Olathe, Kansas
In two decades, teams have reported nearly 15 million decisions for Christ, with more than 6.7 million of these new believers receiving initial discipleship follow-up. Teams have planted in excess of 65,000 preaching points.
More than 600 JESUS Film teams continue to serve in 47 countries, focusing on evangelism, discipleship, and church maturation.
On the Mesoamerica Region, because teams were intentional with discipleship materials in 2016, the number of people who were discipled was 14 percent higher than the number of people who made decisions for Christ.
On the Africa Region, five countries had a monthly average preaching point attendance over 40, compared to the global average attendance of 23.
In one South Asian country, 90 percent of the Nazarene churches have been planted by JESUS Film teams.
Angelina in Peru said she gave up her plan of abandoning her husband and children after watching the JESUS film, finding hope in Christ. She said she now has peace and quiet in her heart.
“Thank you, Church of the Nazarene, for this ministry and for showing me this beautiful message," she said. "Please keep showing others the truth and freedom found in Christ.”
JFHP leadership is excited to see how God will work through the partnership of JFHP, the Church of the Nazarene, and other ministries to lead more people to Christ and transform more lives in the next 20 years.[JESUS Film Harvest Partners]Read more
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Global Ministry Center
Churches invited to unite against human trafficking on Freedom SundayOver the past three years, more than 400 Nazarene congregations in various countries around the world have participated in Freedom Sunday. The event is a day set aside for prayer, worship, and support around the issue of human trafficking, which enslaves as many as 45.8 million people globally, according to the 2016 Global Slavery Index.
This year, Nazarene churches are encouraged to participate in Freedom Sunday on September 24, 2017, the last Sunday of that month.
The Church of the Nazarene’s participation in Freedom Sunday began in 2014 in coordination with other denominations within the Wesleyan Holiness Connection (formerly Wesleyan Holiness Consortium). In the same year, the Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents endorsed the Declaration for Freedom, a document drafted by the Wesleyan-Holiness leaders, including Nazarene representatives.
In the past, the event took place on the first Sunday of Lent. This year, the Wesleyan Holiness Connection’s Freedom Network decided to move the date to the last Sunday in September. In part, the change was to allow churches that plan traditional Lenten services to participate, and in part it was to create greater momentum and unity as additional churches and organizations have begun to participate in Freedom Sunday events.
Congregations are encouraged to plan a Freedom Sunday at any time that works in their calendar. Freedom Sunday planning resources are available as free downloads through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at ncm.org/freedomsunday.[Nazarene Compassionate Ministries]Read more
Global Ministry Center
This year, Nazarene churches are encouraged to participate in Freedom Sunday on September 24, 2017, the last Sunday of that month.
The Church of the Nazarene’s participation in Freedom Sunday began in 2014 in coordination with other denominations within the Wesleyan Holiness Connection (formerly Wesleyan Holiness Consortium). In the same year, the Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents endorsed the Declaration for Freedom, a document drafted by the Wesleyan-Holiness leaders, including Nazarene representatives.
In the past, the event took place on the first Sunday of Lent. This year, the Wesleyan Holiness Connection’s Freedom Network decided to move the date to the last Sunday in September. In part, the change was to allow churches that plan traditional Lenten services to participate, and in part it was to create greater momentum and unity as additional churches and organizations have begun to participate in Freedom Sunday events.
Congregations are encouraged to plan a Freedom Sunday at any time that works in their calendar. Freedom Sunday planning resources are available as free downloads through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at ncm.org/freedomsunday.[Nazarene Compassionate Ministries]Read more
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The grace of dying wellFloyd and Dean Flemming. (photo courtesy of Dean Flemming)It was the phone call no one wants to receive. The words I heard hit me like a sucker punch: “Your father has suffered a stroke.”
To that point, my dad had enjoyed an unusually active, vibrant life into his late eighties. He embraced each day with an energy beyond his years and a contagious joy. He seemed indestructible. Dad had served tirelessly and without complaint as caregiver during the extended illnesses of both my mother and stepmother. Now suddenly, he was the one who was vulnerable, his future uncertain.
Hospitalization and tests quickly followed. Then a barrage of dizzying, increasingly unwelcome reports. Spots on the brain image. Possible tumor. Biopsy. Cancer but probably treatable. No, a highly aggressive, stage-four tumor. The prognosis: months, perhaps weeks.
Lord, I’m not prepared for this! I prayed. He was not only my father but my closest friend, confidant, mentor, and spiritual example.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but God, using my father as His teaching assistant, had just enrolled me in a crash course. The title: Lessons in How to Die.
I remembered that John Wesley famously said of the early Methodists, “Our people die well!” I had always affirmed the concept, but it was not until I journeyed with my father through his final weeks that I truly began to understand what Wesley meant by dying well.
The closing act in my dad’s earthly life profoundly shaped my own perspective on dying—and living. I offer these reflections on my father’s story, in hope that they might speak a needed word in a culture that works hard to avoid the reality of death.
For the rest of the story, see Holiness Today.Read more
The Grace of Dying Well
A grateful son receives his father’s final and most important life lesson.
Pictured: Floyd and Dean Flemming by Dean FlemmingIt was the phone call no one wants to receive. The words I heard hit me like a sucker punch: “Your father has suffered a stroke.”
To that point, my dad had enjoyed an unusually active, vibrant life into his late eighties. He embraced each day with an energy beyond his years and a contagious joy. He seemed indestructible. Dad had served tirelessly and without complaint as caregiver during the extended illnesses of both my mother and stepmother. Now suddenly, he was the one who was vulnerable, his future uncertain.
Hospitalization and tests quickly followed. Then a barrage of dizzying, increasingly unwelcome reports. Spots on the brain image. Possible tumor. Biopsy. Cancer but probably treatable. No, a highly aggressive, stage-four tumor. The prognosis: months, perhaps weeks.
Lord, I’m not prepared for this! I prayed. He was not only my father but my closest friend, confidant, mentor, and spiritual example.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but God, using my father as His teaching assistant, had just enrolled me in a crash course. The title: Lessons in How to Die.
I remembered that John Wesley famously said of the early Methodists, “Our people die well!” I had always affirmed the concept, but it was not until I journeyed with my father through his final weeks that I truly began to understand what Wesley meant by dying well.
The closing act in my dad’s earthly life profoundly shaped my own perspective on dying—and living. I offer these reflections on my father’s story, in hope that they might speak a needed word in a culture that works hard to avoid the reality of death.
A long obedience
As the Boeing 737 carried me from my home in Kansas City to Florida, where Dad had retired, I was still trying to absorb the news I had just received. The final reports exposed a much more serious brain tumor than the doctors previously had talked about. The prognosis wasn’t good. Not at all. Yet even as my emotions whirled and eddied, God sustained me with a deep, inner peace.
I wondered if being with my dad might prove to be awkward, but he was determined not to let that happen. We spent the weekend laughing, crying, praying, reminiscing, and speaking words of substance to one another. At one point, he confided, “I love life, and my family brings me so much joy. I don’t want to leave you. But if I don’t recover from this, I’m okay with that. I continue to trust in God’s care now, just as I always have.”
“As I always have.” My dad showed me that dying well is a natural extension of living well. I thought of the title of Eugene Peterson’s classic book on discipleship, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (InterVarsity, 2000). That “long obedience” embraces how God’s people face death. The apostle Paul demonstrated that attitude to the Philippians, even as he languished in prison, staring at a capital charge. He declared, “I eagerly expect and hope . . . that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).
My father’s sense of peace in the face of impending death flowed out of a deep reservoir of trust in Christ, the same trust that had characterized his entire life. “There’s nothing I have to make right,” Dad assured me, “no unresolved conflicts, no regrets.”
I asked him how, after a lifetime of leadership in the church, as both a pastor and a district superintendent, he was still able to say that. I knew well that, over the years, there were multiple occasions when people misunderstood his decisions or questioned his motives. With tears in his eyes, he reflected, “I tried throughout my ministry simply to love every person as Jesus loved them.”
I returned home with those words ringing in my ears. When my life nears its end, will I be able to say the same?
The power of influence
Over the next two months, I taught my college classes during the week and made frequent trips to Florida on weekends. In an act of unselfish love, my sister-in-law left everything to care for my dad full time. During those weeks he was truly blessed to be spared significant pain and to retain his sharp intellect. We engaged in long conversations, relived trips taken together, reflected on God’s ever-present grace.
At the same time, I witnessed the impact of “dying well” on others. A nurse at the hospital where he was diagnosed expressed her wonder at his positive, joyful spirit, and I was able to tell her why that was the case. Later, the hospice personnel who ultimately provided home care went out of their way to let me know how my father’s contagious hope and self-giving attitude had ministered to them.
One weekend, Dad insisted that he wanted to make a final outing—to visit his friends at a nearby coffee shop. During his years of retirement, that restaurant became his “mission field.” Over time, he intersected the lives of the regular patrons and employees. He called them by name, listened to their stories, and prayed for some of them specifically every day. And as the Spirit prompted, he told them about the enormous love that God had for them.
On a Monday morning, my brother and I took him to the coffee shop. To my amazement, we were greeted by about 15 patrons who had gathered to say their farewells. Dad mustered his strength and conversed with them for nearly an hour. The group included some crusty retirees who likely did not spend much time inside a church building. But a number in the group made a point to tell me how his caring spirit had touched them, how much they would miss him. My father sought out a young man among the patrons, who, through Dad’s influence, had come to faith in Jesus. “I’m passing the torch on to you,” Dad told him. “Now, this is your mission field.”
Beyond his immediate circle, God used my father’s final chapter to shape individuals he would never know. Throughout that difficult semester, I tried to include my college students in our family’s journey. I narrated stories of Dad’s life and of his dying. I confessed my deep need of their prayers. Unexpectedly, students began to spontaneously gather around me in class to pray for me and my family. They showed up at my office to lift me up in prayer and encourage me. But they also assured me, through a flurry of comments and notes, that the example of this man they had never met had left a profound imprint on their lives.
Dying is gain?
I learned from my father that dying well can involve attitudes that swim against the stream of North American culture. When Dad first learned of the seriousness of his tumor and was given treatment options, he chose to decline chemotherapy or other aggressive treatments. He had watched my stepmother suffer greatly under the side effects of her therapy and that was not a path he wanted to take. When I asked him about his decision, he assured me that he valued the quality of his remaining days more than their quantity.
Obviously, this is a highly personal decision, which might vary according to the specific circumstances of anyone diagnosed with cancer. But my dad’s primary concern was not extending his physical life as long as medically possible. During his final weeks, we talked freely about end-of-life care, finances, and funerals. Dad was not afraid to face the end of his days, or to prepare for it. He embraced the process of dying as a natural stage of his journey in Christ.
Facing his own possible death at the hand of Caesar, Paul wrote to the Philippians: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21, emphasis added). For Paul, death was “gain”—not because it offered a convenient escape from his earthly troubles, but because it provided a gateway to a more direct and intimate experience of Christ (see Philippians 1:23).
But this perspective doesn’t seem normal—at least not everywhere. Popular values push us to go to almost any length in order to prolong our biological lives. This mentality feeds on a parade of stunning advancements in medical technologies that are regularly trumpeted in the media. An array of alternative treatments boldly promise to improve our health and extend our lives as well.
It’s little wonder that many people have convinced themselves they can “outgun” death—or at least significantly influence how and when it happens. At the same time, Americans spend more than $13.5 billion annually on cosmetic surgery, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, largely to give the appearance that aging and death aren’t inevitable.
“For many, death is simply presented as the last great opportunity to exert an autonomous consumer choice, rather than an occasion in which Christ might be magnified in our bodies,” writes Stephen Fowl in his study, Philippians (Eerdmans, 2005).
This preoccupation with extending biological life masks a fear of death in our culture. “Dying” is a subject that most of us are uncomfortable talking about—even thinking about. My dad, however, modeled for me a positive awareness of death. Like Paul, he saw both living and dying as opportunities to glorify Christ. Perhaps more local congregations should consider making “dying well” a vital component of their discipleship training for the people of God.
Final words
Last words matter. They have the potential to echo well beyond their immediate setting. My father graced me with a series of “final words” which continue to percolate in my spirit. Such words came the last time I was physically present with him.
After a weekend together, I had to catch a 5:30 a.m. flight home. By this time, his awareness of what was around him had declined dramatically. But to my surprise, Dad was already fully awake and seemed anxious to speak to me. I held his hand and prayed for him. “I’ll be back to spend Thanksgiving with you, Dad.” I said. “Yes,” he replied, “the Lord willing.” But he didn’t let go of my hand. His penetrating eyes fastened onto mine. “Dean, you mean all the world to me,” he added. I still hear those words.
Later that week, I spoke to my father by Skype. Before I said good-bye, his faltering voice queried, “Is there anything I can do for you? Do you need anything?” The attitude that characterized his whole life tenaciously carried through to the end. Within a week, he was with the Lord.
At my dad’s request, his funeral ended with a recording of one of his sermons, preached when he was alert and strong. His voice rang out through the sanctuary as he anticipated one day joining in the heavenly coronation anthem: “All hail the power of Jesus’ name, let angels prostrate fall. To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.”
“Friends,” he proclaimed, “it will be worth it all!”
Among those listening was a man we’ll call Jerry, a retiree Dad had met at the coffee shop. His face bore the lines of a deeply troubled life. When my dad first met him, Jerry wore an armadillo shell of self-protection. Over time, however, Dad’s compassion melted his defenses, and Jerry began to expose some of his inner pain and fears. Dad carried a deep burden for this man throughout their friendship.
At the funeral, Jerry wept as he told me how much he loved my father. I embraced him and assured him that Dad loved him as well and that more than anything he wanted Jerry to experience the transforming love of God. I am still praying that Dad’s final words at his own funeral will help to make that hope a reality.
Recently I was struck by a journalist’s reflection on a national radio broadcast. He mused, in effect, “Our culture abounds with people who want to tell us how to live. But we have very few models of how to face death.”
My dad gave me such an example. He approached dying with grace, dignity, and trust. Through the years, my father showed me a great deal about how to live. But perhaps the most important lesson he taught me was how to die.[Dean Flemming is professor of New Testament and Missions at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. Previously, he served as a global missionary with the Church of the Nazarene., (photo courtesy of Dean Flemming)]
To that point, my dad had enjoyed an unusually active, vibrant life into his late eighties. He embraced each day with an energy beyond his years and a contagious joy. He seemed indestructible. Dad had served tirelessly and without complaint as caregiver during the extended illnesses of both my mother and stepmother. Now suddenly, he was the one who was vulnerable, his future uncertain.
Hospitalization and tests quickly followed. Then a barrage of dizzying, increasingly unwelcome reports. Spots on the brain image. Possible tumor. Biopsy. Cancer but probably treatable. No, a highly aggressive, stage-four tumor. The prognosis: months, perhaps weeks.
Lord, I’m not prepared for this! I prayed. He was not only my father but my closest friend, confidant, mentor, and spiritual example.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but God, using my father as His teaching assistant, had just enrolled me in a crash course. The title: Lessons in How to Die.
I remembered that John Wesley famously said of the early Methodists, “Our people die well!” I had always affirmed the concept, but it was not until I journeyed with my father through his final weeks that I truly began to understand what Wesley meant by dying well.
The closing act in my dad’s earthly life profoundly shaped my own perspective on dying—and living. I offer these reflections on my father’s story, in hope that they might speak a needed word in a culture that works hard to avoid the reality of death.
For the rest of the story, see Holiness Today.Read more
A grateful son receives his father’s final and most important life lesson.
Pictured: Floyd and Dean Flemming by Dean FlemmingIt was the phone call no one wants to receive. The words I heard hit me like a sucker punch: “Your father has suffered a stroke.”To that point, my dad had enjoyed an unusually active, vibrant life into his late eighties. He embraced each day with an energy beyond his years and a contagious joy. He seemed indestructible. Dad had served tirelessly and without complaint as caregiver during the extended illnesses of both my mother and stepmother. Now suddenly, he was the one who was vulnerable, his future uncertain.
Hospitalization and tests quickly followed. Then a barrage of dizzying, increasingly unwelcome reports. Spots on the brain image. Possible tumor. Biopsy. Cancer but probably treatable. No, a highly aggressive, stage-four tumor. The prognosis: months, perhaps weeks.
Lord, I’m not prepared for this! I prayed. He was not only my father but my closest friend, confidant, mentor, and spiritual example.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but God, using my father as His teaching assistant, had just enrolled me in a crash course. The title: Lessons in How to Die.
I remembered that John Wesley famously said of the early Methodists, “Our people die well!” I had always affirmed the concept, but it was not until I journeyed with my father through his final weeks that I truly began to understand what Wesley meant by dying well.
The closing act in my dad’s earthly life profoundly shaped my own perspective on dying—and living. I offer these reflections on my father’s story, in hope that they might speak a needed word in a culture that works hard to avoid the reality of death.
A long obedience
As the Boeing 737 carried me from my home in Kansas City to Florida, where Dad had retired, I was still trying to absorb the news I had just received. The final reports exposed a much more serious brain tumor than the doctors previously had talked about. The prognosis wasn’t good. Not at all. Yet even as my emotions whirled and eddied, God sustained me with a deep, inner peace.
I wondered if being with my dad might prove to be awkward, but he was determined not to let that happen. We spent the weekend laughing, crying, praying, reminiscing, and speaking words of substance to one another. At one point, he confided, “I love life, and my family brings me so much joy. I don’t want to leave you. But if I don’t recover from this, I’m okay with that. I continue to trust in God’s care now, just as I always have.”
“As I always have.” My dad showed me that dying well is a natural extension of living well. I thought of the title of Eugene Peterson’s classic book on discipleship, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (InterVarsity, 2000). That “long obedience” embraces how God’s people face death. The apostle Paul demonstrated that attitude to the Philippians, even as he languished in prison, staring at a capital charge. He declared, “I eagerly expect and hope . . . that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).
My father’s sense of peace in the face of impending death flowed out of a deep reservoir of trust in Christ, the same trust that had characterized his entire life. “There’s nothing I have to make right,” Dad assured me, “no unresolved conflicts, no regrets.”
I asked him how, after a lifetime of leadership in the church, as both a pastor and a district superintendent, he was still able to say that. I knew well that, over the years, there were multiple occasions when people misunderstood his decisions or questioned his motives. With tears in his eyes, he reflected, “I tried throughout my ministry simply to love every person as Jesus loved them.”
I returned home with those words ringing in my ears. When my life nears its end, will I be able to say the same?
The power of influence
Over the next two months, I taught my college classes during the week and made frequent trips to Florida on weekends. In an act of unselfish love, my sister-in-law left everything to care for my dad full time. During those weeks he was truly blessed to be spared significant pain and to retain his sharp intellect. We engaged in long conversations, relived trips taken together, reflected on God’s ever-present grace.
At the same time, I witnessed the impact of “dying well” on others. A nurse at the hospital where he was diagnosed expressed her wonder at his positive, joyful spirit, and I was able to tell her why that was the case. Later, the hospice personnel who ultimately provided home care went out of their way to let me know how my father’s contagious hope and self-giving attitude had ministered to them.
One weekend, Dad insisted that he wanted to make a final outing—to visit his friends at a nearby coffee shop. During his years of retirement, that restaurant became his “mission field.” Over time, he intersected the lives of the regular patrons and employees. He called them by name, listened to their stories, and prayed for some of them specifically every day. And as the Spirit prompted, he told them about the enormous love that God had for them.
On a Monday morning, my brother and I took him to the coffee shop. To my amazement, we were greeted by about 15 patrons who had gathered to say their farewells. Dad mustered his strength and conversed with them for nearly an hour. The group included some crusty retirees who likely did not spend much time inside a church building. But a number in the group made a point to tell me how his caring spirit had touched them, how much they would miss him. My father sought out a young man among the patrons, who, through Dad’s influence, had come to faith in Jesus. “I’m passing the torch on to you,” Dad told him. “Now, this is your mission field.”
Beyond his immediate circle, God used my father’s final chapter to shape individuals he would never know. Throughout that difficult semester, I tried to include my college students in our family’s journey. I narrated stories of Dad’s life and of his dying. I confessed my deep need of their prayers. Unexpectedly, students began to spontaneously gather around me in class to pray for me and my family. They showed up at my office to lift me up in prayer and encourage me. But they also assured me, through a flurry of comments and notes, that the example of this man they had never met had left a profound imprint on their lives.
Dying is gain?
I learned from my father that dying well can involve attitudes that swim against the stream of North American culture. When Dad first learned of the seriousness of his tumor and was given treatment options, he chose to decline chemotherapy or other aggressive treatments. He had watched my stepmother suffer greatly under the side effects of her therapy and that was not a path he wanted to take. When I asked him about his decision, he assured me that he valued the quality of his remaining days more than their quantity.
Obviously, this is a highly personal decision, which might vary according to the specific circumstances of anyone diagnosed with cancer. But my dad’s primary concern was not extending his physical life as long as medically possible. During his final weeks, we talked freely about end-of-life care, finances, and funerals. Dad was not afraid to face the end of his days, or to prepare for it. He embraced the process of dying as a natural stage of his journey in Christ.
Facing his own possible death at the hand of Caesar, Paul wrote to the Philippians: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21, emphasis added). For Paul, death was “gain”—not because it offered a convenient escape from his earthly troubles, but because it provided a gateway to a more direct and intimate experience of Christ (see Philippians 1:23).
But this perspective doesn’t seem normal—at least not everywhere. Popular values push us to go to almost any length in order to prolong our biological lives. This mentality feeds on a parade of stunning advancements in medical technologies that are regularly trumpeted in the media. An array of alternative treatments boldly promise to improve our health and extend our lives as well.
It’s little wonder that many people have convinced themselves they can “outgun” death—or at least significantly influence how and when it happens. At the same time, Americans spend more than $13.5 billion annually on cosmetic surgery, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, largely to give the appearance that aging and death aren’t inevitable.
“For many, death is simply presented as the last great opportunity to exert an autonomous consumer choice, rather than an occasion in which Christ might be magnified in our bodies,” writes Stephen Fowl in his study, Philippians (Eerdmans, 2005).
This preoccupation with extending biological life masks a fear of death in our culture. “Dying” is a subject that most of us are uncomfortable talking about—even thinking about. My dad, however, modeled for me a positive awareness of death. Like Paul, he saw both living and dying as opportunities to glorify Christ. Perhaps more local congregations should consider making “dying well” a vital component of their discipleship training for the people of God.
Final words
Last words matter. They have the potential to echo well beyond their immediate setting. My father graced me with a series of “final words” which continue to percolate in my spirit. Such words came the last time I was physically present with him.
After a weekend together, I had to catch a 5:30 a.m. flight home. By this time, his awareness of what was around him had declined dramatically. But to my surprise, Dad was already fully awake and seemed anxious to speak to me. I held his hand and prayed for him. “I’ll be back to spend Thanksgiving with you, Dad.” I said. “Yes,” he replied, “the Lord willing.” But he didn’t let go of my hand. His penetrating eyes fastened onto mine. “Dean, you mean all the world to me,” he added. I still hear those words.
Later that week, I spoke to my father by Skype. Before I said good-bye, his faltering voice queried, “Is there anything I can do for you? Do you need anything?” The attitude that characterized his whole life tenaciously carried through to the end. Within a week, he was with the Lord.
At my dad’s request, his funeral ended with a recording of one of his sermons, preached when he was alert and strong. His voice rang out through the sanctuary as he anticipated one day joining in the heavenly coronation anthem: “All hail the power of Jesus’ name, let angels prostrate fall. To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.”
“Friends,” he proclaimed, “it will be worth it all!”
Among those listening was a man we’ll call Jerry, a retiree Dad had met at the coffee shop. His face bore the lines of a deeply troubled life. When my dad first met him, Jerry wore an armadillo shell of self-protection. Over time, however, Dad’s compassion melted his defenses, and Jerry began to expose some of his inner pain and fears. Dad carried a deep burden for this man throughout their friendship.
At the funeral, Jerry wept as he told me how much he loved my father. I embraced him and assured him that Dad loved him as well and that more than anything he wanted Jerry to experience the transforming love of God. I am still praying that Dad’s final words at his own funeral will help to make that hope a reality.
Recently I was struck by a journalist’s reflection on a national radio broadcast. He mused, in effect, “Our culture abounds with people who want to tell us how to live. But we have very few models of how to face death.”
My dad gave me such an example. He approached dying with grace, dignity, and trust. Through the years, my father showed me a great deal about how to live. But perhaps the most important lesson he taught me was how to die.[Dean Flemming is professor of New Testament and Missions at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. Previously, he served as a global missionary with the Church of the Nazarene., (photo courtesy of Dean Flemming)]
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Africa
Flags of the Nations: Guinea Conakry
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Africa
The tricolor features the Pan-African colors, symbolizing the unity of the African nations. Red symbolizes the blood spilt by the martyrs in the fight for independence. Yellow stands for the abundance of mineral resources, especially gold in the nation, and the bright sun that shines over the land. Green represents the vegetation, forests, and other natural resources in addition to the prosperity and the fertile soils of the nation.Since September 1, 2009, the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center (GMC) proudly flies a flag each week of one of the many nations in which the denomination is present in ministry. Leaders were invited to send a national flag to be flown at the GMC alongside the flag of the United States*. The national flags rotate weekly, and photos of them raised are sent to the church leaders of that country.
This week: Guinea Conakry
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Guinea Conakry in 2009.
Guinea Conakry had a population of 12,093,349 in 2016. That same year, Guinea Conakry reported 10 Churches of the Nazarene, none of which had been officially organized.
Guinea Conakry is a part of the Cote d’Ivoire South District, a Phase 2 district on the Africa Region. For more information about the Africa Region, visit africanazarene.org.
* = The weekly highlighted flag is raised on the middle of three poles in compliance with U.S. government protocols. It flies to the left of the GMC host-nation United States flag, which flies above the host-state flag of Kansas. The Christian flag flies on the third pole.
The Global Ministry Center is the mission and service hub of the Church of the Nazarene.Read more
This week: Guinea Conakry
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Guinea Conakry in 2009.
Guinea Conakry had a population of 12,093,349 in 2016. That same year, Guinea Conakry reported 10 Churches of the Nazarene, none of which had been officially organized.
Guinea Conakry is a part of the Cote d’Ivoire South District, a Phase 2 district on the Africa Region. For more information about the Africa Region, visit africanazarene.org.
* = The weekly highlighted flag is raised on the middle of three poles in compliance with U.S. government protocols. It flies to the left of the GMC host-nation United States flag, which flies above the host-state flag of Kansas. The Christian flag flies on the third pole.
The Global Ministry Center is the mission and service hub of the Church of the Nazarene.Read more
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USA/Canada
Lenexa, Kansas
Joplin DS to lead USA/Canada Evangelism Ministries & New Church DevelopmentUSA/Canada Regional Director Bob Broadbooks announced Mark Bane will lead Evangelism Ministries and New Church Development for the region.
Bane has served as superintendent of the Joplin District since 2013.
"I am excited to have the amazing privilege and opportunity to serve in this role," Bane said. "I believe God will continue to accelerate the priority and activity of missional evangelism and of starting new churches across the USA and Canada as I take on the mantle of Dr. Bill Wiesman's great work and ministry."
Wiesman is retiring from his position after eight years. He has led individuals and congregations in starting more than 650 new churches over the last five years through a partnership with Dynamic Church Planting International.
"Our partnership with DCPI began in 2012 and has literally caused an explosion in new churches," Wiesman said. "In those five years, 3,030 different people have received training in one or more of DCPI's six training tracks."
Bane is a senior master trainer with DCPI.
"The Joplin District has set the pace in the USA/Canada Region, starting 50 new churches in four years," Wiesman said.
Bane's involvement with the DCPI strategy made him the perfect candidate to fill Wiesman's position.
"We believe that Mark Bane brings the passion and experience to ensure that the recent acceleration of 650 new churches started in the last five years will not only continue, but move to the next phase: from addition to multiplication," Broadbooks said.
Wiesman will relocate to Nashville, Tennessee, but continue to teach with Nazarene Theological Seminary.
"God is at work," Wiesman said. "There is fresh wind of the Spirit blowing. Many new churches are being planted and Christlike disciples are being added to the Kingdom! Mark is the right person to takes us to the next level."
Bane will continue to serve as superintendent of the Joplin District while transitioning into his new responsibilities in the Kansas City area over the next six months.
General Superintendent J. K. Warrick is working with the Joplin District Advisory Council to begin the selection of a new D.S., a process that will culminate with an election at the Joplin District Assembly in June. Bane will complete his assignment as district superintendent 30 days after the conclusion of the district assembly.
This succession plan allows Bane to continue providing leadership for the Joplin District while spending approximately one week a month with Wiesman.[Church of the Nazarene USA/Canada]Read more
USA/Canada
Lenexa, Kansas
Bane has served as superintendent of the Joplin District since 2013.
"I am excited to have the amazing privilege and opportunity to serve in this role," Bane said. "I believe God will continue to accelerate the priority and activity of missional evangelism and of starting new churches across the USA and Canada as I take on the mantle of Dr. Bill Wiesman's great work and ministry."
Wiesman is retiring from his position after eight years. He has led individuals and congregations in starting more than 650 new churches over the last five years through a partnership with Dynamic Church Planting International.
"Our partnership with DCPI began in 2012 and has literally caused an explosion in new churches," Wiesman said. "In those five years, 3,030 different people have received training in one or more of DCPI's six training tracks."
Bane is a senior master trainer with DCPI."The Joplin District has set the pace in the USA/Canada Region, starting 50 new churches in four years," Wiesman said.
Bane's involvement with the DCPI strategy made him the perfect candidate to fill Wiesman's position.
"We believe that Mark Bane brings the passion and experience to ensure that the recent acceleration of 650 new churches started in the last five years will not only continue, but move to the next phase: from addition to multiplication," Broadbooks said.
Wiesman will relocate to Nashville, Tennessee, but continue to teach with Nazarene Theological Seminary.
"God is at work," Wiesman said. "There is fresh wind of the Spirit blowing. Many new churches are being planted and Christlike disciples are being added to the Kingdom! Mark is the right person to takes us to the next level."
Bane will continue to serve as superintendent of the Joplin District while transitioning into his new responsibilities in the Kansas City area over the next six months.
General Superintendent J. K. Warrick is working with the Joplin District Advisory Council to begin the selection of a new D.S., a process that will culminate with an election at the Joplin District Assembly in June. Bane will complete his assignment as district superintendent 30 days after the conclusion of the district assembly.
This succession plan allows Bane to continue providing leadership for the Joplin District while spending approximately one week a month with Wiesman.[Church of the Nazarene USA/Canada]Read more
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Nazarenes in the NewsXZone Executive Director Steve Harper. (WTVR photo)Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.
Virginia program helps kid unplug, connect with better future
Chesterfield, Virginia
(WTVR, January 12) Some teens in Chesterfield are going beyond the three R’s and getting a well-rounded education when class dismisses.
The program is called XZone, and it is a faith-based after school program.
“It’s awesome. It’s a lot of fun out here,” says Executive Director, Steve Harper. “We provide a safe environment so the kids don’t go down risky paths for their lives,” Harper adds.
Mr. Harper says at XZone, fun meets fundamental.
“It is life skills development and leadership development all the way around,” says Harper. “We want them to become productive citizens.”
For the rest of the story and a video about the Nazarene compassionate ministry center, click here.
Tennessee church receives grant from Tim Tebow Foundation to hold special needs prom
Clarksville, Tennessee
(Clarksville Now, January 19) Clarksville’s First Church of the Nazarene will host A Night to Shine, a free prom for those with special needs Feb. 10.
The event was made possible by a generous grant from the Tim Tebow Foundation, which will host a Night to Shine at more than 350 churches around the world....
The event was organized by Holli Cougle, wife of Pastor Josh Cougle at First Church of the Nazarene. She found photos and footage from last year’s Night to Shine and was inspired to apply for a grant to bring the prom to Clarksville.
“Our church is full of compassionate people who go out of their way to do things for others. I thought, ‘This is for us,'” she said.
For the rest of the story, click here.
Stories to share? Send them to news@nazarene.org.[Compiled by NCN News]Read more
Virginia program helps kid unplug, connect with better future
Chesterfield, Virginia
(WTVR, January 12) Some teens in Chesterfield are going beyond the three R’s and getting a well-rounded education when class dismisses.
The program is called XZone, and it is a faith-based after school program.
“It’s awesome. It’s a lot of fun out here,” says Executive Director, Steve Harper. “We provide a safe environment so the kids don’t go down risky paths for their lives,” Harper adds.
Mr. Harper says at XZone, fun meets fundamental.
“It is life skills development and leadership development all the way around,” says Harper. “We want them to become productive citizens.”
For the rest of the story and a video about the Nazarene compassionate ministry center, click here.
Tennessee church receives grant from Tim Tebow Foundation to hold special needs prom
Clarksville, Tennessee
(Clarksville Now, January 19) Clarksville’s First Church of the Nazarene will host A Night to Shine, a free prom for those with special needs Feb. 10.
The event was made possible by a generous grant from the Tim Tebow Foundation, which will host a Night to Shine at more than 350 churches around the world....
The event was organized by Holli Cougle, wife of Pastor Josh Cougle at First Church of the Nazarene. She found photos and footage from last year’s Night to Shine and was inspired to apply for a grant to bring the prom to Clarksville.
“Our church is full of compassionate people who go out of their way to do things for others. I thought, ‘This is for us,'” she said.
For the rest of the story, click here.
Stories to share? Send them to news@nazarene.org.[Compiled by NCN News]Read more
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In MemoriamThe following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received January 16-20, 2017.
Felipe Eduardo Aparicio, 70, of Raytown, Missouri, passed away January 15. He was a minister, serving as the Hispanic pastor at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas. He is survived by his wife, Gladys Aparicio.
Lucile (Spaulding) Fisher, 91, of Lebanon, Tennessee, passed away January 8. She was the wife of retired minister, educator, and chaplain Clifford Fisher, who served in California and Nebraska.
Donna (Hollback) Grubb, 83, of Coal Grove, Ohio, passed away January 12. She was the widow of retired minister Robert Grubb, who served in Ohio.
Marie Grunau, 97, of Olds, Alberta, Canada, passed away January 13. She was the widow of retired minister Wolfe Grunau, who served in Alberta and Manitoba. Wolfe Grunau passed away in 2003.
Aroussiag Hajian, 88, of Sanger, California, passed away January 11. She was the widow of retired minister Yeghia Hahian, who served in Quebec and California. Yeghia Hahian passed away in November.
Anna "Mae" (Rose) Mowen, 95, of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, passed away January 16. She was the widow of retired minister William Mowen Sr., who served in Pennsylvania and Maryland. William Mowen Sr. passed away in 2009.
Evelyn (Wilson) Snellenberger, 92, of Goodfield, Illinois, passed away January 17. She was the widow of retired minister Paul Snellenberger, who served in Illinois. Paul Snellenberger passed away in 1996.
William Vermilya, 94, of Upland, California, passed away January 3. He was a retired minister, serving in Michigan, Washington, and California. He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther Vermilya, in 2009.
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section by clicking here.
Note: Please join us in prayer for the families who have lost loved ones. Click on names for full stories, funeral information, local online obituaries, and/or guest books (if available). To submit an entry of a minister or church leader, send to news@nazarene.org.[Compiled by NCN News]Read more
Felipe Eduardo Aparicio, 70, of Raytown, Missouri, passed away January 15. He was a minister, serving as the Hispanic pastor at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas. He is survived by his wife, Gladys Aparicio.
Lucile (Spaulding) Fisher, 91, of Lebanon, Tennessee, passed away January 8. She was the wife of retired minister, educator, and chaplain Clifford Fisher, who served in California and Nebraska.
Donna (Hollback) Grubb, 83, of Coal Grove, Ohio, passed away January 12. She was the widow of retired minister Robert Grubb, who served in Ohio.
Marie Grunau, 97, of Olds, Alberta, Canada, passed away January 13. She was the widow of retired minister Wolfe Grunau, who served in Alberta and Manitoba. Wolfe Grunau passed away in 2003.
Aroussiag Hajian, 88, of Sanger, California, passed away January 11. She was the widow of retired minister Yeghia Hahian, who served in Quebec and California. Yeghia Hahian passed away in November.
Anna "Mae" (Rose) Mowen, 95, of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, passed away January 16. She was the widow of retired minister William Mowen Sr., who served in Pennsylvania and Maryland. William Mowen Sr. passed away in 2009.
Evelyn (Wilson) Snellenberger, 92, of Goodfield, Illinois, passed away January 17. She was the widow of retired minister Paul Snellenberger, who served in Illinois. Paul Snellenberger passed away in 1996.
William Vermilya, 94, of Upland, California, passed away January 3. He was a retired minister, serving in Michigan, Washington, and California. He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther Vermilya, in 2009.
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section by clicking here.
Note: Please join us in prayer for the families who have lost loved ones. Click on names for full stories, funeral information, local online obituaries, and/or guest books (if available). To submit an entry of a minister or church leader, send to news@nazarene.org.[Compiled by NCN News]Read more
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Human Resources
GMC employment opportunities
Human Resources
People are our most valued resource. Our committed employees are involved in "Making Christlike Disciples in the Nations" in 159 world areas.
The Global Ministry Center Human Resources Office professionals strive to deliver the highest possible service to our employees, and are responsible for the recruitment, placement and retention of qualified individuals to staff the ministry and administrative positions of the GMC. The many employee services include compensation and benefit administration, payroll, employment, employee relations, training, counseling, organizational communication and events, and workplace programs.
*Volunteer opportunities for GMC ministries are available now. Email jveigl@nazarene.org for details.
Employment Opportunities
Administrative Assistant (Full time)
Global Clergy Development
Description: This person will assist Global Clergy Development leaders by facilitating conference and meeting arrangements, assisting in the editing of documents for posting or publication, preparing original correspondence, aiding in the administration of the Ministerial Course of Study program, and fulfilling other duties as assigned. Domestic and occasional international travel required.
Administrative Assistant (Full time)
Pensions & Benefits USA
Description: This person will lead/manage special and cyclical projects, provide administrative assistance to the administrative director, coordinate education/training of internal staff and plan participants, ensure that appropriate resources and support are provided to complete projects, process customer services inquiries, and assist with monitoring and posting items to P&B USA social media outlets (Facebook/Twitter).
Communication Specialist (Full time)
Global Mission Administration
Description: This person provides insight and supports the work of the Global Mission administrative director; helps foster collaborative communication efforts between the regions and Global Mission team; advances the implementation and continuous improvement of the Global Mission communication strategy; collaborates on the improvement of existing and the creation of new initiatives, stories, and projects; and participates in and assist in the development of communication procedures and planning of meaningful gatherings for communicators.
Deputation/Home Assignment Coordinator (Full time)
Global Mission Personnel Office
Description: This person works directly with missionaries, creating and facilitating training to assure maximum effectiveness during home assignment. Other responsibilities include working with local and district church leaders in understanding and engaging missionaries while in their church(es), coordinating scheduling for deputation in churches and district events, and connecting local churches and districts with missionaries to encourage stewardship and relationship.
Senior Accounting Technician – Accounts Payable (Full time)
Global Treasury Services
Description: This position will review and process disbursements, process 1099s, maintain vendor files and carry out other related duties as assigned.
Software Developer (Full time)
Information Technology
Description: Members of the software development team are primarily responsible for facilitating the ministry of the Global Ministry Center through the analysis, design, implementation, and support of software solutions.
Technology Specialist (Full time)
Pensions & Benefits USA
Description: This position will assist the technology supervisor in developing and maintaining the technology resources available to the Pensions and Benefits USA office and its constituents. This will include Web content management, development of systems for document storage and retrieval, assistance with upkeep of other business databases, resolution of basic desktop issues, and assistance with technology-related communication and training.
To obtain additional information, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
Location of our Positions
The GMC is the administrative hub for the Church of the Nazarene denominational ministries in 159 world areas. The GMC is conveniently located in Lenexa, Kansas, with easy access to I-35 and I-435 and within short driving distance to Kansas City International airport. All GMC positions report to this location.
Our Non-Discrimination Policy
The Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center offers equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, sex, or veteran status. The Global Ministry Center is an “at will” employer.
Our Faith-Based Organization
We are a faith-based organization. Acceptance of our Christian Code of Conduct is required and membership in the Church of the Nazarene is required for certain positions. The GMC and applicable remote work sites are smoke-, alcohol-, and drug-free Christian workplaces.
Application Processing
Our Human Resources Office receives and processes many employment applications annually for a limited number of positions. While we regret that we cannot respond to each applicant, we do contact those individuals possessing the skills, education/training, and experience that best match the requirements of the open position for which the application was submitted.
An application must be completed by all applicants and an application must be completed for each position for which one wishes to be considered. Applications are retained for one year. Resumés are not necessary for entry-level positions, but they are preferred for professional level positions.
Applying for Employment with the GMC
Application forms may be requested by calling 913-577-0500, emailing humanresourcesgroup@nazarene.org, or obtained in person from Human Resources at the Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas, 66220, Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:30 U.S. Central Time. Completed applications may be mailed or emailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office.Read more
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Copyright © 2017 NCN News, All rights reserved.
Nazarene Communications Network
The Global Ministry Center Human Resources Office professionals strive to deliver the highest possible service to our employees, and are responsible for the recruitment, placement and retention of qualified individuals to staff the ministry and administrative positions of the GMC. The many employee services include compensation and benefit administration, payroll, employment, employee relations, training, counseling, organizational communication and events, and workplace programs.
*Volunteer opportunities for GMC ministries are available now. Email jveigl@nazarene.org for details.
Employment Opportunities
Administrative Assistant (Full time)
Global Clergy Development
Description: This person will assist Global Clergy Development leaders by facilitating conference and meeting arrangements, assisting in the editing of documents for posting or publication, preparing original correspondence, aiding in the administration of the Ministerial Course of Study program, and fulfilling other duties as assigned. Domestic and occasional international travel required.
Administrative Assistant (Full time)
Pensions & Benefits USA
Description: This person will lead/manage special and cyclical projects, provide administrative assistance to the administrative director, coordinate education/training of internal staff and plan participants, ensure that appropriate resources and support are provided to complete projects, process customer services inquiries, and assist with monitoring and posting items to P&B USA social media outlets (Facebook/Twitter).
Communication Specialist (Full time)
Global Mission Administration
Description: This person provides insight and supports the work of the Global Mission administrative director; helps foster collaborative communication efforts between the regions and Global Mission team; advances the implementation and continuous improvement of the Global Mission communication strategy; collaborates on the improvement of existing and the creation of new initiatives, stories, and projects; and participates in and assist in the development of communication procedures and planning of meaningful gatherings for communicators.
Deputation/Home Assignment Coordinator (Full time)
Global Mission Personnel Office
Description: This person works directly with missionaries, creating and facilitating training to assure maximum effectiveness during home assignment. Other responsibilities include working with local and district church leaders in understanding and engaging missionaries while in their church(es), coordinating scheduling for deputation in churches and district events, and connecting local churches and districts with missionaries to encourage stewardship and relationship.
Senior Accounting Technician – Accounts Payable (Full time)
Global Treasury Services
Description: This position will review and process disbursements, process 1099s, maintain vendor files and carry out other related duties as assigned.
Software Developer (Full time)
Information Technology
Description: Members of the software development team are primarily responsible for facilitating the ministry of the Global Ministry Center through the analysis, design, implementation, and support of software solutions.
Technology Specialist (Full time)
Pensions & Benefits USA
Description: This position will assist the technology supervisor in developing and maintaining the technology resources available to the Pensions and Benefits USA office and its constituents. This will include Web content management, development of systems for document storage and retrieval, assistance with upkeep of other business databases, resolution of basic desktop issues, and assistance with technology-related communication and training.
To obtain additional information, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
Location of our Positions
The GMC is the administrative hub for the Church of the Nazarene denominational ministries in 159 world areas. The GMC is conveniently located in Lenexa, Kansas, with easy access to I-35 and I-435 and within short driving distance to Kansas City International airport. All GMC positions report to this location.
Our Non-Discrimination Policy
The Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center offers equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, sex, or veteran status. The Global Ministry Center is an “at will” employer.
Our Faith-Based Organization
We are a faith-based organization. Acceptance of our Christian Code of Conduct is required and membership in the Church of the Nazarene is required for certain positions. The GMC and applicable remote work sites are smoke-, alcohol-, and drug-free Christian workplaces.
Application Processing
Our Human Resources Office receives and processes many employment applications annually for a limited number of positions. While we regret that we cannot respond to each applicant, we do contact those individuals possessing the skills, education/training, and experience that best match the requirements of the open position for which the application was submitted.
An application must be completed by all applicants and an application must be completed for each position for which one wishes to be considered. Applications are retained for one year. Resumés are not necessary for entry-level positions, but they are preferred for professional level positions.
Applying for Employment with the GMC
Application forms may be requested by calling 913-577-0500, emailing humanresourcesgroup@nazarene.org, or obtained in person from Human Resources at the Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas, 66220, Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:30 U.S. Central Time. Completed applications may be mailed or emailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office.Read more
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Nazarene Communications Network
nazarene.org/news
ABOUT US
The Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Organized in 1908, the denomination is now home to about 2.3 million members worshipping in more than 29,000 local congregations in 159 world areas.
Address:
The Global Church of the Nazarene
Global Ministry Center
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas, United States 66220
Phone: 913-577-0500
Email: info@nazarene.org
Department directory
Terms of Use — ECFA Member
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news@nazarene.org
Material created and owned by NCN News may be used for church newsletters and bulletins.
Material created and owned by NCN News may be used for church newsletters and bulletins.
The Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Organized in 1908, the denomination is now home to about 2.3 million members worshipping in more than 29,000 local congregations in 159 world areas.
Address:
The Global Church of the Nazarene
Global Ministry Center
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas, United States 66220
Phone: 913-577-0500
Email: info@nazarene.org
Department directory
Terms of Use — ECFA Member
-------
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