do it on our own," she said. "It is really something in which we have to work together."
A new regional website, eurasiaregion.org/volunteers, was designed to receive applications from interested people on the region and match them with possible ministry locations.
The M-Power team is currently setting up sites that will be ready to receive missionary volunteers from the region.
"There are several criteria for ministry sites," said Nancy Firestone, Eurasia Region personnel coordinator. "1) We want people to go into thriving ministry atmospheres where they can have a local person to coach them and also someone who will mentor them as they develop spiritually and in their service. 2) We want to be sure the ministry has been well developed and in place long enough to be a help and support.
"In the future we hope we can begin to use M-Power missionaries as church planters and start new work, but that's a long-term goal and we know it will take a little bit to get there."
Anyone on the region can fill out an application and start the exploration process of becoming a missionary volunteer. The application is in English, but might be translated in one of the region's major languages, Bangla, Arabic, Russian, and Hindi.
Positions will be available from three months to more than a year. Those whose applications are approved by the M-Power team will be required to participate in one of the region's to-be-scheduled cross-cultural orientation training events that will take place in different places on the region each year. The first training event is 15-18 May in Büsingen, Switzerland.
Once a person's application is approved and he or she has successfully completed the training and passed evaluation, he or she will be matched with a ministry location, as well as a coach and a mentor to guide through the ministry experience and provide emotional and spiritual support.
The candidate will be required to raise all funds necessary to get to and from the location and to live there during their contracted service. The region will work with each economic situation, attempting to match people to areas where it is believed they can reasonably raise the funds from their local church, district, or field to go.
There are already two approved sites for short-term missionaries on the Italy District — Catania and Florence or Rome. District Superintendent Daniel Fink is eager to see missionary volunteers come to work with his district.
"We need people that can encourage us with their presence and prayers and with whatever capacities they have that can help in our district," Fink said. "I hope and I pray that not only someone will come from outside and minister in our district, but that our young people and whosoever is willing to become a volunteer will accept the challenge (to go elsewhere)."
The two other approved sites are in Armenia and Portugal.
"We want to get the message out that we believe every country that is part of the Church of the Nazarene has people God is calling to cross-cultural ministry," Firestone said. "We know they're being called and we want them to be our missionaries."--Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region
____________________________The Eurasia Region is now opening that door to Nazarenes across the region who sense God leading them into cross-cultural ministry.
M-Power, which stands for "mission power" and is a play on the English word "empower," is a new regional initiative to identify people whom God is calling into short-term missions and match them with sites in other cities or countries where the church is ready to receive them as co-laborers in the ministry.
Missionary volunteers make up 50 percent of the 100 missionaries on the Eurasia Region, but only 10 percent of those missionaries originate from within Eurasia. The rest are from North America, where there is an established structure designed to identify, train, and deploy missionary volunteers around the world.
Arthur Snijders, the regional director, and his wife, Annemarie, a church planter in the Netherlands, came up with the idea for M-Power after they had their own volunteer cross-cultural experience more than two years ago. At the time she was pastoring and Arthur was the district superintendent for the Netherlands. They spent their two month sabbatical teaching and training in Bangladesh and also spent time with pastors in India.
"That experience was very positive because we longed to see with our own eyes a country where the Lord would be at work in a much more powerful way than in our own country," Annemarie said. "We felt like we were spiritually dry and we needed to experience a fresh touch of the Lord. We visited Bangladesh and that was a life-transforming experience in the sense that we experienced what it was to be in another culture that was so different from our own and sense the presence of the Holy Spirit. For the people of Bangladesh, the solution to nearly every problem was prayer. As a group of leaders, they would go to the person in need to pray about the situation, and the situation would change. We felt both ashamed, but also the wonder of what it is to encounter the bride of Christ in other people and places."
Arthur decided to make missionary deployment one of the region's four priorities when he took over as director in late 2013. Annemarie became the Mobilization coordinator.
"Fortunately there is a team of people to help out because this is so big that we could never do it on our own," she said. "It is really something in which we have to work together."
A new regional website, eurasiaregion.org/volunteers, was designed to receive applications from interested people on the region and match them with possible ministry locations.
The M-Power team is currently setting up sites that will be ready to receive missionary volunteers from the region.
"There are several criteria for ministry sites," said Nancy Firestone, Eurasia Region personnel coordinator. "1) We want people to go into thriving ministry atmospheres where they can have a local person to coach them and also someone who will mentor them as they develop spiritually and in their service. 2) We want to be sure the ministry has been well developed and in place long enough to be a help and support.
"In the future we hope we can begin to use M-Power missionaries as church planters and start new work, but that's a long-term goal and we know it will take a little bit to get there."
Anyone on the region can fill out an application and start the exploration process of becoming a missionary volunteer. The application is in English, but might be translated in one of the region's major languages, Bangla, Arabic, Russian, and Hindi.
Positions will be available from three months to more than a year. Those whose applications are approved by the M-Power team will be required to participate in one of the region's to-be-scheduled cross-cultural orientation training events that will take place in different places on the region each year. The first training event is 15-18 May in Büsingen, Switzerland.
Once a person's application is approved and he or she has successfully completed the training and passed evaluation, he or she will be matched with a ministry location, as well as a coach and a mentor to guide through the ministry experience and provide emotional and spiritual support.
The candidate will be required to raise all funds necessary to get to and from the location and to live there during their contracted service. The region will work with each economic situation, attempting to match people to areas where it is believed they can reasonably raise the funds from their local church, district, or field to go.
There are already two approved sites for short-term missionaries on the Italy District — Catania and Florence or Rome. District Superintendent Daniel Fink is eager to see missionary volunteers come to work with his district.
"We need people that can encourage us with their presence and prayers and with whatever capacities they have that can help in our district," Fink said. "I hope and I pray that not only someone will come from outside and minister in our district, but that our young people and whosoever is willing to become a volunteer will accept the challenge (to go elsewhere)."
The two other approved sites are in Armenia and Portugal.
"We want to get the message out that we believe every country that is part of the Church of the Nazarene has people God is calling to cross-cultural ministry," Firestone said. "We know they're being called and we want them to be our missionaries."--Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region
Papua New Guinea nurse honored for lifetime service
Kudjip, Papua New Guinea
Cathy Mia was born on April 12, 1956, in Waramis, a remote village deep in the western highlands of Papua New Guinea. From an early age, Mia attended a Church of the Nazarene under the ministry of pioneer missionary William Bromley. She did not attend school because at that time there were no schools in the area.
In 1973, Dr. Glenn Irwin invited Mia to the Kudjip Mission Station, where she assisted in the care of the Irwins' son, Walter. While on the mission station, missionaries Ruth Irwin and Mona White worked with Mia, teaching her how to read and write.
One day Dr. Irwin asked Mia if she was interested in nursing. He invited her to the hospital and introduced her to one of the nurses. As time progressed, Mia began to sense a call to nursing. The Irwins paid Mia's school fee and she began the nurses training program.
Mia continued to study English with Ruth Irwin while pursuing her nurses training. In 1975, through God's strength and provision, Mia completed her training and followed her calling as a nurse, serving with Nazarene Health Ministries. This was also the year that she was baptized.
"Several years ago we did a staff appreciation," said Dr. Scott Dooley, hospital administrator. "We gave a bronze medal for those serving 10 years, a silver for those serving 15 years, and gold for those serving 20 years or more. Of course, these weren't real gold, just a way to honor our staff and say thank you for their service. The day after the celebration, Cathy came to my office in tears. She said, 'I never expected a gold reward this side of heaven.' In the same way, her retirement party the end of 2014 was a real testimony to a life of faithful service. She shared about the impact of those early missionaries when she was young, asking her to join the Community Health Worker Program when she didn't even know how to read. But they believed in her and helped her believe in what God wanted to do in and through her."
Mia has honored that initial investment with a lifetime of service with Nazarene Health Ministries. While she may be retiring from nursing, she assures local leaders that this is just a transition, as she plans on continuing to minister to her family and local church in the Banz Jiwaka Province.--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region
____________________________In 1973, Dr. Glenn Irwin invited Mia to the Kudjip Mission Station, where she assisted in the care of the Irwins' son, Walter. While on the mission station, missionaries Ruth Irwin and Mona White worked with Mia, teaching her how to read and write.
One day Dr. Irwin asked Mia if she was interested in nursing. He invited her to the hospital and introduced her to one of the nurses. As time progressed, Mia began to sense a call to nursing. The Irwins paid Mia's school fee and she began the nurses training program.
Mia continued to study English with Ruth Irwin while pursuing her nurses training. In 1975, through God's strength and provision, Mia completed her training and followed her calling as a nurse, serving with Nazarene Health Ministries. This was also the year that she was baptized.
"Several years ago we did a staff appreciation," said Dr. Scott Dooley, hospital administrator. "We gave a bronze medal for those serving 10 years, a silver for those serving 15 years, and gold for those serving 20 years or more. Of course, these weren't real gold, just a way to honor our staff and say thank you for their service. The day after the celebration, Cathy came to my office in tears. She said, 'I never expected a gold reward this side of heaven.' In the same way, her retirement party the end of 2014 was a real testimony to a life of faithful service. She shared about the impact of those early missionaries when she was young, asking her to join the Community Health Worker Program when she didn't even know how to read. But they believed in her and helped her believe in what God wanted to do in and through her."
Mia has honored that initial investment with a lifetime of service with Nazarene Health Ministries. While she may be retiring from nursing, she assures local leaders that this is just a transition, as she plans on continuing to minister to her family and local church in the Banz Jiwaka Province.--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region
BGS appoints interim superintendent for Northern California
Concord, California
General Superintendent David A. Busic announced the appointment of Gary W. Moore as interim superintendent of the Northern California District.
Moore follows John Calhoun, who resigned to take a position at Point Loma Nazarene University. Moore begins his assignment February 1 and will serve until a new district superintendent is appointed and in place.
A member of the Sacramento District Advisory Board, Moore previously pastored churches in Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Idaho, California, and Oregon. In addition, he served as a missionary in South Africa, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and on the Eurasia Region as field strategy coordinator of Western Mediterranean and Northern Europe. He was also superintendent of the France District.
Moore received a Bachelor of Arts from Pasadena City College and a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary.
Gary and his wife, LaVonna, reside in Yuba City, California.
____________________________Moore follows John Calhoun, who resigned to take a position at Point Loma Nazarene University. Moore begins his assignment February 1 and will serve until a new district superintendent is appointed and in place.
A member of the Sacramento District Advisory Board, Moore previously pastored churches in Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Idaho, California, and Oregon. In addition, he served as a missionary in South Africa, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and on the Eurasia Region as field strategy coordinator of Western Mediterranean and Northern Europe. He was also superintendent of the France District.
Moore received a Bachelor of Arts from Pasadena City College and a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary.
Gary and his wife, LaVonna, reside in Yuba City, California.
Additional NCNNews.com Stories This Week
Regional News
Mesoamerica
Caribbean Nazarene College inaugurates 11th president
Caribbean Nazarene College inaugurated Anthony Manswell as its 11th president in November during a service in the CNC Chapel. The college is the primary educational institution for the Church of the Nazarene in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Manswell was elected by the CNC Board of Trustees May 24 with an overwhelming majority vote. He assumed the role June 1. The inauguration service confirmed the support and encouragement of the constituents and the international church.
Manswell's immediate family was in attendance, including his wife, Barbara, and children, Kenrick, Kavanah, Jayedon, and Jerrick. Several brothers and their families were present and additional relatives watched online via live stream. In his inaugural speech, Anthony mentioned the tremendous impact that his father has had on his spiritual, character, emotional, and physical development. Unfortunately, he was not able to attend as he is currently in the USA.
English Field Strategy Coordinator Alphonso Porter chaired the service and prayed for peace, power, and the presence of the Holy Spirit and for Manswell to fulfill all that God was leading him to do at CNC. Mesoamerica Regional Education Coordinator Ruben Fernandez and Church of the Nazarene Education Commissioner Dan Copp gave words of greeting, encouragement, and challenge. Former CNC President Scoffield Eversley and his wife, Margaret, were also there to pray, support, congratulate, and pass on the Presidential Medallion.
Manswell outlined four aspects of his vision for the college: educational personal convictions, progressive educational perspective, viable educational provider, and sustained educational prospective.
He also highlighted the college's spiritual development.
"We must not remove the ancient landmarks," Manswell said. "We are not a secular institution. We offer holistic education. And we do that in a Christian environment, unashamedly. Note our steeple up at the main building; it stands for everything Christian!"
His vision for CNC to become Caribbean Nazarene University was met with immediate, thunderous applause.
Manswell's speech challenged all those in attendance to support, contribute, and continue to pray that God would accomplish His purpose for CNC.
"CNC must engage its students and graduates and faculty and staff in being lifelong learners," he said. "CNC's graduates must be world leaders and world changers. I have never known Nazarenes and Christians to settle for mediocrity in service, ministry, and educational pursuits. Our people must continue to have a place where quality education in various disciplines is taught with truth. These disciplines must be seen as having capacity to meet service demands within the church and society."--Caribbean Nazarene College
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Flags of the Nations: Haiti
Since September 1, 2009, each week the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center (GMC) proudly flies a flag 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: Haiti
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Haiti in 1950.
Haiti had a population of 9,996,731 in 2014. That same year, Haiti reported 599 Churches of the Nazarene, 572 of which had been officially organized. Haiti has 116,846 total members.
Haiti has eight Phase 2 districts and three Phase 3 districts. It is a part of the Mesoamerica Region.
Previous flags featured: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.
____________________________
South America
Missionaries from Extreme Nazarene arrive in Ecuador for training
The first members of the 40/40 church planting team for Córdoba, Argentina, arrived in Quito, Ecuador. The missionaries will help Extreme Nazarene in its effort to plant churches in South America's large metropolitan cities.
One missionary from the U.S. and four missionaries from Argentina arrived January 8 in Quito, Ecuador, where they will be trained over the next several months. Rachel Gilmore, Romina Celeste Calderón, Juan Ricapito, Ana Garcia, and Damaris Obando make up half of the 40/40 missionary team being deployed to Córdoba, Argentina. The rest of the 40/40 missionaries will arrive in the next eight weeks. The five missionaries joined their cluster support family, Aric and Kimberly Bidwell and their three boys, who arrived in Ecuador in July to learn Spanish.
During their time in Ecuador, the North Americans will learn Spanish at the Nazarene International Language Institute, and the Argentines will be taking classes at the Nazarene Theological Seminary-South American. After training in Ecuador and Colombia, the team will move to Córdoba on May 21 to begin planting a church in the second largest city in Argentina. This is the 83rd church plant with Extreme Nazarene Missions.
For more information about the project or to recommend an applicant, visit extremenazarene.org or contact Cailyn Wheatley at movilizacionsa@nazarenosextremos.org.--Church of the Nazarene South America Region
Related: "Extreme Nazarene starts new Chile church, seeks volunteers"
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USA/Canada
Retired missionary Eunice Bryant passes away
Retired missionary Eunice Bryant, 96, passed away January 27. Eunice and her late husband, Larry, served as missionaries in Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Peru for a total of 29 years.
Eunice was born April 3, 1918. She attended Olivet Nazarene College (now University) and Nazarene Theological Seminary, where she received a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry.
During their mission work, Eunice and Larry spread the holiness message and helped train local leaders. Following their retirement from mission work in 1979, Eunice and Larry served together at the seminary in San Antonio, Texas. Eunice also served as an educator on the New England, Kansas City, and Northwest Oklahoma districts.
She is survived by her children, Joyce Collins, Marilyn Baker, Mark, David, and Kenneth, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held January 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Langford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3rd Street, Lees Summit, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at the New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene, 214 NE Chipman Rd, Lees Summit, Missouri, on Friday, January 30, 1 p.m.
Condolences to the family may be sent in care of Marilyn Baker to:
207 S. Kings Hwy.
Noel, MO
64854-9216
dmbaker67@yahoo.com
More than 150 high school and college students from across the Southern Florida District converged on Lehigh Acres the weekend of January 23 for a Youth Mission Encounter. Co-sponsored by the district Nazarene Missions International and Nazarene Youth International, the students worked at a farm, fed the hungry, and participated in a community outreach event.
Pastor Eric Skelton of the Lehigh Acres Church of the Nazarene and the district Encounter coordinator arranged for students to perform a multitude of tasks at the nearby Healthy Harvest Community Farms. Youth harvested crops, planted new ones, prepared new planting areas, built a bamboo grow hut, made mulch, and installed new irrigation lines.
Healthy Harvest CEO Joe Pearson said the Nazarene youth completed what his regular volunteers would normally accomplish in six months. The food generated from the farm is donated to local food banks for distribution to the needy and hungry.
Later in the afternoon, many of the students transitioned back to the church where the Harry Chapin Mobile Food Bank set up a food distribution unit. The students did the set-up work and provided assistance to 167 needy families who were given fresh vegetables, bread, rice, beans, and meat.
"Our Encounter provides teens with an opportunity to serve others and to be a Christian witness no matter the circumstances," Skelton said. "In today's world, it is imperative that our youth be true mission-minded leaders for our church now and in the future."
The families were invited to a community service later in the day under a large tent on the church property. Good360 Program donated new coffee makers, bed linens, beverage machines, and other merchandise for attendees.
District Superintendent Brian Wilson was the speaker for the event. More than 300 were present for the evangelistic service, which included 120 new families from the community.
"This Encounter was such a moving experience," said Christina Saint Louis, a high school senior from Indiantown Evangelical Church of the Nazarene. "We were able to see the power of prayer as we asked for and then experienced a great evangelistic movement. It was so cool to be involved and interact with the people from the community."--Church of the Nazarene Southern Florida District via NCN News submissions
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Nazarenes in the News
Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.
Children use bake sale proceeds to donate food
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
(Fort Saskatchewan Record, January 23) A group of local children is giving back — one cart-full of groceries at a time.
Soup, juice, coffee, and granola bars were all tossed into the shopping cart as six kids from the Fort Saskatchewan Church of the Nazarene selected food to help Edmonton's less fortunate.
Armed with about $100 spending money, which they raised during a bake sale before the Christmas break, the kids listened for budgeting tips from kids missions' president Maureen Bleakney on Jan. 17.
For the rest of the story, click here.
MNU alum designs gift card packaging for major retailers
Olathe, Kansas
(mnu.edu, January 26) If you bought a gift card and gift card packaging at certain retailers over the holiday season, you may have seen alum Beth (Drege '10) Laird's work on display. The graphic designer works for Gift Card Impressions in Kansas City, a leading provider of creative and packaging systems for the gift card industry. Kohl's, Target and 7-11 all carried her gift packaging designed specifically to accompany gift cards.
Beth enjoys working at the small creative company of 30 in the River Market district and even gets to work from home two to three days per week. The projects she develops are so deadline driven, Beth says it's not a problem to stay productive when working.
"If Amazon doesn't get their product on time, it hurts our whole company, so everyone on the team is striving to make the project on time and the best it can be," she says.
Not only has she designed physical packaging, but she's excited to work on new launches such as Amazon's new app, Surprise! The mobile app lets users send a free e-card with an optional Amazon gift card. Along with other artists she's designing the "skins" for how the cards look when delivered electronically.
For the rest of the story, click here.
Maryland church service featured in local paper
Mount Airy, Maryland
(The Frederick News-Post, January 24) At the top of a steep hill overlooking I-70 and the green fields beyond stands New Beginning Nazarene Church. The aptly-named congregation provided a perfect place to begin another year reporting on religion. Members have embraced a 30-day challenge to identify what it means to belong to a church. Earlier this month, they discussed community and living a worshipful life each day. This past Sunday, the Rev. Brian Remsch focused his sermon on study.
In Christ's time, followers were described as devoted to the apostles' teachings, he said, referring to the Acts chapter two, verse 42 in the Bible. "We should dive deeper into our faith. Don't just get comfortable where you are." To understand why believers should constantly keep learning, he invited listeners to turn to Ephesians chapter four in the Bible.
For the rest of the story, click here.
Stories to share? Send them to submitnews@ncnnews.com.--Compiled by NCN News
____________________________
Mesoamerica
Caribbean Nazarene College inaugurates 11th president
Santa Cruz, Trinidad
Caribbean Nazarene College inaugurated Anthony Manswell as its 11th president in November during a service in the CNC Chapel. The college is the primary educational institution for the Church of the Nazarene in the English-speaking Caribbean.Manswell was elected by the CNC Board of Trustees May 24 with an overwhelming majority vote. He assumed the role June 1. The inauguration service confirmed the support and encouragement of the constituents and the international church.
Manswell's immediate family was in attendance, including his wife, Barbara, and children, Kenrick, Kavanah, Jayedon, and Jerrick. Several brothers and their families were present and additional relatives watched online via live stream. In his inaugural speech, Anthony mentioned the tremendous impact that his father has had on his spiritual, character, emotional, and physical development. Unfortunately, he was not able to attend as he is currently in the USA.
English Field Strategy Coordinator Alphonso Porter chaired the service and prayed for peace, power, and the presence of the Holy Spirit and for Manswell to fulfill all that God was leading him to do at CNC. Mesoamerica Regional Education Coordinator Ruben Fernandez and Church of the Nazarene Education Commissioner Dan Copp gave words of greeting, encouragement, and challenge. Former CNC President Scoffield Eversley and his wife, Margaret, were also there to pray, support, congratulate, and pass on the Presidential Medallion.
Manswell outlined four aspects of his vision for the college: educational personal convictions, progressive educational perspective, viable educational provider, and sustained educational prospective.
He also highlighted the college's spiritual development.
"We must not remove the ancient landmarks," Manswell said. "We are not a secular institution. We offer holistic education. And we do that in a Christian environment, unashamedly. Note our steeple up at the main building; it stands for everything Christian!"
His vision for CNC to become Caribbean Nazarene University was met with immediate, thunderous applause.
Manswell's speech challenged all those in attendance to support, contribute, and continue to pray that God would accomplish His purpose for CNC.
"CNC must engage its students and graduates and faculty and staff in being lifelong learners," he said. "CNC's graduates must be world leaders and world changers. I have never known Nazarenes and Christians to settle for mediocrity in service, ministry, and educational pursuits. Our people must continue to have a place where quality education in various disciplines is taught with truth. These disciplines must be seen as having capacity to meet service demands within the church and society."--Caribbean Nazarene College
Flags of the Nations: Haiti
Global Ministry Center
Since September 1, 2009, each week the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center (GMC) proudly flies a flag 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: Haiti
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Haiti in 1950.
Haiti had a population of 9,996,731 in 2014. That same year, Haiti reported 599 Churches of the Nazarene, 572 of which had been officially organized. Haiti has 116,846 total members.
Haiti has eight Phase 2 districts and three Phase 3 districts. It is a part of the Mesoamerica Region.
Previous flags featured: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.
South America
Missionaries from Extreme Nazarene arrive in Ecuador for training
Quito, Ecuador
The first members of the 40/40 church planting team for Córdoba, Argentina, arrived in Quito, Ecuador. The missionaries will help Extreme Nazarene in its effort to plant churches in South America's large metropolitan cities.One missionary from the U.S. and four missionaries from Argentina arrived January 8 in Quito, Ecuador, where they will be trained over the next several months. Rachel Gilmore, Romina Celeste Calderón, Juan Ricapito, Ana Garcia, and Damaris Obando make up half of the 40/40 missionary team being deployed to Córdoba, Argentina. The rest of the 40/40 missionaries will arrive in the next eight weeks. The five missionaries joined their cluster support family, Aric and Kimberly Bidwell and their three boys, who arrived in Ecuador in July to learn Spanish.
During their time in Ecuador, the North Americans will learn Spanish at the Nazarene International Language Institute, and the Argentines will be taking classes at the Nazarene Theological Seminary-South American. After training in Ecuador and Colombia, the team will move to Córdoba on May 21 to begin planting a church in the second largest city in Argentina. This is the 83rd church plant with Extreme Nazarene Missions.
For more information about the project or to recommend an applicant, visit extremenazarene.org or contact Cailyn Wheatley at movilizacionsa@nazarenosextremos.org.--Church of the Nazarene South America Region
Related: "Extreme Nazarene starts new Chile church, seeks volunteers"
USA/Canada
Retired missionary Eunice Bryant passes away
Anderson, Missouri
Retired missionary Eunice Bryant, 96, passed away January 27. Eunice and her late husband, Larry, served as missionaries in Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Peru for a total of 29 years.Eunice was born April 3, 1918. She attended Olivet Nazarene College (now University) and Nazarene Theological Seminary, where she received a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry.
During their mission work, Eunice and Larry spread the holiness message and helped train local leaders. Following their retirement from mission work in 1979, Eunice and Larry served together at the seminary in San Antonio, Texas. Eunice also served as an educator on the New England, Kansas City, and Northwest Oklahoma districts.
She is survived by her children, Joyce Collins, Marilyn Baker, Mark, David, and Kenneth, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held January 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Langford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3rd Street, Lees Summit, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at the New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene, 214 NE Chipman Rd, Lees Summit, Missouri, on Friday, January 30, 1 p.m.
Condolences to the family may be sent in care of Marilyn Baker to:
207 S. Kings Hwy.
Noel, MO
64854-9216
dmbaker67@yahoo.com
_____________________________
Southern Florida youth serve through service projects, food drive
Lehigh Acres, Florida
More than 150 high school and college students from across the Southern Florida District converged on Lehigh Acres the weekend of January 23 for a Youth Mission Encounter. Co-sponsored by the district Nazarene Missions International and Nazarene Youth International, the students worked at a farm, fed the hungry, and participated in a community outreach event.Pastor Eric Skelton of the Lehigh Acres Church of the Nazarene and the district Encounter coordinator arranged for students to perform a multitude of tasks at the nearby Healthy Harvest Community Farms. Youth harvested crops, planted new ones, prepared new planting areas, built a bamboo grow hut, made mulch, and installed new irrigation lines.
Healthy Harvest CEO Joe Pearson said the Nazarene youth completed what his regular volunteers would normally accomplish in six months. The food generated from the farm is donated to local food banks for distribution to the needy and hungry.
Later in the afternoon, many of the students transitioned back to the church where the Harry Chapin Mobile Food Bank set up a food distribution unit. The students did the set-up work and provided assistance to 167 needy families who were given fresh vegetables, bread, rice, beans, and meat.
"Our Encounter provides teens with an opportunity to serve others and to be a Christian witness no matter the circumstances," Skelton said. "In today's world, it is imperative that our youth be true mission-minded leaders for our church now and in the future."
The families were invited to a community service later in the day under a large tent on the church property. Good360 Program donated new coffee makers, bed linens, beverage machines, and other merchandise for attendees.
District Superintendent Brian Wilson was the speaker for the event. More than 300 were present for the evangelistic service, which included 120 new families from the community.
"This Encounter was such a moving experience," said Christina Saint Louis, a high school senior from Indiantown Evangelical Church of the Nazarene. "We were able to see the power of prayer as we asked for and then experienced a great evangelistic movement. It was so cool to be involved and interact with the people from the community."--Church of the Nazarene Southern Florida District via NCN News submissions
Nazarenes in the News
Global Ministry Center
Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.Children use bake sale proceeds to donate food
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
(Fort Saskatchewan Record, January 23) A group of local children is giving back — one cart-full of groceries at a time.
Soup, juice, coffee, and granola bars were all tossed into the shopping cart as six kids from the Fort Saskatchewan Church of the Nazarene selected food to help Edmonton's less fortunate.
Armed with about $100 spending money, which they raised during a bake sale before the Christmas break, the kids listened for budgeting tips from kids missions' president Maureen Bleakney on Jan. 17.
For the rest of the story, click here.
MNU alum designs gift card packaging for major retailers
Olathe, Kansas
(mnu.edu, January 26) If you bought a gift card and gift card packaging at certain retailers over the holiday season, you may have seen alum Beth (Drege '10) Laird's work on display. The graphic designer works for Gift Card Impressions in Kansas City, a leading provider of creative and packaging systems for the gift card industry. Kohl's, Target and 7-11 all carried her gift packaging designed specifically to accompany gift cards.
Beth enjoys working at the small creative company of 30 in the River Market district and even gets to work from home two to three days per week. The projects she develops are so deadline driven, Beth says it's not a problem to stay productive when working.
"If Amazon doesn't get their product on time, it hurts our whole company, so everyone on the team is striving to make the project on time and the best it can be," she says.
Not only has she designed physical packaging, but she's excited to work on new launches such as Amazon's new app, Surprise! The mobile app lets users send a free e-card with an optional Amazon gift card. Along with other artists she's designing the "skins" for how the cards look when delivered electronically.
For the rest of the story, click here.
Maryland church service featured in local paper
Mount Airy, Maryland
(The Frederick News-Post, January 24) At the top of a steep hill overlooking I-70 and the green fields beyond stands New Beginning Nazarene Church. The aptly-named congregation provided a perfect place to begin another year reporting on religion. Members have embraced a 30-day challenge to identify what it means to belong to a church. Earlier this month, they discussed community and living a worshipful life each day. This past Sunday, the Rev. Brian Remsch focused his sermon on study.
In Christ's time, followers were described as devoted to the apostles' teachings, he said, referring to the Acts chapter two, verse 42 in the Bible. "We should dive deeper into our faith. Don't just get comfortable where you are." To understand why believers should constantly keep learning, he invited listeners to turn to Ephesians chapter four in the Bible.
For the rest of the story, click here.
Stories to share? Send them to submitnews@ncnnews.com.--Compiled by NCN News
Global Ministry Center News
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 January 26-30, 2015.
Beverly (Mangum) Allen, 81, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away January 25. She served more than 30 years as Kentucky District Nazarene Missions International secretary, in addition to several leadership roles in her local churches. Most recently a member of the Southern Hills Church of the Nazarene, she is survived by her husband, Dr. Robert Allen. The Allens' personal ministry included hosting hundreds of missionaries, pastors, evangelists, and college students in their home over the years.
Rubye Blythe, 91, of Fanning Springs, Florida, passed away January 26. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist Ellis Blythe Sr., who served in Florida and Ohio. Ellis Blythe Sr. passed away in 2004.
Eunice (Kendall) Bryant, 96, of Anderson, Missouri, passed away January 27. She was a retired educator and missionary, serving in Texas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oklahoma, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Peru. She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Bryant, in 2009. (story)
Audie Mattingly, 94, of Rising Fawn, Georgia, passed away January 26. She was the widow of retired minister Ralph Mattingly, who served in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Ralph Mattingly passed away in 2010.
Johnny Price, 71, of Bamberg, South Carolina, passed away January 26. He was pastor of the Bamberg, South Carolina, Church of the Nazarene. He was preceded in death by his wife, M. Carolyn (Jackson) Price, in 2013.
Priscilla (Nichols) Wheeler, 73, of Shinnston, West Virginia, passed away January 21. She was the wife of retired minister Bartlett Wheeler, who served in Rhode Island, New York, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
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
____________________________
GMC employment opportunities
The following positions are available at the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center:
Global Education and Clergy Development — Senior Program Assistant
This position assists the Global Clergy Development director and administrative director fulfill ministry objectives.
Financial Services — Administrative Assistant
This position works under the direction of the general treasurer, primarily providing administrative and clerical support. This position also provides administrative and clerical support to the Donor Services manager and Global Treasury Services controller as needed.
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries — Computer Programming CoordinatorThe person in this position will lead NCM's development team in developing and maintaining NCM's Web applications, systems, and websites.
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Inc — Mentoring Coordinator
The person in this position is responsible for the NCMI Compassion Kids Mentoring Initiative and will support the expansion of mentoring and youth development activities across the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries network. For a full description of the position, click here. Applicants should send a resume or CV to ncmi@ncmi.org.
AboutLocated 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. To obtain additional information, please call (913) 577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
Our Non-Discrimination PolicyThe 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 OrganizationWe 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 ProcessingOur 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 GMCApplication forms may be requested by calling (913) 577-0500, emailing bsikes@nazarene.org, 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 or emailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office.
For more information, see the GMC's Human Resources page by clicking here.
____________________________
In Memoriam
Global Ministry Center
The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received January 26-30, 2015.Beverly (Mangum) Allen, 81, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away January 25. She served more than 30 years as Kentucky District Nazarene Missions International secretary, in addition to several leadership roles in her local churches. Most recently a member of the Southern Hills Church of the Nazarene, she is survived by her husband, Dr. Robert Allen. The Allens' personal ministry included hosting hundreds of missionaries, pastors, evangelists, and college students in their home over the years.
Rubye Blythe, 91, of Fanning Springs, Florida, passed away January 26. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist Ellis Blythe Sr., who served in Florida and Ohio. Ellis Blythe Sr. passed away in 2004.
Eunice (Kendall) Bryant, 96, of Anderson, Missouri, passed away January 27. She was a retired educator and missionary, serving in Texas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oklahoma, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Peru. She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Bryant, in 2009. (story)
Audie Mattingly, 94, of Rising Fawn, Georgia, passed away January 26. She was the widow of retired minister Ralph Mattingly, who served in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Ralph Mattingly passed away in 2010.
Johnny Price, 71, of Bamberg, South Carolina, passed away January 26. He was pastor of the Bamberg, South Carolina, Church of the Nazarene. He was preceded in death by his wife, M. Carolyn (Jackson) Price, in 2013.
Priscilla (Nichols) Wheeler, 73, of Shinnston, West Virginia, passed away January 21. She was the wife of retired minister Bartlett Wheeler, who served in Rhode Island, New York, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
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
GMC employment opportunities
Global Ministry Center
By NCN News Staff
The following positions are available at the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center:Global Education and Clergy Development — Senior Program Assistant
This position assists the Global Clergy Development director and administrative director fulfill ministry objectives.
Financial Services — Administrative Assistant
This position works under the direction of the general treasurer, primarily providing administrative and clerical support. This position also provides administrative and clerical support to the Donor Services manager and Global Treasury Services controller as needed.
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries — Computer Programming CoordinatorThe person in this position will lead NCM's development team in developing and maintaining NCM's Web applications, systems, and websites.
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Inc — Mentoring Coordinator
The person in this position is responsible for the NCMI Compassion Kids Mentoring Initiative and will support the expansion of mentoring and youth development activities across the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries network. For a full description of the position, click here. Applicants should send a resume or CV to ncmi@ncmi.org.
AboutLocated 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. To obtain additional information, please call (913) 577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
Our Non-Discrimination PolicyThe 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 OrganizationWe 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 ProcessingOur 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 GMCApplication forms may be requested by calling (913) 577-0500, emailing bsikes@nazarene.org, 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 or emailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office.
For more information, see the GMC's Human Resources page by clicking here.
Resources
Church of the Nazarene on social media
The Church of the Nazarene can be found all over the world, and the social media world is no different. The following is a list of Nazarene entities, schools, and select individuals to follow online:
Facebook:
Church of the Nazarene (Official)
Global Ministry Center publications:
NCN News
Holiness TodayEngage magazine
Grace and PeacePreacher's Magazine
World Mission Broadcast
Global Ministry Center entities:
Board of General Superintendents
Church of the Nazarene FoundationInternational Board of Education
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Nazarene Missions InternationalPrayer Mobilization Line
Nazarene Youth International
JESUS Film Harvest PartnersNazarene Archives
Research ServicesSDMIKids Reaching KidsNazarene Women's NetworkThe Discipleship Place
Stewardship MinistriesPensions and Benefits USAWork and Witness
Regional entities:
Africa Region
Asia-Pacific Region
Eurasia Region
Mesoamerica Region
South America RegionUSA/Canada NYI
Resources:
Nazarene Publishing HouseBarefoot Ministries
Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
The House Studio
Lillenas Publishing CompanyWesleyan-Holiness Digital LibraryEvents:
USA/Canada M15 Conference
Nazarene Youth Conference 2015 (USA/Canada)
Colleges and universities:
Africa Nazarene UniversityAsia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary
Ambrose University CollegeCaribbean Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene CollegeKorea Nazarene University
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Nazarene Bible CollegeNazarene Theological College-Brisbane
Nazarene Theological Seminary
Northwest Nazarene University
Olivet Nazarene University
Point Loma Nazarene University
Southern Nazarene UniversitySouthern Africa Nazarene University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Twitter:
Church of the Nazarene (Official) - @Nazarene
General superintendents:
Board of General Superintendents - @WayofHoliness
David A. Busic - @DavidBusic
Eugénio R. Duarte - @EugenioDuarte2
J. K. Warrick - @jkwarrick
Global Ministry Center publications:
NCN News - @NCNNews
Holiness Today - @HolinessToday
Engage magazine - @Engagemagazine
Preacher's Magazine - @PreachersMag
Global Ministry Center entities:
International Board of Education - @NazareneIBOE
Dan Copp, Education Commissioner - @DanCopp
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries - @nazcompassion
Nazarene Missions International - @NMIHQ
Nazarene Youth International - @GlobalNYI
USA/Canada NYI - @USACanadaNYI
JESUS Film Harvest Partners - @JESUSFilmHP
Research Services - @NazResearch
Stewardship Ministries - @nazstewardship
Pensions & Benefits USA - @PBUSAnazarene
Resources:
Nazarene Publishing House - @NazPublishing
Wesleyan-Holiness Digital Library - @WHDLibrary
Regions:
Global Mission Director - Verne Ward, @VerneWard
Africa Region - @NazAfrica
Filimao Chambo, Africa Regional Director - @fchambo
Asia-Pacific Region - @APNazRegion
Mark Louw, A-P Regional Director - @marklouw
Eurasia Region - @EurasiaRegion
Mesoamerica Region - @CNMesoamerica
Peru NYI - @jni_Lima
Colleges and universities:
Africa Nazarene University - @africanazarene
Ambrose University College - @ambroseUC
Ambrose Seminary - @AmbroseSeminary
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary - @APNTS
Eastern Nazarene College - @EasternNazarene
MidAmerica Nazarene University - @followMNU
Mount Vernon Nazarene University - @MVNUNews
Nazarene Bible College - @NazBibleCollege
Nazarene Seminary of the Americas - @SENDASCR
Nazarene Theological College-Manchester - @NTC_Manchester
Deirdre Brower Latz, NTC-Manchester President - @BRWLTZ
Nazarene Theological Seminary - @NazSeminary
Carla Sunberg, NTS President - @CarlaSun
Northwest Nazarene University - @nwnazarene
Olivet Nazarene University - @OlivetNazareneU
Point Loma Nazarene University - @PLNU
Bob Brower, PLNU President - @PresBobbyB
Southern Nazarene University - @followSNU
Loren Gresham, SNU President - @SNUPrezzy
Trevecca Nazarene University - @Trevecca
Dan Boone, Trevecca President - @DanBooneTNU
Nazarene churches and additional non-Global Ministry Center entities: Click here
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Church of the Nazarene on social media
Global Ministry Center
The Church of the Nazarene can be found all over the world, and the social media world is no different. The following is a list of Nazarene entities, schools, and select individuals to follow online:Facebook:
Church of the Nazarene (Official)
Global Ministry Center publications:
NCN News
Holiness TodayEngage magazine
Grace and PeacePreacher's Magazine
World Mission Broadcast
Global Ministry Center entities:
Board of General Superintendents
Church of the Nazarene FoundationInternational Board of Education
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Nazarene Missions InternationalPrayer Mobilization Line
Nazarene Youth International
JESUS Film Harvest PartnersNazarene Archives
Research ServicesSDMIKids Reaching KidsNazarene Women's NetworkThe Discipleship Place
Stewardship MinistriesPensions and Benefits USAWork and Witness
Regional entities:
Africa Region
Asia-Pacific Region
Eurasia Region
Mesoamerica Region
South America RegionUSA/Canada NYI
Resources:
Nazarene Publishing HouseBarefoot Ministries
Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
The House Studio
Lillenas Publishing CompanyWesleyan-Holiness Digital LibraryEvents:
USA/Canada M15 Conference
Nazarene Youth Conference 2015 (USA/Canada)
Colleges and universities:
Africa Nazarene UniversityAsia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary
Ambrose University CollegeCaribbean Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene CollegeKorea Nazarene University
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Nazarene Bible CollegeNazarene Theological College-Brisbane
Nazarene Theological Seminary
Northwest Nazarene University
Olivet Nazarene University
Point Loma Nazarene University
Southern Nazarene UniversitySouthern Africa Nazarene University
Trevecca Nazarene University
Twitter:
Church of the Nazarene (Official) - @Nazarene
General superintendents:
Board of General Superintendents - @WayofHoliness
David A. Busic - @DavidBusic
Eugénio R. Duarte - @EugenioDuarte2
J. K. Warrick - @jkwarrick
Global Ministry Center publications:
NCN News - @NCNNews
Holiness Today - @HolinessToday
Engage magazine - @Engagemagazine
Preacher's Magazine - @PreachersMag
Global Ministry Center entities:
International Board of Education - @NazareneIBOE
Dan Copp, Education Commissioner - @DanCopp
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries - @nazcompassion
Nazarene Missions International - @NMIHQ
Nazarene Youth International - @GlobalNYI
USA/Canada NYI - @USACanadaNYI
JESUS Film Harvest Partners - @JESUSFilmHP
Research Services - @NazResearch
Stewardship Ministries - @nazstewardship
Pensions & Benefits USA - @PBUSAnazarene
Resources:
Nazarene Publishing House - @NazPublishing
Wesleyan-Holiness Digital Library - @WHDLibrary
Regions:
Global Mission Director - Verne Ward, @VerneWard
Africa Region - @NazAfrica
Filimao Chambo, Africa Regional Director - @fchambo
Asia-Pacific Region - @APNazRegion
Mark Louw, A-P Regional Director - @marklouw
Eurasia Region - @EurasiaRegion
Mesoamerica Region - @CNMesoamerica
Peru NYI - @jni_Lima
Colleges and universities:
Africa Nazarene University - @africanazarene
Ambrose University College - @ambroseUC
Ambrose Seminary - @AmbroseSeminary
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary - @APNTS
Eastern Nazarene College - @EasternNazarene
MidAmerica Nazarene University - @followMNU
Mount Vernon Nazarene University - @MVNUNews
Nazarene Bible College - @NazBibleCollege
Nazarene Seminary of the Americas - @SENDASCR
Nazarene Theological College-Manchester - @NTC_Manchester
Deirdre Brower Latz, NTC-Manchester President - @BRWLTZ
Nazarene Theological Seminary - @NazSeminary
Carla Sunberg, NTS President - @CarlaSun
Northwest Nazarene University - @nwnazarene
Olivet Nazarene University - @OlivetNazareneU
Point Loma Nazarene University - @PLNU
Bob Brower, PLNU President - @PresBobbyB
Southern Nazarene University - @followSNU
Loren Gresham, SNU President - @SNUPrezzy
Trevecca Nazarene University - @Trevecca
Dan Boone, Trevecca President - @DanBooneTNU
Nazarene churches and additional non-Global Ministry Center entities: Click here
Collegiate News
NTS sends newest 365M cohort
Nazarene Theological Seminary held its annual sending service January 27 for students preparing to serve through the seminary's 365M Program. Roger Hahn, NTS dean of the Faculty, shared a message of challenge and encouragement and General Superintendent Eugénio R. Duarte prayed for the students and their families.
365M is a yearlong global mission experience that couples graduate-level intercultural studies with hands-on experience in cross-cultural settings around the world. In 365 days, through intensive module classes, online coursework, and on-the-ground training and mentoring, students earn a 24-credit graduate Diploma in Cross-Cultural Ministry, while embarking on an experience of a lifetime.
365M Program Director David Wesley opened the sending service.
"The mission nature of God is woven into the DNA of NTS," he said. "This is evident in our curriculum, our community events, and even in our structure. Today's chapel is one of the ways that we explicitly focus our attention on the nature of God, who sends. 365M is a robust, contextual learning program in which NTS students learn within the context of global missions. Today, the NTS community comes together to pray for the 2015 cohort of 365M students that will be leaving in just a few days. We acknowledge those who are sent through 365M; we acknowledge those who have been sent through 365M in the past; and we acknowledge our seminary community as a sent community."
This year's cohort of students is the largest in the program's history.
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Olivet's Shine.FM expands into Michigan
The Shine.FM radio network officially marked its launch in Michigan at 95.3 FM in the Lansing market with a January 12 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The network — a Christian radio ministry of Olivet Nazarene University based in Bourbonnais, Illinois — began broadcasting in Lansing December 1.
The ceremony was co-hosted by Shine.FM and Olivet's School of Graduate and Continuing Studies for university alumni, community leaders, and Lansing Regional Chamber professionals.
"We're excited about the relationships we're building in the greater Lansing community," said Brian Utter, Shine.FM general manager. "This project has been community-funded from the beginning. The Church of Greater Lansing, a network of more than 1,000 area churches — as well as civic, business and government leaders — embraces our ministry. The people of Lansing have grasped the mission of Shine.FM."
Shine.FM aims to augment the work of churches, ministries, and organizations by providing Christ-centered media and messages to build stronger families and stronger communities.
In addition to the radio broadcast ministry, Shine.FM will bring top Christian artists to the area for concerts and appearances. Shine.FM will present Sidewalk Prophets in concert February 28 at South Church, 5250 Cornerstone Dr., Lansing. Information is available atlansing.shine.fm.
On Sunday, April 26, Shine.FM will host an evening concert and celebration at the conclusion of the third annual I Love My City-Lansing! event.
With humble beginnings in 1947 as an AM station operated by Olivet students and faculty using World War II surplus equipment and 13,000 feet of wire, Shine.FM today is among the top Christian contemporary radio broadcasting networks in the country. Dedicated to building stronger families and stronger communities, the network strives to present messages of hope and encouragement through the truth of God's Word. Providing listeners with meaningful connections to Christ and an optimistic view of the future is the goal of each day's programming.
The network has more than 200,000 listeners weekly through stations in Chicagoland, northwest Indiana, and Indianapolis. Thousands more worldwide stream Shine.FM, Shine Worship, Shine RX3, and Brilla.FM online or through mobile apps.--Olivet Nazarene University
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NTS sends newest 365M cohort
Kansas City, Missouri
Nazarene Theological Seminary held its annual sending service January 27 for students preparing to serve through the seminary's 365M Program. Roger Hahn, NTS dean of the Faculty, shared a message of challenge and encouragement and General Superintendent Eugénio R. Duarte prayed for the students and their families.365M is a yearlong global mission experience that couples graduate-level intercultural studies with hands-on experience in cross-cultural settings around the world. In 365 days, through intensive module classes, online coursework, and on-the-ground training and mentoring, students earn a 24-credit graduate Diploma in Cross-Cultural Ministry, while embarking on an experience of a lifetime.
365M Program Director David Wesley opened the sending service.
"The mission nature of God is woven into the DNA of NTS," he said. "This is evident in our curriculum, our community events, and even in our structure. Today's chapel is one of the ways that we explicitly focus our attention on the nature of God, who sends. 365M is a robust, contextual learning program in which NTS students learn within the context of global missions. Today, the NTS community comes together to pray for the 2015 cohort of 365M students that will be leaving in just a few days. We acknowledge those who are sent through 365M; we acknowledge those who have been sent through 365M in the past; and we acknowledge our seminary community as a sent community."
This year's cohort of students is the largest in the program's history.
- Abigail and John Carr with sons Hosea and Moses; Larne, Northern Ireland
- Bailey Daniels; Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Kaitlyn Dexter; Wicklow, Republic of Ireland
- Sarah Dutra; Brisbane, Australia
- Weston Jordan; Brisbane, Australia
- April Kerbyson; Wicklow, Republic of Ireland
- Daniel Manning; Perth, Scotland
- Brianna Thompson; Ardrossan, Scotland
- Aisling and Grant Zweigle with sons Graiden and Abram; Manila, Philippines
Olivet's Shine.FM expands into Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
The Shine.FM radio network officially marked its launch in Michigan at 95.3 FM in the Lansing market with a January 12 ribbon-cutting ceremony.The network — a Christian radio ministry of Olivet Nazarene University based in Bourbonnais, Illinois — began broadcasting in Lansing December 1.
The ceremony was co-hosted by Shine.FM and Olivet's School of Graduate and Continuing Studies for university alumni, community leaders, and Lansing Regional Chamber professionals.
"We're excited about the relationships we're building in the greater Lansing community," said Brian Utter, Shine.FM general manager. "This project has been community-funded from the beginning. The Church of Greater Lansing, a network of more than 1,000 area churches — as well as civic, business and government leaders — embraces our ministry. The people of Lansing have grasped the mission of Shine.FM."
Shine.FM aims to augment the work of churches, ministries, and organizations by providing Christ-centered media and messages to build stronger families and stronger communities.
In addition to the radio broadcast ministry, Shine.FM will bring top Christian artists to the area for concerts and appearances. Shine.FM will present Sidewalk Prophets in concert February 28 at South Church, 5250 Cornerstone Dr., Lansing. Information is available atlansing.shine.fm.
On Sunday, April 26, Shine.FM will host an evening concert and celebration at the conclusion of the third annual I Love My City-Lansing! event.
With humble beginnings in 1947 as an AM station operated by Olivet students and faculty using World War II surplus equipment and 13,000 feet of wire, Shine.FM today is among the top Christian contemporary radio broadcasting networks in the country. Dedicated to building stronger families and stronger communities, the network strives to present messages of hope and encouragement through the truth of God's Word. Providing listeners with meaningful connections to Christ and an optimistic view of the future is the goal of each day's programming.
The network has more than 200,000 listeners weekly through stations in Chicagoland, northwest Indiana, and Indianapolis. Thousands more worldwide stream Shine.FM, Shine Worship, Shine RX3, and Brilla.FM online or through mobile apps.--Olivet Nazarene University
NCN Sports
Trevecca athletes care for quadriplegic
Starbucks, stuffed shopping bags, and giggles that echo off the walls.
Managing Editor: Chad E. Schnarr
Associate Editor: Sarah A. Glass
Contact us:
Nazarene Communications Network
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas 66220 United States
Voice: (913) 577-0562
Fax: (913) 577-0857
Email: ncnnews@ncnnews.com
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Trevecca athletes care for quadriplegic
Nashville, Tennessee
Starbucks, stuffed shopping bags, and giggles that echo off the walls.
Ventilators, a full colostomy bag and medicine administered through a feeding tube.
These are the elements that shape the relationship between Lynn Wheeler and two of her college-age caregivers.
For more than a year, Trevecca Nazarene University athletes Allison Boe and Lindsey Stephens have balanced the demands of pop quizzes and frequent practices with the needs of Wheeler, the 67-year-old quadriplegic woman for whom they help care.
These girls are Wheeler's makeup artists, her hair stylists, her maids.
They give her baths. They dress her. They feed her.
They do everything for her they would do for themselves, and everything she would do if she could.
"We're her hands and feet, literally," Stephens said.
Senior Editor: Frank M. Moore Managing Editor: Chad E. Schnarr
Associate Editor: Sarah A. Glass
Contact us:
Nazarene Communications Network
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas 66220 United States
Voice: (913) 577-0562
Fax: (913) 577-0857
Email: ncnnews@ncnnews.com
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