In This Issue
Nazarene News from Around the Globe.
NMI Highlight... August- LINKS!
The First Thing Every Leader Must Learn.
Regional Praise Reports and Prayer Requests!
APNTS Joins First-Ever Metro Manila Shake Drill.
Drought Impacts Papua New Guinea- Please Pray!
Six Hundred Pastors and Church Leaders Gather Together in Papua New Guinea!
BGS Encourages Participation in Thank Offering 2015.
12 Traits of a Deliberate Leader.
Global Compassion Conference Announced!
Philippine Team Member's Battle with Cancer Continues.
NTC- Brisbane Semester 2 Intensives.
Experiencing the Trinity: A Seminar on Spiritual Renewal.
APNTS Highlights!
Nazarene News from Around the Globe
Figuring Out God's Will
Frances Vine remembered
Hugging all nations: Tennessee pastor finds purpose as Tyson chaplain
Spiritual Transformation in the Classroom
Tell THE Story reaches 62 at MVNU
From tragedy to triumph: Shelter opens for survivors of human trafficking
ANU encourages innovation during Impact Week
Argentina church planting team hosts community events
Young people put training into practice in Dominican Republic
Trevecca establishes award in memory of program director
NYC 2015 responses show lives changed, challenged, called
Judy Engel: Missional Mom
NPH book ranked No. 1 on Amazon
Ghana youth start ministry to help new mothers
Global IT team helps connect, resource Nazarenes
NMI Prayer Mobilization Line adds Portuguese translation to lineup
Brazil river ministry continues rebuilding evangelism boat
Florida pastor retires from reserve chaplaincy after 27 years
SNU receives grant for LIFE program
PLNU mourns loss of G.L. Forward
Missionaries reach East Africa refugees through training, literature
Bonita Park dedicates first building since Little Bear Fire
Mexico Northwest District families attend conferences on family care
Discipleship Place offers webinar on sexual addiction
Touched by Jesus
Benin leaders involved in car accidents
Alabama North District Superintendent B.J. Garber remembered
NNU student team launches payload at NASA facility
Global Praise Reports and Prayer Requests
GMC Employment Opportunities.
Lay Leaders: June/July 2015
Moving Ministers
In Memoriam
NMI Highlight
August - LINKS
Loving, Interested Nazarenes, Knowing and Sharing (LINKS)
Are you a Nazarene that is interested in Missions? Are you interested in knowing a missionary personally? Are you interested in sharing life with a missionary? Would you love to have that kind of personal involvement with a missionary?
LINKS is the tool we use to connect districts with missionaries around the globe. Here on the Asia-Pacific Region, we are connecting Districts with a Regional Missionary from here on the Asia-Pacific Region! How cool is that! If you would like to know more about how you can get your church / district involved in the LINKs program on the A-P Region, click Here.
For more information on LINKS click Here
Developing Leaders by Stan Toler
THE FIRST THING EVERY LEADER MUST LEARN
Why You Can't Lead if You Can't Follow
Many leaders believe that "effective" leadership is "strong" leadership, meaning that a good leader must be bold, independent, and willing to defy the expectations of others. There is truth in that, but this way of thinking often produces arrogance, insubordination, and an unwillingness to lead within the context of an organization.
That's why every leader must first learn to be a follower.
Followership is not blind acceptance nor is it a sign of personal weakness. Rather, followership is an important character trait for any person who hopes to be effective in leading others.
I've encountered more than my share of leaders who believed they had all the answers, refused to accept direction, and gathered a group around them who believed in their ultimate authority. Too often, their careers ended in defeat.
Every leader needs accountability and humility to keep the ego in check. A good leader must be a good follower.
Here are four reasons every leader must first learn to follow.
1. Everyone Is Accountable to Someone.
Everyone is accountable, to constituents, higher authorities, and, ultimately, to God. Those who are unwilling to recognize their subordination within their leadership context soon become dictatorial.
2. Leaders Need Mentors
People who are unwilling to learn are unfit to be leaders. And the basic requirement for learning is to adopt an attitude of humility and openness. To lead effectively, you must be willing to admit that you don't have all the answers-and be willing to follow those who do.
3. The Ego Is Always A Challenge
It has been said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Every leader, no matter how powerful or independent, must follow laws, company policies, and ethical and moral standards. Leaders who place themselves above such things are headed for disaster.
4. Nobody Is That Good
Leaders who bristle at taking advice, direction, or correction from others are really saying that they know best-about everything. They're wrong. Nobody is that good. Every leader needs the direction-and sometimes correction-of others.
Jesus taught us that the first will be last and the last first. It seems ironic, but it is true. And it is also true that a good leader must first become a good follower. Learn to follow the leader, and you will lead others.
In what ways have you observed great leaders being good followers? Share your answer on Twitter or Facebook! [Stan Toler]
Holiness Today
Educating the Laity: The Crucial Need for Discipleship
Discipleship is necessary to maintain a biblically, theologically, educated laity in the Church of the Nazarene.
Discipleship, the deliberate
following of Jesus through study and action, serves as one of the key pillars of the church. Discipleship is not everything the church practices. Churches engage in witness and mission, exercise stewardship, express and are shaped by worship, live in service and fellowship . . . and they disciple.
Collectively these elements provide the ecology of the life of the church. Each has its place. Yet, we need discipleship to help embrace the full meaning of the church's existence. When people forget one of the basic reasons for the church's existence, they soon lose motivation and become subject to manipulation.
See how your church can reach, teach, and engage through discipleship. Here."Educating the Laity: The Crucial Need for Discipleship" by Dean G. Blevins
Discipleship is necessary to maintain a biblically, theologically, educated laity in the Church of the Nazarene. The term “laity” implies something overlooked in our language: all Christians comprise the laos or the people of God.
While this term is used to distinguish ministers (the clergy) from participants in the church (the laity), the fact is any ambivalence toward educating the laity reveals an equal ambivalence toward the discipleship of all Christians. As ministers, we must accept our mandate to disciple everyone, because the people of God need discipling to be the body of Christ. Failure here lets down the entire body of Christ, not just the laity.
Discipleship, the deliberate following of Jesus through study and action, serves as one of the key pillars of the church. Discipleship is not everything the church practices. Churches engage in witness and mission, exercise stewardship, express and are shaped by worship, live in service and fellowship . . . and they disciple. Collectively these elements provide the ecology of the life of the church. Each has its place. Yet, we need discipleship to help embrace the full meaning of the church’s existence. When people forget one of the basic reasons for the church’s existence, they soon lose motivation and become subject to manipulation.
Historically the church has recognized this important task, discipling the laity, at key historic junctures. The passion for education surfaces from the pain of the Jewish diaspora, where love of God and devotion to Torah elevated discipleship to an expression of prayer and worship. Love for God could never be separated from learning knowledge of God if that love was to have substance and meaning.
Christians inherited this view and should recognize that the search for education is as much an expression of devotion as it is an attempt to command facts and information. We seek to know as we are known by God. The Jewish people had come to realize that neither the power of the nation or the sanctity of the Temple would keep them from their own self-destructive tendencies. Only the knowledge of God would preserve their way as the people of God; neither strategy nor alliances would work otherwise.
The Early Church definitely embraced education as the key point not only in the initiation of new Christians into the life of the church but also in the deepening of Christian conviction. What we now know as historic doctrinal formulations and scripture served as resource for the instruction (catechesis) of potential believers and ongoing members. All of the early church fathers were passionately involved in education (Augustine saw this as one of his central duties each year) and the church needed a laity that knew the faith since they often lived in a deeply pluralistic and divided world. The Early Church did not even know “how” to separate evangelism and education, witness and discipleship, since a literate laity was required to survive.
Yet, even by Augustine’s day, the loss of discipleship was already growing due to the rise of Constantine and the creation of a “civil religion” anchored in Christian language and identification. When people “joined” the church rather than “became” disciples, soon civil religion infected laity and clergy alike. Early in the history of the church we discovered that to forsake educating the laity was to risk becoming a cultural institution rather than a convicted community.
When the church fails to educate its laity it soon becomes captive to the political and cultural forces in the world, and soon finds itself a handmaiden to the dominant culture rather than a church of dedicated, passionate, informed “people” of God. When civil religion could no longer sustain either churches or their civilization, it took laity in the form of monastics (many early monastics were laity rather than priests) to regain something of role of church teacher and to partner with religious orders to retain the faith by preserving its teachings and living its faith through what we know as the “dark ages.”
The Reformation revolved as much around the need for a literate laity as any other historical factor. Not only did Rome fail in responding to the Reformers but it failed initially because it did not seek to prepare a laity that could withstand the excesses and manipulation of the indulgence system. Part of the problem of the lack of a literate laity (the poverty and feudal systems of the medieval world reveal) is that people who engage the church lack the resources to discern the faith and thus become manipulated by religious imposters.
As much as Rome was guilty of creating a penitential system, it was even guiltier of de-emphasizing teaching and critical thought to the point its congregants and priests could not recognize their own errors. Luther’s renewal/reformation was as much a battle to educate people to the faith as it was a strategy to destroy indulgences. Luther knew the importance of a literate laity to the point he translated the Bible into the German language, wrote and published sermons, wrote catechisms, created family resources, pressed for universal education of boys and girls, and exchanged the vestments of the priest for the robes of the teacher.
When you want renewal in the church you have to educate the “people” of God. Rome failed to do so and fell victim to its own errors. The Reformers (Luther, Calvin, even Zwingli and the Anabaptists) vowed not to make this mistake less the church fall not to cultural forces without but to manipulation from within.
Perhaps it is our own heritage in John Wesley where we encounter the need of an educated laity to preserve a movement of God. There is no doubt John’s ministry was part of a powerful Evangelical renewal across the United States and England. Thousands responded to Wesley, Whitfield, even Jonathan Edwards, in the U. S. What distinguishes Wesley, particularly as a movement that evangelized and renewed the church, was his dedication to education as a part of his evangelistic renewal.
There is ample evidence, thanks to the work of Tom Albin and others, that much of the evangelistic thrust was not only conserved through the Methodist classes and bands, it was actually created in those small groups. Albin’s review of Methodist diaries reveals that often people went through spiritual transformations “in” the class meetings and those experiences were sealed in the learning and accountability that followed .Whitfield’s famous dictum that his evangelistic thrust yielded “rope of sand” while John Wesley’s created a movement rests as a testimony to educating as well as evangelizing the laity.
This pithy observation could be played out over a number of “evangelistic” strategies that followed this first Evangelical revival. How many times have we seen movements that yielded massive initial commitments, only to see those souls drift away like the sands of time when education is not an equal partner in the evangelistic effort? We need to educate the “laity,” the people of God, or ultimately we will fail as stewards of the very lives God has provided us.
It should be noted that Methodism relied on this educated laity as part of what David Hempton calls “The Empire of the Spirit.” Often lay Methodists, carried globally along with the British Empire, brought the Methodist message with them.
Circuit riding preachers that followed after the American expansion to the west also relied on lay helpers to sustain preaching charges along the circuit.
In places like Britain, where the second generation of Methodists abandoned education and accountability for experience alone, the movement actually fell victim to cultural forces. This localized example of Constantinianism (like the early church) escalated to the point that Methodist historians note, for a season, British Methodism was reduced to a political movement instead of a vital church.
However, where literate laity emerged to partner with clergy around the globe, Methodism became the fastest growing movement of the modern era. Literate laity not only conserve evangelistic outreach, they sustain it over time insuring the stewardship of God’s work for generations.
Stewardship might be the last historical theme. The rise of the British and North American Sunday School movement might be seen as an attempt to steward resources to insure an educated laity. Much is made of the movement as an evangelistic effort, often entering cities before pastors from denominations. However, the Sunday school movement was also concerned with the stewardship of resources so that the maximum number of laity could be educated without redundant efforts or costs.
In an era of curriculum glut and consumer choice we miss the most important aspect of the original Sunday School “Union”/convention movement. Many of the early Sunday School movements were regional, localized ministries with homegrown materials often respecting local contexts but lacking staying power over time. The early movement experienced redundancies in resources, revealed the limitations of the experiences of local educators, and often resulted in local but fragmented efforts.
What saved this movement was the creation of “unions” and “conventions” that stewarded regional efforts, cross-pollinated ideas, raised the visibility of educating the people of God as its sole priority, and sparked a movement. Unfortunately, regionalization and sectarian fragmentation later threatened the movement once more as specific agencies and alliances sought undercut collective efforts to provide discipleship to generations of believers of all ages.Sunday Schools thrived in collaborative efforts and struggled when fragmentation challenged both resources and mission.
Ori Baufman and Rod A. Beckstrom, authors of The Starfish and Spider: The UnstoppablePower of Leaderless Organizations, note that often decentralized organizations are far more adaptable to specific issues and local needs than previous “command and control” leadership strategies. However, even Baufman and Beckstrom note that “leaderless” organizations are not extremely efficient and susceptible to domestication if not maintained. Instead, they argue for a “hybrid” that involves leaders who serve as catalysts within the organization, champions for the organization, and stewards to insure resources are not replicated unnecessarily, nor efforts lost due to shifting regional contingencies.
The rise of the Sunday School Union reminds us that local efforts to educate laity, by laity, often require the right “mix” of local and global partnerships to insure faithful shepherding of efforts and strategic placement of resources where needed. Such a partnership needs leaders passionate and focused to insure a long term commitment to a literate laity.
Discipleship must always be about the people of God. An informed laity sustains movements, resists temptations both outside the church and within, reforms, renews, and transforms the people of God into a force for the kingdom of God. Discipleship requires vigilance, stewardship, passion, and wisdom to coordinate (not command) and resource laity in their journey. If we learn from the broad strokes of the history of discipleship, we will commit to a well-educated laity, a discipled people of God.
Share The Story!
Regional Praise Reports and Prayer Requests
Asia-Pacific Region
Monsoonal Rains Leaving Flooding and Devastation in Western Myanmar ** Update! Please Pray!
Typhoon Soudelor Comes Ashore in Saipan With Devastating Results.
Praising God - David Phillips Making Rapid Recovery - But New Challenges Ahead!
Hunger & Thirst for Missions: Meet the Reynolds!
Updated Praise Report for Missionary Doctor from PNG!
Praising God for His Provisions, Rapid Recovery, for Pastor Injured while on Work & Witness Trip.
Praise Report - Nancy Miller Released From the Hospital!
Philippine Team Member's Battle with Cancer continues- Please keep praying!
Seeking Safety for Persecuted Christians in Middle East- NCM Responding- Needs your help!
Most Up-to-Date Prayer Requests & Praise Reports for the Global Church - Prayer Mobilization Line.
APNTS Joins First-Ever Metro Manila Shake Drill
Manila, Philippines
Asia-Pacific Region
Monsoonal Rains Leaving Flooding and Devastation in Western Myanmar ** Update! Please Pray!
Typhoon Soudelor Comes Ashore in Saipan With Devastating Results.
Praising God - David Phillips Making Rapid Recovery - But New Challenges Ahead!
Hunger & Thirst for Missions: Meet the Reynolds!
Updated Praise Report for Missionary Doctor from PNG!
Praising God for His Provisions, Rapid Recovery, for Pastor Injured while on Work & Witness Trip.
Praise Report - Nancy Miller Released From the Hospital!
Philippine Team Member's Battle with Cancer continues- Please keep praying!
Seeking Safety for Persecuted Christians in Middle East- NCM Responding- Needs your help!
Most Up-to-Date Prayer Requests & Praise Reports for the Global Church - Prayer Mobilization Line.
APNTS Joins First-Ever Metro Manila Shake Drill
Manila, Philippines
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) participated in the very first Metro Manila Shake Drill, the largest earthquake drill in Metropolitan Manila.
APNTS, together with Nazarene Disaster Response (NDR), Philippine Field Office (PFO), Asia-Pacific Resource Center (APRC) and World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific (WMC AP) joined and supported Metro Manila's day of earthquake awareness and preparedness.
The threat is real and researcher say the "big one" could come at any time. October 15, 2013, the Central Philippines was hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, with devastating results.
This metro-wide exercise hopes to increase chances of better recovery and implementation of contingencies in the event of earthquakes. The activity was truly informative and eye-opening for the participants.
See more photos of the drill, what was learned, and why researchers say we must get prepared!APNTS, BLOG, EVENTS, FEATURE, NAZARENE DISASTER RESPONSE, NEWS, PHILIPPINE-MICRONESIA
APNTS JOINS FIRST-EVER METRO MANILA SHAKE DRILL!
Manila, Philippines: Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) participated in the very first Metro Manila Shake Drill, the largest earthquake drill in Metropolitan Manila, held on July 30.
APNTS, together with Nazarene Disaster Response (NDR), Philippine Field Office (PFO), Asia-Pacific Resource Center (APRC) and World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific (WMC AP) joined and supported Metro Manila’s day of earthquake awareness and preparedness. This metro-wide exercise hopes to increase chances of better recovery and implementation of contingencies in the event of earthquakes.
APNTS, together with Nazarene Disaster Response (NDR), Philippine Field Office (PFO), Asia-Pacific Resource Center (APRC) and World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific (WMC AP) joined and supported Metro Manila's day of earthquake awareness and preparedness.
The threat is real and researcher say the "big one" could come at any time. October 15, 2013, the Central Philippines was hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, with devastating results.
This metro-wide exercise hopes to increase chances of better recovery and implementation of contingencies in the event of earthquakes. The activity was truly informative and eye-opening for the participants.
See more photos of the drill, what was learned, and why researchers say we must get prepared!APNTS, BLOG, EVENTS, FEATURE, NAZARENE DISASTER RESPONSE, NEWS, PHILIPPINE-MICRONESIA
APNTS JOINS FIRST-EVER METRO MANILA SHAKE DRILL!
Manila, Philippines: Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) participated in the very first Metro Manila Shake Drill, the largest earthquake drill in Metropolitan Manila, held on July 30.
APNTS, together with Nazarene Disaster Response (NDR), Philippine Field Office (PFO), Asia-Pacific Resource Center (APRC) and World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific (WMC AP) joined and supported Metro Manila’s day of earthquake awareness and preparedness. This metro-wide exercise hopes to increase chances of better recovery and implementation of contingencies in the event of earthquakes.
Ptr. Jackson Natividad giving instructions during the drill.
The APNTS Campus participation in the earthquake drill was led by Pastor Jackson Natividad, Philippine Field Coordinator for NDR, with the help of members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Barangay Dolores Rescue Team.
Prior to the simulation, everyone on campus gathered in the Wooten Chapel, where an orientation was facilitated by campus facilities director and pastor, Billy Borromeo. He lectured on steps for earthquake preparedness, and gave three simple but important instructions on how to protect oneself during an earthquake.
DROP, COVER and HOLD ON.
The APNTS Campus participation in the earthquake drill was led by Pastor Jackson Natividad, Philippine Field Coordinator for NDR, with the help of members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Barangay Dolores Rescue Team.
Prior to the simulation, everyone on campus gathered in the Wooten Chapel, where an orientation was facilitated by campus facilities director and pastor, Billy Borromeo. He lectured on steps for earthquake preparedness, and gave three simple but important instructions on how to protect oneself during an earthquake.
DROP, COVER and HOLD ON.
Ptr./Engr. Billy Borromeo
What followed was the actual drill, where everyone dropped, covered and held on, and practiced what they learned during the lecture.
The rescue and earthquake response had very real simulations. There were volunteers acting as injured victims carried on stretchers and brought out from the building windows down to the ground. Firemen shot water from their hoses, and rappelled down from the third floor of the building. People gathered in the basketball court that served as the evacuation area.
On July 27 and 28, the staff of APNTS also went through a two-day Basic Life Support Training (BLST), facilitated by the NDR and AFP.
Lectures on First Aid, basic bandaging, rope tying and risk reduction knowledge were taught to the participants. The training is in compliance to the memorandum released by the Office of the President to colleges and universities in the National Capital Region (NCR). The training and the actual drill were to be graded. Ms. Calm Mijares, business manager of APNTS happily announced, “We have passed the test!”
It was a hectic and educational week for APNTS and its surrounding entities. The students had positive feedback about the activities. “I received knowledge on how to protect myself and prevent further injuries when the earthquake comes”, said Ro Thuama. Lily Sangi commented that the event taught her to prepare for the earthquake and give her readiness to help others. Thang Siankip, on the other hand, said, “Before I was scared when I hear about earthquakes but after the program, I gained more confidence.”
Why the concern? Researchers from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology say that it is just a matter of time before Manila suffers a potentially catastrophic earthquake.
What followed was the actual drill, where everyone dropped, covered and held on, and practiced what they learned during the lecture.
The rescue and earthquake response had very real simulations. There were volunteers acting as injured victims carried on stretchers and brought out from the building windows down to the ground. Firemen shot water from their hoses, and rappelled down from the third floor of the building. People gathered in the basketball court that served as the evacuation area.
On July 27 and 28, the staff of APNTS also went through a two-day Basic Life Support Training (BLST), facilitated by the NDR and AFP.
Lectures on First Aid, basic bandaging, rope tying and risk reduction knowledge were taught to the participants. The training is in compliance to the memorandum released by the Office of the President to colleges and universities in the National Capital Region (NCR). The training and the actual drill were to be graded. Ms. Calm Mijares, business manager of APNTS happily announced, “We have passed the test!”
It was a hectic and educational week for APNTS and its surrounding entities. The students had positive feedback about the activities. “I received knowledge on how to protect myself and prevent further injuries when the earthquake comes”, said Ro Thuama. Lily Sangi commented that the event taught her to prepare for the earthquake and give her readiness to help others. Thang Siankip, on the other hand, said, “Before I was scared when I hear about earthquakes but after the program, I gained more confidence.”
Why the concern? Researchers from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology say that it is just a matter of time before Manila suffers a potentially catastrophic earthquake.
71. Earthquake hits Central Philippine in October of 2013. Credit: CNN
Manila straddles the West Valley Fault, which according to recent research, is capable of producing an earthquake greater than magnitude 7. Computer modeling indicates that a quake of 7.2 in Manila, would cause an estimated 2.4 trillion Philippine Pesos ($54 billion USD) in damages and potential kill over 37,000 people.
71. Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Central Philippines
October 15, 2013, the Bohol region of the Central Philippines was struck by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake. Experiences like these are helping officials understand and prepare for what very well could happen in Manila in our lifetime.
[Submitted by: Terence Lustaña]
Gardens are Dying, Water Tanks are Empty, and Mission Station Struggling Due to Drought.
Papua New Guinea
When you live in a rain forest...rain is critical. Since July 1st, the highlands of Papua New Guinea have only experienced three periods of rain.
It is very dry, gardens are gone. Nothing has been planted since the first of July. If it was planted, the plants have dried up. Water tanks, which are normally kept full from the daily rains, are now mostly empty. The situation is becoming quite serious as people are starting to experience hunger and are searching for water...
PNG is in need of your prayers! Learn more about their situation and how you can continue to pray.BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, MELANESIA SOUTH PACIFIC, NEWS, URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS
DROUGHT IMPACTS PAPUA NEW GUINEA – PLEASE PRAY!
Papua New Guinea: When you live in a rain forest…rain is critical. Since July 1st, the highlands of Papua New Guinea around the Melanesia Nazarene Bible College (MNBC), and Kudjip Nazarene Hospital have only experienced three periods of rain.
Manila straddles the West Valley Fault, which according to recent research, is capable of producing an earthquake greater than magnitude 7. Computer modeling indicates that a quake of 7.2 in Manila, would cause an estimated 2.4 trillion Philippine Pesos ($54 billion USD) in damages and potential kill over 37,000 people.
71. Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Central Philippines
October 15, 2013, the Bohol region of the Central Philippines was struck by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake. Experiences like these are helping officials understand and prepare for what very well could happen in Manila in our lifetime.
Papua New Guinea
When you live in a rain forest...rain is critical. Since July 1st, the highlands of Papua New Guinea have only experienced three periods of rain.
It is very dry, gardens are gone. Nothing has been planted since the first of July. If it was planted, the plants have dried up. Water tanks, which are normally kept full from the daily rains, are now mostly empty. The situation is becoming quite serious as people are starting to experience hunger and are searching for water...
PNG is in need of your prayers! Learn more about their situation and how you can continue to pray.BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, MELANESIA SOUTH PACIFIC, NEWS, URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS
DROUGHT IMPACTS PAPUA NEW GUINEA – PLEASE PRAY!
Papua New Guinea: When you live in a rain forest…rain is critical. Since July 1st, the highlands of Papua New Guinea around the Melanesia Nazarene Bible College (MNBC), and Kudjip Nazarene Hospital have only experienced three periods of rain.
It is very dry, gardens are gone. Nothing has been planted since the first of July. If it was planted, the plants have dried up. Water tanks, which are normally kept full from the daily rains, are now mostly empty. The situation is becoming quite serious as people are starting to experience hunger and are searching for water.
The Tuman river flows past MNBC, providing a source for the students to wash and bathe. The well water on the station is very low, and it has been directed now that it be used only for drinking.
The Tuman river flows past MNBC, providing a source for the students to wash and bathe. The well water on the station is very low, and it has been directed now that it be used only for drinking.
All of the bible college students have to raise their own food in gardens. When there is a drought like this, and the gardens dry up, malnutrition becomes a serious condition.
At Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, a lack of water makes things very difficult. If the tanks are dry, it makes it hard to wash hands, clean and sterilize instruments, use restrooms, and to have drinking water. The well system, which many of the houses are solely dependent upon, is being rapidly depleted. The mission station and hospital are powered by an hydroelectric plant, but river levels have dropped so low that a rotating schedule of river diversion for plant operation is being considered. The bush has become so dry, that fighting grass fires on station, has become a common occurrence.
The projection for this drought is eight months, it has now been 45 days…
Please help us pray for rain and all the issues that are starting to develop. We know that God will provide.[Submitted: Michael and Diane Chapman, Erin Meier, missionaries to Papua New Guinea]
Six Hundred Pastors and Church Leaders Gather Together in Papua New Guinea!
Port Moresby
More than six hundred pastors and church leaders from 12 districts across Papua New Guinea, gathered together in Port Moresby, August 3rd through 7th, for the Tenth National Pastors Conference.
The conference is held every 4 years on one of the 12 Nazarene districts across Papua New Guinea.
Because Port Moresby has no road access to the rest of the nation, almost everyone outside of the immediate area had to come at least part of the way by plane. Eighteen pastors from the Middle Ramu district walked for three days to get from their homes to the nearest road and then traveled by bus or truck for several hours before catching a flight to the city. Others traveled for 12 hours by bus over rough roads before catching a flight.
But the Holy Spirit was present in a tremendous way. See how these pastors responded to God's call, and how they reached out to impact their nation!
Read more about the conference and how God's presence impacted the hearts of the participants! BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, MELANESIA SOUTH PACIFIC, NEWS
SIX HUNDRED PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS GATHER TOGETHER IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA!
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: More than six hundred pastors and church leaders from 12 districts across Papua New Guinea, gathered together in Port Moresby, August 3rd through 7th, for the Tenth National Pastors Conference.
At Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, a lack of water makes things very difficult. If the tanks are dry, it makes it hard to wash hands, clean and sterilize instruments, use restrooms, and to have drinking water. The well system, which many of the houses are solely dependent upon, is being rapidly depleted. The mission station and hospital are powered by an hydroelectric plant, but river levels have dropped so low that a rotating schedule of river diversion for plant operation is being considered. The bush has become so dry, that fighting grass fires on station, has become a common occurrence.
The projection for this drought is eight months, it has now been 45 days…
Please help us pray for rain and all the issues that are starting to develop. We know that God will provide.[Submitted: Michael and Diane Chapman, Erin Meier, missionaries to Papua New Guinea]
Six Hundred Pastors and Church Leaders Gather Together in Papua New Guinea!
Port Moresby
More than six hundred pastors and church leaders from 12 districts across Papua New Guinea, gathered together in Port Moresby, August 3rd through 7th, for the Tenth National Pastors Conference.
The conference is held every 4 years on one of the 12 Nazarene districts across Papua New Guinea.
Because Port Moresby has no road access to the rest of the nation, almost everyone outside of the immediate area had to come at least part of the way by plane. Eighteen pastors from the Middle Ramu district walked for three days to get from their homes to the nearest road and then traveled by bus or truck for several hours before catching a flight to the city. Others traveled for 12 hours by bus over rough roads before catching a flight.
But the Holy Spirit was present in a tremendous way. See how these pastors responded to God's call, and how they reached out to impact their nation!
Read more about the conference and how God's presence impacted the hearts of the participants! BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, MELANESIA SOUTH PACIFIC, NEWS
SIX HUNDRED PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS GATHER TOGETHER IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA!
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: More than six hundred pastors and church leaders from 12 districts across Papua New Guinea, gathered together in Port Moresby, August 3rd through 7th, for the Tenth National Pastors Conference.
18 pastors had to walk for 3 days from the highlands of the Middle Ramu District!
The conference is held every 4 years on one of the 12 Nazarene districts across Papua New Guinea.
Because Port Moresby has no road access to the rest of the nation, almost everyone outside of the immediate area had to come at least part of the way by plane. Eighteen pastors from the Middle Ramu district walked for three days to get from their homes to the nearest road and then traveled by bus or truck for several hours before catching a flight to the city. Others traveled for 12 hours by bus over rough roads before catching a flight.
The conference is held every 4 years on one of the 12 Nazarene districts across Papua New Guinea.
Because Port Moresby has no road access to the rest of the nation, almost everyone outside of the immediate area had to come at least part of the way by plane. Eighteen pastors from the Middle Ramu district walked for three days to get from their homes to the nearest road and then traveled by bus or truck for several hours before catching a flight to the city. Others traveled for 12 hours by bus over rough roads before catching a flight.
Thatched huts served as accommodations for the pastors.
The conference venue is unlike anything you could imagine! It is a large open area the size of four football fields, that is used for cultural shows and is mainly covered with gravel. It is located right between the Parliament House and a multimillion dollar conference centre, which is being built to host the APEC summit meetings in 2018.
The conference meetings were held in two large tents. There were more than twenty thatched houses with gravel floors and that is where people slept at night. Yes, they slept on the ground for there were no beds!
“Jesus, you are our Lord and Saviour and you left heaven and came to sleep with the cows; we believe that you will feel right at home in this place!”- District Superintendent, Peter Degene
In his opening prayer, District Superintendent Peter Degene prayed, “Jesus, you are our Lord and Saviour and you left heaven and came to sleep with the cows; we believe that you will feel right at home in this place!”
The South Coast District set up a makeshift kitchen and provided breakfast and dinner for the some 600 registered pastors and church leaders.
The conference venue is unlike anything you could imagine! It is a large open area the size of four football fields, that is used for cultural shows and is mainly covered with gravel. It is located right between the Parliament House and a multimillion dollar conference centre, which is being built to host the APEC summit meetings in 2018.
The conference meetings were held in two large tents. There were more than twenty thatched houses with gravel floors and that is where people slept at night. Yes, they slept on the ground for there were no beds!
“Jesus, you are our Lord and Saviour and you left heaven and came to sleep with the cows; we believe that you will feel right at home in this place!”- District Superintendent, Peter Degene
In his opening prayer, District Superintendent Peter Degene prayed, “Jesus, you are our Lord and Saviour and you left heaven and came to sleep with the cows; we believe that you will feel right at home in this place!”
The South Coast District set up a makeshift kitchen and provided breakfast and dinner for the some 600 registered pastors and church leaders.
The theme of the conference was “Prepare to cross over” and was based on Joshua’s command to the Israelites. “Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5 KJV)
The fact that everyone was camping out in rough and ready surroundings added to the feeling of being on a pilgrimage to the promised land.
The event was especially significant, for 2015 marks the 40th year since PNG was granted independence from Australia. Pastors throughout PNG believe that the past forty years resembles in many ways the wilderness wanderings as PNG has struggled to find its way in the community of nations. They also believe that God is going to open a new chapter in the history of PNG. The PNG parliament has in the past few weeks voted to make the Bible the cornerstone of the Nation!
“…both nights the altars were full of pastors who were wanting to be even more like their Lord and Savior. God is moving in their lives!”- Jeff Myers - Missionary to Papua New Guinea
The fact that everyone was camping out in rough and ready surroundings added to the feeling of being on a pilgrimage to the promised land.
The event was especially significant, for 2015 marks the 40th year since PNG was granted independence from Australia. Pastors throughout PNG believe that the past forty years resembles in many ways the wilderness wanderings as PNG has struggled to find its way in the community of nations. They also believe that God is going to open a new chapter in the history of PNG. The PNG parliament has in the past few weeks voted to make the Bible the cornerstone of the Nation!
“…both nights the altars were full of pastors who were wanting to be even more like their Lord and Savior. God is moving in their lives!”- Jeff Myers - Missionary to Papua New Guinea
The Holy Spirit was moving among the pastors and leaders.
District Superintendents from PNG preached as well as Dr. Mark Louw (Asia-Pacific Regional Director) and Neville Bartle (former missionary to PNG). Topics included Holiness and Mission, marriage, and family issues. The alters were full of pastors who were wanting to be even more like their Lord and Savior.
District Superintendents from PNG preached as well as Dr. Mark Louw (Asia-Pacific Regional Director) and Neville Bartle (former missionary to PNG). Topics included Holiness and Mission, marriage, and family issues. The alters were full of pastors who were wanting to be even more like their Lord and Savior.
On August 5th, all of the pastors sang and marched to the Parliament House with their provincial flags. Although parliament was not in session, the pastors assembled on the steps of the parliament building and Yambe Sike, the National Board Chairman, led the more than 600 pastors in fervent prayer proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ over the Nation. Then all those present, filed into the public galleries and filled them to overflowing. They were given a brief guided tour of the legislative chamber by the official guide… indication is that he himself is a keen evangelical.
Papua New Guinea has dedicated itself to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Government has secured a 400 year old copy of the Bible and has voted that it will be placed on a table in front of the Speaker of Parliament to symbolise its significance and importance to providing direction and life to the country.
Papua New Guinea has dedicated itself to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Government has secured a 400 year old copy of the Bible and has voted that it will be placed on a table in front of the Speaker of Parliament to symbolise its significance and importance to providing direction and life to the country.
For the past forty years a totem pole has stood within the House of Parliament. This is a huge, elaborately carved pole, covered with images of people, reptiles, demonic figures and and other images linked to occult power. Many pastors and Christian leaders have been concerned about this evil image that watches over all the affairs of the nation and have been praying fervently that God would change the hearts of the national leaders and that this would be removed.
In recent months the Speaker of the House, who evidentially is a God fearing man, with the support of other Christians, has pressed to have this removed from the building. The plans is to have the totem pole removed and have it replaced with a pillar symbolizing unity. The word “Unity” will be written on it in every one of the 700+ languages of PNG.
At the base of the pillar will be a symbol of the Word of God. Resting on that will be another stone symbolizing the constitution of the country, and above that a covenant signed in 2007 by the founding father of the nation declaring the nation of PNG to be under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
“I believe that this is God’s timing to bring you here to our parliament today. We want you to pray for God’s blessing on the country,” said the guide leading the pastors.
The chamber of the house reverberated with the heartfelt cries of God’s people as they joined hands right across the public galleries as a sign of unity and poured out their hearts to God. All those present interceded for the nation, that righteousness would be exalted and that all evil, bribery and corruption would be rejected and cleansed from the nation’s leadership and that God would grant wisdom to the leaders of the nation.
“It was a powerful experience that is difficult to describe,” said Dr. Neville Bartle, New Zealand District Superintendent.
Please continue to pray for God’s blessing and anointing on the all those who attended the conference, for traveling mercies as they return home, and for the churches, congregations, leaders, and nation of Papua New Guinea![Submitted: Dr. Neville Bartle, District Superintendent, New Zealand (former missionary to PNG).]
Interim Field Strategy Coordinator Appointed for Southeast Asia.
Bangkok, Thailand
In light of his recent diagnosis of cancer, and the recommendation of the Global Mission Medical Committee that David immediately return to the USA for the start of chemo treatments, it has left us needing to appoint an interim Field Strategy Coordinator for the SEA Field.
Following consultation with David Phillips and Global Mission Director, Dr. Verne Ward, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Collin Elliott as the interim Field Strategy Coordinator for the SEA Field.
For more information about the interim position click here.BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, NEWS, REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, SOUTHEAST ASIA
INTERIM FIELD STRATEGY COORDINATOR APPOINTED FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA
Bangkok, Thailand: The Asia-Pacific Regional team has been carefully monitoring the health status of Southeast Asia Field (SEA) Strategy Coordinator, Rev. David Phillips.
In light of his recent diagnosis of cancer, and the recommendation of the Global Mission Medical Committee that David immediately return to the USA for the start of chemo treatments, it has left us needing to appoint an interim Field Strategy Coordinator for the SEA Field.David Phillips making rapid recovery - but new challenges ahead.
Following consultation with David Phillips and Global Mission Director, Dr. Verne Ward, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Collin Elliott as the interim Field Strategy Coordinator for the SEA Field.
Collin and Shireen Elliott have just recently arrived to the Region from Africa, and assumed this new interim responsibility as of August 13th.
Asia-Pacific Region Welcomes New Team Members!
For matters concerning the SEA Field, please direct your communications to the SEA Field Strategy Coordinator, which will be forwarded to Rev. Elliott.
Please join us in praying for full healing and quick recovery and that David and Naomi can return to the Field at the end of their Medical Leave of Absence.[Submitted: Dr. Mark Louw – Asia-Pacific Regional Director]
BGS Encourages Participation in Thank Offering 2015
Global Ministry Center
To Nazarenes around the world:
"Developing the Future" is the theme of the 2015 Thanksgiving, or Thank Offering. As we remember the Lord's unfailing love, the psalmist calls on us to "sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy" (Psalm 107:22). We join you in prayer and preparation for this annual emphasis in the Church of the Nazarene. Through this offering given to the World Evangelism Fund, we do more together than we ever could alone..
Click here to see the impact that past Thank Offerings have made around the world! BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, NEWS, NMI, REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, WORLD EVANGELISM FUND
BGS ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN THANK OFFERING 2015
Global Ministry Center
To Nazarenes around the world:
“Developing the Future” is the theme of the 2015 Thanksgiving, or Thank, Offering. As we remember the Lord’s unfailing love, the psalmist calls on us to “sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy” (Psalm 107:22). We join you in prayer and preparation for this annual emphasis in the Church of the Nazarene. Through this offering given to the World Evangelism Fund, we do more together than we ever could alone. God receives our humble gifts and uses our generosity to accomplish amazing things — in language schools, church plants, mission hospitals, and many other ministries. Every time we choose to serve God by giving back, we become a part of God’s future — a future that spreads into eternity as people around the world come to a saving knowledge of Christ. The 2015 offering celebrates how our gifts help spread the gospel, both now and in the future.
In Psalm 22, the writer praises God and calls on all people to worship the Lord. He declares that the greatness of God will be obvious because of what God will do. Through the World Evangelism Fund, the Church of the Nazarene is able to share His greatness and goodness with people everywhere.
Praise God for how He has used our gifts in the last year:
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.[Psalm 22:29–31 (NLT)]
Let’s reflect on the many ways in which God has blessed us, and imagine what God will do through our generation and those that follow as we continue to serve Him.
The offering will be received on 11 October 2015 in Canada and 22 November 2015 globally. (Please note that not all areas will receive the offering on these dates, depending on the calendar of each field or district.)
Resources will be available at nazarene.org/generosity in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Korean. If you have questions, contact Stewardship Ministries at 1-800-544-8413 or stewardship@nazarene.org.
Yours in Christ,
The Board of General Superintendents
12 Traits of a Deliberate Leader
David Staal (Christianity Today)
Isaac Newton's third law of motion states, "For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction." Translating this logic to organizational dynamics, "The actions of one person will cause reactions in others." This is especially true when the first person serves as a leader. This common sense underscores the importance of a key leadership concept: Be deliberate.
Deliberateness is especially important for new leaders. Why? Simple: A leader who isn't deliberate will likely not remain a leader long.
So what does a deliberate leader do? Read on to find out the 12 descriptors specified in the article that provide a deep and unshakable foundation!
Click here!"12 Traits of a Deliberate Leader: Good leadership is never an accident." by David Staal, president, Kids Hope USA
Isaac Newton's third law of motion states, "For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction." Translating this logic to organizational dynamics, "The actions of one person will cause reactions in others." This is especially true when the first person serves as a leader. This common sense underscores the importance of a key leadership concept: Be deliberate.
Deliberateness is especially important for new leaders. Why? Simple: A leader who isn't deliberate will likely not remain a leader long.
So what does a deliberate leader do? Admittedly short of an exhaustive list, the following 12 descriptors provide a deep and unshakable foundation. A deliberate leader …
1. Prioritizes well. When a leader views everything as imperative, nothing will be important. This applies to a leader's own workload as well as the entire organization. Model this well by saying "no" and sticking to it.
2. Remains available. Stay behind closed doors too long, and you become a mystery. And the days of the "mystery leader" went away right around the time texting and social media emerged. Why? Because peoples' willingness to wait for information or have questions answered has dramatically decreased. And the feared leader approach? It never works. Although some leaders unfortunately see fear and respect as synonymous, their organizations don't. This only works in military, politics, and, of course, illicit organizations.
3. Models proactivity. A self-starting leader sets the pace for the team. However, he or she need not do everything. Rather, a leader should believe deeply in the importance of his or her unique responsibilities and need no prompt to get busy. It's contagious. When this doesn't happen, then a leader will simply work in reactive mode all the time—and will lose any ability to prioritize.
4. Stays inquisitive. Know-it-alls were annoying in school and they remain dreadfully unpopular in organizations—especially at the top. A leader should also serve as the most passionate learner. Let the team see their leader eager to understand and they, too, will adopt this trait. Plus, a person who knows more makes better decisions. A person who knows little relies on luck.
5. Displays decisiveness. Another of Newton's laws states, "An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force." A leader must be willing, whenever needed, to apply force by making decisions to get the organization moving. Or turning. Or unstuck. While many people today give the priests in Joshua 3 credit for stepping into the Jordan River, that moment came courtesy of their leader when he said, "We've thought about this, prayed about this, and talked about this long enough; pick up the ark and let's get going" (my version).
6. Communicates clearly. It's hard to follow a leader who's hard to understand, whether it's because of ambiguity (too few details), overload (too many specifics), or wrongly assuming other people completely understand the situation (wrong details). Practice, practice, practice what to say—and when writing, pen multiple drafts until the message fits four criteria: clear, concise, complete, and compelling.
7. Focuses well. Leaders must absorb information in great volumes. Critical to making that practice productive, they also must find and lock onto details that have most importance. This ability—to shut out that which matters less in order to focus on what matters most—sets a person apart from everyone else observing the same situations.
8. Opens up. Receptivity to ideas catalyzes creativity. When a person believes his or her leader will listen to a fresh perspective, that person will grow in critical thinking and resourcefulness. Woe to the team that relies on the leader for every new thought. Yet, think of how many groups operate that way.
9. Persists expectantly. A leader with undeterred optimism toward the mission will create positive energy for the organization. Waffle a little, and authenticity disappears. Remain steadfastly convinced that great days are both happening and ahead, and people join the cause. Never entertain failure or it might decide to stick around. This might seem like advocacy for a rah-rah approach, until one considers what takes more deliberate energy: to remain optimistic and then find the ways and means to live into it, or to surrender. The hidden benefit is that it encourages and justifies stubbornness. Don't believe me? I don't care.
10. Appreciates authentically. And generously. Maybe not in dollar amounts, but definitely in frequency and effort. A leader can transform an organization by empowering every person through encouragement that uniquely touches their hearts. This concept stands at the center of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, a book and training that will create a work environment people love—and respond with their best efforts.
11. Looks ahead. Pay too much attention to the current issues/situations and the organization will stand relatively still, reacting to issues, similar to stopping on a hike to swat mosquitoes. Hey, they need to be swatted—but do it as you keep moving. And the only way to keep going is to look ahead. In fact, try to maintain a two-moves-ahead perspective. This means considering the next decision following the decision about to be made.
12. Slows down. And insists others do the same. Deliberate leadership requires significant energy and stamina. We've all heard the biblical reasons to rest. Here's a piece of the culture that's surprisingly insightful: The NCAA mandates that student athletes can participate in sports activities a maximum of six sequential days. That's right; college athletics has legislation that seems biblical. Diminishing productivity becomes damaging when done with too little rest and time to recover. Same holds true for leadership. Maybe more so.David Staal, senior editor for Building Church Leaders and a mentor to a second grader, serves as the president of Kids Hope USA, a national non-profit organization that partners local churches with elementary schools to provide mentors for at-risk students. He also chairs the advisory board for a nearby college and served ten years in leadership for a local church following a corporate career. David is the author of Lessons Kids Need to Learn (Zondervan, 2012) and Words Kids Need to Hear (Zondervan, 2008). He lives in Grand Haven, MI, with his wife Becky. His son Scott and daughter Erin attend Valparaiso University.
Global Compassion Conference Announced!
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries announces the Compassion Conference, to be held July 14-16, 2016, at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA.
We can no longer turn our heads in our communities. Compassion is the church in action. And the time is now to go deeper.
Follow this link to find out more, and how you can register!BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES, NEWS, REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
GLOBAL COMPASSION CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED!
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries announces the Compassion Conference, to be held July 14-16, 2016, at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA.
WE CAN NO LONGER TURN OUR HEADS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. COMPASSION IS THE CHURCH IN ACTION. AND THE TIME IS NOW TO GO DEEPER.
Compassion Conference is a global gathering that will inspire you to imagine how the church can live out God’s call to compassion and equip your community for holistic, transformational ministry. The event, which is sponsored by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, is an international space where you can connect, collaborate, create, and begin to change the world.
Learn together what it means to live in the margins of your community.
At Compassion Conference, you will be able to:
Join a global gathering of leaders, learners, and practitioners from the Church of the Nazarene around the world.
Discern together what it means to live in the margins of your community.
Collaborate through working groups where best practices can be shared and adapted among colleagues engaged in various sectors.
Build your capacity in holistic ministry and community development through topic-specific workshops.
Learn best practices in key areas of compassionate ministries and community development with and emphasis on holistic ministry and integral mission.
Reflect on biblical and theological perspectives on the church’s role in living out compassion in transformative ways.
Be challenged to think about the best ways to address current contexts and challenges ahead.
Continue the conversation after the conference.
In recent months the Speaker of the House, who evidentially is a God fearing man, with the support of other Christians, has pressed to have this removed from the building. The plans is to have the totem pole removed and have it replaced with a pillar symbolizing unity. The word “Unity” will be written on it in every one of the 700+ languages of PNG.
At the base of the pillar will be a symbol of the Word of God. Resting on that will be another stone symbolizing the constitution of the country, and above that a covenant signed in 2007 by the founding father of the nation declaring the nation of PNG to be under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
“I believe that this is God’s timing to bring you here to our parliament today. We want you to pray for God’s blessing on the country,” said the guide leading the pastors.
The chamber of the house reverberated with the heartfelt cries of God’s people as they joined hands right across the public galleries as a sign of unity and poured out their hearts to God. All those present interceded for the nation, that righteousness would be exalted and that all evil, bribery and corruption would be rejected and cleansed from the nation’s leadership and that God would grant wisdom to the leaders of the nation.
“It was a powerful experience that is difficult to describe,” said Dr. Neville Bartle, New Zealand District Superintendent.
Please continue to pray for God’s blessing and anointing on the all those who attended the conference, for traveling mercies as they return home, and for the churches, congregations, leaders, and nation of Papua New Guinea![Submitted: Dr. Neville Bartle, District Superintendent, New Zealand (former missionary to PNG).]
Interim Field Strategy Coordinator Appointed for Southeast Asia.
Bangkok, Thailand
In light of his recent diagnosis of cancer, and the recommendation of the Global Mission Medical Committee that David immediately return to the USA for the start of chemo treatments, it has left us needing to appoint an interim Field Strategy Coordinator for the SEA Field.
Following consultation with David Phillips and Global Mission Director, Dr. Verne Ward, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Collin Elliott as the interim Field Strategy Coordinator for the SEA Field.
For more information about the interim position click here.BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, NEWS, REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, SOUTHEAST ASIA
INTERIM FIELD STRATEGY COORDINATOR APPOINTED FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA
Bangkok, Thailand: The Asia-Pacific Regional team has been carefully monitoring the health status of Southeast Asia Field (SEA) Strategy Coordinator, Rev. David Phillips.
In light of his recent diagnosis of cancer, and the recommendation of the Global Mission Medical Committee that David immediately return to the USA for the start of chemo treatments, it has left us needing to appoint an interim Field Strategy Coordinator for the SEA Field.David Phillips making rapid recovery - but new challenges ahead.
Following consultation with David Phillips and Global Mission Director, Dr. Verne Ward, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Collin Elliott as the interim Field Strategy Coordinator for the SEA Field.
Collin and Shireen Elliott have just recently arrived to the Region from Africa, and assumed this new interim responsibility as of August 13th.
Asia-Pacific Region Welcomes New Team Members!
For matters concerning the SEA Field, please direct your communications to the SEA Field Strategy Coordinator, which will be forwarded to Rev. Elliott.
Please join us in praying for full healing and quick recovery and that David and Naomi can return to the Field at the end of their Medical Leave of Absence.[Submitted: Dr. Mark Louw – Asia-Pacific Regional Director]
BGS Encourages Participation in Thank Offering 2015
Global Ministry Center
To Nazarenes around the world:
"Developing the Future" is the theme of the 2015 Thanksgiving, or Thank Offering. As we remember the Lord's unfailing love, the psalmist calls on us to "sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy" (Psalm 107:22). We join you in prayer and preparation for this annual emphasis in the Church of the Nazarene. Through this offering given to the World Evangelism Fund, we do more together than we ever could alone..
Click here to see the impact that past Thank Offerings have made around the world! BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, NEWS, NMI, REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, WORLD EVANGELISM FUND
BGS ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN THANK OFFERING 2015
Global Ministry Center
To Nazarenes around the world:
“Developing the Future” is the theme of the 2015 Thanksgiving, or Thank, Offering. As we remember the Lord’s unfailing love, the psalmist calls on us to “sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy” (Psalm 107:22). We join you in prayer and preparation for this annual emphasis in the Church of the Nazarene. Through this offering given to the World Evangelism Fund, we do more together than we ever could alone. God receives our humble gifts and uses our generosity to accomplish amazing things — in language schools, church plants, mission hospitals, and many other ministries. Every time we choose to serve God by giving back, we become a part of God’s future — a future that spreads into eternity as people around the world come to a saving knowledge of Christ. The 2015 offering celebrates how our gifts help spread the gospel, both now and in the future.
In Psalm 22, the writer praises God and calls on all people to worship the Lord. He declares that the greatness of God will be obvious because of what God will do. Through the World Evangelism Fund, the Church of the Nazarene is able to share His greatness and goodness with people everywhere.
Praise God for how He has used our gifts in the last year:
- 702 missionaries and 310 missionary kids were deployed from 35 world areas.
- 378 people joined the Church of the Nazarene every day. That is 16 people per hour!
- 143,870 students were enrolled in Nazarene preschool, primary, and secondary schools.
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.[Psalm 22:29–31 (NLT)]
Let’s reflect on the many ways in which God has blessed us, and imagine what God will do through our generation and those that follow as we continue to serve Him.
The offering will be received on 11 October 2015 in Canada and 22 November 2015 globally. (Please note that not all areas will receive the offering on these dates, depending on the calendar of each field or district.)
Resources will be available at nazarene.org/generosity in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Korean. If you have questions, contact Stewardship Ministries at 1-800-544-8413 or stewardship@nazarene.org.
Yours in Christ,
The Board of General Superintendents
12 Traits of a Deliberate Leader
David Staal (Christianity Today)
Isaac Newton's third law of motion states, "For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction." Translating this logic to organizational dynamics, "The actions of one person will cause reactions in others." This is especially true when the first person serves as a leader. This common sense underscores the importance of a key leadership concept: Be deliberate.
Deliberateness is especially important for new leaders. Why? Simple: A leader who isn't deliberate will likely not remain a leader long.
So what does a deliberate leader do? Read on to find out the 12 descriptors specified in the article that provide a deep and unshakable foundation!
Click here!"12 Traits of a Deliberate Leader: Good leadership is never an accident." by David Staal, president, Kids Hope USA
Isaac Newton's third law of motion states, "For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction." Translating this logic to organizational dynamics, "The actions of one person will cause reactions in others." This is especially true when the first person serves as a leader. This common sense underscores the importance of a key leadership concept: Be deliberate.
Deliberateness is especially important for new leaders. Why? Simple: A leader who isn't deliberate will likely not remain a leader long.
So what does a deliberate leader do? Admittedly short of an exhaustive list, the following 12 descriptors provide a deep and unshakable foundation. A deliberate leader …
1. Prioritizes well. When a leader views everything as imperative, nothing will be important. This applies to a leader's own workload as well as the entire organization. Model this well by saying "no" and sticking to it.
2. Remains available. Stay behind closed doors too long, and you become a mystery. And the days of the "mystery leader" went away right around the time texting and social media emerged. Why? Because peoples' willingness to wait for information or have questions answered has dramatically decreased. And the feared leader approach? It never works. Although some leaders unfortunately see fear and respect as synonymous, their organizations don't. This only works in military, politics, and, of course, illicit organizations.
3. Models proactivity. A self-starting leader sets the pace for the team. However, he or she need not do everything. Rather, a leader should believe deeply in the importance of his or her unique responsibilities and need no prompt to get busy. It's contagious. When this doesn't happen, then a leader will simply work in reactive mode all the time—and will lose any ability to prioritize.
4. Stays inquisitive. Know-it-alls were annoying in school and they remain dreadfully unpopular in organizations—especially at the top. A leader should also serve as the most passionate learner. Let the team see their leader eager to understand and they, too, will adopt this trait. Plus, a person who knows more makes better decisions. A person who knows little relies on luck.
5. Displays decisiveness. Another of Newton's laws states, "An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force." A leader must be willing, whenever needed, to apply force by making decisions to get the organization moving. Or turning. Or unstuck. While many people today give the priests in Joshua 3 credit for stepping into the Jordan River, that moment came courtesy of their leader when he said, "We've thought about this, prayed about this, and talked about this long enough; pick up the ark and let's get going" (my version).
6. Communicates clearly. It's hard to follow a leader who's hard to understand, whether it's because of ambiguity (too few details), overload (too many specifics), or wrongly assuming other people completely understand the situation (wrong details). Practice, practice, practice what to say—and when writing, pen multiple drafts until the message fits four criteria: clear, concise, complete, and compelling.
7. Focuses well. Leaders must absorb information in great volumes. Critical to making that practice productive, they also must find and lock onto details that have most importance. This ability—to shut out that which matters less in order to focus on what matters most—sets a person apart from everyone else observing the same situations.
8. Opens up. Receptivity to ideas catalyzes creativity. When a person believes his or her leader will listen to a fresh perspective, that person will grow in critical thinking and resourcefulness. Woe to the team that relies on the leader for every new thought. Yet, think of how many groups operate that way.
9. Persists expectantly. A leader with undeterred optimism toward the mission will create positive energy for the organization. Waffle a little, and authenticity disappears. Remain steadfastly convinced that great days are both happening and ahead, and people join the cause. Never entertain failure or it might decide to stick around. This might seem like advocacy for a rah-rah approach, until one considers what takes more deliberate energy: to remain optimistic and then find the ways and means to live into it, or to surrender. The hidden benefit is that it encourages and justifies stubbornness. Don't believe me? I don't care.
10. Appreciates authentically. And generously. Maybe not in dollar amounts, but definitely in frequency and effort. A leader can transform an organization by empowering every person through encouragement that uniquely touches their hearts. This concept stands at the center of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, a book and training that will create a work environment people love—and respond with their best efforts.
11. Looks ahead. Pay too much attention to the current issues/situations and the organization will stand relatively still, reacting to issues, similar to stopping on a hike to swat mosquitoes. Hey, they need to be swatted—but do it as you keep moving. And the only way to keep going is to look ahead. In fact, try to maintain a two-moves-ahead perspective. This means considering the next decision following the decision about to be made.
12. Slows down. And insists others do the same. Deliberate leadership requires significant energy and stamina. We've all heard the biblical reasons to rest. Here's a piece of the culture that's surprisingly insightful: The NCAA mandates that student athletes can participate in sports activities a maximum of six sequential days. That's right; college athletics has legislation that seems biblical. Diminishing productivity becomes damaging when done with too little rest and time to recover. Same holds true for leadership. Maybe more so.David Staal, senior editor for Building Church Leaders and a mentor to a second grader, serves as the president of Kids Hope USA, a national non-profit organization that partners local churches with elementary schools to provide mentors for at-risk students. He also chairs the advisory board for a nearby college and served ten years in leadership for a local church following a corporate career. David is the author of Lessons Kids Need to Learn (Zondervan, 2012) and Words Kids Need to Hear (Zondervan, 2008). He lives in Grand Haven, MI, with his wife Becky. His son Scott and daughter Erin attend Valparaiso University.
Global Compassion Conference Announced!
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries announces the Compassion Conference, to be held July 14-16, 2016, at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA.
We can no longer turn our heads in our communities. Compassion is the church in action. And the time is now to go deeper.
Follow this link to find out more, and how you can register!BLOG, CURRENT, FEATURE, NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES, NEWS, REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
GLOBAL COMPASSION CONFERENCE ANNOUNCED!
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries announces the Compassion Conference, to be held July 14-16, 2016, at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA.
WE CAN NO LONGER TURN OUR HEADS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. COMPASSION IS THE CHURCH IN ACTION. AND THE TIME IS NOW TO GO DEEPER.
Compassion Conference is a global gathering that will inspire you to imagine how the church can live out God’s call to compassion and equip your community for holistic, transformational ministry. The event, which is sponsored by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, is an international space where you can connect, collaborate, create, and begin to change the world.
Learn together what it means to live in the margins of your community.
At Compassion Conference, you will be able to:
Join a global gathering of leaders, learners, and practitioners from the Church of the Nazarene around the world.
Discern together what it means to live in the margins of your community.
Collaborate through working groups where best practices can be shared and adapted among colleagues engaged in various sectors.
Build your capacity in holistic ministry and community development through topic-specific workshops.
Learn best practices in key areas of compassionate ministries and community development with and emphasis on holistic ministry and integral mission.
Reflect on biblical and theological perspectives on the church’s role in living out compassion in transformative ways.
Be challenged to think about the best ways to address current contexts and challenges ahead.
Continue the conversation after the conference.
Click on the image to register today!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Philippine Team Member's Battle With Cancer Continues - Please Keep Praying!
Manila, Philippines
Liza with husband Brooks
The Asia-Pacific Resource Center, World Mission Communications, and Philippine Field Office Teams, are all asking for your continued prayers for our team member, Liza Halbrook. The abdominal mass has decreased, but lung masses have increased. The doctors have started Liza on yet another chemo medicine in addition to the others.
Click here for more updates and how you can continue to pray.BLOG, FEATURE, NEWS, PHILIPPINE-MICRONESIA, URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS
PHILIPPINE TEAM MEMBER’S BATTLE WITH CANCER CONTINUES – PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!
Manila, Philippines: The Asia-Pacific Resource Center, World Mission Communications, and Philippine Field Office Teams, are all asking for your continued prayers for our team member, Liza Holbrook. The abdominal mass has decreased, but lung masses have increased. The doctors have started Liza on yet another chemo medicine in addition to the others.
Click this link for complete thread of Liza’s stories.
The following update was received from Liza this week.
After my fourth chemo, by body feels really weak again, but it has been improving, Praise God!
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule
Register
Philippine Team Member's Battle With Cancer Continues - Please Keep Praying!
Manila, Philippines
Liza with husband Brooks
The Asia-Pacific Resource Center, World Mission Communications, and Philippine Field Office Teams, are all asking for your continued prayers for our team member, Liza Halbrook. The abdominal mass has decreased, but lung masses have increased. The doctors have started Liza on yet another chemo medicine in addition to the others.
Click here for more updates and how you can continue to pray.BLOG, FEATURE, NEWS, PHILIPPINE-MICRONESIA, URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS
PHILIPPINE TEAM MEMBER’S BATTLE WITH CANCER CONTINUES – PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!
Manila, Philippines: The Asia-Pacific Resource Center, World Mission Communications, and Philippine Field Office Teams, are all asking for your continued prayers for our team member, Liza Holbrook. The abdominal mass has decreased, but lung masses have increased. The doctors have started Liza on yet another chemo medicine in addition to the others.
Click this link for complete thread of Liza’s stories.
The following update was received from Liza this week.
After my fourth chemo, by body feels really weak again, but it has been improving, Praise God!
Liza, Brooks, Kleos and Chloe
Specific Prayer Requests:
1. That the new chemo medicine will work and remove all malignant cells in my body and will not cause serious side effects to other organs
2. That may God prepare my family for whatever the result of this 2nd medicine, may it be bad or good, we learn to completely trust His will for us.
3. If God is asking us to do something for Him, something that we haven’t answered yet. May we have a sensitive spirit to hear God’s calling.
4. Finances. The new medicine is 40,000 pesos more expensive than the current one.
5. Brooks’ health. He is a mother and father and caregiver of 2. His step-dad is also recovering from stroke and they live with us now.
For information on how you can tangibly participate in helping Liza and her family during this journey, please visit their Facebook Page!
Nazarene Theological College - Brisbane Semester Intensives
Experiencing the Trinity: A Seminar on Spiritual Renewal
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary Highlights
APNTS NOW OFFERS Graduate Certificate in Language Teaching Ministry! Follow This Link for Information.
APNTS Announces PhD Classes for November-December 2015.
(For PhD in HCD, PhD in Transformational Learning, and PhD in Transformational Development)
Follow this link for more information.
Nov. 2-6 Dr. Laura Sandidge Learners with Special Needs (for PhD & Masters)
Nov. 2-13 Dr. Fletcher Tink & Dr. Melba Maggay Culture, Context, and Worldview (for PhD only)
Nov. 16-27 Dr. Dick Eugenio & Prof. Larnie Sam Tabuena Philosophy and Theology of Transformation (for PhD Only)
Dec. 7-18 Dr. Joanna Soberano Spirituality and Transformational Learning for PhD Only) - to be confirmed.
This newsletter is a ministry of your Asia-Pacific Regional Communications Office. Please submit questions or comments to: Regional Communications Coordinator
Connie Aebischer - Editor - Around the Region News
Writer: Laurice Maggay
World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific
Ortigas Avenue Extension
Taytay, Rizal, Philippines
Around the Region is released each week on Saturday. If you have news to share, please forward to our office by Friday at noon (PHT).
____________________________
Strategic Partners Ltd
Specific Prayer Requests:
1. That the new chemo medicine will work and remove all malignant cells in my body and will not cause serious side effects to other organs
2. That may God prepare my family for whatever the result of this 2nd medicine, may it be bad or good, we learn to completely trust His will for us.
3. If God is asking us to do something for Him, something that we haven’t answered yet. May we have a sensitive spirit to hear God’s calling.
4. Finances. The new medicine is 40,000 pesos more expensive than the current one.
5. Brooks’ health. He is a mother and father and caregiver of 2. His step-dad is also recovering from stroke and they live with us now.
For information on how you can tangibly participate in helping Liza and her family during this journey, please visit their Facebook Page!
Nazarene Theological College - Brisbane Semester Intensives
Experiencing the Trinity: A Seminar on Spiritual Renewal
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary Highlights
APNTS NOW OFFERS Graduate Certificate in Language Teaching Ministry! Follow This Link for Information.
APNTS Announces PhD Classes for November-December 2015.
(For PhD in HCD, PhD in Transformational Learning, and PhD in Transformational Development)
Follow this link for more information.
Nov. 2-6 Dr. Laura Sandidge Learners with Special Needs (for PhD & Masters)
Nov. 2-13 Dr. Fletcher Tink & Dr. Melba Maggay Culture, Context, and Worldview (for PhD only)
Nov. 16-27 Dr. Dick Eugenio & Prof. Larnie Sam Tabuena Philosophy and Theology of Transformation (for PhD Only)
Dec. 7-18 Dr. Joanna Soberano Spirituality and Transformational Learning for PhD Only) - to be confirmed.
This newsletter is a ministry of your Asia-Pacific Regional Communications Office. Please submit questions or comments to: Regional Communications Coordinator
Connie Aebischer - Editor - Around the Region News
Writer: Laurice Maggay
World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific
Ortigas Avenue Extension
Taytay, Rizal, Philippines
Around the Region is released each week on Saturday. If you have news to share, please forward to our office by Friday at noon (PHT).
____________________________
Strategic Partners Ltd
Ortigas Avenue Extension, Kaytikling | Taytay, Rizal
Manila, 1920, Philippines
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