[...] in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. (Colossians 1:24b)
Devotional Thought
In 1904 William Borden graduated from a Chicago high school. As heir to the Borden family fortune, he was already wealthy. For his high school graduation present, his parents gave 16-year-old Borden a trip around the world. As the young man traveled through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he felt a growing burden for the world's hurting people. Finally, Bill Borden wrote home about his "desire to be a missionary."One friend expressed disbelief that Bill was "throwing himself away as a missionary."
A story often associated with Borden says that, in response, he wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "No reserves."
Even though young Borden was wealthy, he arrived on the campus of Yale University in 1905 trying to look like just one more freshman. Very quickly, however, Borden's classmates noticed something unusual about him and it wasn't that he had lots of money. One of them wrote: "He came to college far ahead, spiritually, of any of us. He had already given his heart in full surrender to Christ and had really done it. We who were his classmates learned to lean on him and find in him a strength that was solid as a rock, just because of this settled purpose and consecration."
During his college years, Bill Borden made an entry in his personal journal that defined what his classmates were seeing in him. That entry said simply: "Say 'no' to self and 'yes' to Jesus every time."
Borden's first disappointment at Yale came when the university president spoke in a convocation about the students' need of "having a fixed purpose." After that speech, Borden wrote: "He neglected to say what our purpose should be, and where we should get the ability to persevere and the strength to resist temptations."4 Surveying the Yale faculty and much of the student body, Borden lamented what he saw as the end result of an empty, humanistic philosophy: moral weakness and sin-ruined lives.
During his first semester at Yale, Borden started something that would transform campus life. One of his friends described how it began: "It was well on in the first term when Bill and I began to pray together in the morning before breakfast. I cannot say positively whose suggestion it was, but I feel sure it must have originated with Bill. We had been meeting only a short time when a third student joined us and soon after a fourth. The time was spent in prayer after a brief reading of Scripture. Bill's handling of Scripture was helpful. . . . He would read to us from the Bible, show us something that God had promised and then proceed to claim the promise with assurance."
Borden's small morning prayer group gave birth to a movement that soon spread across the campus. By the end of his first year, 150 freshman were meeting weekly for Bible study and prayer. By the time Bill Borden was a senior, one thousand of Yale's 1,300 students were meeting in such groups.
Borden made it his habit to seek out the most "incorrigible" students and try to bring them to salvation. "In his sophomore year we organized Bible study groups and divided up the class of 300 or more, each man interested taking a certain number, so that all might, if possible, be reached. The names were gone over one by one, and the question asked, 'Who will take this person?' When it came to someone thought to be a hard proposition, there would be an ominous pause. Nobody wanted the responsibility. Then Bill's voice would be heard, 'Put him down to me.'"
Borden's outreach ministry was not confined to the Yale campus. He cared about widows and orphans and the disabled. He rescued drunks from the streets of New Haven. To try to rehabilitate them, he founded the Yale Hope Mission. One of Bill Borden's friends wrote that he "might often be found in the lower parts of the city at night, on the street, in a cheap lodging house or some restaurant to which he had taken a poor hungry fellow to feed him, seeking to lead men to Christ."
Borden's missionary call narrowed to the Muslim Kansu people in China. Once he fixed his eyes on that goal, Borden never wavered. He also challenged his classmates to consider missionary service. One of them said of him: "He certainly was one of the strongest characters I have ever known, and he put backbone into the rest of us at college. There was real iron in him, and I always felt he was of the stuff martyrs were made of, and heroic missionaries of more modern times."
Although he was a millionaire, Bill seemed to "realize always that he must be about his Father's business, and not wasting time in the pursuit of amusement."9 Although Borden refused to join a fraternity, "he did more with his classmates in his senior year than ever before." He presided over the huge student missionary conference held at Yale and served as president of the honor society Phi Beta Kappa.
Upon graduation from Yale, Borden turned down some high-paying job offers. It has been reported that in his Bible, Bill Borden wrote two more words: "No retreats."
William Borden went on to do graduate work at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. When he finished his studies at Princeton, he sailed for China. Because he was hoping to work with Muslims, he stopped first in Egypt to study Arabic. While there, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead.
When the news of William Whiting Borden's death was cabled back to the U.S., the story was carried by nearly every American newspaper. "A wave of sorrow went round the world . . . Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice" wrote Mary Taylor in her introduction to his biography.
Was Borden's untimely death a waste? Not in God's perspective. As the story has it, prior to his death, Borden had written two more words in the back of his Bible. Underneath the words "No reserves" and "No retreats," he is reported to have written: "No regrets."
"the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ." (Colossians 1:26-28)
[Retrieved from https://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/regret.htm]
Click Here for Full Devotional
For all teens, parents and pastors of teens - NYC 2019 will be held in Phoenix, AZ and promises to be an amazing time of fun, fellowship, spiritual growth, and profuse sweating. Click HERE for more event information.
Te invitamos a que vengas a aprender las estrategias que
toda iglesia necesita considerar para alcanzar la siguiente generación de jóvenes. Para obtener más información y registrarse, visite aqui o descarga un folleto aqui
Teen Quizzing
If you or your church have been thinking about pulling a team together for this year, it's not too late but you will need to act fast. Here is the schedule for the year:
- Saturday Oct 13 - John CH 1-5 (SD Invitational at Mission)
- Saturday Dec 1 - John CH 1-10 (District Quiz at Escondido)
- Saturday Jan 19 - John CH TBD (CA Grizzlies Tournament at Fresno)
- Saturday Feb 2 - John CH 1-17 (District Quiz at Gateway)
- Saturday Mar 9 - John CH 1-21 (AZ District Invitational at Prescott, AZ)
- Saturday Apr 6 - John CH 1-21 (District Finals at Mission)
- Friday May 24-Monday May 27 - John CH 1-21 (Elev8 Field Tournament at PLNU)
New Ministry Opportunity - Local Love in Action
The SoCal NMI Council is actively supporting Global Work & Witness projects in Haiti and Puerto Rico, Regional projects such as Misiones Baja and now will begin to support Local projects right here in the Southern California District through a new ministry called Local Love in Action. A Google Form will soon be available on the District website. By filling out this form, a church can apply for a project, either on its church property or at a community house or location. A description of the project, cost estimate and manpower needed will be gathered and these requests will be listed on the SoCal District website. Projects will be completed by one of two ways: 2 projects per year will be chosen and coordinated through our NMI council; or, a local church or zone can adopt and complete a project. For more information please contact Local Love in Action Coordinator Steve Gilbert at surfsup411@gmail.com or NMI President Brenda Ritchie at socalnmipresident@gmail.com.
New Pastor for Mid-City Nazarene (English)
Rev. Rebecca Modesto was installed September 23rd, 2018, as the new pastor of the English-speaking congregation at the Church of the Nazarene in Mid-City. Kevin and their son, Luke is pictured here. They have three daughters Elizabeth, Micah, and Zoe. Becky serves as the Director of University Relations with Price Philanthropies Foundation (6 years). She was the Director for Community Outreach at PLNU (9 years). Becky graduated from PLNU (BA in Journalism and literature) and NTS (MA in Intercultural studies). Kevin (Ph.D., MSW, MATS) served at LA First as PSV, pastored Raleigh Tapestry (9 years); and now serves at PLNU as Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Social Work (16 years). We welcome the Modesto Family.
Missions Trip for Graduating SeniorsMany churches around the country have a practice of sending their graduating seniors on a Missions Trip each year. The NMI Council is coordinating a trip to Haiti during the 3rd week in June 2019, with an approximate cost of $1,300. What a powerful gift a church can give their youth that will have a life-long impact on their lives. Start making your plans now.
Kids Quizzing
Here is the tentative schedule for the 2018/2019 quiz year. Please contact Mary Mitchell if you are willing to host an invitational quiz on December 1st.
Invitational Quiz #1: October 13, 2018 - SD Mission
Invitational Quiz #2: December 1, 2018 - TBD
Invitational Quiz #3: February 2nd, 2019 - Gateway
Invitational Quiz #4: March 16th, 2019 - Parkway Hills
District Quiz: April 6, 2019 - Mission
Regional Quiz at PLNU: May 11, 2019 (for those who qualify)
The Curriculum from Word Action can be ordered using this web address: http://www.gokidsquiz.com/
If you would like to also order the CD or DVD of the verses, they can be purchased on Hide and Keep’s website: https://www.hideandkeep.com
SoCal Work & Witness Trips
It's not too late to register! The SoCal NMI Council is dedicated to helping churches engage their people with Nazarene Missions around the world. We will continue to support Ojos Negros Baja Mexico, Haiti and this year we are adding a new project – Puerto Rico! This November, we are hoping to involve our youth and college students with our Puerto Rico project - no passport required! Please ask your church to pray about supporting our District Projects. For more info or to donate, contact Rob Altice: menifeenaz@hotmail.com (Click on the adjacent picture to download a printable flyer)
NMI News
Collection of Crisis Care Kits is Suspended until Further Notice:
Regardless of the location, when a natural disaster occurs, the response remains the same: pray, give, share. Because of the contents of Crisis Care Kits, they have an expiration date and over 85,000 have been shipped to NCM warehouses in the last 10 months. With the large inventory on-hand, new kits received may expire before they can be used. To be good stewards of what they already have, NCM is asking churches to participate in compassion in other ways, rather than providing CCKs. The SoCal District will instead be collecting stuffed backpacks for Maja Misiones at our District Assembly in May 2019. Click here to read the entire note from NCM. Click here to donate to NCM Global Emergency Relief Fund.
Aftermath of Storms - Request!
Last week, Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina, USA, and Typhoon Mangkhut hit the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China. The full extent of the devastation left by these storms is still unknown. In the Philippines, the Philippine Nazarene College in La Trinidad, Philippines, sustained serious flooding. Because communications and travel are inconsistent, other damage has yet to be determined. In the United States, several Churches of the Nazarene have served as staging grounds for relief efforts. Please, pray for those suffering from the devastation of the storms. Pray for those who lost loved ones and belongings. Remember those most vulnerable, especially senior adults, people with disabilities, and those without steady income. Pray for the swift delivery of needed supplies and care. Pray for church leaders and churches responding to the needs around them. For updates and to learn more about how you and others may respond, visit http://www.ncm.org.
Planting Churches - Praise:
Pastor Mike led a congregation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for years and sensed God telling him to reach out to surrounding villages. At the same time, Gavin and Jill, missionaries to the Central Africa Field, noted that only one or two villages in that area had churches. The Field developed a strategy to mobilize pastors to plant churches along the major roads. Gavin and Jill trained Pastor Mike and his congregation to use evangelistic tools, and the church began to reach out to neighboring communities. Although Pastor Mike did not feel he had the gift of evangelism, he and his church dedicated themselves to this work. Now, five years later, Pastor Mike and his congregations have planted five churches. Give thanks to God for guiding Pastor Mike, Gavin, Jill, and the congregations to plant new churches, and pray for the people who will be reached as a result of this group’s obedience. For more information, please click here.
October 14th - Pastor Appreciation Day
During our first Missouri pastorate, the World Series featured two contenders: Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals. Remembered as the I-70 series for the interstate that connected the two cities, our church was practically all Cardinal fans, except the KC birthed preacher. I proudly wore a unique KC Royals ball cap, but when the fray was a little intense from the other fan base, I could flip it around to reveal St. Louis Red and the Cardinal logo in an effort to “live in peace with each other.” (1 Thess. 5:13).
Beside residential theologian, pastors are switching proverbial work hats in the name of ministry. Paul commands that we “respect those who work hard among you . . . hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 Thess. 5:13). Celebrate their labor for the Kingdom of God. On October 14th take intentional time to affirm your pastor (and family).
Board of Ministry Orientation
Seminar for Local Licensed Ministers: October 20, 10:00-2:00, at Wildomar Gracepoint. This seminar is required attendance for local licensed ministers who are pursuing a district license. It is also a one-time requirement for all district licensed ministers to attend the Board of Ministry Orientation. If planning to attend, please contact Wink Davis at wink.davis@gracept.org or Steve Rodeheaver at steverodeheaver@pointloma.edu.
Board of Ministry District License and Ordination Interview Dates are Monday & Tuesday, March 11 & 12, 2019. More information will be forthcoming.
SoCal Round-Up 2019
Make plans now to join other campers and Caravans participants May 17-19 at Indian Hills Camp in Jamal, CA. For more info contact Janet Crow (Crow-janetloma@cox.net)
District Events Calendar
Minister's Getaway: October 5 - 7
Kids Invitational Quiz (SD Mission): October 13
Puerto Rico - Work and Witness: November 5-12
Kids Invitational Quiz (TBD): December 1
Kids Invitational Quiz (Gateway): February 2, 2019
Women's Retreat: March 15-17, 2019
Kids Invitational Quiz (Parkway Hills): March 16, 2019
Kids District Quiz (SD Mission): April 6, 2019
SoCal Round-Up: May 17-19 @ Indian Hills Camp (Jamal, CA)
Kids Regional Quiz (PLNU) May 11, 2019
For a more detailed record of these and other upcoming district events please visit the district calendar, or www.socalnaz.org/events/calendar
Collection of Crisis Care Kits is Suspended until Further Notice:
Regardless of the location, when a natural disaster occurs, the response remains the same: pray, give, share. Because of the contents of Crisis Care Kits, they have an expiration date and over 85,000 have been shipped to NCM warehouses in the last 10 months. With the large inventory on-hand, new kits received may expire before they can be used. To be good stewards of what they already have, NCM is asking churches to participate in compassion in other ways, rather than providing CCKs. The SoCal District will instead be collecting stuffed backpacks for Maja Misiones at our District Assembly in May 2019. Click here to read the entire note from NCM. Click here to donate to NCM Global Emergency Relief Fund.
Aftermath of Storms - Request!
Last week, Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina, USA, and Typhoon Mangkhut hit the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China. The full extent of the devastation left by these storms is still unknown. In the Philippines, the Philippine Nazarene College in La Trinidad, Philippines, sustained serious flooding. Because communications and travel are inconsistent, other damage has yet to be determined. In the United States, several Churches of the Nazarene have served as staging grounds for relief efforts. Please, pray for those suffering from the devastation of the storms. Pray for those who lost loved ones and belongings. Remember those most vulnerable, especially senior adults, people with disabilities, and those without steady income. Pray for the swift delivery of needed supplies and care. Pray for church leaders and churches responding to the needs around them. For updates and to learn more about how you and others may respond, visit http://www.ncm.org.
Planting Churches - Praise:
Pastor Mike led a congregation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for years and sensed God telling him to reach out to surrounding villages. At the same time, Gavin and Jill, missionaries to the Central Africa Field, noted that only one or two villages in that area had churches. The Field developed a strategy to mobilize pastors to plant churches along the major roads. Gavin and Jill trained Pastor Mike and his congregation to use evangelistic tools, and the church began to reach out to neighboring communities. Although Pastor Mike did not feel he had the gift of evangelism, he and his church dedicated themselves to this work. Now, five years later, Pastor Mike and his congregations have planted five churches. Give thanks to God for guiding Pastor Mike, Gavin, Jill, and the congregations to plant new churches, and pray for the people who will be reached as a result of this group’s obedience. For more information, please click here.
October 14th - Pastor Appreciation Day
During our first Missouri pastorate, the World Series featured two contenders: Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals. Remembered as the I-70 series for the interstate that connected the two cities, our church was practically all Cardinal fans, except the KC birthed preacher. I proudly wore a unique KC Royals ball cap, but when the fray was a little intense from the other fan base, I could flip it around to reveal St. Louis Red and the Cardinal logo in an effort to “live in peace with each other.” (1 Thess. 5:13).
Beside residential theologian, pastors are switching proverbial work hats in the name of ministry. Paul commands that we “respect those who work hard among you . . . hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 Thess. 5:13). Celebrate their labor for the Kingdom of God. On October 14th take intentional time to affirm your pastor (and family).
Board of Ministry Orientation
Seminar for Local Licensed Ministers: October 20, 10:00-2:00, at Wildomar Gracepoint. This seminar is required attendance for local licensed ministers who are pursuing a district license. It is also a one-time requirement for all district licensed ministers to attend the Board of Ministry Orientation. If planning to attend, please contact Wink Davis at wink.davis@gracept.org or Steve Rodeheaver at steverodeheaver@pointloma.edu.
Board of Ministry District License and Ordination Interview Dates are Monday & Tuesday, March 11 & 12, 2019. More information will be forthcoming.
SoCal Round-Up 2019
Make plans now to join other campers and Caravans participants May 17-19 at Indian Hills Camp in Jamal, CA. For more info contact Janet Crow (Crow-janetloma@cox.net)
District Events Calendar
Minister's Getaway: October 5 - 7
Kids Invitational Quiz (SD Mission): October 13
Puerto Rico - Work and Witness: November 5-12
Kids Invitational Quiz (TBD): December 1
Kids Invitational Quiz (Gateway): February 2, 2019
Women's Retreat: March 15-17, 2019
Kids Invitational Quiz (Parkway Hills): March 16, 2019
Kids District Quiz (SD Mission): April 6, 2019
SoCal Round-Up: May 17-19 @ Indian Hills Camp (Jamal, CA)
Kids Regional Quiz (PLNU) May 11, 2019
For a more detailed record of these and other upcoming district events please visit the district calendar, or www.socalnaz.org/events/calendar
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