Friday, May 11, 2018

"Around the Region - NCM responds in PNG, APNTS Commencement and Member Care Confirmation Bias and more!!!" VOLUME 6, ISSUE 08 for Friday, May 11, 2018 The Global Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific in Kaytikling, Taytay, Rizal, Manila 1920 Philippines

"Around the Region - NCM responds in PNG, APNTS Commencement and Member Care Confirmation Bias and more!!!" VOLUME 6, ISSUE 08 for Friday, May 11, 2018 The Global Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific in Kaytikling, Taytay, Rizal, Manila 1920 Philippines


VOLUME 6, ISSUE 08 for Friday, May 11, 2018
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NCM Responds to Need in Papua New Guinea
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in the Jiwaka North District has responded to this crisis with faithfulness and compassion after a devastating flood swept through the Jiwaka province in northern Papua New Guinea. Some villages were swept away by the flood waters, and at least three people are determined to have died in the destruction. A total of 45 households have been assisted with food, tools, and other supplies to begin the long rebuilding process.
A devastating flood swept through the Jiwaka province in northern Papua New Guinea. Some villages were swept away by the flood waters, and at least three people are determined to have died in the destruction.
However, the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in the Jiwaka North District has responded to this crisis with faithfulness and compassion. Throughout the Jiwaka province, a total of 45 households have been assisted with food, tools, and other supplies to begin the long rebuilding process.
Matthew Galman, Melanesia South Pacific Field NCM Coordinator, expressed his thankfulness to God and the church: “To God be all the glory, honor and praise! He is the one from whom every good thing flows, and He has made every way possible for us to reach out to our brothers and sisters who are aching form the flood in the Jiwaka North District.”
Coordinator Galman also wished to acknowledge the support of the following people and organizations:
  • Jiwaka North District, including District Superintendent Andrew Akus, district advisory board members, pastors, and Christians who contributed.
  • Rotary Club of Boroko for donating a total of 25,000.00 PGK for important tools and supplies through the Brian Bell Company PNG.
  • Brian Bell Company PNG for the huge discount on the invoice that was initially valued at 46,000.00 PGK. This discount enabled NCM to fully satisfy a total of 45 family households.
  • Regional NCM Coordinator John Watton for his timely presence during the time of distribution, and for speaking the word of God on the compassion of Jesus in a very timely manner. Thank you for being a vessel of God.
  • Aprup Nazarene Church pastor and Christians, who through the pain rose up in compassion to help not only Nazarenes but also the community in general. They have been true ambassadors of Christ through your compassionate heart.
  • Community leaders for being very supportive and understanding and for cooperating with the church to make this happen. Thank you for maintaining normalcy and calm during the time of distribution.
  • Melanesia South Pacific NCM for initiation, coordination, advocacy and taking the lead in planning and taking care of all logistical needs.
Read More.
Latest News
APNTS Celebrates 33rd Commencement Exercises
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary performed its commencement exercises. Twenty-five students received their degrees in the ceremony, celebrating the 33rd class to complete their education at APNTS.
On May 5, 2018, Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary performed its commencement exercises. Twenty-five students received their degrees in the ceremony, celebrating the 33rd class to complete their education at APNTS.
The graduates represented ministry students from all over the world. Most of them came from countries in the Asia-Pacific Region, such as the Philippines, Myanmar, and Korea. Still, others represented nations in other regions, such as Ethiopia and the United States.
The graduates also represented a wide variety of degrees. While many of the students completed a Master of Divinity, other degrees included the Master of Science in Theological Education and the Master of Arts in Christian Communication. Of special note was Dr. Aweke Solomon Tadesse, who received a Doctorate of Philosophy, marking the second doctoral degree conferred by APNTS.
The commencement address was delivered by Dr. Catherine Stonehouse, who challenged the graduates to faithfully serve God’s kingdom and to use their new tools in their new discipleship contexts.
“Our graduates this year are all talented and passionate. They are one of the best batches we have ever had,” said Dr. Dick Eugenio, who at Commencement was announced as the new Academic Dean. “They have been equipped to serve, lead, teach, and disciple, and APNTS is excited for how the Lord will use them throughout the world in the task of kingdom-building.”
Renewing Our Mind Part Three: Our Confirmation Bias
“Confirmation Bias” : We’ve all heard it; “I’ve made up my mind; don’t confuse me with the facts!”, and we laugh; but how aware are we when we do this? Being right is just so fun! And neuroscience is showing us that it’s even addictive! Let’s get brave and explore.
Confirmation Bias
[kon-fer-mey-shuh n bahy-uh s]
noun: the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories.
In our exploration of how to Renew Our Mind, we are looking at Cognitive Biases – these ways that our natural thinking can get in the way of our objectivity, sometimes with significant impact on our thinking and overall state of being. We talked about “Negativity Bias”last time, and we’ll take a look now at “Confirmation Bias”. We’ve all heard it; “I’ve made up my mind; don’t confuse me with the facts!”, and we laugh; but how aware are we when we do this? Being right is just so fun! And neuroscience is showing us that it’s even addictive! Let’s get brave and explore.
What Is It?
Confirmation bias is what draws us to listen to, repeat, read and pay attention to anything that confirms what we’ve already concluded about any given topic, issue or person. The result is that we tend to ignore any message, opinion, information or perspective that contradicts what we’ve already concluded. It’s actually the brain’s way of saving time. Why spend time re-examining the same things over and over when we can just remember what we’ve already concluded and moved on?
Why Does It Matter?
It’s addictive. Every time we are able to confirm something we’ve already decided, we get that feeling that says, “I’m right!”, and it’s accompanied by a jolt of dopamine – the brain’s pleasure chemical – we like it, and we like to repeat it. The problem is that dopamine can be addictive and in our pursuit of the pleasure that comes from being right, we can stunt our own growth, lose our creativity, and even damage relationships.
We might be wrong. One problem with Confirmation Bias is that we might be wrong. We may have come to a conclusion that isn’t true, isn’t objective, or may have changed since we struggled through to our conclusion. If we aren’t open to ideas or opinions that are different from our own, we may get locked into an ‘echo chamber’ that feels good, but is actually simply wrong.
We might be right. When we lay aside our confirmation filters and become willing to reconsider our perspectives with an open mind, we may discover that we come to the same conclusion again. But now, with fresh insight and deeper consideration, our decisions and conclusions become even more relevant and meaningful. Abandoning this urgency to be right may lead us away from certainty, and into a deep security.
There’s something more important than being right. In our pursuit of being right, we can miss what we were actually created for. We weren’t created to be ‘right’. We were created for relationship and community and family and grace and love. This addiction to being right can actually result in fear and anxiety – fear that maybe somebody won’t agree, or I won’t be able to defend my perspective, or maybe fear that we’ll be persuaded away from our conclusion and we will have been ‘wrong’, and that’s not as fun as being ‘right’. Fear drives us apart and causes us to isolate ourselves from each other. Christ doesn’t call us to be like each other, and he doesn’t call us to be ‘right’. Instead, he calls us to love one another, and that starts with facing our fears and choosing to become vulnerable with each other, learning from each other and figuring out how to show grace and love even when we have differing perspectives.
What can we do about it?
Confirmation Bias has the potential of causing me to polarize away from anything that’s not like me; so what can I do about it?
  • Be Aware. Simply becoming intentionally aware of this natural mental bias can sometimes be enough to make me willing to take a second look, reconsider and ask, “am I just confirming what I already know, or might there be another perspective to consider?”, “Who is it here that’s more important than whether or not I am right?”
  • Be Humble. Humanity. These words both come from the same Latin root: humus, meaning ground or earth. To be humble is to recognize our humanity. No one of us is elevated above the other. Everyone has a perspective. I don’t’ have all the answers.
  • Be a Listener. Listening is one of the highest forms of honoring. We don’t need to be afraid of listening to each other.
  • Be Open without Fear. What would happen if we were intentionally open to opinions and perspectives that are different than my own? If the whole point is not about who is right and who is wrong, but instead about learning how to really see each other, then I don’t need to be afraid.
  • Be Willing to change. Life is change. If we don’t change, we can’t grow and if we don’t grow, we will die. This doesn’t mean everything about me must be willing to change, but a general openness to change is a strong indicator of healthy growth.
  • Cultivate a Growth Mindset, not a Fixed Mindset (Carol Dweck).
Growth mindset is associated with resilience and emotional health.
Fixed mindset is associated with anxiety and depression.
Growth mindset says: “I want to constantly learn new things. I enjoy a challenge.”
Fixed mindset says: “I want to look smart in every situation and prove myself. I must never fail.”
Growth mindset says: “Will it help me grow? Will it help me overcome challenges?”
Fixed mindset says: “Will I succeed or fail? Will it make me look intelligent or stupid?”
Growth mindset says: “I failed. I’ll learn from it and move on.”
Fixed mindset says: “I’m a failure; I’m an idiot”
Growth mindset says: “I embrace challenges and persist when things get tough.”
Fixed mindset says: “I avoid challenges. I get defensive and give up easily.”
Growth mindset says: “I believe personal growth and learning require effort.”
Fixed mindset says: “Why bother with effort? It’s not going to change anything.”
Growth mindset says: “I try to learn from criticism. “What can I do to improve?”
Fixed mindset says: “I ignore criticism. I do things my way.
Growth mindset says: “I find lessons and inspiration in other people’s successes.”
Fixed mindset says: “I feel threatened by the successes of others. If they succeed, I fail.”
What do you think? Is it time for some renewal?
Dynamic Language Centre is accepting applications for full-time language teachers in their English language center in Penang, Malaysia. The newly renovated center has been in the business for over 15 years. While they teach many languages, children’s and adult English are their main focus. If you are an experienced children’s teacher, enjoy a wide mix of cultures from Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and are looking for a rewarding career- we have an opportunity for you!
Dynamic Language Centre is accepting applications for full-time language teachers in their English language center in Penang, Malaysia.
The newly renovated center has been in the business for over 18 years. While they teach many languages, children’s and adult English are their main focus.
If you are an experienced children’s teacher, enjoy a wide mix of cultures from Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and are looking for a rewarding career- we have an opportunity for you!
Candidates should be:
Native English speakers
4-year University degree holders
Experienced in teaching children
TESOL certified
Join our team! Contact us for further details about the program and available opportunities.
Teaching Opportunity in Malaysia!
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Qualifications: *
I verify that: 1) English is my First Language, 2) I have a 4-year university degree, 3) I have had experience teaching children, 4) I am TESOL Certified.Yes, I have the above qualifications.
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The Global Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific
Ortigas Avenue Extension
Kaytikling, Taytay, Rizal, Manila 1920 Philippines
The global Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific
The Global Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific
Ortigas Avenue Extension
Kaytikling, Taytay, Rizal, Manila 1920 Philippines
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