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 Nampa, Idaho
In 2012, Justin Skeesuck learned about the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage's trail while watching a travel show and had the crazy idea that he should attempt it in his wheelchair.
Skeesuck, a graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University, asked his lifelong friend, 1997 Northwest Nazarene University alumnus Patrick Gray, to join him.
Gray's response was simple: "I'll push you."
That offer sparked a trip half way around the world, a documentary film project, media interest, and a movement of people inspired to live life to the fullest despite their limitations.
Skeesuck has a degenerative, autoimmune disease that attacks his nervous system and resulted in the loss of muscle control from his shoulders down. While his disease could have become an affliction, Skeesuck has turned it into motivation.
When the friends arrived in France this summer, the people they encountered were friendly, but made a point to tell them that what they were attempting was impossible. Half way up a steep, rocky slope while Gray scouted ahead and Skeesuck lay on the ground waiting to be carried, the first person of many was inspired by their undertaking.
"L'impossible est possible!" — the impossible is possible — shouted a Basque man as he stood over Skeesuck, reaching down to joyfully slap his cheeks.
The two friends became the first to complete the more than 500-mile journey across northern Spain and the Pyrenees Mountains by foot and wheelchair.
Both shared their story at an NNU Community Chapel this week in the Brandt Center. The friends also hosted a Q-and-A event that evening. Both events were free and open to the public.
To learn more about their story and the I'll Push You project, visit illpushyou.com.--Northwest Nazarene University
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 Miami, Florida
Hispanic and Latino district superintendents and coordinators from the USA/Canada Region gathered for a biannual conference in Miami September 16 through 18. The conference was established for networking, celebratory times of fellowship and prayer, and to share resources to support pastoral and church ministry.
The conference was attended by 35 coordinators, 14 spouses, three district superintendents, Multicultural Ministries Director Roberto Hodgson, and Mario Zani, recently appointed multicultural literature/Casa Nazarena de Publicaciones coordinator.
Hodgson introduced the national strategy, which focuses on ministerial preparation through modules for ordination, Especializada Teológico Nazareno Educación, Nazarene Bible College's online Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, Olivet Nazarene University's Master of Ministry, and Nazarene Theological Seminary's Doctor of Ministry program in Spanish; evangelism and discipleship through the Master's Plan; and church planting through Dynamic Church Planting International training. He also reinforced the church planting initiative Vision 2020, which aims to establish 1,000 Hispanic or Latino congregations on the USA/Canada Region by the year 2020.
Special guest Jorge Baños, academic vice-rector of Nazarene Seminary of the Americas (SENDAS) in Costa Rica, introduced two new opportunities for USA/Canada Hispanic and Latino students. The first allows students who have completed the courses required for ordination to enroll in SENDAS' three-year online program for a bachelor's degree in pastoral theology. More information will be posted soon at nazarenosuscan.org.
The second opportunity is for students who would like to enter the Doctor of Ministry program at Nazarene Theological Seminary, but lack the minimum credit hours. SENDAS will offer the missing courses online so students can gain entry into the doctorate program. Final details for this option are still being finalized.--Multicultural Ministries
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 Tutla, Mexico
Mexico's Oaxaca Norponiente District hosted a National Bible Quiz September 13 and 14. About 700 young people from across the country gathered to watch teams from different districts compete. The teams spent a year studying the books of Romans and James to get ready for this event.
Participating districts included Mexico Central, Gulf, North, Northwest, Oaxaca, Oaxaca Norponiente, West, Olmeca, South, South Frontier, and South Pacific.
The event began with a celebration where participants praised the Lord together and listened to a message from guest pastor Josué Barrera, followed by a time of competition. In the afternoon, attendees celebrated with another service and sermon from Barrera. The day ended with a Mexican night, which showed visitors a bit of Oaxacan culture.
Three districts — South Frontier District, West District, and South Pacific District — tied for first place with nine wins and one loss. The jury deliberated on the winner by comparing the points earned by each district.
The following day, Pastor Elijah Betanzos shared God's Word in a sermon that challenged attendees. An award ceremony followed. National Committee on Bible Quizzing Director Edgar Manuel Corzo Garcia crowned the West District in first place, South Pacific in second place, and South Frontier District in third place.
First individual place was given to Emanuel Rocha Romero from the Central District.
"God showed us His power once again in this event," said Josué Villatoro, Mexico South Nazarene Youth International president. "He reminded us how majestic and powerful He is by sending us rain like no other and again reminding us how loving and compassionate He is by making us feel Him in every minute of this weekend. He has been good to the Mexican NYI and He has allowed us to celebrate, rejoice, and become friends — closer to Him and to each other."
Mexico Bible quizzers will study the Book of Acts next. The 2015 quiz meet will be JUNAMEX 2015, July 14-18 in Oaxtepec Morelos.--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region
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 Kudjip, Papua New Guinea
Dr. Erin Meier, missionary doctor at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea, shared the following insight into medical missions:
We run out of things and make substitutions daily here at Kudjip. Whether it is a medicine, an IV fluid, a laboratory test, gauze, gloves, even no water – we are constantly figuring out how to make do with what we have.
Recently, the shortages have carried over to X-ray chemicals. Taking an X-ray requires not only someone who knows how to position the patient for the X-ray, but a machine that can take the X-ray, film to put the X-ray on, and chemicals to develop the X-ray. If any one of these pieces is missing, the X-ray doesn’t happen.
We were down to our last bottle of developing chemicals and weren’t sure when the next bottle would come. A bottle usually lasts us four days at our normal rate of ordering X-rays.
So, knowing that we were running low, we have been trying to limit the number of X-rays that we are doing; trying to treat the things we can treat without actually getting the X-ray. If someone has a cough, instead of getting an X-ray to see if they have pneumonia, we make a clinical decision and treat accordingly. Instead of doing an X-ray to see if they have fluid in their lung in pulmonary tuberculosis, I have taken them to the ultrasound room and done an ultrasound in place of a traditional X-ray.
The ultrasound has also become helpful in orthopedic cases. You can see bones quite nicely on ultrasound and in this shortage of X-rays, we have taken to using the ultrasound to try and determine if there is a fracture or not. If there is one, the ultrasound can help us determine if it is aligned correctly or not and then after trying to straighten the bones, we can look again to see if we got the bones in the right position or not. It isn’t perfect, but without X-ray, it is a great option. We recently got a few bottles of chemicals, so we have been able to test our ultrasound methods and found that we did a pretty good job even without X-ray.
Continued prayer is requested for the team at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, who continues to be the tangible hands and feet of Christ to those in need.--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region
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 Gambella, Ethiopia
Nazarenes from South Sudan have endured many hardships, including civil war, yet remain hungry for training as they pursue the call to pastoral ministry.
From 21 to 27 August, 10 students gathered daily at the district center in Gambella, Ethiopia, for Church History II offered through the Creative Leadership Institute (CLI). Many came from nearby refugee camps.
During the class, students sang, prayed, and studied giants of Christian faith such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, and João Dias.
"CLI is very important because it helps me get more knowledge about theology and to know the essential things in the Bible," said Pastor David Dak Kier, speaking of the program's impact.
East Sudan District Superintendent Andrew Tut Deng also appreciated the classes.
"Without CLI, I wouldn't be sure of the details of our holiness message," he said. "The courses I've received have also helped me be a more effective administrator in the church."
CLI students are not waiting for the end of the war to advance the Lord's kingdom. Area Coordinator John Yual reports displaced pastors have started several Nazarene congregations in the refugee camps.--Church of the Nazarene Africa Region via Out of Africa
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Additional
NCNNews.com Stories This Week
 Tucumán, Argentina
The Northwest Argentine District held continuing education classes for pastors, laity, and professors from the district's Theological Education by Extension program.
This was the first training conference for the ETED professors. The conference aimed to provides teacher training tools for the 10 bachelor's degree in theology program instructors in attendance.
District Superintendent Albert Croce supported the event by attending, along with the invited pastors and laymen from the Santiago del Estero and Jujuy provinces.
South Cone ETED Coordinator Pablo Tello and Academic Vice Rector Eduardo Velázquez, both from South Cone Nazarene Theological Seminary, presented the classes, titled Forming Effective Ministers in the 21st Century, Class Teaching Methods, and Administrative Matters in the Teaching Assignment.
The event was organized by Northwest Argentina District ETED Coordinator Mariela Gómez de Balarezo.
The participation, interest, and support of the professors and pastors contributed to an enriching time that supports the continuing formation of those who have been called to ministry in northern Argentina.--Church of the Nazarene South America Region
 Global Ministry Center
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: Colombia
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Colombia in 1975.
Colombia had a population of 45,745,783 in 2013. That same year, Colombia reported 82 Churches of the Nazarene, 80 of which had been officially organized. Colombia has 18,938 total members.
Colombia has four Phase 1 districts, two Phase 2 districts, and one Phase 3 district. It is a part of the South America Region. For more information, visit samnaz.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
South Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Togo
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Venezuela
Additional World Areas
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.
 Global Ministry Center
Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.
California pastor starts Washington church
Vaughn, Washington
(Key Peninsula News, September 25) For at least 10 years, a number of families on the Key Peninsula have been praying for a Church of the Nazarene to open in this community, according to Home resident Robin Hyde, whose Key To Life Church of the Nazarene celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 14.
Hyde, who has been a pastor since 1987, began his ministry in Orange County, Calif. and lead a church in San Bernardino for several years.
"We had a soup kitchen out of the church and all the people you wouldn't expect to see in church became my congregation," he said.
For the rest of the story, click here.
Stories to share? Send them to submitnews@ncnnews.com.--Compiled by NCN News
 Kansas City, Missouri
The USA/Canada Region announced the speaker schedule and themes for its upcoming Mission 2015 Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, February 9 through 11.
The five conference speakers will address the heart of the Church of the Nazarene's mission, encompassed in the region's five strategic priorities: leadership development, church renewal, theological identity, missional outreach, and new church development.
Kicking off the event on Monday evening is Scott Daniels, dean of Azusa Pacific University's School of Theology and senior pastor of Pasadena, California, First Church of the Nazarene. Daniels will discuss the denomination's theological identity.
On Tuesday morning, Cheryl Sanders, senior pastor of the Third Street Church of God (Anderson) in Washington, D.C., and professor of Christian ethics at Howard University School of Divinity, will speak about missional outreach.
General Superintendent David A. Busic will discuss church renewal during the evening session.
On Wednesday morning, Alan Hirsch, a leader in the missional church movement and an adjunct professor at several seminaries, will talk about new church development.
Concluding the event on Wednesday evening, General Superintendent Gustavo A. Crocker will discuss leadership development.
For more information about the M15 Conference, visit m15conference.org or contact M15 Logistics Coordinator Loretta Cloud at m15@nazarene.org.--Church of the Nazarene USA/Canada Region
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Global Ministry Center News
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 Global Ministry Center
The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received September 22-26, 2014.
Mildred (Sisson) Asbury, 96, of Rustburg, Virginia, passed away September 19. She was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in West Virginia, South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina.
A. Eugene Centers, 78, of Magnolia, Kentucky, passed away September 22. He was a minister, previously serving in Kentucky. He is survived by his wife, Peggy (Ball) Centers.
Glenn Harrell Jr., 82, of Sumter, South Carolina, passed away September 23. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alpha Harrell, in 2007.
Lois Pass, 88, of Garsfontein, South Africa, passed away September 17. She was a retired missionary, serving in South Africa.
Philip Stein, 53, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, passed away September 21. He was an associate pastor at the La Crosse, Wisconsin, Community Church of the Nazarene. He is survived by his wife, Jodi (Slaney) Stein.
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
 Global Ministry Center
By NCN News Staff
The following positions are available at the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center:
Business Center — Senior Mail Technician
This position is reponsible for processing incoming/outgoing mail, deliveries, and providing customer service to GMC employees. Additional tasks include maintaining the Business Center, assisting with other Business Center work orders as requested, working with vendors and USPS (including attending training and vendor seminars), as well as handling billing and related paperwork.
Information Technology — Senior Software Developer
Members of the software development team are primarily responsible for facilitating the ministry of the Global Ministry Center through the analysis, design, implementation, and support of software solutions. For the full job description, click here.
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries — Computer Programming Coordinator
The person in this position will lead NCM's development team in developing and maintaining NCM's web applications, systems, and websites.
Pensions & Benefits USA — Technology Specialist
This position will assist the technology supervisor coordinate the technology resources available to each department within the Pensions and Benefits USA office by making sure internal and external education/training efforts are meeting P&B requirements. This includes benefit plan system development, Web development, document storage/retrieval, and equipping staff with the necessary computer/phone equipment.
USA/Canada Regional Office — Office Assistant
This position provides assistance to the UCRO administrative coordinator with event planning, word processing, scheduling, website maintenance, and other tasks as needed.
About
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. To obtain additional information, please call (913) 577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
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, emailing bsikes@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 Central Time. Completed applications may be mailed or emailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office.
For more information, see the GMC's Human Resources page by clicking here.
 Olathe, Kansas
MidAmerica Nazarene University announced plans to develop an MNU Institutional Repository. The repository will contain faculty research articles and related scholarship, accessible to scholars via the Internet.
Mabee Library Director Bruce Flanders said the repository will be a comprehensive, freely accessible, online compilation of academic resources created at MNU.
"We plan to include outstanding examples of student scholarship as well as faculty members' traditional research articles and monographs, theses and dissertations, book chapters, technical reports, graphical images, video, PowerPoint slide sets, and other multi-media academic content," he said. "This repository will be broad in scope, covering all academic disciplines."
Flanders says large research universities often have such repositories. One such repository is KU ScholarWorks, from the University of Kansas.
"The library faculty at KU have been so helpful to provide insight into how to develop our repository in the most effective way," Flanders said.
During the upcoming International Open Access Week, October 20 through 26, Flanders invited two KU staff members, Office of Scholarly Communication & Copyright Head Ada Emmett and Germanic Languages and Literatures Department Chair Marc L. Greenberg, to speak to MNU faculty about open access publishing of scholarly works.
Flanders said the repository's goals include the following:
Highlight faculty research and pioneer a major digital archive
Make research more accessible, augmenting subscription-based scholarly publishing with open-access resources
Preserve and maintain scholarly content in an environment in which file format technology is updated as needed
Increase faculty leadership and visibility in various academic fields, with the potential to develop collaborations, grant funding, and additional publication
While such repositories are not unique, the ability to start one without incurring significant cost is unusual. MNU's project will be built on the Church of the Nazarene's Wesleyan-Holiness Digital Library (WHDL) publishing platform developed by the denomination's International Board of Education.
The project allows MNU to conform to digital repository standards while avoiding typical development and maintenance costs. MNU will be the first Nazarene university to use the WHDL in this manner, and Flanders expects others to quickly follow.
"The WHDL is a robust online publishing platform with advanced features, such as the ability to accommodate multilingual content," Flanders said. "We are thrilled to be using the WHDL to develop this important new academic resource."
The MNU Institutional Repository is projected to be operational in spring 2015.--MidAmerica Nazarene University
 Mount Vernon, Ohio
Mount Vernon Nazarene University launched its new engineering program September 1 under the direction of Professor David Winyard. The inaugural class includes 22 students, and the first degrees will be conferred in 2018.*
The first engineering class offered this fall is Engineering Design I, the first of a two-part class that introduces students to the engineering profession and the design process. A temporary shop will be set up in the Morrison Building (home of Facility Services) for the engineering students to work on their design projects.
Winyard has worked as an engineer for 37 years. His extensive experience includes 22 years at the Naval Surface Warfare Center and another 15 at the Defense Logistics Agency. In 2012, he retired from being a full-time engineer in order to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). He is a member of the American Scientific Association.
Winyard reflected on the inauguration of the new program.
"Science and technology are pervasive in today's world," he said. "They have been beneficial to society, and yet they have also brought great problems. Christians are uniquely qualified to sort out the complexities, benefits, and risks of our technological world. By God's grace, I hope MVNU engineering graduates will be equipped to take leadership roles in this task."
MVNU welcomes the new engineering students and looks forward to the future of this program. For more information on engineering at MVNU, visit gotomvnu.com/engineering.
*Pending approval of the Ohio Board of Regents and The Higher Learning Commission.--Mount Vernon Nazarene University
 Nampa, Idaho
Each year, Northwest Nazarene University honors an individual or organization that helps foster cooperation between the university and the community. This year's Eugene Emerson Award was presented to the J. A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation at NNU's annual President's Dinner.
NNU President David Alexander spoke highly of the association between the two organizations.
"The relationship with and impact of the Albertson Foundation on the work of Northwest Nazarene University, particularly in the area of training students who are planning to teach and equipping teachers in the field, is truly remarkable," he said. "We honor them because of their great impact on NNU and Idaho educators and children."
The J. A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation was established in 1966 and is dedicated to the ongoing pursuit of educational excellence in Idaho. Joe Albertson, who opened his first grocery store in Boise in 1939, often said that his employees were his greatest asset. The Albertsons' actions proved that those were not empty words as they committed themselves to helping others succeed. They identified talent and then invested in people — often in young people who demonstrated a desire to learn and excel.
The Albertson Foundation serves as a perpetual embodiment of the values of its founders — integrity, family, the importance of leadership, and finding creative solutions and results. These unchanging values continue to guide the Albertson Foundation in its work.
Since 1997, the Albertson Foundation has invested more than $500 million into education initiatives — all within the state of Idaho. During that time, the foundation partnered with NNU to discover and implement ways to improve Idaho's education. The Albertson Foundation funded technology on NNU's campus, provided scholarships for Idaho students attending NNU, and invested in the university's Leah Peterson Learning Commons project. Most significantly, the Albertson Foundation inspired the founding of NNU's Doceo Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning, which applies the lessons learned through research to improve student achievement in P-16 classrooms through the effective use of technology. The DoceoÂÂ Center's focus on rural education includes the Khan Academy initiative, funded by the Albertson Foundation.
These partnerships between the Albertson Foundation and NNU are impacting education and communities throughout Idaho — building bridges between NNU and the education community in the Treasure Valley, the state of Idaho, and beyond. It is with appreciation for the influence the Albertson Foundation has on NNU and the state of Idaho and in recognition of the Albertson Foundation's contribution to the spirit of cooperation between community and the university, that NNU presented Albertson Foundation Program Officer Blossom Johnston with the 2014 Eugene Emerson Award.
The Eugene Emerson Award was established in 1985 to acknowledge the spirit of cooperation that exists between the Treasure Valley and the university. The award was named for NNU founder Eugene Emerson, a Nampa businessman who also established a lumber company and later sold it to Windsor Lloyd of Lloyd Lumber Company. The award honors those who have contributed significantly to fostering that cooperation, and by so doing, draw attention to the mutual benefit gained by both the community and the university.--Northwest Nazarene University
 Nashville, Tennessee
Among the many changes at Trevecca Nazarene University this fall is chapel, which includes a new approach and a new location.
The new approach is based on recent research in spiritual formation that advocates giving students opportunities to live out their faith — as opposed to simply talking at students about faith. Using this research, personnel in the Office of the Chaplain, under the direction of Tim Green, developed two goals for chapel this year: sparking students' imagination about what it means to be part of the kingdom of God, and helping them live into the practices of that Kingdom.
Under the theme "Practicing Our Faith," Trevecca's three main chapel services provide ways for the entire Trevecca community to practice faith in concrete actions. Tuesday's chapel focuses on morning prayers, with testimony and experiences that allow students to participate in prayer. Wednesday's chapel focuses on the proclamation of Scripture and receiving God's grace through communion. Each chapel on Thursday allows students to hear from speakers who are practicing their faith in their daily lives. This theme has been a part of services during Spiritual Renewal Week with speaker Corey MacPherson, chaplain at Eastern Nazarene College.
"Students' responses to the changes in chapel this fall have been so positive," said Heather Daugherty, associate chaplain. "They have said, 'We've been hungry for these kinds of chapels.'"
The larger student body required that chapel be moved from the Trevecca Community Church sanctuary, where chapel has been held for many years. Chapel is now held in the convocation center in the Boone Business Building.--Trevecca Nazarene University
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Lenexa, Kansas, United States Nazarene Communications Network Global News Summary Volume 1439 of The Global Church of the Nazarene for Friday, 26 September 2014
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