Violence escalates in Ukraine
Deadly violence in Kyiv, Ukraine, escalated this week during clashes between anti-government protestors and government forces. Protests have been ongoing since November, but fighting intensified despite a declared truce between opposition leaders and the Ukrainian government on Wednesday. According to reports, snipers and gunfire killed an estimated 42 people on Thursday, pushing the related death toll to around 70. Hundreds have been injured in the city center since February 18, though unconfirmed local estimates put that number higher. The Church of the Nazarene's Global Mission Office reports no Nazarene missionaries or Mission Corps volunteers in the area were harmed before being safely evacuated. Local Nazarene doctors and volunteers are working as part of the emergency medical response effort in neighboring hospitals, which are overcrowded and not sufficiently resourced. Several nearby churches and hotels are now makeshift hospitals as doctors and volunteers work to help the victims. The Nazarene Compassionate Ministries CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Field coordinator reports NCM staff and local churches, led by the Nazarene district superintendent, are working together to create an official emergency response plan. In addition to prayer, the greatest need is for donations to provide medical supplies, blankets, clothing, and meals. How to Help Donate online now through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries by clicking here. To send donations by mail, make checks payable to "General Treasurer" and send them to: Global Treasury Services Church of the Nazarene P.O. Box 843116 Kansas City, MO 64184-3116 Be sure to put "Designation ID: 122185" in the Memo area. In Canada, make checks payable to "Church of the Nazarene Canada" and send them to: Church of the Nazarene Canada 20 Regan Road, Unit 9 Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C32 Be sure to put "Designation ID: 122185" in the Memo area. --Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
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Celebrate NEW LIFE
A few Sundays from now, Christians worldwide will celebrate the glorious fact that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered, died, and rose triumphantly so we might "have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10b). Hundreds of thousands of those who will join in this incredible celebration are Nazarenes, and these Nazarene worshipers will gather to praise our risen Lord in at least 159 world areas. How is it possible that the Church of the Nazarene has such enormous outreach among the lost around the world? The answer is simple — our people are known for sacrificial giving to missions. From our earliest days, in obedience to God, Nazarenes have been committed to make Christlike disciples in the nations. We share His life with others out of gratitude for what He has done for us! Yet, there are still countless people who are unaware of His grace for their lives. In fact, the Great Commission is a huge unfinished task that no one person, no individual church, not even one denomination can complete alone. But together, we can and are changing lives through Christ by our faithful giving. The nazarene.org/generosity website provides a variety of free tools your church can download and use to promote this year's global Easter Offering for the World Evangelism Fund on April 20. Resources include videos, posters, bulletin inserts, bookmarks, logos, a children's activity sheet, sermon, PowerPoint presentation, and leader's guide to help use the elements to their full potential. We invite you to join us now in praying that the Church of the Nazarene will indeed share NEW LIFE with men, women, and children everywhere who are in need of His grace. May God use you to make a difference for His kingdom. David W. Graves, chair Board of General Superintendents Verne Ward, director Global Mission Daniel Ketchum, director Nazarene Missions International
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Spain church overcomes cultural barriers
Standing at the bus stop in his neighborhood, Eduardo Arce struck up a conversation with Estela, the wife of Nazarene pastor Jorge Cabero. After this encounter, Jorge got in touch with Arce and they met for coffee. Jorge then invited Arce to church and he's been attending for the past few years. It's these intentional, personal interactions with local Spanish people that are attracting them to the local Nazarene church in Seville. The congregation — one quarter of which is native Spanish — is bucking a trend exhibited by other Protestant churches in Spain that often draw immigrants but fail to attract the Spanish. The Seville church's involvement of Spanish people rises to one-third when those who are involved in community ministries of the church, such as home groups, are counted. Jorge credits his church's comparative success in reaching the Spanish to two things: the members don't perceive one another as immigrants or natives but simply as brothers and sisters, and the congregation has taken an active concern in building intentional relationships with Spanish people. "We don't have a formula," said Fran Tomas Martin, a Spanish person who attends the church and serves as the Nazarene Missions International president. "The formula is in the Bible, the formula is love. We're just3 following Christ's command to go and make disciples. That's it." Spain churches historically exhibited an attitude pervasive to Spanish culture: Immigrants and native Spanish don't mix, according to Martin and Arce. For years Nazarene churches in Spain attracted immigrants native to countries in Central and South America, such as Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Nicaragua. Nazarene missionary Joshua Herndon said many new members were already Nazarenes in their home country, so actual conversions are probably few. "We've been working the past three years to encourage our churches to build relationships with the Spanish," Herndon said. "Overall, it hasn't gone very well. Many of our churches haven't been able to get outside of the church culture." Jorge agrees. "The number of times the church leaves and goes out and does stuff is minimal," Jorge added, speaking generally of Protestant churches in Spain. "They've just stayed enclosed within their own church. In this way we're never going to grow and we're never going to grow the kingdom of God. In a certain way we need to be aggressive in what we do, because we just haven't been." The Seville church goes back 30 years, but when Pastor Jorge took leadership in 2009 the average Sunday attendance was 10 people. The congregation grew to about 70 people, but when Jorge began to push a vision of reaching native Spanish people and ministering to the community outside the church's walls, attendance gradually decreased to 30. He's not discouraged, however. "Right now, the 30 people — they are people who share this vision," Jorge said. Arce and Martin are fully on board. It's what brought them to the Seville church and why they stayed. In recent days, the church began a variety of ministries that get the church's people outside the building and into contact with individuals in the community. The congregation donates and packages non-perishable food, and then once a month they personally seek out homeless people living under bridges and deliver the items. They stop to talk and pray with those they meet. "We are really trying to make them part of the Body of Christ even though they are not in the church," Jorge said. The church's small youth group conducts regular street evangelism and visits retirement homes to hold praise and worship time with residents. They are also considering hospital visits. Similarly, the congregation launched home Bible study groups and now has seven groups averaging three to five people. Arce said the home groups may be more effective in reaching unchurched neighbors and family members than the Sunday morning worship service, because it is a more comfortable, casual, and intimate environment. "My wife and daughter are in the discipleship group," Arce said. "They are not members of the church. I am sure that God is going to bring them to the church one day." While these ministry ideas are helping create points of contact between church members and people outside the church, it is the simple change of heart that has made the biggest difference. "I believe that the immigrants that are part of that church have embraced the Spanish," Herndon said. "There's a unified effort between the immigrants and the Spanish."4 Martin said he doesn't distinguish between someone who is Spanish and who is an immigrant. "In the church that difference is gone," he said. "I don't see them as immigrants even though they pronounce words in a different way. I see them as my brothers." --Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region
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BGS call to prayer for Global Theology Conference III Nazarenes from around the world will gather next month in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the Church of the Nazarene's third Global Theology Conference. The Board of General Superintendents is calling on Nazarenes to join in a month of prayer for this historic and impactful event. The prayer emphasis will begin on February 23 and continue throughout the conference, which takes place March 23 through 27. Sponsored by the BGS and the denomination's International Board of Education, Global Theology Conference III offers opportunity for 300 invited leaders representing the church's six world regions to be involved. Participants include clergy and laity who serve in various leadership roles throughout the international church. Conference papers and conversation will address the topic "Critical Issues in Ecclesiology" as attendees celebrate a shared vision of the understanding of the church and its faithful expression of the gospel message in today's world. The BGS asks Nazarenes to join them in prayer as leaders and theologians engage in this important time of dialogue and reflection regarding the nature and mission of the church. The prayers of Nazarenes worldwide will provide valuable support for this important event. Previous Global Theology Conferences took place in Guatemala (2002) and the Netherlands (2007). --International Board of Education
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Ministry, Mission, and Pies Jerry Frye has been pastor of the Eldon, Missouri, Church of the Nazarene for close to 40 years. In those three-plus decades, the church has expanded and has become more community minded and world conscious. One way that has occurred is through the church’s focus on missions. And that focus has sharpened through its pie ministry. How did the church get started with a pie ministry? We wanted to raise mission awareness and funds for missions beyond what we were giving to the World Evangelism Fund through our Faith Promise ministry. Seeing what the Cape Girardeau Church of the Nazarene was doing with their pie ministry, we wanted to be a part of that. So we acquired their recipe for a great apple pie. What is a pie ministry? We sell apple and cherry pies in our community, at Southern Nazarene University, and throughout central Missouri. The proceeds are used to purchase property, and to build churches and schools around the world. Also, we help the needy in our community. For example, with our “back to school” program we provide clothing and school supplies for children going back to school. Recently, we helped a pastor in our community with stage IV cancer who is between assignments and without insurance. The pie ministry allows us to have a benevolence fund to help those going through difficult times. Where in the world has the Eldon church ministered through your mission trips? Our pie ministry has helped us minister in Papua New Guinea, Guam, Ghana, Ecuador, and Brazil. In fact, we have worked throughout Ecuador with multiple trips there.5 How do people know about the pies? Word of mouth. And we advertise in the local newspaper and on radio. What’s the process for creating the pies? We go to Michigan and pick up 260 bushels of Golden Delicious apples from a Christian orchard owner. We usually arrive home on Friday and begin the pie-making process at church in the gym on Saturday, which begins a 15-day pie-making journey. Interestingly, in 2012 when the blossoms froze on the apple trees in this orchard, the owner told me that the one part of his orchard was spared was the part “God protected” from where he picks our apples. How many pies do you make? Over 6,000 apple in September, and over 1,200 cherry in January. Do you bake all of the pies? No, we freeze them and allow people to bake them as needed. Is this primarily a women’s ministry? No. Men, women, children, teens are all involved. How do those who purchase the pies know about the proceeds and purpose? We make it clear on the pie labels that we use the proceeds to help fund missions in our community and throughout the world. Now, we are known as the “apple pie church.” Can you share some of the highlights of your pie-sponsored mission projects? 1) In Ecuador, we were in a village called Centro Yu where the North Andean Field for the Church of the Nazarene was planting a church. Although they had a building, they didn’t have a pastor. The source for drinking water in the village was a pond, where the cattle bathed and drank, located on the way up the mountain to the village. We met the two village leaders who happened to be Nazarene. We asked them what their needs were as a village and they shared the need for clean drinking water. Some time earlier, the Ecuadorian government discovered an underground river in the mountain and agreed to drill a well and pump water up to Centro Yu. However, they would not disperse the water to the village’s homes. So we agreed to send back funds from the pie ministry to pipe water to each of the 125 homes in the village. 2) In another instance, Pastor Angel Paredes’ wife, Marcela, at Ecuador’s Shell Church of the Nazarene was going blind due to a genetic condition. My wife, Karen, noticed her having difficulty navigating through the kitchen area. Shortly before we arrived, Marcela was scheduled for eye surgery but declined because it was the same weekend as a district women’s retreat. Six women from the church were planning to attend with her, one of whom was seeking to escape a life of prostitution. While at the retreat, that woman came to faith in Jesus Christ. When we heard this story, we left funds there for Marcela to be able to visit an ophthalmologist. Also, we paid for her surgery that restored sight in one eye and slowed the deterioration in her other eye. Since it was genetic condition, her three children were tested. It was discovered that two of the children had the same condition and the doctor was able to correct that for them.6 3) After the hurricane in Haiti, a Nazarene Haitian pastor moved to Ecuador with many Haitian refugees. We helped provide funds for him while he ministered to his fellow refugees in Ecuador. How has the pie ministry helped your church have a greater sense of ministry and compassion? It creates camaraderie. Some have come to our church to get in on making pies, and then see that our church has a vision beyond our doors. This has expanded the scope of our vision for making Christlike disciples. Has this trickled down to the youth? Certainly. We just had two teenage boys spend two weeks in Ecuador. One returned and said he felt called to missions. This summer we are sending 16 teens and 4 adults to Sun Valley Indian School in Arizona. They want to do this because of the vision God has given them through their involvement in our church’s ministries. How have the people of Eldon Church of the Nazarene learned to be so generous? They have raised their awareness of the needs of others. We have between 35-40 people participate in Work and Witness trips. At the 2012 Missouri District Assembly, General Superintendent Jerry Porter recognized the churches that gave a significant percentage over their World Evangelism Fund goals. Our church was recognized for giving 352.8 percent to missions around the world. I am privileged to pastor such a wonderful, giving, and loving congregation. Click here for a video of Jerry Frye speaking about this ministry: http://on.fb.me/1dOrL6K Read more Holiness Today articles at www.holinesstoday.org. Check us out on Facebook www.facebook.com/holinesstoday and Twitter https://twitter.com/HolinessToday (@holinesstoday) Holiness Today 2014
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Regional NewsAfrica
GMC Flags of the Nations: Liberia
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: Liberia
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Liberia in 1990.
Liberia had a population of 3,989,703 in 2013. That same year, Liberia reported 121 Churches of the Nazarene, 80 of which had been officially organized. Liberia has 7,104 total members.
Liberia is on the Africa Region. It has three Phase 2 districts.
For more information about the Africa Region, visit africanazarene.org.
Previous flags featured:
Argentina
Aruba
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia
France
Gabon
Guatemala
Germany
Ghana
Guam
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Conakry
Guyana
Haiti
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Liberia
Madagascar Mali
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Paraguay
Peru
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Suriname
Swaziland
Togo
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Venezuela
NOTE: Some countries cannot be represented in this project in order to maintain security of those working there.
* = 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.
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Asia-Pacific
Healing after Typhoon Haiyan
We were huddled in a shelter that served as the temporary parsonage with co-pastor Mrs. Ofilanda. Just outside the door was a bare concrete slab where the Salcedo Church of the Nazarene had once stood. The splintered wood and twisted roofing from the destroyed church was piled on another concrete slab where the parsonage had once stood. Both had been destroyed in the mid-morning hours of November 8 as the 195 mph winds and 7 to 10 foot storm surges of Super Typhoon Haiyan obliterated coastal villages in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. Over 6,200 people perished, but the Ofilanda family was spared.
At the height of the storm, they managed to evacuate their parsonage minutes before it collapsed, and again left the church through a side door minutes before it was obliterated. They rode out the reminder of the storm in the associate pastor's home next to the church.
"I can't believe you came," Mrs. Ofilanda said upon our arrival. Although Salcedo was near to the part of the coast where Haiyan had made landfall, it was a smaller municipality and had not received the attention that other villages had received.
For the rest of the story, click here.
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Mesoamerica
Students celebrate graduations throughout Mesoamerica Region
Higher education institutions across the Mesoamerica Region recently held commencement ceremonies to honor 2013 graduates.
Mexico Nazarene Seminary
Mexico Nazarene Seminary held a graduation ceremony on December 1 for 14 students. The seminary presented 13 bachelor's degrees in theology and one Master of Religious Studies.
The event began with a time of worship. Pastor Igna Suarez shared the Word of God to the congregation and the graduates. The following leaders participated in the ceremony: Mesoamerica Regional Educator Coordinator Rubén Fernández, Mexico South Field Strategy Coordinator René Jiménez Guzmán, Mexico Nazarene Seminary Rector Obdulia Martínez, and Mexico Oaxaca North West District Superintendent Elijah Luis Betanzos. The graduates heard words of encouragement from Martinez.
Three students earned an honorable mention: Portillo de la Luz Maria Salinas, Juan de Dios Gonzalez Ortiz, and Enrique Cano Toledo. The ceremony concluded with a prayer by Betanzos, who blessed the graduates and thanked God for allowing each of them come to the end of their studies.
During the Mexico Oaxaca North West District Assembly on January 21 and 22, 19 students graduated through Theological Studies Seminar Affiliates (Estudios Teológicos Afiliados al Seminario; ETASEN).
ETASEN Director Guillermo Martínez López welcomed the students. Martínez congratulated the students on their achievement and led the ceremony, where students dedicated their lives to God. He then proceeded to graduate the students, presenting the bachelor's degrees in theology.
Later, Betanzos raised a prayer to God on behalf of the graduates and challenged them to accept God's call and to be sent to where He provided.
For a list of ETASEN graduates, click here.
Nazarene Seminary of the Americas
Nazarene Seminary of the Americas (Seminario Nazareno de las Américas; SENDAS) conducted several graduations throughout the year at its main campus in San Jose, Costa Rica, and at extension sites throughout the region.
In April, seven students received a master's degree in religious studies with a minor in the mission of the church. The next month, four students graduated. Three received a master's in religious studies with a minor in family orientation and the fourth completed a master's in religious studies with a minor in the mission of the church.
Students also graduated on November 30 from a SENDAS Decentralized Theological Education (Educación Teológica por Extensión Descentralizado; ETED) center on the Panama Central District. SENDAS Academic Vice President Jorge Baños shared the Word. ETED Coordinator Franlym Peña, Pastor Edwin Martinez, and a worship team from Siloam Church of the Nazarene in El Progreso also attended.
For a list of the Panama graduates, click here.
The seminary's main graduation was held on November 9 for 21 students. Many students could not attend the ceremony in person, so the event was live streamed.
The service began with the traditional march of the faculty and graduates. Then SENDAS Rector Rubén Fernández opened the ceremony with a prayer. Next, a video showcasing the school's history played, reminding students that they are part of a long tradition of training pastors and leaders.
Three students from different programs shared their experience at SENDAS and thanked the faculty and staff.
Pastor Sirlene Bustos, a SENDAS board member, was the speaker. She based her message on Leviticus 6:8-13 reminding the graduates of their role as pastors and leaders. Bustos urged them to stay in the word of God, to offer their lives and projects to Him every day, and not let the fire in their hearts decrease.
Central Costa Rica District Superintendent Mario Vargas led the congregation in prayer for the new graduates.
The service ended with much celebration. As the graduates marched out of the chapel, friends and family members took pictures. Reception attendees congratulated the graduates and discussed future goals.
For a complete list of the November 9 graduates, click here.
NTS-Guatemala
Nazarene Theological Seminary-Guatemala held a graduation ceremony December 21 for 33 students on its main campus in Guatemala City.
The ceremony was chaired by NTS-Guatemala Rector Edgar Menendez and the vice chancellors of the ETED and Higher Theological Studies (Estudios Teológicos Superiores; ETES) programs.
Nine students graduated from the faculty of theology, 17 students received a Diploma in Ministry, four earned bachelor's degree in ministry, and three were awarded a bachelor's degree in theological education.
"We thank God for these 33 students graduated at our central campus," Menendez said. "We are waiting to revive our programs and keep working hard on extensions in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Belize. [We] also promote the importance of school leadership in each local church in different districts."
An additional 84 students graduated from the NTS-Guatemala ETED center in Mount Carmel, El Salvador, on December 7.
--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region
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Mesoamerica Region News Briefs
District Assembly season is well underway on the Mesoamerica Region. The following actions were reported:
The Costa Rica Central District held its assembly at Nazarene Seminary of the Americas (Seminario
Nazareno de las Américas; SENDAS) in San Jose, Costa Rica. Mario Vargas Castro was elected district
superintendent on the ninth ballot. General Superintendent Gustavo A. Crocker and Regional Director
Carlos Saenz ordained pastors Raul Rojas, Sharon Víquez, and Rolan Calvo, who were accompanied by
their spouses.
Dulces Nombres Chávez was elected as superintendent of the Mexico North District for two years. He
succeeded Raul Holguin, who served in the position for two years.
--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region
Related: "Mesoamerica Region News Briefs (February 14)"
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USA/Canada
Nazarenes in the News
Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.
Theologians in place
Nashville, Tennessee
(Christian Century, February 4) A robust theologian in residence program has been developed at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene in Nashville, Tennessee. The church shares a campus with a Nazarene university, and three professors who volunteer their time to the congregation have been named theologians in residence.
"Originally we did so to bring honor to their service within the church and the denomination—to give praise where praise is due," said Dwight Gunter, Trevecca's senior minister. Gunter has also wanted "to merge orthodoxy and orthopraxy," to emphasize the significant role that sound theological teaching plays in his church's overall ministry. "And I think it also says to the university with whom we share a campus that we value scholarship at a very high level."
For the rest of the story, click here.
Delaware church introduces recovery program
Laurel, Delaware
(Laurel Star) A Laurel church is bringing a nationally recognized spiritually-based program to provide support for anyone who struggles with the challenges of life. Beginning Wednesday, March 18, the Laurel Nazarene Church will be hosting weekly meetings as part of the program Celebrate Recovery, a life coping project that was started 20 years ago at Pastor Rick Warren s Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.
Celebrate Recovery was designed as a program to help those struggling with life s hurts, habits and hang-ups. Ryan Hollis, who is a program leader for the Laurel Celebrate Recovery project, said that traditionally when the word recovery is used it is correlated with drugs alcohol and other substance abuses. Celebrate Recovery is for anybody, he said. There are any number of issues that affect people and create anger and frustration in their lives. We want to provide a program that can help people come together and gain control and recognize that they are not alone in their struggles.
These struggles can be with drugs and alcohol, divorce, codependency, domestic violence, pornography and gambling, but also can be as diverse as more recently recognized addictive issues involving overeating, shopping, workaholism, and hoarding. According to information from the Celebrate Recovery program recovery pertains to a wide variety of issues. In physical healing, recovery refers to the process of moving from illness to wellness. Our hurts, habits and hang-ups are like an illness and, using the tools of Celebrate Recovery, we begin to move toward wholeness.
For the rest of the story, click here.
Stories to share? Send them to submitnews@ncnnews.com.
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Global Ministry Center News
Global NMI Council meeting summary
The Global Nazarene Missions International Council met at the Global Ministry Center 5-8 February 2014.
Council members were joined by regional NMI coordinators and the global NMI office team. Attendees were
aware of the prayerful support of many as they sought to respond to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to identify
ways in which NMI needs to develop to meet the challenges of today's and future generations.
In summary:7
The vital role of NMI in the mobilising of the church in mission is confirmed. Without NMI the church
would be weakened in its missional endeavours.
NMI brings grassroots involvement to the achievement of Global Mission strategy. NMI translates the
strategy into practical programmes to channel people's passion for the lost.
NMI is key to the communication and stimulation of commitment to the cause of missions.
A mindset change is needed to ensure future engagement of younger generations in NMI by motivating
people through methods appropriate to their generation. Kathy Mowry presented to the Council the
challenges of communicating with the iGeneration. This thinking is to be further developed in consultation
with experts.
The NMI website is to be remodeled with a target date of summer for a phased roll out of a new design,
including modern and vital appearance, increased educational components, ability to facilitate the
establishment of personal connections with missionaries, and easily maintainable with simplified
accessibility for district NMI presidents to reach resources they need.
An electronic chat forum will be established for district presidents to exchange ideas.
The NMI office team will improve HeartLine to ease linking to stories to which it refers.
Phone apps will be developed to facilitate giving.
The Global NMI Convention 2017 will be multisite. Investigation of ways to increase the time available for
the convention to enable inspiration, motivation, and communication alongside business has begun.
Ideas are already under discussion.
Nazarene Publishing House colleagues will be engaged to work with the global NMI office team and
specific council members to develop a new educational curriculum for children. The new curriculum will
include new methods of communicating with children according to the needs of this generation.
The Global NMI Council recognises the restricted resources within the global NMI office. New ways of
meeting the resource needs of local churches are being considered including the use of resources
prepared at regional, district, and local levels and the use of gifted and talented individuals in our local
churches who are able to work remotely with the global NMI office and supporting the GMC team.
The Global NMI Council made other decisions concerning Living Mission, Mission Connection, LINKS, Prayer
Vision Journey 2016, District Leadership Conference 2015, and other matters.
Please continue to pray for the Global NMI Council and the global NMI office team as they work together to
implement these decisions.
Philip Weatherill
Global NMI President
On behalf of the Global NMI Team
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In Memoriam
The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the
Lord. Notices were received February 17-21, 2014.
Martha Ballard, 80, of Collierville, Tennessee, passed away on February 19. She was the wife of retired
minister and evangelist Donald Ballard, who served in Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, and
Tennessee.
Joseph Chapman, 72, of Goshen, Indiana, passed away on February 13. He was a retired minister, serving in
Indiana. He is survived by his wife, Naomi Chapman.
Corine (Blakeman) Herren, 91, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, passed away on February 18. She was the widow
of retired minister and evangelist Ullie Herren, who served in Kentucky. Ullie Herren passed away in 2004.
Erin Wallace, 93, of Augusta, Georgia, passed away on February 11. She was the widow of retired minister
Edwin Wallace, who served in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Edwin Wallace passed away in 1996.
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section on ncnnews.com by clicking here.
Note: Please join with 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 submitnews@ncnnews.com.
--Compiled by NCN News
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GMC employment opportunities
The following positions are available at the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center:
Global Ministry Center Media — Video Production Manager
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries — Computer Programming Coordinator
USA/Canada Nazarene Youth International — Program Assistants (2)
Located in Lenexa, Kansas, the Global Ministry Center is the administrative, mission, and service hub for the denomination's ministries in 159 world areas. All GMC positions report to this location. For contact information, click on one of the job titles listed above.
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. Resumes are not necessary for entry-level positions, but they are preferred for professional level positions. Resumes may be submitted by mail.
Applying for Employment with the GMC
Application forms may be requested by calling (913) 577-0500, 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 Central Time. Completed applications may be mailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office at the same address.
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Collegiate News
Trevecca Celebration moves to Florida
For the first time, Trevecca Nazarene University took its popular Trevecca Celebration event for senior adults
to an off-campus location — Lakeland, Florida.
On Friday, February 7, Trevecca ambassadors Moody and General Superintendent Emerita Nina G. Gunter
welcomed the group of more than 350 senior adults to this inaugural event, held at Lakeland Highland Park
Church of the Nazarene. Attendees came from 12 states and 72 different church congregations.
The day included many features participants enjoyed at the four previous Celebrations held at Trevecca — a
continental breakfast; inspiration from the Gunters, Trevecca President Dan Boone, and university alumni and
current students; a hot lunch; special music; and ample time to fellowship with friends.
Two groups provided music. Awaken, a student ensemble from Trevecca, presented its signature bluegrass
sound during the breakfast and later in the program. The Collingsworth Family, the featured music group,
blessed listeners in morning and afternoon concerts.
Participants' responses to the event were overwhelmingly positive. In their comments about the day, attendees
thanked Trevecca for bringing the event to their area, asked that the event be repeated next year, and gave8
high marks to all parts of the day.
"The purpose of these celebration events is to ensure that senior adults in the Southeast maintain their
connection to Trevecca — their university," the Gunters said. "We know that senior adults have opportunities to
create lasting legacies through their support of Trevecca, its mission, and its students, and we want to
encourage them to do so."
In his welcome, Boone noted that his time at Trevecca forever shaped his life in many ways. Citing current
research that reports parents and grandparents continue to be "major influencers" in the college decision of
today's young people, Boone asked listeners to become advocates for Trevecca by encouraging young people
to choose the university.
The next Trevecca Celebration will take place October 17 on the Trevecca campus with the Collingsworth
Family as the featured musicians. Click here to register or to obtain more information.
--Trevecca Nazarene University
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NCN Sports
SNU alumnus wins national coaches award
Southern Nazarene University alumnus Shane Cowherd (Class of 1999) was recently named USA TODAY's Best Boys' Basketball Coach 2014.
Selected from a group of 306 elite high school coaches, Cowherd, head coach of Memorial High School in Edmond, Oklahoma, received 1,831,735 votes in the final round alone, won $2,000 for Edmond Memorial High School, and will receive a trophy during a ceremony at the high school. There were 4,327,986 votes cast nationally in the final round, and 6,180,903 were cast overall.
Cowherd expressed his appreciation to his family, friends, and former and current students.
"I have long tried to model to my students and players what was modeled to me as a son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin: Love and respect must be granted in order for love and respect to be returned," Cowherd said. "And, thanks to my amazing wife. She has been with me every minute of the journey and, to all, thank you for enriching and blessing my family. I am in no way worthy."
Shane's wife, Marla (Murray) is also a graduate of SNU.
During his seven seasons at Memorial, Cowherd compiled a 124-22 record, winning Class 6A state titles in 2011 and 2013.
--Southern Nazarene University
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