Friday, October 7, 2016

Asia-Pacific Regional Communications of The Global Church of the Nazarene of Taytay, Rizal, Manila, Philippines with The Around The Regional News...PNG Leader Diagnosed with Cancer - Pray. Praise Update on MK with Pneumonia. 5 Steps Toward Eliminating Stress. Storm Updates, Prayer Praises, Requests, and More! for Saturday, October 8, 2016 Volume 4 / Issue Number 36 -------



Asia-Pacific Regional Communications of The Global Church of the Nazarene of Taytay, Rizal, Manila, Philippines with The Around The Regional News...PNG Leader Diagnosed with Cancer - Pray. Praise Update on MK with Pneumonia. 5 Steps Toward Eliminating Stress. Storm Updates, Prayer Praises, Requests, and More! for Saturday, October 8, 2016 Volume 4 / Issue Number 36
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Nazarene News from Around the Globe
(Bold Items - Latest News)
Africa:
Eurasia:
Mesoamerica:
South America:
USA / Canada:
Collegiate:
Resources:
Passings:

Engage Magazine:
Where angels fear to tread: God provides by Michelle McLane and Gina Grate Pottenger
Dr. and Mrs. Brown had been involved in foreign ministry years before moving to their current assignment, an undisclosed location facing constant conflict and turmoil. They recognized and followed God’s calling, although it meant drastic changes for themselves and their two preteen boys.
Engage magazine spoke with the Browns in 2015, and again in 2016 after they had spent one year in their new country. The Browns shared the changes and challenges they had experienced, as well as the impact the move has had on their family.
Their names have been changed for their protection.
Read the first article here.Where angels fear to tread: A dangerous calling by Gina Grate Pottenger
One year ago, Dr. and Mrs. Brown moved their family from the United States to an undisclosed location to serve local people through medical ministry.
It was the kind of move that relatively few would consider due to insecurity and conflict in a nearby region. The intensity of the conflict was driving thousands from their homes, communities, and families, causing them to become refugees near where the Browns now live.
What motivates a couple to live, and even raise two children, in such a place? How can a family carry on in a land mangled with uncertainty, spiritual attack and social isolation, while adapting to the normal complications of cross-cultural communication and adaptation, as well as work stress? Why would anyone leave a place of security and take such an assignment?
Engage magazine first sat down with the Browns a few weeks before their move in early 2015, and then checked in with them early in 2016 after about one year had passed in their new home. Their story is thus presented in two parts: before, and now.
Their names have been changed for their protection.
Dr. Brown first sensed God’s call to mission work as a 9-year-old at a traditional Nazarene Missions International service in Southern California.
“It was a culture of missions and my family brought me up in the Nazarene church, so we just talked about missions a lot,” Dr. Brown explains. “My parents even took us on some vacations to South America and other places of the world that gave a culture of missions, so it was quite natural for me.”
Mrs. Brown grew up among Native Americans, where her father ministered. She also recalls listening to missionary speakers at church and thinking God wanted her to do that, too. The calling was confirmed on an overseas trip she attended after completing her nursing degree.
Dr. Brown first believed that becoming a doctor would allow him to serve as a medical missionary, bringing physical healing to people in various world areas. Later, he realized that God was calling him to teach others how to practice medicine, so that Dr. Brown would multiply healing ministry beyond himself.
When the Browns were married, they attended a Nazarene mission ministry course in preparation. During this time, the Soviet Union was breaking up, and doors opened across Eastern Europe for Christian workers. The Browns eventually became pioneer Nazarene tent-maker missionaries, entering as medical missionaries to an undisclosed nation. Through the help of another missionary, the church was planted, and after she left, they continued to cultivate the congregation.
During that 12 years of service, they learned through practice, since they had little prior experience. They met with the local believers six days a week for prayer, which helped to deepen the maturity of the entire group and root them in the truth.
About five years ago, after returning to the U.S., the Browns realized God was stirring their hearts and urging them to move to another area with desperate spiritual and physical needs. An opportunity opened for them to work in this new location. Dr. Brown would assist in a government medical clinic while providing support to a local Nazarene church.
The nearby conflict has cast a shadow over their move.
“I like the word ‘shadow,’” Dr. Brown said. “It’s like in Psalm 23, ‘walking in the valley of the shadow of death.’”
“That psalm is not about death, but about the shadow of it,” Mrs. Brown added. “It’s talking about a place where there are bandits and threat.”
Going to such a place requires fervent support and prayer from others. Some have been able to give that. Others have been concerned.
“We have friends that say, ‘Are you sure you should go there?’” Mrs. Brown said.
“Jesus had put our goal ahead of us, and even though there were people that were telling us, ‘Take your eyes off this goal,’ … we said ‘No, get behind. We are looking to Jesus. We aren’t looking at what’s going on in the world or the news headlines.”
In preparation for such a difficult assignment, the family sought out prayer networks and intensified their own prayer discipline.
“We were learning how to pray for churches and for cities and for regions, so we were understanding God’s heart of how to intercede.” Dr. Brown stops, unable to speak from emotion. Then continues, “Learning to see people in areas through God’s eyes, and praying into them and seeing them as not what they are but what they can be in the Kingdom of God.”
As Dr. and Mrs. Brown stepped into a new mission field, the ability to see people for what they could become would be a necessity. Tomorrow, read more about the experiences they encountered in their new creative access mission field in the second half in this story: “Where angels fear to tread: God supplies.”
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Living in an area that houses thousands of refugees is stressful enough. Ministering to the spiritual needs of people when officials will not allow you to pray with anyone offers an extra challenge.
When planning their move to a new country, the Browns were clear with leadership about their faith and their desire to minister spiritually to those around them. They saw their acceptance into the nation as medical ministers to as a blessing. Initially, Dr. Brown had arranged to establish a government family medical facility. However, shortly after arriving, government leaders instructed him to find work in the refugee camps.
Without a place to serve, Dr. Brown spent almost all of his time praying that God would provide. After several weeks, he was able to partner with a larger organization that had resources but no expert medical advice to start a refugee clinic. Meanwhile, he also volunteered at a government clinic.
The things he encountered in the camps were clear evidence of a spiritual battle. Medical professionals and patients were in need of God’s spiritual and physical healing. Within the government clinics inside the camp, professionals were restricted from playing Christian music or praying for people.
At home, Dr. and Mrs. Brown’s two boys adapted their routine to a new place. Through morning devotions, homeschooling, and making friends, they adjusted to a new life. But, this new life came at a cost. They do not have peers their age and have been really lonely. At the time of this writing they are asking God if they are able to continue and transition to a boarding school.
Loneliness affects Mrs. Brown too. It has been hard to learn language with the school and home responsibilities. Mrs. Brown began taking lessons in the local language and teaching English in exchange. Even though the electricity is unpredictable, Mrs. Brown has learned to cook using local recipes.
Now, God is opening new doors for them.
“We’ve been invited to set up basically a health care clinic next to a camp,” Dr. Brown explains. “They’ve asked us to consult on setting up a clinic and we’re setting up everything from the moment the person walks in and registers.”
A major goal of the new clinic is to spend time with patients, hearing their needs and praying with them. Many of the people suffer from stress-induced illnesses. While government clinics often solve physical complaints with a quick diagnosis and medication, Dr. Brown hopes to get into the deeper issues individuals bring to him.
“We can’t take everyone,” says Dr. Brown, “We have to limit our numbers, but we intentionally treat, listen to and spend a lot more time with patients in communicating – understanding the specific needs they have and hopefully we don’t need to give them medicine. We can give them the option for prayer and just a blessing.”
There are 16 camps not more than an hour from where the Brown’s serve. Within each camp, there are 5,000 to 20,000 people. The facilities and structures vary from camp to camp. Although some camps are run by the government, medical facilities are often outsourced to various organizations. These clinics have limited hours.
“We’ve been proposed to work in the afternoon when no other clinics are open,” Dr. Brown emphasizes. “The challenge is going to be the number of people. 20,000 people in the camp and there’s about 30,000 people outside the camp. The ones in the camp have regular service, food allotments; things are much more regulated. The ones outside the camp have nothing planned.”
Within the independent clinic Dr. Brown currently works in, there are great opportunities for spiritual healing and growth. Local people are coming to understand who Jesus is and how they can gain the hope of salvation. Many are choosing to follow Him.
The Browns are eager to make deeper connections with the local Nazarene church. Currently, the church speaks a language that the Browns have not yet learned. Unfortunately, their English connection to the church left the area due to personal safety concerns. They are now connecting with them through a translator.
For now, the Browns are leaning heavily upon prayer and God’s continued supplying of their needs.
“We’ve realized that it was impossible to do what we’re doing as a family and individually without the prayer. But the good news, Dr. Brown continues, “ is God has brought really committed people to pray for us, and a team of people that are actually really committed to pray for the land and the area.”
As far as their end goal, Dr. Brown has one thing in mind:
“To try to present hope in a hopeless environment; that’s the thing I want to communicate. We need your prayers so we can continue to be here – so we can be used. We’re nothing, but if we can be used of Christ to provide that hope, I think that’s worth it.”
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Mission Priority One
People sometimes misunderstand the purpose behind Mission Priority One. They think of it as, "just another award to put on the wall."
It is better to think of it as a reminder for keeping the four objectives foremost in your church's mind.
Educating using NMI Mission Books is an excellent choice as the books have been a part of the Nazarene mission education program since 1926. There are sets of books for adults, youth, and children. These books provide in-depth views of the Church of the Nazarene globally, sometimes focusing on missionaries and other times zeroing in on indigenous leaders in the denomination.
The NMI Missions Books can be used either individually, reading at your own pace, or some groups have used them as a book study for a particular topic.
You can find the books free in PDF form by clicking here.

2016-2017 Adult NMI Missions BooksAdult set includes four books and bookmarks
Order Number—U-6216; Cost—$32.50
There are not any books designated for youth this year.

NPH Order Form
TO ORDER ONLINE: Click HERE
Call Nazarene Publishing House at 1-800-877-0700 (Toll-free)
Click on Cover to open larger image

Large Print - PDF files - download for free
Messengers of Holiness
A Mission Mosaic
Branching Into Missions
Amazon Adventures
Book Blurbs
Adult Book Blurbs
Adult Book Blurbs
Adult Book Blurbs - A4
Adult Book Blurbs - A4


Descrption of all 2016-17 Mission Education Materials
Price Comparison to materials from 2015-16


NPH Order Form and Item Descriptions
2016-17 NMI Books & Supplies Order Form
2016-17 NMI Books & Supplies Item Descriptions
Adult / Youth NMI Missions Books
are available on CD.
U-6216CD 2016-17 Adult NMI Mission Books on CDs (Set of 4 Books) $24.99
The four adult mission books described above are recorded on CDs.
Book covers from NPH - Use thse to promote the books. $5.99
Electronic 2016–2017 NMI Missions Books Available
E-books
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks on iTunes.
The cost per book is 99 cents, and each should be downloaded separately.
PDF Versions of Books
The books in PDF version are available for download as a set by clicking HERE.
(The download link is just under the book descriptions.)
They will also be available on the Living Mission site.
The size of the download is 191 MB, so it may take a while, depending on Internet speed.
Click HERE to learn about the licensing for the PDF books.
MP3 Books
MP3 versions of the books are available for free download by clicking HERE.

Reading Incentives for All Aes
Seeing the World Through Missions - Game
Mystery Reader - Promotional Idea
Adult Mission Education Curriculum-------
Questions? Comments? Click here. I love to hear feedback!
"Developing Leaders" by Stan Toler
"Two Surefire Ways to Create an Attitude of Gratitude"
Do This and You Will Stop Entitlement Thinking in Its Tracks
One of the most dangerous forms of a negative outlook is the attitude of entitlement. This is the way of thinking that leads people to think they deserve whatever they get, or, more likely, they haven't received what they really deserve.
An attitude of entitlement puts tension into any relationship. When a husband believes his wife owes him affection and sacrifice, it puts a chill on their relationship. When an employee constantly believes she's worth more than she's being paid, her negative attitude will infect every aspect of her work.
You can break the attitude of entitlement in those around you by practicing two simple acts: celebration and thanks. Bring the attitude of gratitude into your relationships by celebrating what's good and saying thanks for everything you receive.
Celebrate at Every Opportunity
Celebrate good things every chance you get. Celebrate birthdays, work anniversaries, project completions, report cards, holidays, or any achievement, no matter how small. The celebrations don't have to be lavish; make them in keeping with the event it commemorates. The important thing is to frequently let the people around you know that you notice what they are doing and value them and the contributions they make.
Celebrations lighten the mood. Everybody feels better when there's a celebration, even a small one. It's hard to keep a negative outlook when everyone around you is happy. Also, celebrations affirm others. This takes the focus off of you for a while and helps to break your own sense of entitlement. It's hard to be self-focused when you're praising someone else.
Say Thanks for Everything
The second way to attack the attitude of entitlement in others is to say thank you whenever possible. Say thanks for everything you can think of, and I mean everything.
Thank the server for bringing your meal at a restaurant, even though it's his job. Thank your employer for your paycheck, even if you think it's less than what you deserve. Thank your spouse for doing housework, even though it's partly their responsibility. Thank the policeman who gives you a citation for speeding; it may have saved your life! Hand out thank-you's like Halloween candy-everybody gets some.
When you are generous with giving thanks, you break the culture of entitlement and replace it with a culture of gratitude. You model a positive outlook for others, you demonstrate humility, and you lift the spirits of those around you. Saying thank you is an incredibly simple, easy thing to do, and it has profound effects on a home, a workplace, or any relational context you find yourself in.[Stan Toler]
Please continue to pray for Stan's battle with cancer - for more information click here.
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Share The Story!

Regional Praise Reports and Prayer Requests
Asia-Pacific Region

Prayers for NHM Secretary and his battle against the Big C
Papua New Guinea: Baru Dirye is the National Health Secretary for Nazarene Health Ministries (NHM). He is not only a top administrator in the health care ministry, but he and his wife Christina, have led a hugely successful Nazarene church plant. What initially started as a simple house church a few years ago eventually led to the single biggest baptism in the church’s history in PNG- with 75 people baptized in one service!
Some months ago, Baru developed a limp. Later they found out that a bone cyst was causing the problem. The cyst was so large that it required a hip replacement, with the assistance of Dr. Jim Radcliffe and another missionary surgeon from another hospital. Sadly, the pathology came back and revealed that this growth was only a symptom of a bigger problem –cancer. Baru has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow.
Baru was started on some treatment but the cancer has not responded so far. The best treatment is not available in Papua New Guinea and would be very expensive in a more developed country. NHM is trying to source other medicines as well. We trust God can do miracles in whatever way possible.
We ask for prayers from our brothers and sisters around the world – for God to touch and heal Baru physically, to give he and his wife and children peace and strength, to guide doctors and treatment, provide what is needed not only for his treatment but also for the running of the health care ministry.[Submitted by: Dr. Scott Dooley]-------

Prayer Requested for Missionary David Potter – Detached Retina
David and Sylvia Potter
Vanuatu, South Pacific: Prayer is requested for Missionary David Potter who is currently in the United States undergoing treatment for a detached retina.
David has already undergone one surgery to correct the detachment of the retina. In a post-operative followup, the specialist noted that there was still 20% of a gas bubble yet to be absorbed and that the vision was 20/400 in the involved eye. A follow up surgery is scheduled for October 10th, with an expected two weeks of recovery time.
Please commit to pray for David and Sylvia Potter, for David’s recovery, and also for the family during this time. David and Sylvia were originally in the states for the passing of David’s father.
Read: Prayer requested for missionary after passing of father. -------

*** UPDATE- Daughter of Missionary Family Hospitalized with Pneumonia – Please Pray!
Manila, Philippines: Please pray for Audrey Riggins, 2 year old daughter of missionaries Scot and Jill Riggins, as she is currently hospitalized in Manila, Philippines, with pneumonia. We praise God that as of today (Sept. 29th) the fever has broken and she is improving. The doctors want to keep her hospitalized for 1 – 2 days as the antibiotics begin to work. Pray for Audrey’s quick and full recovery.
Update as of 3- October:
Praise God! Scot and Jill sent us this latest update:
“Audrey was released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. She is doing better, but will be on oral antibiotics and a nebulizer for another week. She is slowly getting back to herself, but still tired and not much appetite. We will follow up with her pediatrician at the end of the week.
Thank you for your prayers. We are thankful to have her home and feeling better.”
Let’s continue to pray for Audrey’s complete healing.-------

Mother of Team Member from the Philippines Passes Away- Please Pray.
Manila, Philippines: The Asia-Pacific Team was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Adelyn “Dixie” McGinley on September 23, 2016. Dixie was the mother of Sherry Shmidt, who is currently serving at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) as the Campus Chaplain. When one of our team is hurting – we all hurt.
Dixie, a nickname given to her when she moved from Alabama to Ohio, found the Lord at a young age, strayed away, and came back at the age of 33. She and Sherry went forward at the same time to give their hearts to the Lord. Dixie’s faith in God was an inspiration to many over the years as she taught elementary and adult Sunday School classes, led countless Bible Studies and prayer groups.
Read: Adelyn "Dixie" McGinley Obituary.
Adelyn V. 'Dixie' McGinley
Adelyn V. "Dixie" McGinley, 90, of Fostoria and formerly of Findlay, passed away at 7:51 a.m. on Friday, September 23, 2016 at Independence House, Fostoria, Ohio, where she had been a resident for the past eight years. Dixie was born on July 3, 1926 in Boaz, Alabama to the late Roy L. and Erma V. (Blymyer) Phillips. She married William T. "Tom" McGinley on August 15, 1948 and he preceded her in death on September 23, 1996. Surviving are children, Shearon (Lynn) Shmidt, Manila, Philippines; Erma (Dean) Metzger, Fostoria; and Tim McGinley (James Giessler), Whitman, Massachusetts; daughter-in-law, Cheryl McGinley of Findlay; eight grandchildren, Geoff Shmidt, Emily Gooding, Christine Stone, Patrick McGinley, Laura McGinley, Dan Metzger, Kyle Metzger, Jake Metzger and 13 great-grandchildren. Dixie was preceded in death by a son, Neil T. McGinley, and a brother, Paul Eddy. She graduated from Goodwater, Alabama High School and attended Draughman's Business College, for Stenography; Alabama College and Bowling Green State University for Music. She had been employed at Ohio Oil Company, Differential Steel and RCA as a secretary and stenographer. She was a former member of Howard United Methodist Church in Findlay and current member of West Independence UMC, Fostoria. Adelyn (nick-named Dixie by a teacher she had in junior high school in Findlay, because of her Southern roots) had a quiet spirit, stubborn determination and was deeply devoted to her family. Her faith in God was an inspiration to many over the years as she taught elementary and adult Sunday School classes, led countless Bible Studies and prayer groups. She had a lovely alto voice, enjoyed many styles of music and played the piano daily for as long as she possibly could. She loved all things chocolate and was an unwavering fan of the Cleveland Indians. She was known for always having a sweet smile, living life gratefully and with much grace. Visitation for family and friends will be held at KIRKPATRICK-BEHNKE FUNERAL HOME, 500 Lima Avenue, Findlay, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27, 2016. The funeral service will begin at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, following the visitation, with her grandson Rev. Dan Metzger officiating. Private burial will follow in Tawa Cemetery, Union Township, Hancock County. Memorials may be made to the West Independence United Methodist Church, 22876 U.S. 224, Fostoria, Ohio 44830 or to a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.kirkpatrickbehnke.com.
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Dixie was known for always having a sweet smile, living life gratefully and with much grace. Sherry recounts, “She was filled with the Spirit when I was at Olivet. Then her light really began to shine. She had a gentle quiet spirit and everyone knew her as a sweet, happy, praying Christian. She died peacefully with my sister at her bedside.”
Sherry was not able to travel to attend her mother’s funeral that took place on September 27, but she did get to visit with her when she was in the USA this past June. Sherry’s APNTS family held a special memorial service for Dixie on September 28. Despite the distance, Sherry feels blessed.
“Everyone has been loving and kind- with comforting words and hugs. Some come over for just a few minutes to show their support. It’s probably better than in the states when you’re left all alone. The students and staff really treat us like family. It’s been very sweet,” says Sherry.
Despite the circumstances, Sherry feels that the Lord is near and is speaking to her heart. “I pray He is somehow blessing us with these heartaches so we can be more broken for Him…for others.”
Please include Sherry and husband Lynn in your prayers. May their faith remain steadfast during this ordeal.-------

Metro Manila Pastor Joins Our Maker
Philippines: It is with deep regret as we received word on the passing of Honorio “Norie” Mateo, Sr, who succumbed peacefully early morning of September 27, 2016.
Ptr. Norie was one of the highly respected pillars of the Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines. He served the church for more than 50 years in several leadership capacities including Youth President, Pastor, District Superintendent, Church Planter and Board Member of Nazarene Higher Educational Institutions in the Philippines. He was a discipler and mentor to many. Some of them whom he have discipled are now leaders and pastors of the church.
Philippine-Micronesia Field Strategy Coordinator (FSC) Stephen Gualberto expressed his gratitude for Ptr. Norie and how he was instrumental in guiding the FSC in his spiritual journey:
“He was also my discipler and mentor during my early days as a Christian. He is one of my spiritual fathers. Our family came to know the Church of the Nazarene through his ministry. The Mateos are great friends of ours. We are sad that Ptr. Norie is gone, but we celebrate his life because we know that he has finished the race well. He is now with the Father in Heaven, rejoicing in His presence and enjoying paradise.”[Stephen Gualberto]
Despite this time of grief, his family is keeping a positive spirit and an unwavering faith. As said by Jun Mateo, one of his sons, they are a little envious because their father will finally be “in the presence of his Maker and God forever together with our mother Percida.”
Ptr. Norie in Nazarene Bible College, year 1970. (first person at the bottom row, left)
Ptr. Norie is survived by his children and grandchildren. His remains lie in Metro Manila First Church of the Nazarene in Quezon City, and interment is scheduled on Saturday, October 1. Please include the Mateo family in your prayers, that they may go through this difficult time with their trust in the Lord unshaken.
Feature photo courtesy of Ptr. Norie’s granddaughter, Charissa-Grace Howes with the caption, “”Walking with granddady on his rice fields using grandnanay’s highway.”[Submitted by: Ernalyn Longcop-Fausto]
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Prayers for a Family’s Move to PNG
Papua New Guinea: Please pray for the timely processing of papers to allow a new Nazarene doctor family to move to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea. (PNG)Learn more about Kudjip Nazarene Hospital here.
The Nazarene Hospital in the Highlands has served the people of PNG since 1967. The dedicated hospital staff ministers to nearly 60,000 outpatients each year with over 6,000 admissions.
May God’s perfect timing be at work for the family as they respond to His call to ministry.-------
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South Korea
Our prayers go out to South Korea as Typhoon Chaba left a trail of destruction in the cities of Busan, Ulsan and Jeju Island.
The typhoon hit South Korea on Wednesday, leaving six casualties.
John Watton, Asia-Pacific Region Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) Coordinator, is currently communicating with the Church of the Nazarene in Korea regarding disaster response measures being implemented to help our brothers and sisters in the affected areas.
Typhoon Chaba is now in Japan.
Please pray for the people in South Korea as they deal with the devastation brought by the typhoon. May God's peace and healing be upon them during this time. Also include Japan in your prayers that the Lord will keep them safe.[Feature Photo credit: bbc.com]
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Papua New Guinea
What initially started as a simple house church a few years ago eventually led to the single biggest baptism in the church's history in PNG- with 75 people baptized in one service! Baru Dirye and his wife Christina, have led this hugely successful Nazarene church plant.
Baru is the National Health Secretary for Nazarene Health Ministries (NHM) and some months back he developed a limp and doctors found that a bone cyst was causing the problem. The cyst was so large that it required a hip replacement, with the assistance of Dr. Jim Radcliffe and another missionary surgeon from another hospital. Sadly, the pathology came back and revealed that this growth was only a symptom of a bigger problem - cancer. Baru has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow.
Prayer is requested as the cancer has not responded to the treatment that is available to him there in PNG. NHM is trying to source other medicines.
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Manila, Philippines 
Update as of October 3:
Praise God! Scot and Jill sent us this latest update:
"Audrey was released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. She is doing better, but will be on oral antibiotics and a nebulizer for another week. She is slowly getting back to herself, but still tired and not much appetite. We will follow up with her pediatrician at the end of the week.
Thank you for your prayers. We are thankful to have her home and feeling better."
Let's continue to pray for Audrey's complete healing.
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Thailand
On September 12-15, two Thailand districts conducted a retreat for the pastors and their spouses. The Lord's Spirit was ever present during the meetings as tears of joy and renewals were evident throughout the teachings, meals and fellowship time.
Asia- Pacific New Initiatives Coordinator Collin Elliot and his wife Shireen (also Asia-Pacific Women's Clergy Coordinator) led the talk on Marriage Enrichment. They also prepared lessons and games incorporating African tribal culture that merged with Asian tribal culture. All of these played a big role in finding a common ground among the pastors and their spouses. The participants had a stronger understanding of their spouses, which in return would help them serve their families and churches better.
This was the first retreat of its kind held in 15 years, but plans are already in place for the next retreat due to the success of this one.
Northern Thailand’s Couples Retreat- A Real Treat for the Pastors and their Spouses!
Thailand: On September 12- 15, two Thailand districts conducted a retreat for the pastors and their spouses. The Lord’s Spirit was ever present during the meetings as tears of joy and renewals were evident throughout the teachings, meals and fellowship time.
Asia- Pacific New Initiatives Coordinator Collin Elliot and his wife Shireen (also Asia-Pacific Women’s Clergy Coordinator) led the talk on Marriage Enrichment. They also prepared lessons and games incorporating African tribal culture that merged with Asian tribal culture. All of these played a big role in finding a common ground among the pastors and their spouses. The participants had a stronger understanding of their spouses, which in return would help them serve their families and churches better.
Meanwhile, Southeast Asia Field Strategy Coordinator David Phillips brought the evening messages.
The event was very special for the districts of Northern Thailand and Thailand, as this was the first retreat of its kind held in 15 years! Not only did the new generations of pastors and their spouses benefit from the retreat, leaders are also praying that this will be the first step toward the faith revival of the Lahu tribes and their Thai brothers and sisters.
Because of the retreat’s success District Superintendents Lasoe and Lamp from Northern Thailand and Thailand felt so happy and fired up- they’re already planning for the next retreat!
Our sincerest thanks to Collin, Shireen, David and Naomi for being our honored guests and for bringing God’s message to our people. Because of the encouragement brought to the pastors and their spouses, they are even more inspired to serve the churches and ministries they are called into.
Please commit to pray for the ongoing work of the Northern Thailand and Thailand districts as well as for those who are ministering in those districts.[Submitted by: Sam & Lumae Yangmi]
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Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Hurricane Matthew Hits Hard- The Church is Responding
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries:
On Monday night, Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour, causing devastation and chaos before pushing across the eastern tip of Cuba. Massive amounts of rain have affected other parts of the Caribbean, including Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. As the hurricane continues, residents of the Bahamas as well as residents of eastern Florida and U.S. states along the coast up through North Carolina are bracing for the storm, and hundreds of thousands of people are evacuating.
In the aftermath of devastation, the church is responding.
The storm has made its way through the Caribbean, but it hit Haiti particularly hard. Many people in Haiti live in fragile houses or even temporary-shelters leftover from the devastating 2010 earthquake. Now, many of those homes have been destroyed, along with crops and livelihoods. Radio reports have described shoulder-high floodwaters roaring into homes
The floodwaters and a lack of clean water are expected to bring a second catastrophe to Haiti: a potential cholera outbreak. A cholera epidemic ravaged the country following the earthquake.
The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti comprises 11 districts and more than 500 local churches. Four districts are in the southern peninsula and the island of La Gonave, which were directly affected by the hurricane.
Urgent needs include water filters, food, shelter, and blankets. The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti is working to distribute a few hundred crisis care kits already on hand to provide for sanitation necessities, and the church also has a couple hundred tents and tarps available to distribute. Leaders are currently doing assessments to determine areas of greatest need.
Assessments are still underway to determine damage in Cuba and Jamaica and how Nazarene church communities have been affected.
Church leaders are requesting prayer for families and individuals who have been affected by Hurricane Matthew.
A man clears debris after Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, October 5, 2016. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Pray
Please pray for those grieving the loss of loved ones. Pray for those who lost their homes and have no means to rebuild. Pray for protection of lives, especially from cholera. Pray for vulnerable children and senior adults. Pray that people would know God’s comfort and peace. And pray for churches working to care for their neighbors and meet urgent needs.
Give
Churches and individuals around the world can provide support through the Hurricane Matthew Response Fund. Donations will be used for immediate needs, as well as long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
To send donations by mail:
In the U.S., make checks payable to “General Treasurer” and send them to:
Global Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
P.O. Box 843116
Kansas City, MO 64184-3116
Be sure to put ACM1198/F135 in the Memo area.
In Canada, make checks payable to “Church of the Nazarene Canada” and send them to:
Church of the Nazarene Canada
20 Regan Road, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3
Be sure to put ACM1198/F135 in the Memo area.
For any other country, give through your local church or district, designating your gift to Hurricane Matthew Response.
On Monday night, Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour, causing devastation and chaos before pushing across the eastern tip of Cuba. Massive amounts of rain have affected other parts of the Caribbean, including Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
As the hurricane continues, residents of the Bahamas as well as residents of eastern Florida and states along the coast up through North Carolina are bracing for the storm, and hundreds of thousands of people are evacuating.
This storm is not yet played out, please keep praying for those that have been effected and those that will be.
In the aftermath of devastation, the church is responding.

Hurricane Matthew Hits Hard- The Church is Responding
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries:
On Monday night, Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour, causing devastation and chaos before pushing across the eastern tip of Cuba. Massive amounts of rain have affected other parts of the Caribbean, including Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. As the hurricane continues, residents of the Bahamas as well as residents of eastern Florida and U.S. states along the coast up through North Carolina are bracing for the storm, and hundreds of thousands of people are evacuating.
In the aftermath of devastation, the church is responding.
The storm has made its way through the Caribbean, but it hit Haiti particularly hard. Many people in Haiti live in fragile houses or even temporary-shelters leftover from the devastating 2010 earthquake. Now, many of those homes have been destroyed, along with crops and livelihoods. Radio reports have described shoulder-high floodwaters roaring into homes
The floodwaters and a lack of clean water are expected to bring a second catastrophe to Haiti: a potential cholera outbreak. A cholera epidemic ravaged the country following the earthquake.
The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti comprises 11 districts and more than 500 local churches. Four districts are in the southern peninsula and the island of La Gonave, which were directly affected by the hurricane.
Urgent needs include water filters, food, shelter, and blankets. The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti is working to distribute a few hundred crisis care kits already on hand to provide for sanitation necessities, and the church also has a couple hundred tents and tarps available to distribute. Leaders are currently doing assessments to determine areas of greatest need.
Assessments are still underway to determine damage in Cuba and Jamaica and how Nazarene church communities have been affected.
Church leaders are requesting prayer for families and individuals who have been affected by Hurricane Matthew.
A man clears debris after Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, Haiti, October 5, 2016. REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Pray
Please pray for those grieving the loss of loved ones. Pray for those who lost their homes and have no means to rebuild. Pray for protection of lives, especially from cholera. Pray for vulnerable children and senior adults. Pray that people would know God’s comfort and peace. And pray for churches working to care for their neighbors and meet urgent needs.
Give
Churches and individuals around the world can provide support through the Hurricane Matthew Response Fund. Donations will be used for immediate needs, as well as long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
To send donations by mail:
In the U.S., make checks payable to “General Treasurer” and send them to:
Global Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
P.O. Box 843116
Kansas City, MO 64184-3116
Be sure to put ACM1198/F135 in the Memo area.
In Canada, make checks payable to “Church of the Nazarene Canada” and send them to:
Church of the Nazarene Canada
20 Regan Road, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3
Be sure to put ACM1198/F135 in the Memo area.
For any other country, give through your local church or district, designating your gift to Hurricane Matthew Response.-------
Australia
NTC Brisbane 2016 Promo VideoNazarene Theological College- Brisbane (NTC) recently released this year's promotional video.
In this video NTC Principal Rev. Rob Fringer talks about why you should study at NTC and join their community of students, leaders and pastors wrestling with what it means to follow Christ.
"If you have a desire to grow in your relationship with Christ, if you have desire to grow in community with others who are striving and wrestling with what it means to be believers, what it means to be pastors, what it means to be those who are on a journey with Christ, I would say NTC is the place for you."[Rev. Rob Fringer]
Overseas students are welcomed and everyone can participate in the Kimberley Mission Experience as well as benefit from the quality theological education that NTC offers.
If you are considering theological education then NTC would love to have you journey with them!

NTC Brisbane Releases 2016 Promo Video!
Australia: Nazarene Theological College- Brisbane (NTC) recently released this year’s promotional video.
In this video, NTC Principal Rev. Rob Fringer talks about why you should study at NTC and join their community of students, leaders and pastors wrestling with what it means to follow Christ.
If you have a desire to grow in your relationship with Christ, if you have desire to grow in community with others who are striving and wrestling with what it means to be believers, what it means to be pastors, what it means to be those who are on a journey with Christ, I would say NTC is the place for you.- Rev. Rob Fringer
Overseas students are welcomed and everyone can participate in the Kimberley Mission Experience as well as benefit from the quality theological education that they offer.
If you are considering theological education then NTC would love to have you journey with them!
Learn more about NTC-Brisbane here!
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Member Care
Stress 102 (part 2) stres/noun: the physiological response to a perceived threat or demand.
In our last article, we tackled what stress is and why it matters.

Breathing Deep – Stress 101 (Part 1)
Stress 101 (part 1) stres/noun: the physiological response to a perceived threat or demand.
What is it?
Clenched teeth… sleepless nights… tight muscles… headaches… conflict… worry…. All of these are ways that Stress makes its appearance in our lives…. But WHAT IS IT?
Technically, stress is what our body does automatically when we think we are being threatened or a high demand is being placed on us. And often we don’t even realize this is what’s going on. Some definitions indicate that this response is triggered anytime we are faced with change. Stress is not the situation that causes the response, rather it is our response.
The threat may be a physical threat or it can happen when we feel threatened emotionally, relationally, in our authority, or even if our opinions or values are being threatened. The demand may come from a good situation as in important life events such as weddings or trips, as well as difficult situations, such as transitions or grief.
Stress is basically the body’s automatic Fight-or-Flight response and when it is triggered, a series of chain reactions take place in our body as a result of the release of specific chemicals and hormones into our brain and body. Among these, are cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline.
When these chemicals are released, there are some pretty amazing physical things that start to take place automatically:
  • Blood flow increases to our muscles
  • Heart rate increases
  • Blood sugar increases
  • Eye site and hearing initially become sharper and clearer
  • Metabolism slows down
  • Breathing increases
  • Physical capabilities and performance increase… temporarily.
This is The Stress Response.
Why does it matter?
The Stress Response is a God given system designed to help us handle dangerous or demanding situations. It allows us to perform better, be stronger and think more clearly in immediate demanding or threatening circumstances. We can think of the Stress Response as a kind of gas peddle allowing us to do what is needed when it is needed.
Fortunately, God also designed us with a brake peddle, or a Relaxation Response. In God’s design, we are made to stop the increase of these chemicals when the demand or threat is passed, allowing our body to return to a resting place for restoration. We were created to be at our best when we find the rhythm between this STRESS Response and the RELAXATION Response.
Unfortunately, we sometimes get out of rhythm and our gas peddle can get stuck, holding us in that high STRESS condition and resulting in Chronic Stress….and that’s not good.
How does this happen? Here are 4 ways we are especially vulnerable to getting ourselves stuck in a state of Chronic Stress:
  • Perception: We may perceive a situation as threatening or we anticipate a threat or demand that is not actually threatening or demanding. The thing is, the stress response is triggered in our brain whether the threat is real or imagined. Think – worry, anxiety, anticipation, etc.
  • Reality: Honestly, for many of us, the realities of our life keep us exposed to too much threat or too much demand, too much of the time. This can lead to BurnOut or Compassion Fatigue (watch for an article on this). There simply isn’t space or boundaries in our lives for the RELAXATION Response to be activated.
  • Ruts: We’ve allowed habits and behavior patterns to form ‘ruts’ in our life so that we don’t even recognize the cues when our body is crying out for this RELAXATION Response. We train ourselves to get by on too little sleep or we develop an addiction to adrenaline so that we actually crave it and lean into stress and high level activity rather than finding the healthy rhythms we were created for.
  • Passion: Finally, we tend to not recognize stress when it is flowing from the fulfillment of our passion. Often in ministry, we are so energized by the activity of our work, that we get lost in it. It doesn’t feel bad in the moment, so we don’t realize the negative impact of staying in the STRESS mode too much.
And the problem is that Chronic Stress is extremely harmful. Research in the US, indicates that 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from chronic stress and 75-90% of all doctor office visits can be traced to stress-related ailments and complaints. In addition, emotional disorders, more than 50% of the time, are due to chronic stress reactions that are not addressed.
And it’s not just physical. Here’s how Chronic Stress can show up in our lives:
  • Mental: Worry, Unclear thinking, Bad judgment, Nightmares, Indecision, Negativity, Bad decisions.
  • Behavioral: Accident Prone, Loss of appetite, Loss of sex drive, Sleeplessness, Restlessness.
  • Emotional: Loss of confidence, Fussiness, Irritability, Depression, Apathy, Loneliness, Worry, Anxiety.
  • Physical: Headaches, Weight Gain, Frequent sickness due to lowered immunity, Tight and sore muscles, Tiredness, Skin problems, Shortness of breath, Fatigue, High blood pressure.
  • Relational: Anger, Loss of Motivation, Moral Compromise, Increased Conflict
  • Spiritual: Doubt, Loss of Faith, Loss of Perspective
And then, we find that these very symptoms of Chronic Stress, will cause us to be MORE stressed!!
This matters to us because our ability to meet the demands of our calling will be compromised in a state of Chronic Stress. Also, our influence and testimony is at risk when we continue to try to function, especially in ministry, while under high stress. And finally, our ability to maintain integrity in our relationships is negatively effected by chronic stress.
What Can We Do About It?
There is help! Science has given us a HUGE amount of resources to help deal with what has been described as a Chronic Stress Epidemic. But even more relevant to us is that Christ offers us a cure. It’s not always easy or fast, but we are promised that we can be transformed by the renewal of our mind… and I don’t know about you, but sometimes, I can sure use some renewal!
In my next article, Stress 102, we’ll take a closer look at some of the physical and mental ways God has designed us to manage this dance between Stress and Relaxation. We’ll walk through the creation of a Personal Plan to Manage Stress. But between now and then, let’s soak in some of these Bible verses that have much to say to us about Stress:
Matthew 6:25-27, Matthew 6:34, Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 12:25, John 14:27, Colossians 3:15, II Thessalonians 3:16, Psalm 55:22, Proverbs 12:25, Philippians 4:6-7, I Peter 5:7, Psalm 23:4, Isaiah 43:1-3, Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 56:3, Psalm 121:1-2, Proverbs 3:5-6
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore, I tell you, don’t worry about your life — what you will eat or drink; or about your body — what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds flying about! They neither plant nor harvest, nor do they gather food into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they are? 27 Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to his life?
Matthew 6:34 Don’t worry about tomorrow — tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris already!
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.[Matthew 11:29 Jeremiah 6:16] 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Luke 12:25 Can any of you by worrying add an hour to his life?
John 14:27 “What I am leaving with you is shalom — I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened.
Colossians 3:15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body.
And be thankful —
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of shalom himself give you shalom always in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.
Psalm 55:22 (21) What he said sounded smoother than butter,
but his heart was at war.
His words seemed more soothing than oil,
but in fact they were sharp swords.
Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down,
    but a kind word cheers him up.
Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua.
1 Peter 5:7 Throw all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you.
Psalm 23:4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.
Isaiah 43:1 But now this is what Adonai says,
he who created you, Ya‘akov,
he who formed you, Isra’el:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you;
I am calling you by your name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through water, I will be with you;
when you pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire, you will not be scorched —
the flame will not burn you.
3 For I am Adonai, your God,
the Holy One of Isra’el, your Savior —
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and S’va for you.
Hebrews 13:6 Therefore, we say with confidence,
“Adonai is my helper; I will not be afraid —
what can a human being do to me?”[Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6]
Psalm 46:10 (9) To the ends of the earth he makes wars cease —
he breaks the bow, snaps the spear,
burns the shields in the fire.
Psalm 56:3 (2) Those who are lying in wait for me
would trample on me all day.
For those fighting against me are many.
Most High,
Psalm 121:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) If I raise my eyes to the hills,
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from Adonai,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in Adonai with all your heart;
do not rely on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him;
then he will level your paths.[Cindy Schmelzenbach, Regional Member Care Coordinator]
-------This time, let's answer this very important question: What can we do about it?
Once we become aware of what stress is, what it could do to our minds and bodies, and the benefits and risks of addressing and ignoring it, then we are in a good place to be motivated toward action.
But what is that action? Harmon and I have developed a 5-Step Process that has helped us as well as others we've worked with, to take charge as it relates to Stress Management. (Thanks to Stephen Gualberto for putting these into 5 R's!)
Our awareness of stress and how to manage it is a huge issue impacting our holistic health, the effectiveness of our lives in ministry and the quality of our most valued relationships.[Submitted by: Cindy Schmelzenbach]

Breathing Deep- Stress 102 (Part 2)
Stress 102 (part 2) stres/noun: the physiological response to a perceived threat or demand.
In our last article, we tackled what stress is and why it matters.
Read: Breathing Deep- Stress 101 (Part 1)
This time, let’s answer this very important question: What can we do about it?
Once we become aware of what stress is, what it could do to our minds and bodies, and the benefits and risks of addressing and ignoring it, then we are in a good place to be motivated toward action.
But what is that action? Harmon and I have developed a 5-Step Process that has helped us as well as others we’ve worked with, to take charge as it relates to Stress Management. (Thanks to Stephen Gualberto for putting these into 5 R’s!)
Step #1: REFLECTSelf-awareness is the first and most important part of stress management. We can raise our awareness by considering what stresses us and how stress affects us.
First, what are the stressors in our lives? Reflect back over the last 30 days and consider the circumstances surrounding an increase in stress.
  • In what situations are we most uncomfortable?
  • When do we experience an increase in anxiety?
  • When we can’t sleep, what had happened during the day?
  • In what ways are we undergoing transition or grief?
  • What circumstances cause increased conflict in our lives?
List everything we can think of- from a broken toilet to other more significant life transitions. A standard stress score has been suggested for many life events (Remember: even good events cause stress.) How many of these have you experienced this year? Take the Life Stress Test!
Next, what is our own unique response to stress? Headington Institute has a Self-awareness Checklist to help us explore the ways that chronic stress may be showing up in our lives.
Step #2: REMOVEGet rid of Junk Stressors. I owe the concept of Junk Stressors to the facilitators of the Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills (SYIS) Workshop (which I highly recommend!) Basically, the idea is that we can eliminate the stressors in our life that don’t have to be there. Examples of Junk Stressors could be the inability to say ‘no’ when we are asked to take on non-essential tasks. Junk Stressors could also be habits like ignoring the alarm clock, wasting too much time on social media, or even poor diet choices. The examples above could lead to stress- whether from having to rush to finish tasks or not having enough energy to meet our responsibilities.
Developing more healthy thought processes can eliminate Junk Stress that comes from worrying or over-thinking.
  • What relational habits might we have that could cause Junk Stress?
  • Are there some conversation topics we need to steer clear of?
  • What stress-inducing circumstances could we avoid?
  • What habits can we introduce into our daily routine that would remove these Junk Stressors?
We can make a list and one by one intentionally consider what it would take to remove these from our lives.
Step #3: REDUCEOnce we have removed the Junk Stressors, we can next focus our attention to reducing, as much as possible, the remaining stressors. This step speaks to the power of having good boundaries in place. Creating margins between high-demand events, anticipating when we will need extra rest, giving ourselves space when we are experiencing high stress life events, allowing adequate time to meet our responsibilities – these are ways to reduce stress in our life.
  • How realistic is my calendar?
  • Who can I call on when I am over-extended?
  • When I can’t say ‘no’, how can I learn to say, ‘later’?
  • How does my schedule allow for the unpredictable stuff of life?
  • How might better delegation practices reduce my stress levels?
  • What steps can I take today that will result in a reduction of stress?
Step #4: REFRAMEAs Christ’s followers, knowing there is a loving and sovereign God with whom we are in a relationship which gives us access to a new outlook that can have a dramatic impact on our experience with stress. Reframing is all about perspective. Having an intentional positive point of view actually reduces the presence of stress chemicals in our body. Regular practice of gratitude has been shown to be one of the most effective stress reducers available to us. Taking time to consider the hope we have from an eternal perspective will significantly increase our current experience of peace.
  • How can we view our current problem as an opportunity?
  • What am I thankful for today?
  • Who are the people I appreciate? And have I told them?
  • How do these circumstances look from the perspective of eternity?
  • What potential good can come from this situation?
  • How can I grow from this?
Step #5: RELAXFor some of us, we’ve been overstressed for so long that our body has forgotten how to trigger that Relaxation Response we talked about in Stress 101. Fortunately, we can give our body a ‘push start’ toward triggering that response – our body will thank us for the reminder of how it was designed to work!
  • Practice Deep Breathing – Breathe deeply and slowly, for 20 minutes, twice a day.
  • Observe Progressive Muscle Relaxation – This is the practice of intentional tensing and relaxing of the muscle groups in your body and is shown to significantly and immediately reduce the presence of stress chemicals in our body.
  • Go for a Walk – Even a 15 minute walk in a safe, quiet setting will help to trigger the relaxation response.
  • Exercise Regularly.
  • Follow a Healthy Diet – Caffeine, low fiber carbs and refined sugar increase the stress hormone cortisol; bananas, citrus, and dark chocolate reduce cortisol.
Here’s more:
  • Get Adequate Sleep- Sleep is one of the first things to go when stress increases. On the other hand, sleep will help reduce stress hormones.
  • Laugh- Why? Because Laughter actually diminishes the secretion of cortisol!
  • Listen to upbeat, relaxing music.
  • Pray and Meditate.
  • Practice Sabbath.
I have also linked this piece to other previous articles on the Breathing Deep Series. Our awareness of stress and how to manage it is a huge issue impacting our holistic health, the effectiveness of our lives in ministry and the quality of our most valued relationships. I’m passionate about being a part of helping reduce the negative impact of stress in people’s lives. If you’d like further help in exploring the role of stress in your life, or developing your own personal Stress Management Plan, let me know.[Submitted by: Cindy Schmelzenbach]-------
Resources
Throughout the month of October, churches around the world will show their appreciation for clergy and pastoral staff members in a variety of ways. These men and women can be celebrated through personal notes or gifts, by groups like a Sunday school class, or in larger settings with the entire congregation.
We are very thankful the people who tirelessly minister, mentor, disciple and help out others for God's glory! Find out how you could show your appreciation for everything that they do!

Celebrate Clergy Appreciation Month
Resources: Throughout the month of October, churches around the world will show their appreciation for clergy and pastoral staff members in a variety of ways. These men and women can be celebrated through personal notes or gifts, by groups like a Sunday school class, or in larger settings with the entire congregation.
Here are some ideas:
  • Organize a prayer calendar so each pastor is prayed for every day of the month.
  • Create a slideshow presentation of pastors in action during the past year. Set it to music and play it as a pre-service video.
  • Give clergy families a night out to a local restaurant or gift certificate for an overnight get-away.
  • Invite children to create artwork for the pastors.
  • Choose a day and have people text pastors hourly with a heartfelt message explaining how the pastors have positively impacted members.
  • Give each Sunday in October a special emphasis related to something appreciated about each of your congregation’s pastoral leaders (personality qualities, gifting, family, etc.) with a special tribute, recollection, etc. Consider giving a gift that relates to the emphasis.
  • Allow members of the congregation to volunteer time serving pastoral leaders by babysitting or helping with yard projects and other home maintenance.
  • Update your pastor’s office with new paint, décor, or a technology upgrade.
On behalf of the Church of the Nazarene’s Global Ministry Center, thank you to pastors and all clergy for their labor and leadership in helping to make Christlike disciples in the nations.-------
Manila, Philippines 
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary is inviting leaders to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Ministry Symposium that will be held on November 30, 2016.
The focus of the symposium will be Contextual Ministry Among Traditional Peoples. APNTS has invited Dr. Darrell Whiteman as the event's guest speaker, where he will share his extensive experience in cross-cultural missions.
It will be an exciting day of worship, presentation and meaningful discussion!
Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from the best and connect with others who share the same interest!

You’re Invited to the Asia-Pacific Ministry Symposium in November!
Manila, Philippines: Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary is inviting leaders to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Ministry Symposium that will be held on November 30, 2016.
The focus of the symposium will be Contextual Ministry Among Traditional Peoples. APNTS has invited Dr. Darrell Whiteman as the event’s guest speaker, where he will share his extensive experience in cross-cultural missions.
It will be an exciting day of worship, presentation and meaningful discussion!
Click here for more information.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from the best and connect with others who share the same interest!
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Latest WMC News Video

Running for Refugee School, Refugees Trained and Equipped, Radio Ministry in PNG and APNYI Opens Registration
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Great Missions Moment / Service Opener
Download now - click here
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24th Global Nazarene Youth International Convention- Deadline Approaching!
Nazarene Youth International

The countdown to the Global NYI Convention continues.... We are 10 months away! Each district NYI convention should be electing youth, lay, and ministerial delegates and alternates at this time. The deadline to elect NYI delegates is 31 March 2017.
Each month leading up to the Global NYI Convention, we are highlighting various aspects of the convention to help delegates prepare. The focus of this highlight is on resolutions.
Learn more about the 10 important things about resolutions, and access more information on the NYI website and Facebook page!
Follow the link for further details and be in-the-know!
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Asia-Pacific Region
INITIAL PUBLIC LAUNCH!
Does engaging the Word of God truly lead to life transformation?
The Center for Bible Engagement has surveyed more than 200,000 people, ages 8-80, across 20 countries, 75 denominations and most major religions.

What did they find?
The Power of 4 Effect
APNaz Connect is the Asia-Pacific Region's Mobile Application to help you and those whom you are discipling, actively engage the Word! An included spiritual assessment will customize the app to deliver scriptures that speak to you personally. Sign up for a specialized devotional track on a topic of interest like Anger, Worry, When Life Hurts, Growing Spiritually, Engaging the Scriptures, and more.
Take a moment and find out what the Power of 4 Effect is and how to download the app by clicking here!
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Warning for Nazarenes Using Mac!!!

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General Assembly Just One Year Away. Will You Help Us? We Need to Hear from You!
Regional Announcement

As General Assembly 2017 draws closer and planning increases by the day, the Church of the Nazarene's General Secretary's Office requests opinions from Nazarenes around the world on their expectations for the event.
The denomination's 29th General Assembly and Conventions are 21-30 June 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
click here!
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APNTS Career Opportunities
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary

Know what's in store! Click here to view their website!
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Around the Region News Archive
Asia-Pacific


Do you remember seeing a particular story in one of our weekly newsletters?
Are you wishing you could send a copy of a previous newsletter to a friend? Be sure to check out the Around The Region Weekly Newsletter Archive.
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Asia-Pacific Regional Communications of The Global Church of the Nazarene of Taytay, Rizal, Manila, Philippines with The Around The Regional News...Church in Singapore Launches - October 1, Prayer - Missionary with Detached Retina, MK Hospitalized for Pneumonia, Operating System Upgrade Alert, Contextualized Ministry Symposium Coming to APNTS, Beware - Scamming Alert, New Mission Video - so much more!!! for Saturday, October 1, 2016 Volume 4 / Issue Number 35 

Nazarene News from Around the Globe
(Bold Items - Latest News)
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Africa:
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Eurasia:
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Mesoamerica:
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South America:

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USA / Canada:
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Collegiate:

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Resources:

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Passings:

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Engage Magazine:
A channel for God's blessing by Amy Crofford
2 Corinthians 9:12 – “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
ANU Student Leaders, Prof. Leah Marangu, ANU's Transportation Team and the Glory Bus
The Blessing Begins
As Rob North, Africa Nazarene University’s Director for University Advancement, spoke about the need for a bus, he felt the Holy Spirit prod him to ask a listener that day to donate the entire cost of a bus. At ANU, buses are used for many reasons including daily transportation of some staff/students to the small city of Rongai where they can pick up public transportation, student mission trips – about three per semester organized by the chaplain’s office, trips by other campus organizations, athletic teams, and club/department outings and conferences. Since some of the roads in Nairobi and the surrounding areas can be rough, reliable vehicles are required. After Rob finished speaking, a woman confirmed that she and her husband felt they should donate a bus through a foundation they were associated with. The money was sent and the bus was built.
At the Faculty Workshop day in early September, the bus made its first appearance on the ANU campus. The faculty and administration circled the bus and prayed for it.
The video of the bus coming to the campus shows a common route travelling passing the Galleria Mall and Nairobi National Park before turning onto a busy road that leads to ANU.
The Blessing Builds
The awareness of just how great this blessing was began to grow in hearts and minds; people just could not contain it. Chaplain Rev. Cindy North explains, “Charles Ogutu, our Vice Chairperson of Student Council for the main campus, came to me saying, ‘We want to do a dedication for the new bus and the student council wants to encourage the community to do a 'Thanks' offering back to God.’
“We continued to brainstorm about the Church of the Nazarene’s thrust to the cities emphasis for Africa and how we at ANU want to support the work of the Church of the Nazarene here. Charles Ogutu is a Nazarene pastor's kid.
“Charles left the office and, within a short time after that, Pastor Shaun [Bati, the assistant chaplain] walked in telling me about the Christian Union students beginning to plan a mission for 1 October to Mathare Church of the Nazarene to work with the youth. Immediately, I sensed the Holy Spirit was bringing together my earlier conversation with Charles to this new development that Pastor Shaun was bringing to me.
“Early in this week, we begin connecting the Student Council with the Christian Union leaders to do a combined effort of ministry as a special launch outreach program with the new bus.”
The Blessing is Celebrated
Prof. Leah Marangu, Crescencia and Joseph Kisoi, and Polly Kamau reminisce about the first bus.
Dr. Brenda Johnson, on sabbatical from Northwest Nazarene University, shares about the special bus dedication chapel. “The student leader shared about the offering and the importance of the ‘Glory Bus.’ Vice Chancellor Marangu challenged those present to live a life of thanksgiving and for others, which is the African way.”
She reminded everyone that this is not ANU’s first bus. She asked if anyone was present who was at the first bus dedication when the zebras and giraffes wandered on the campus. Three people stood and then came to join her on the platform. Rev. Joseph Kisoi, a lecturer in the Department of Religion, was the student leader at that time and he shared what a blessing the first bus had been because before then, the students had to walk from Rongai to the campus and the road was not paved as it is now. His wife, Crescencia who manages the college bookstore, and Polly Kamau from Alumni Relations were the others who could witness the former event.
ANU's transportation team.
Later, Michael Kinuthia, Director of Transportation, and two other ANU drivers received the appreciation of those gathered and bowed their heads as a prayer was said for their ministry and safety. Dr. Johnson remarks that the drivers “are very talented individuals who invest so much in getting their passengers there safely. Truly we have been with them when the skill taken to maneuver the van/bus in very small spaces was phenomenal. In the middle of all the traffic, these drivers represent ANU and I have seen their patience and kindness in the midst of what appears to me great chaos.”
Dr Johnson continues, “The student body leaders challenged us to give to a third party as ANU was a recipient of the ‘Glory Bus.’ God asks us in turn to give sacrificially. Students, faculty and staff alike put money into two boxes to assist the student ministry team in their mission to help education in a small village outside Nairobi.” At that one service, approximately $200 USD was raised. More will come in from those who missed the chapel or came unprepared as well as from the downtown campus.
The Blessing Flows
Assistant Chaplain Shaun Bati said, “Because we are given grace by God, we become channels to show his grace to others.” The outreach in Mathare will be his fifth outreach trip to a school, usually outreaches are to orphanages. Sometimes the mission trips are for a weekend, but often they are day trips.
Mathare is the second largest slum in Nairobi. It has all the problems and issues one would expect. Life is difficult for everyone, but especially children. Many families cannot raise school fees. Many households have been affected by HIV/AIDS. Amenities are unknown. There are very few schools in the area and often children turn to crime for survival.
Paris Akoyi, an ANU alumna, is in her seventh year as the head of Community Care School founded by her father, Rev Paul Akoyi. The pastor saw the need in his neighborhood and took up the challenge. It is a beacon of light in a dark place. They serve 40 students between the ages of 3 and 15.
For the Mathare outing, ANU students and others will spend time with the children doing various activities, e.g. draw, play games, talk about teenage issues with the older kids, pray, read the Bible, and do an educational activity.
Ms. Akoyi mentioned some of the school needs are stationary supplies, clothes and food.
The Blessing Multiplies
The trip to Mathare will be the inaugural mission outreach for the bus, but not its last. Several outreaches are planned for this trimester. In addition to the chaplain’s office other campus organizations that do outreaches to disadvantaged kids include business students, Sing Africa, and the Christian Union.
ANU’s motto is “What begins here, transforms the world.” Sometimes though, the blessing begins elsewhere and the ANU community becomes a channel to continue the flow of grace, blessing and love.
Please pray for the Glory Bus, the Mathare outreach, and trips that will follow.
Reflect on how you have been blessed and how you can be a channel for blessing others.
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Mission Priority One
Because we believe that missions is a lifestyle and not just a destination, we have developed the Mission Priority One (MPO) guidelines to help our local churches in focusing on ways that they can be engaged with missions.
While there are countless ways to share Christ's message of hope, MPO has goals that help churches accomplish two things:
1. Increase church members' passion for God's mission.
2. Assist churches in taking the message of Christ to the world.
You can find more information for the global church MPO on page 4by clicking here. Please note that this is taken from the global NMI Handbook and is slightly different than the handbook for USA/Canada.
At the Convention, each region has the opportunity to elect an individual to represent them on the Global NMI Council. Please note: A candidate for Global NMI Council should have experience as a Local or District NMI President!
Districts are not required to submit names, but if you choose to, nominations must be received by January 1, 2017.
Additionally, if your district desires to present constitution resolutions to the Global NMI Convention, they must be received by January 1, 2017. Click here for the forms.
Questions? Comments? Click here. I love to hear feedback!
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Developing Leaders[Stan Toler]
The Best Way to Handle Negative People
A Life Lesson from a Little Frog
I love the story about a group of frogs that were hopping along through the woods when two of them fell into a pit. The other frogs saw how deep the pit was, and they realized there was no hope. They told the two frogs in the pit that they were as good as dead.
The two frogs in the pit were positive thinkers though, so they ignored the naysayers and tried to jump out anyway. The frogs up above were sure they were right, and they keep shouting for the other two to quit jumping and accept their fate.
After a while, one of the frogs became so discouraged by all the negative talk that he finally lost hope. He quit jumping, fell down, and died.
The second frog didn't. He kept jumping, seemingly undeterred by the waves of negativity being showered down upon him. He continued jumping with all his might. The negative crowd renewed its efforts, yelling even louder for him to stop the foolish jumping, give up, and die.
But the little guy kept at it, jumping a little higher with each attempt. Finally, he finally made it out.
When he got out, the other frogs said, "Why did you keep jumping? Couldn't you hear us?"
It took a few moments for the successful jumper to figure out what they were saying. Then he responded, "I'm deaf. All this time, I thought you were encouraging me!"
You are going to encounter plenty of frogs in life. There will be many people who feel intimidated or even threatened by your positive character, leadership, and optimism. Misery loves company, and people who are steeped in negative thinking always want someone to join them in complaining, feeling helpless or entitled, or trudging along in a negative lifestyle that leads to misery.
Some of them may be close to you-members of your family, coworkers, or trusted friends.
Do not listen to them. Don't for one moment believe that you cannot succeed, that you will never rise above your negative circumstances, that your life cannot change, that you are stuck with a negative outlook forever.
Here is the truth: You can change! You can become a positive person. You cannot choose what happens to you in life, but you can always choose your response to it. You can make the decision to have a positive outlook. And when you support that with positive changes to your lifestyle-your thoughts, daily habits, and relationships-you will become a positive, forward thinking, optimistic, successful person.[Stan Toler]
Please continue to pray for Stan's battle with cancer - for more information click here.
Share The Story!

Regional Praise Reports and Prayer Requests
Asia-Pacific Region
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Singapore Church of the Nazarene to Launch on October 1!
Singapore: After months of eager anticipation, it is with great joy that we announce that Singapore Church of the Nazarene will be launched on Saturday, October 1!
The Church was officially registered February 2016, and in the Lord’s perfect time, they are finally actualizing another important milestone.
Singapore coordinator Shireen Elliott is inviting everyone to take part in this momentous occasion. The launch will be held at the 7th floor, Function Room 2 in The Big Box (Jurong East MRT). Activities will start at 5:00PM. Please refer to the schedule below:
  • 5:00- 6:00PM Meet & Greet
  • 6:00-8:00PM Worship Service
  • 8:00-9:00PM Serving of Light Refreshments
We hope everyone in the area could join Singapore Church of the Nazarene in this special celebration. Let us continue to include them in our prayers, that they may become instruments in reflecting Christ and making Christlike disciples in this great nation.[Submitted by: Shireen Elliott]
Like their page on Facebook!
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Running for Refugee School, Refugees Trained and Equipped, Radio Ministry in PNG and APNYI Opens Registration

Great Missions Moment / Service Opener
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Singapore
After months of eager anticipation, it is with great joy that we announce that Singapore Church of the Nazarene will be launched on October 1!
The Church was officially registered February 2016, and in the Lord's perfect time, they are finally actualizing another important milestone.
Don't miss this amazing opportunity to connect with our fellow Nazarenes in Singapore! Get the details and join this blessed event!
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Japan
It was another milestone for Nazarene Youth International (NYI) for Japan district as the quadrennial 4-day convention came to a close on the 19th of September in Hiroshima.
Over 50 delegates attended the event, with people coming from all over Japan- from Northernmost Hokkaido, to the subtropical island in Okinawa.
With the slogan, "Peace Be With You," find out how the event incorporated the theme into its discussions and activities!
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It is with sadness that we received word of the passing of Honorio "Norie" Mateo, Sr, who passed peacefully during the

early morning of September 27, 2016.
Ptr. Norie was one of the highly respected pillars of the Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines.
His contributions to the Church will always be remembered. His discipleship and mentoring led to the development of new leaders, including Philippine-Micronesia Field Strategy Coordinator Stephen Gualberto.
Ptr. Norie will surely be missed.
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Kingdom of Tonga, South Pacific
For many years, Mango Tree Respite Center (MTRC) has provided care, rehabilitation and education to the physically challenged and their families. More than that, MTRC has also given emotional and spiritual encouragement that have made significant changes in the lives of those whom have been touched.
Maneo is a living testimony of this.
Who is Maneo and how has God worked in his life?
Meet Maneo and His Story of Hope!Kingdom of Tonga, South Pacific: For many years, Mango Tree Respite Center (MTRC) has provided care, rehabilitation and education to the physically challenged and their families. More than that, MTRC has also given emotional and spiritual encouragement that have tremendously made significant changes in the lives of whom they have touched.
Maneo is a living testimony of this.
Maneo is a double amputee. He lost his legs from a tragic accident at a factory three years ago, leaving him completely frustrated. Despite this, he refused to lose to hopelessness- he thought of ways to be productive and focused on his strengths and abilities. At the age of 19 he began taking computer classes at MTRC. Mango Tree Centre provided him with a new sense of direction, and let God take control of his life.
MTRC Administrator In-Kwon Kim happily announced that Maneo is now employed at Digicel Tonga, one of the leading network providers in the country. Praise God for the opportunity He has given Maneo!
God is truly good! Let us continuously pray for Maneo, that he will persist to hold on to the faith he found in Jesus. Like MTRC, may he also be a beacon of hope to those who are like him.[Submitted by: In-Kwon Kim]
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Manila, Philippines
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary is inviting leaders to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Ministry Symposium that will be held on November 30, 2016.
The focus of the symposium will be Contextual Ministry Among Traditional Peoples. APNTS has invited Dr. Darrell Whiteman as the event's guest speaker, where he will share his extensive experience in cross-cultural missions.
It will be an exciting day of worship, presentation and meaningful discussion!
Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from the best and connect with others who share the same interest!
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Mother of Team Member from the Philippines Passes Away- Please Pray.
Philippines
The Asia-Pacific Team was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Adelyn "Dixie" McGinley on September 23, 2016. Dixie was the mother of Sherry Shmidt, who is currently serving at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) as the Campus Chaplain.
Sherry was not able to attend her mother's funeral, but her APNTS family held a special memorial service for Dixie on September 28.
When one of our team is hurting- we all hurt. Please pray for Sherry and her husband, that they may remain faithful and experience the presence and peace of our Lord during this difficult time.
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Clergy Appreciation Month began in 1992 as a way to encourage congregations to show their appreciation, love and support for their pastors. This affirmation can provide new life and energy for a pastor who may be dealing with burnout, disillusionment, frustration, isolation, or stress. Because pastors are often "on call" around the clock, special recognition for the work they do is more than called for.
We are very thankful for our pastors who tirelessly minister, mentor, disciple and help us out in times of need! Find out how you could show your appreciation for everything that they do!
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Technology is a double-edged sword.
Technology has definitely made our lives so much easier and a lot more convenient. This is especially true when it comes to banking! Gone are the days when the only way to do bank transactions is by physically going there, fall in line and have a teller process whatever it is that you need.
Nowadays, doing bank transactions is as easy as snapping your fingers. However, with all the advantages of technology on banking, there are drawbacks that pose serious threats that will make you think if technology is really a blessing or a curse. One of, if probably not the worst blow of technology to banking is breach of security, brought about by card skimming.
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Nazarene Youth International
The countdown to the Global NYI Convention continues.... We are 10 months away! Each district NYI convention should be electing youth, lay, and ministerial delegates and alternates at this time. The deadline to elect NYI delegates is 31 March 2017.
Each month leading up to the Global NYI Convention, we are highlighting various aspects of the convention to help delegates prepare. The focus of this highlight is on resolutions.
Learn more about the 10 important things about resolutions, and access more information on the NYI website and Facebook page!
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Asia-Pacific Region
INITIAL PUBLIC LAUNCH!
Does engaging the Word of God truly lead to life transformation?
The Center for Bible Engagement has surveyed more than 200,000 people, ages 8-80, across 20 countries, 75 denominations and most major religions.
What did they find?
The Power of 4 Effect
APNaz Connect is the Asia-Pacific Region's Mobile Application to help you and those whom you are discipling, actively engage the Word! An included spiritual assessment will customize the app to deliver scriptures that speak to you personally. Sign up for a specialized devotional track on a topic of interest like Anger, Worry, When Life Hurts, Growing Spiritually, Engaging the Scriptures, and more.
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Regional Announcement
As General Assembly 2017 draws closer and planning increases by the day, the Church of the Nazarene's General Secretary's Office requests opinions from Nazarenes around the world on their expectations for the event.
The denomination's 29th General Assembly and Conventions are 21-30 June 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
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Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary

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Asia-Pacific
Do you remember seeing a particular story in one of our weekly newsletters?
Are you wishing you could send a copy of a previous newsletter to a friend? Be sure to check out the Around The Region Weekly Newsletter Archive.
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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
Writers: Ingrid Kiper, 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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