Bangladesh
Denomination establishes 2 new Bangladesh districts
The roughly 500 people attending the Bangladesh North District Assembly were asked to move to different parts of the building, depending on what village they were from. There was gentle confusion as people tried to sort out to which area they needed to move.
The scene unfolded 30 January, just after the North District received official approval from the Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents to create two new districts due to rapid church growth over the past eight years. Those in attendance were asked to move to the space where their new district was gathered.
“There was a sense of excitement as people voted for the approval of the districts being divided,” said Annemarie Snijders, mobilization coordinator for the Eurasia Region. “This felt like a special recognition of what God was doing in Bangladesh.”
Since 2010, the Bangladesh Church of the Nazarene has multiplied from one national district to five.
"In the last eight years, the North District had grown beyond the ability of one superintendent to effectively support all the congregations," said Milon P.*, national coordinator for JESUS Film and child development ministries.
“A second reason was because creating three districts from one will allow the mother district, as well as the new districts, to expand to new areas where there is not a church yet,” said Trino Jara, field strategy coordinator for South Asia.
Congratulating the district for its missional vision, General Superintendent Eugénio R. Duarte announced the approval.
“You will not be weaker; you will be stronger,” Duarte said to the assembly. “Those two new districts will belong to the same church, and all three districts will, in some ways, do some things together.”
Puren R.* was appointed as district superintendent for the Thakurgaon District.
“My aim as D.S. is to strengthen our churches, care for the leadership for the future church, and preach the gospel in the area,” Puren said.
Anjon Moses B.*, formerly the district superintendent for the North District, was appointed district superintendent for the Rangpur District.
“God called me to serve His Kingdom as D.S. and I am happy for that,” Anjon said. “My father was a pastor, and I am also serving as a pastor for many years. I will serve wherever I am called.”
Both districts are being started as “phase II,” which means they will receive some financial support, with a planned decrease in amount until the district is fully self-sustaining in three years, Jara said.
Started in 1993, the Bangladesh Church of the Nazarene has rapidly expanded by following the holistic ministry model of Jesus Christ – sharing His love with people by meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs together.
From the beginning, compassionate ministries and JESUS Film evangelism and discipleship have been core elements of demonstrating God’s love for people. Congregations not only taught people about God from the Bible and formed local worshipping communities, they also participated in disaster relief efforts, established food security projects, organized women into empowering self-help groups in which they pooled funds to start small businesses, set up child-focused community development centers, and much more.
Over the years, dozens of JESUS Film teams showed the gospel in the Bangladeshi language to hundreds of thousands of people and established discipleship groups, many of which have become organized churches that are now engaged in missions to their communities and nation.
“Life in Bangladesh is tough,” said Eurasia Regional Director Arthur Snijders, reflecting on his impressions during his first visit to the country six years ago. “They were so grateful that they had heard the gospel, and they were living now for Jesus. I came away from that time very much aware that Christ brings hope in very dire circumstances and He also brings gratitude and joy in places where I never expected them.”
Leaders of the church in Bangladesh have a vision to plant a church in every village in the country, which boasts a population of nearly 163 million.
“The districts are strong in evangelism and church planting,” Milon P. said. “At the same time, we need that theological depth and pastors’ training. There is a lot of challenge because of the socioeconomic background of the people. They’re behind other Bangladeshi people in terms of literacy, economic development, and social development because most of the churches in that [area] are indigenous groups of people.”
Snijders recognizes that rapid growth comes with additional tasks.
"To meet this challenge, the church must strengthen and expand its theological education," Snijders said. “Having all these new churches and Nazarenes calls for discipleship and good pastoring and good teaching. That is a challenge that has been with Bangladesh for quite some time. With the multiplication, the need for education and equipment also multiplies.
“I don’t think we have solved it yet, but my prayer would be that the Lord would not only call pastors, but that there would be a place where there would be more qualified teachers in Bangladesh, and we would have more schools and learning centers to serve the church.”
*Full names omitted for security reasons. (Church of the Nazarene Eurasia)
The roughly 500 people attending the Bangladesh North District Assembly were asked to move to different parts of the building, depending on what village they were from. There was gentle confusion as people tried to sort out to which area they needed to move.
The scene unfolded 30 January, just after the North District received official approval from the Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents to create two new districts due to rapid church growth over the past eight years. Those in attendance were asked to move to the space where their new district was gathered.
“There was a sense of excitement as people voted for the approval of the districts being divided,” said Annemarie Snijders, mobilization coordinator for the Eurasia Region. “This felt like a special recognition of what God was doing in Bangladesh.”
Since 2010, the Bangladesh Church of the Nazarene has multiplied from one national district to five.
"In the last eight years, the North District had grown beyond the ability of one superintendent to effectively support all the congregations," said Milon P.*, national coordinator for JESUS Film and child development ministries.
“A second reason was because creating three districts from one will allow the mother district, as well as the new districts, to expand to new areas where there is not a church yet,” said Trino Jara, field strategy coordinator for South Asia.
Congratulating the district for its missional vision, General Superintendent Eugénio R. Duarte announced the approval.
“You will not be weaker; you will be stronger,” Duarte said to the assembly. “Those two new districts will belong to the same church, and all three districts will, in some ways, do some things together.”
Puren R.* was appointed as district superintendent for the Thakurgaon District.
“My aim as D.S. is to strengthen our churches, care for the leadership for the future church, and preach the gospel in the area,” Puren said.
Anjon Moses B.*, formerly the district superintendent for the North District, was appointed district superintendent for the Rangpur District.
“God called me to serve His Kingdom as D.S. and I am happy for that,” Anjon said. “My father was a pastor, and I am also serving as a pastor for many years. I will serve wherever I am called.”
Both districts are being started as “phase II,” which means they will receive some financial support, with a planned decrease in amount until the district is fully self-sustaining in three years, Jara said.
Started in 1993, the Bangladesh Church of the Nazarene has rapidly expanded by following the holistic ministry model of Jesus Christ – sharing His love with people by meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs together.
From the beginning, compassionate ministries and JESUS Film evangelism and discipleship have been core elements of demonstrating God’s love for people. Congregations not only taught people about God from the Bible and formed local worshipping communities, they also participated in disaster relief efforts, established food security projects, organized women into empowering self-help groups in which they pooled funds to start small businesses, set up child-focused community development centers, and much more.
Over the years, dozens of JESUS Film teams showed the gospel in the Bangladeshi language to hundreds of thousands of people and established discipleship groups, many of which have become organized churches that are now engaged in missions to their communities and nation.
“Life in Bangladesh is tough,” said Eurasia Regional Director Arthur Snijders, reflecting on his impressions during his first visit to the country six years ago. “They were so grateful that they had heard the gospel, and they were living now for Jesus. I came away from that time very much aware that Christ brings hope in very dire circumstances and He also brings gratitude and joy in places where I never expected them.”
Leaders of the church in Bangladesh have a vision to plant a church in every village in the country, which boasts a population of nearly 163 million.
“The districts are strong in evangelism and church planting,” Milon P. said. “At the same time, we need that theological depth and pastors’ training. There is a lot of challenge because of the socioeconomic background of the people. They’re behind other Bangladeshi people in terms of literacy, economic development, and social development because most of the churches in that [area] are indigenous groups of people.”
Snijders recognizes that rapid growth comes with additional tasks.
"To meet this challenge, the church must strengthen and expand its theological education," Snijders said. “Having all these new churches and Nazarenes calls for discipleship and good pastoring and good teaching. That is a challenge that has been with Bangladesh for quite some time. With the multiplication, the need for education and equipment also multiplies.
“I don’t think we have solved it yet, but my prayer would be that the Lord would not only call pastors, but that there would be a place where there would be more qualified teachers in Bangladesh, and we would have more schools and learning centers to serve the church.”
*Full names omitted for security reasons. (Church of the Nazarene Eurasia)
Ukrainian pastor ministers to unreached people in remote mountain villageA Ukrainian Church of the Nazarene pastor has been “going where the church is not yet” for the past four years as he ministers in a remote mountain village where the people had never heard of Jesus.
The isolated people live in a mountainous region that reaches an elevation of 7,649 meters (25,095 feet) as it winds through China, Afghanistan, and several central Asian nations. Tucked in these mountains, an evangelical missional association found a small group living high above sea level in a climate that does not allow trees to grow.
“The mountains are really high and have a harsh climate," said the pastor of the Vinnitsya Church of the Nazarene in central Ukraine. "There is a 50-percent deficiency of oxygen and, because of its climate, it is hard to get there. They have a challenging economic and political situation. [They] have no medical care and have never had electricity. Their usual meal is tea and bread, so when we came and offered candy they were all very happy. We want to bring the Word of God to them and show His love for them.”
For eight months a year, the village is covered in snow, making travel there dangerous. The mission team can only access the village from May to September on a three-meter-wide road with no protection. Cars must be careful not to fall off the cliff.
“There is no plane or train to go up the mountain. Every time we travel, we pray for our driver and those also driving.”
During their repeated visits, the team has seen how this ethnic group has been long isolated from the world. The residents live in humble homes.
“The scariest thing is that, over the history of Christianity, they have never heard of the gospel,” the pastor said.
The ecumenical team was sent to this previously unreached village, as well as other areas where the gospel had not yet reached, by the Association of the Missionary Churches of Ukraine.
“This association includes different churches that belong to different denominations and they are united by the idea of preaching the gospel to countries that have not yet been reached by it," the pastor said. "It is not about the countries that have a few churches or few Christians, but about the countries or ethnic groups that have not heard of the gospel [at all].”
After seeing the people’s physical and economic struggles, the association decided to respond to the people's needs.
“Our main mission is to help poor and disadvantaged people and kids,” the pastor said. “The most unprotected layer of society is children, therefore we buy food and clothes [for them]. Through this social help, we’ve begun to work with the families as well.”
The mission group has gained trust with local administrators of the small community after providing 200 desks and 400 chairs for schools and orphanages in the past year.
“This way, we have been able to create relationships with directors and teacher of the schools. They have opened the doors to their homes for us to come. The ethnic group has opened their homes. They allow us to share meals with them at their table. They are open to hear the gospel and they now allow us to pray for their lives. They are experiencing God’s love.”
After working four years with this ministry, the pastor from the Church of the Nazarene in Vinnytsya has seen God working not only in the ethnic group in the mountains but also in the local congregation that has sent him.
“God has encouraged the people at our church because they realized that they are part of something much bigger," he said. "They are part of God’s big mission. Being Christian is not just about having a good life, but there is so much more. The church has realized the impact they can have on others’ lives.”
He said that some members of his congregation have also responded to the call of God by joining teams going to minister to the people.
Scott Rainey, who leads Nazarene churches in the Commonwealth of Independent States Field (former Soviet Union countries), said the Vinnytsia church’s missional heart is shared by Nazarenes across the field. That is why they are making a concerted effort to plant new churches and open work in countries where the Church of the Nazarene was not previously present.
“It is a blessing to have pastors in the CIS, like our Vinnytsia, Ukraine, pastor, who have a heart for missions and reaching the unreached people of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Rainey said. “I am convinced that the future of missions in the CIS, especially to the Central Asia countries, is not through Western missionaries, but through our own CIS Nazarenes. The shared history of the Soviet Union and the shared language of Russian open natural doors for the gospel that are not afforded to all.
“I am also thankful to JESUS Film Harvest Partners for donating 15 Papyrus [Audio Bibles] for this outreach. Each Papyrus is capable of sharing an audio version of the Scriptures in the people’s heart language, to up to 200 people!” (Church of the Nazarene Eurasia)
Fremont, Nebraska
Nebraska church celebrates diversity
Nebraska's Fremont Nazarene Church congregation recently celebrated diversity in their community through an event called “Coming to America — Our Stories.” The event featured nine speakers from nine different countries sharing their stories of coming to the U.S., including why they came and what they are doing in their communities now.
The 4 March event raised money for an upcoming mission trip to Papua New Guinea. The speakers represented Sweden, China, Laos, Poland, Thailand, Jamaica, Germany, the Philippines, and Mexico. All speakers are either part of the church, members of the community, or close friends of Fremont Nazarene Church members.
Church member Carry Gerke came up with the idea last fall while brainstorming ways to fund an upcoming mission trip.
“[Carry] wanted to find a way to support the team of five we have going to Papua New Guinea for 10 days this fall,” said Aaron Horton, Fremont lead pastor. “[She] believed it would be a great way to show how much people from other countries make such a positive contribution to our community.”
The church chose to send their team to Papua New Guinea in part because of a decade-long relationship.
“One of the reasons we chose Papua New Guinea is because we have a group of men and women who have been making bandages for our Nazarene hospital in Kudjip for about 10 years,” Horton said. “They faithfully gather every week and work hard preparing their materials to get them shipped.”
The church believes that sharing the stories of those in their community from around the world will encourage them as they go and serve the people of Papua New Guinea in a more direct way.
“We believe in the power of stories,” Horton said. “When [people] share how they came to America, about their joys, their hardships, their journeys, we do believe that barriers will come down and help us grow closer as a community ... We recognize that all are made in the image of God and every human has value. These stories help us to see the common humanity below the surface of our nationalities.”
The church had no set goal for the fundraiser but hoped it would get their church members excited about what is happening in the Nazarene church, both near and far.
“We believe in being a part of a global church, and our church and our community have a chance to make a life-changing impact on someone on the other side of the globe just like we do with our friends next door,” Horton said. “What a powerful thought and a reminder of a God who cannot be made to fit into a box ... Sometimes it’s easy to get stuck inside our walls and miss the community around us or to focus only on our needs locally and miss the calling we have to love the whole world.”
To watch a recording of the event, click here.
Nebraska's Fremont Nazarene Church congregation recently celebrated diversity in their community through an event called “Coming to America — Our Stories.” The event featured nine speakers from nine different countries sharing their stories of coming to the U.S., including why they came and what they are doing in their communities now.
The 4 March event raised money for an upcoming mission trip to Papua New Guinea. The speakers represented Sweden, China, Laos, Poland, Thailand, Jamaica, Germany, the Philippines, and Mexico. All speakers are either part of the church, members of the community, or close friends of Fremont Nazarene Church members.
Church member Carry Gerke came up with the idea last fall while brainstorming ways to fund an upcoming mission trip.
“[Carry] wanted to find a way to support the team of five we have going to Papua New Guinea for 10 days this fall,” said Aaron Horton, Fremont lead pastor. “[She] believed it would be a great way to show how much people from other countries make such a positive contribution to our community.”
The church chose to send their team to Papua New Guinea in part because of a decade-long relationship.
“One of the reasons we chose Papua New Guinea is because we have a group of men and women who have been making bandages for our Nazarene hospital in Kudjip for about 10 years,” Horton said. “They faithfully gather every week and work hard preparing their materials to get them shipped.”
The church believes that sharing the stories of those in their community from around the world will encourage them as they go and serve the people of Papua New Guinea in a more direct way.
“We believe in the power of stories,” Horton said. “When [people] share how they came to America, about their joys, their hardships, their journeys, we do believe that barriers will come down and help us grow closer as a community ... We recognize that all are made in the image of God and every human has value. These stories help us to see the common humanity below the surface of our nationalities.”
The church had no set goal for the fundraiser but hoped it would get their church members excited about what is happening in the Nazarene church, both near and far.
“We believe in being a part of a global church, and our church and our community have a chance to make a life-changing impact on someone on the other side of the globe just like we do with our friends next door,” Horton said. “What a powerful thought and a reminder of a God who cannot be made to fit into a box ... Sometimes it’s easy to get stuck inside our walls and miss the community around us or to focus only on our needs locally and miss the calling we have to love the whole world.”
To watch a recording of the event, click here.
Guadalajara, Mexico
Project Paul brings more than 300 to Christ in Mexico
More than 75 volunteer missionaries gathered at Guadalajara First Church of the Nazarene for Project Paul, a mission development and church planting strategy inspired by the Apostle Paul.
The volunteers divided into eight groups and focused on evangelism and discipleship in order to strengthen eight existing Nazarene churches and to open three new churches in the area. As a result of the project, 323 people received Jesus as Lord and Savior and 40 of them joined discipleship programs in their communities.
Participants shared emotional testimonies of their experience during this time and set out to continue with the evangelistic project.
"We praise God for the brothers who gave their time to serve as missionaries after their work hours," said Pastor Manuel Molina, Project Paul coordinator. "We give the glory to our Lord Jesus Christ for the fruits He has given us." (Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica)
More than 75 volunteer missionaries gathered at Guadalajara First Church of the Nazarene for Project Paul, a mission development and church planting strategy inspired by the Apostle Paul.
The volunteers divided into eight groups and focused on evangelism and discipleship in order to strengthen eight existing Nazarene churches and to open three new churches in the area. As a result of the project, 323 people received Jesus as Lord and Savior and 40 of them joined discipleship programs in their communities.
Participants shared emotional testimonies of their experience during this time and set out to continue with the evangelistic project.
"We praise God for the brothers who gave their time to serve as missionaries after their work hours," said Pastor Manuel Molina, Project Paul coordinator. "We give the glory to our Lord Jesus Christ for the fruits He has given us." (Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica)
South America equips pastors, lay leadersThe South America Region recently hosted training for lay leaders and clergy to help them more adequately reach their local communities.
Chile Ministries
Alessandro Polonio, national holistic ministries coordinator, led an annual ministry training seminar in cooperation with Chile's national leaders for Nazarene Youth International, Nazarene Missions International, Global Missions, Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Evangelism Ministries, and Women’s Ministries.
This strategy was carried out on the country's four districts for the past three years, and the sessions have been an important tool for local churches over the years. The next training sessions are scheduled for 10 March on the Chile North District and 24 March in the Bio Bio District.
Training also continues through a new website and app that allows participants to receive materials and dialogue through forums with their respective leaders.
Living the Great Commission Training
In the Central District of Cochabamba, Bolivia, a Living the Great Commission Training was held 3 March. The training session covered the "Mission of the Church" and "Structure and Strategy."
Pastors and leaders from different district ministries participated in this training, including District Superintendent Guido Delgadillo. After having passed the first round, Delgadillo is encouraging and training other churches to implement the Living the Great Commission strategy.
Nazarene Strengths
In Brazil's Southeast Paulista District, the Nazarene Strengths Institute’s Strengths 101 Workshop was held 2-3 March for 50 pastors.
A study done by the Gallup Institute found that leaders who are not conscious of their strong and weak points commit more significant errors than those who are. Organizers believe leaders are better prepared to meet tasks individually and collaboratively knowing better communication techniques. (Church of the Nazarene South America)
Flags of the Nations: IsraelThe flag of Israel is white with two horizontal blue bands and a blue Star of David in the center. The colors blue and white were taken from the colors of the Jewish prayer shawl (tallit). The Star of David (Magen David) is a traditional symbol of the Jewish people.
Since 1 September 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: Israel
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Israel in 1921.
Israel had a population of 8,299,706 in 2017. That same year, Israel reported four Churches of the Nazarene, all of which had been officially organized. Israel has 251 total members.
Located on the Eurasia Region, Israel is a Phase 1 district. For more information about the Eurasia Region, visit eurasiaregion.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.
Global Ministry Center
P&B USA reports USA churches contributed more than $13 million
Don Walter, director of Pensions and Benefits USA, announced U.S. districts and churches contributed $13.6 million to the P&B Fund in 2017. Walter presented the information in a report to the Church of the Nazarene's Board of Pensions and USA National Board in February.
“While this is about a quarter million less than received in 2016, it remains a significant accomplishment, for which we are grateful,” Walter said.
Giving to the P&B Fund, combined with revenues from other sources, allowed Pensions and Benefits USA to provide a variety of services for almost 17,000 active and retired ministers, church-employed laypersons, spouses, and widowed spouses. Financial highlights for 2017 include:
Walter went on to say his office continues to work to communicate with ministers from various cultural groups within the U.S. by translating key resources into Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Korean. The office also used a translation service that allows P&B representatives to converse with others in almost any language.
Walter said he had several causes for concern during 2017, including the fact that while many take advantage of the Nazarene 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan, almost 63 percent of eligible pastors and associates failed to add anything to their accounts. He said he was thankful that 3,077 churches (62 percent) paid 100 percent of their P&B allocation, but he was distressed that 411 churches (19 percent) contributed zero to the P&B Fund.
“While this affects all churches to some degree, failure by a church to contribute even a dollar prevents the pastor from being eligible for $15,000 in life insurance and $400 a month in long-term disability coverage,” he said.
Walter added that there are issues on the horizon that ministers should be aware of. Most notable is the 2017 ruling by a federal district court in Wisconsin that declared the Clergy Housing Allowance unconstitutional. That decision has been appealed and the outcome is uncertain at this point. He said tax code changes at the close of the year also may affect the pocketbooks of ministers and will make it more important than ever for them to use accountable reimbursement plans for business expenses.
“2017 was a busy year with many opportunities and challenges,” Walter said. “In retrospect, we believe we did the best we could with the resources available. Certainly, we would like more churches to support the P&B Fund, and we would like more ministers to be actively engaged in personally planning for their retirement. The truth is, of course, we can’t force change in anyone, but we can come alongside them — in conversation — to inform and encourage.”
The Pensions and Benefits USA Annual Report is available for viewing as a PDF here. (Pensions & Benefits USA)
Don Walter, director of Pensions and Benefits USA, announced U.S. districts and churches contributed $13.6 million to the P&B Fund in 2017. Walter presented the information in a report to the Church of the Nazarene's Board of Pensions and USA National Board in February.
“While this is about a quarter million less than received in 2016, it remains a significant accomplishment, for which we are grateful,” Walter said.
Giving to the P&B Fund, combined with revenues from other sources, allowed Pensions and Benefits USA to provide a variety of services for almost 17,000 active and retired ministers, church-employed laypersons, spouses, and widowed spouses. Financial highlights for 2017 include:
- $15 million in Basic Pension payments to more than 5,000 retired ministers and widowed spouses;
- $9.5 million deposited to the Basic Pension Trust;
- $2 million deposited as Annual Pension Supplements to the Nazarene 403(b) Retirement Savings accounts of almost 2,600 ministers;
- $1 million to provide 7,000 active and retired ministers with basic life insurance, and another 3,000 with long-term disability coverage; and
- $100,000 to support emergency medical assistance and benevolence for 100 individuals.
Walter went on to say his office continues to work to communicate with ministers from various cultural groups within the U.S. by translating key resources into Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Korean. The office also used a translation service that allows P&B representatives to converse with others in almost any language.
Walter said he had several causes for concern during 2017, including the fact that while many take advantage of the Nazarene 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan, almost 63 percent of eligible pastors and associates failed to add anything to their accounts. He said he was thankful that 3,077 churches (62 percent) paid 100 percent of their P&B allocation, but he was distressed that 411 churches (19 percent) contributed zero to the P&B Fund.
“While this affects all churches to some degree, failure by a church to contribute even a dollar prevents the pastor from being eligible for $15,000 in life insurance and $400 a month in long-term disability coverage,” he said.
Walter added that there are issues on the horizon that ministers should be aware of. Most notable is the 2017 ruling by a federal district court in Wisconsin that declared the Clergy Housing Allowance unconstitutional. That decision has been appealed and the outcome is uncertain at this point. He said tax code changes at the close of the year also may affect the pocketbooks of ministers and will make it more important than ever for them to use accountable reimbursement plans for business expenses.
“2017 was a busy year with many opportunities and challenges,” Walter said. “In retrospect, we believe we did the best we could with the resources available. Certainly, we would like more churches to support the P&B Fund, and we would like more ministers to be actively engaged in personally planning for their retirement. The truth is, of course, we can’t force change in anyone, but we can come alongside them — in conversation — to inform and encourage.”
The Pensions and Benefits USA Annual Report is available for viewing as a PDF here. (Pensions & Benefits USA)
Nazarene Higher Education: USA/CanadaThe Church of the Nazarene has 11 institutions of higher education on the USA/Canada Region serving approximately 20,000 students each year. With more than $180 million in annual scholarships, these schools provide many opportunities for students to attend a private Christian college or university. If you're looking for a campus community alive with faith and learning, we invite you to learn more about a Nazarene school near you. Visit nazarene.org/UCeducation for more. Watch video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnOqmZKIQUg&t=3s
Nazarene Higher Education: USA/Canada
Church of the Nazarene (Official)The Church of the Nazarene has 11 institutions of higher education on the USA/Canada Region serving approximately 20,000 students each year. With more than $180 million in annual scholarships, these schools provide many opportunities for students to attend a private Christian college or university. If you're looking for a campus community alive with faith and learning, we invite you to learn more about a Nazarene school near you. Visit www.nazarene.org/UC
education for further information.
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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 5-9 March 2018.
Joyce Deasley, 83, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away 5 March. She is survived by her husband, retired minister and educator Alex Deasley, who served in Kansas, the United Kingdom, and Alberta.
D. Paul Ray, 90, of West Palm Beach, Florida, passed away 3 March. He was a retired minister, serving in Indiana, Florida, and Illinois. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Ray, in 2014.
Janice Smith, 78, of Berry, Alabama, passed away 3 March. She is survived by her husband, retired minister P. Carroll Smith, who served in Tennessee, Michigan, and Alabama.
Neale O. McLain, 93, of Manchester, Connecticut, passed away 8 March. He was a retired minister and district superintendent, serving in Massachusets, Maine, and New Jersey, and leading the New England District. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys McLain, in 2014.
Marshall Vaughn, 86, of Cottonwood, Arizona, passed away 1 March. He was a retired minister, serving in California, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, North Dakota, Oregon, and Idaho. He is survived by his wife, Roberta Vaughn.
"Mrs. Vathani" of Sri Lanka passed away 6 March. She was the wife of Daniel, superintendent of the Sri Lanka District.
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)
Human Resources
GMC employment opportunities
People are our most valued resource. Our committed employees are involved in "Making Christlike Disciples in the Nations" in 162 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
Director of Development (Full-time)
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Description: Under the oversight of the NCM Director, the Development Director will supervise the organizational development unit of the NCM office and be responsible for tactical planning and execution of NCM’s fundraising/marketing strategy. In addition, the Development Director will engage in cross-functional decision-making through the direct supervision of the Donor Development Team, Affiliate Development Team, Partnership Development initiatives, and Advocacy Development initiatives.
Security Specialist (Full-time)
Information Technology
Description: Members of the IT department are primarily responsible for facilitating the ministry of the Global Ministry Center through assistance and consultation to technology users. The Security Specialist troubleshoots and assists with network access and security policies and procedures.
Social Media Manager (Full-time)
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Description: Under the oversight of the director of development and communications manager, this position is responsible for the execution of social media marketing and communications plans, including developing and executing a comprehensive social media strategy to increase visibility, traffic, engagement, and constituent support. Applicants must have the ability to create excellent content and think strategically about how social media fits within an overall business/ministry marketing strategy.
Video Production Manager (Full-time)
Global Nazarene Communications
Description: This person is responsible for video acquisition, shooting, editing, and all related responsibilities for productions of varying lengths. Additional responsibilities include knowledge of production-related software and equipment, as well as collaborating on creative projects with the Nazarene Communications team.
To obtain additional information for GMC positions, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
People are our most valued resource. Our committed employees are involved in "Making Christlike Disciples in the Nations" in 162 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
Director of Development (Full-time)
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Description: Under the oversight of the NCM Director, the Development Director will supervise the organizational development unit of the NCM office and be responsible for tactical planning and execution of NCM’s fundraising/marketing strategy. In addition, the Development Director will engage in cross-functional decision-making through the direct supervision of the Donor Development Team, Affiliate Development Team, Partnership Development initiatives, and Advocacy Development initiatives.
Security Specialist (Full-time)
Information Technology
Description: Members of the IT department are primarily responsible for facilitating the ministry of the Global Ministry Center through assistance and consultation to technology users. The Security Specialist troubleshoots and assists with network access and security policies and procedures.
Social Media Manager (Full-time)
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Description: Under the oversight of the director of development and communications manager, this position is responsible for the execution of social media marketing and communications plans, including developing and executing a comprehensive social media strategy to increase visibility, traffic, engagement, and constituent support. Applicants must have the ability to create excellent content and think strategically about how social media fits within an overall business/ministry marketing strategy.
Video Production Manager (Full-time)
Global Nazarene Communications
Description: This person is responsible for video acquisition, shooting, editing, and all related responsibilities for productions of varying lengths. Additional responsibilities include knowledge of production-related software and equipment, as well as collaborating on creative projects with the Nazarene Communications team.
To obtain additional information for GMC positions, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
Nazarene Bible CollegeTo learn more about positions available at the NBC Administrative Offices, visit nbc.edu/jobs. All positions are located within the Global Ministry Center in Lenexa, Kansas.
Location of Global Ministry Center Positions
The GMC is the administrative hub for the Church of the Nazarene denominational ministries in 162 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, 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.
¿Hablas Español?NCN News is pleased to announce its weekly Global News Summary is now available in Spanish!
"Today we celebrate a significant expansion of the news service at the Global Ministry Center," said Frank Moore, general editor for the Church of the Nazarene. "We invite the nearly 450,000 Spanish-speaking Nazarenes scattered around the world to read news features and transformation stories through God’s power. I pray that this step forward will strengthen the faith of our readers and encourage them as they work together in God’s mission to the world."
To subscribe to the new Spanish newsletter, follow these instructions:
- Click here to join the Spanish mailing list.
- To unsubscribe from the English mailing list, click here.
Olathe, Kansas
JFHP announces 3 job openings
JESUS Film Harvest Partners is currently seeking applicants for three open positions: two full-time and one part-time.
Development associate: Event specialist (Full-time)
This position, on-site in the Olathe, Kansas, office, works in the Development Department, cultivating and maintaining relationships with donors through regular communication. It assists in the planning, execution, and follow-up of various fundraising events. Some travel within the U.S. will be required.
Qualified candidates possess a bachelor’s degree in business or hospitality. A high level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook and excellent verbal and written communication skills are also required. Attention to detail and accuracy are imperative.
Development officer (Full-time)This position is responsible for raising approximately US$1.5 million annually by building relationships with new high-capacity investors, growing existing donors, and re-engaging inactive donors. It is also responsible for organizing three World Challenge fundraising events per year with an emphasis on obtaining new donors/constituents.
Qualified candidates possess a bachelor’s degree. Priority consideration is given to applicants who possess a master’s degree and/or CFRE/ACFRE certification. At least five years of relevant development experience preferred. They will have the ability to prioritize and manage competing demands, a high degree of self-initiative, strong relationship-building skills, ability to host Partner Investment Trips to mission fields, and the ability to travel at least 50-percent of the year.
Receptionist (Part-time)This position, on-site in the Olathe, Kansas, office, facilitates the daily operations of the administrative director and assists by providing ministry support as needed. Primary tasks include reception duties, data management, and regular communication with constituents.
A high level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook and excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. Attention to detail and accuracy are imperative.
Candidates for all three positions should also share the organization's conservative Christian values.
Please submit resumes to info@JFHP.org.
For more information about JESUS Film Harvest Partners, visit jfhp.org. (JESUS Film Harvest Partners)
JESUS Film Harvest Partners is currently seeking applicants for three open positions: two full-time and one part-time.
Development associate: Event specialist (Full-time)
This position, on-site in the Olathe, Kansas, office, works in the Development Department, cultivating and maintaining relationships with donors through regular communication. It assists in the planning, execution, and follow-up of various fundraising events. Some travel within the U.S. will be required.
Qualified candidates possess a bachelor’s degree in business or hospitality. A high level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook and excellent verbal and written communication skills are also required. Attention to detail and accuracy are imperative.
Development officer (Full-time)This position is responsible for raising approximately US$1.5 million annually by building relationships with new high-capacity investors, growing existing donors, and re-engaging inactive donors. It is also responsible for organizing three World Challenge fundraising events per year with an emphasis on obtaining new donors/constituents.
Qualified candidates possess a bachelor’s degree. Priority consideration is given to applicants who possess a master’s degree and/or CFRE/ACFRE certification. At least five years of relevant development experience preferred. They will have the ability to prioritize and manage competing demands, a high degree of self-initiative, strong relationship-building skills, ability to host Partner Investment Trips to mission fields, and the ability to travel at least 50-percent of the year.
Receptionist (Part-time)This position, on-site in the Olathe, Kansas, office, facilitates the daily operations of the administrative director and assists by providing ministry support as needed. Primary tasks include reception duties, data management, and regular communication with constituents.
A high level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook and excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. Attention to detail and accuracy are imperative.
Candidates for all three positions should also share the organization's conservative Christian values.
Please submit resumes to info@JFHP.org.
For more information about JESUS Film Harvest Partners, visit jfhp.org. (JESUS Film Harvest Partners)
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ABOUT US
The The Global Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Organized in 1908, the denomination is now home to about 2.5 million members worshipping in more than 29,000 local congregations in 162 world areas.
Address:
The Global Church of the Nazarene
Global Ministry Center
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas, 66220, United States
Phone: (913)577-0500
Email: info@nazarene.org
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