MNU awards lifetime achievement to Paul & Connie Cunningham
MidAmerica Nazarene University will honor Paul G. and Connie R. Cunningham with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 President’s Honors April 10 in Cook Center.
“The Cunninghams have long been friends, supporters of, and visionaries for the university,” said MNU President David Spittal. “It is not only fitting, but it is with deep gratitude that we present them with this award.”
Vision and commitment honored
There’s no doubt that without Paul's vision, MNU might not be in Olathe. Paul was a young pastor just out of seminary when he cast a vision to Olathe businessman and philanthropist Robert R. Osborne. Then president of a local bank, Osborne had come to know the young clergyman when Cunningham sought a personal loan to give an offering to the Olathe Nazarene church of 46 he pastored. Leading his small congregation to give more than they imagined to the 1965 Easter Offering for world missions, Cunningham believed he too must make a sacrifice. Two hundred dollars was much more than he and his wife, Connie, had saved at the time, so he asked the bank president for a loan. Having never been approached for a loan to pay an offering, Osborne was surprised and impressed. He approved the loan and gave money to the offering himself.
Months later when Cunningham sought Osborne’s influence again, Osborne listened. Cunningham’s idea was to locate a private liberal arts college in Olathe. The Church of the Nazarene had just voted in its General Assembly to start two new colleges. Locations were being considered. For the North Central region of the U.S., Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Topeka, Kansas, were considerations, but Paul Cunningham had an idea. Right in the heart of the U.S., just minutes from the bustle and economic opportunity of Kansas City, sat Olathe, Kansas — then just a town of 20,000. In those days Kansas City was projected to grow, but the experts expected the growth to be north of the city in Missouri. No one knew Johnson County, Kansas, would become one of the richest counties in the U.S. No one knew Olathe had the potential to become one of the most livable cities. Well, someone knew. Because above all else, Paul Cunningham was seeking God’s direction in this pastorate in this little Kansas town on the prairie.
Cunningham began to cast this vision — what he believed was God’s purpose — to Osborne. What benefits would come to Olathe if it had a college? And not just any college, but a Christian college built on God’s Word and a desire to educate students who would serve God and humanity. Osborne caught the excitement and put together a group of business people who together purchased the land to give to MidAmerica Nazarene College (now University).
So began the journey that intertwined the lives of MNU and College Church of the Nazarene. Cunningham would pastor there for 29 years, growing the church to an attendance of 3,000 in 1993 when he was elected a general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene. Having led the congregation through three building campaigns and 29 years of financial support for missions both in the U.S. and abroad, the Cunninghams became international leaders for the church.
The list of contributions and accomplishments by both Cunninghams is long. Involved not only in the church and the university but also in the community, he served as a chaplain for the Olathe Police Department, achieving the rank of lieutenant. Often he was in attendance when families were given difficult news on the fate of their loved ones. In 1981 when Kansas City experienced the Hyatt Skywalk collapse, Cunningham spent hours comforting and supporting the victims and first responders at the scene.
The daughter of medical missionaries in South Africa, Connie (Seaman) Cunningham met Paul in high school in Chicago. Childhood experiences gave her a great love for people and serving their needs, so she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Roseland Hospital School of Nursing in 1961. The two married and while her husband was in seminary, Connie worked as a nurse and nursing instructor.
As the church grew, Connie found her calling in support of College Church ministries and of her husband and children. She taught the Young Adult Sunday School classes at College Church for nearly 27 years and started the church’s Women’s Ministry, becoming a sought-after retreat and conference speaker. With experience in nursing and teaching, Connie was a natural to serve on the 1976 Nursing Degree Feasibility Study Committee which was instrumental in bringing the BSN to the university. In 2004, the university conferred upon her the Doctor of Humane Letters for her support and service.
Paul went on to serve his church and community in numerous capacities. He was chairman of the Board of Trustees of Nazarene Theological Seminary and was a member of the Beacon Hill Press Book Committee for 16 years. He served as secretary of the Board of Trustees at MidAmerica Nazarene University and was a member of the Kansas City District Advisory Board. At the 1985 General Assembly, he was elected president of the denomination's General Board and was re-elected to that post in 1989.
In 1991 he was selected Citizen of the Year by the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and in 1993 was presented with the quadrennial award for contributions to education by MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Also in 1993, Paul was presented with the J. T. Barton Award from the city of Olathe for distinguished service to the city. This recognition represented the city’s highest award. In 2014 the Cunninghams were recognized with the city’s Cathedral Builder Award for their contribution to Olathe’s quality of life.
In addition to his work as College Church pastor, he served as special speaker in revivals, district conventions, camp meetings, rallies, and retreats throughout the country and various world areas.
Paul is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary. In 1975 MidAmerica Nazarene University conferred upon him the Doctor of Divinity.
The Cunninghams have three adult children, Paul Mark, Lori, and Connie Jo, and seven grandchildren, all living in the Olathe area. All three children are university alumni.[MidAmerica Nazarene University]Brazil NYI leader passes away
Mariana Pereira, a Nazarene Youth International leader in Brazil, passed away March 26 after struggling with her failing health. She was 34.
”A godly woman was among us; her testimony and legacy will live on in our hearts and minds.” This was said of Mariana’s life at her burial.
Pereira was born in Campinas, Brazil, and came to know of the gospel at 19. Immediately after hearing of and accepting the love of God, she put herself at His service and was involved at the local, district, and national level in the Church of the Nazarene. Pereira was the district NYI president, national secretary for NYI, local minister in the Sousa Church of the Nazarene, and a volunteer at the Global NYI office.
She was a theology graduate from the Methodist university in São Paolo and Nazarene Theological Seminary of Campinas and graduated in foreign marketing administration.
Two years ago Pereira received the Timothy Award in recognition of her ministry with NYI in Brazil.
Her favorite Bible verse was Psalm 136:1: “Let us give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His love endures forever.”
"Mariana lived with this security and that is why at her burial there were only words of thankfulness and recognition of a life used for God to bless every person she knew," said Edson Moura, South America Region Bible Quizzing coordinator.[Church of the Nazarene South America Region]Torrential rains cause deadly landslides in Chile
The incessant rains caused landslides and flooded rivers that swept away houses and bridges and caused both communications and basic services to be interrupted. As of April 8, many people were isolated while waiting to be rescued by Armed Forces helicopters. Access by land was nearly impossible.
Rain is rare in this desert area, and the cities are not fully prepared to deal with torrential rains. One of the cities that received the most damage is Copiapó, where two Nazarene congregations are located. One is the recently organized New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene pastored by José Piñones; the other is a mission directed by Pastor Aldo Corvacho.
"We thank God that according to the information we have, both congregations are all right, and they are trying to help those who have suffered losses," said Pastor Patricio Huanca. "We ask for prayer for the people in these cities who are suffering because of the loss and disappearance of their loved ones and because of the destruction of their homes, which has left them with nothing."
The Church of the Nazarene is organized to help those who are affected. To join with them, contact Alessandro Polonio at polonio@samnaz.org.[Church of the Nazarene South America Region]Good Samaritan Inn: A safe haven of love, outreach in Fiji
At the time, the Fiji government was exploring ways to manage poverty, particularly with regard to assisting those who were homeless and living on the streets. The district team was inspired by Matthew 25:35 ("For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger when you invited me in.") and proposed a partnership through which a safe home would be provided for the less fortunate. The facility would also help residents restore and rehabilitate their lives so they can return to the community.
The government immediately embraced the idea and agreed to work hand-in-hand with the church. After months of dialogue and preparation, the Good Samaritan Inn officially opened February 6.
GSI is located on three acres in Coloisuva, Fiji, where there is a newly renovated Nazarene church. Fiji Nazarene Compassionate Ministries manages and operates the facility while the government, through the Ministry of Women and Children and Poverty Alleviation, provides assistance with the aid of various ministries such as health, social welfare, and workshops on business and livelihood training.
The temporary home has 24 beds and provides shelter where homeless locals can stay until they are able to get back on their feet. Many of these people have been rejected or abused, so the inn will also be a source of love, patience, forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance. The inn will teach people to pray and to see God as the provider and source of healing, restoration, and empowerment in their lives.
Apart from providing the land and managing the home, the church donates equipment, clothes, and volunteer labor for different work activities.
“This centre, The Good Samaritan Inn, is the first of its kind in Fiji,” said Rosie Akbar of the Ministry of Women and Children and Poverty Alleviation during the inn's official opening.
Fiji District leaders are grateful for the commitment and trust of the government in this endeavor.[Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region]USA/Canada SDMI develops no-cost VBS resource
The God of the Underdogs VBS was developed in response to a growing need within many local Nazarene churches for a Vacation Bible School that could be effective and lead children to a saving faith in Christ, be carried out without creating a financial burden on the church, and retained a Wesleyan-Holiness emphasis.
The VBS features five underdogs from the Old Testament (Joseph, Esther, David, Hannah, and Daniel) who discover that despite the challenges they face, God has not abandoned them. In addition, five other special guests (Gally Gator, Pennie Penguin, Doc Duck, Callie Cat, and Lennie Lion) will show children that anyone who trusts in God can rise above any challenge.
How did The God of the Underdogs VBS come to be?
Each year, hundreds of local churches and thousands of children participate in the Kids Reaching Kids Mission Offering Project. A portion of each offering is placed in a Special Projects Fund. This fund is used to support missional efforts toward children that may not fall in the same category as the annual offering. This has allowed Kids Reaching Kids to meet immediate needs, like the efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2010. This Special Projects Fund is also what has made The God of the Underdogs a reality. Money raised by children being used to bring other children the Good News of Jesus Christ is truly what Kids Reaching Kids is all about.
The curriculum, which is available in English and Spanish, can be found online at gotuvbs.com.
VBS curriculum in black and white and full color, along with a number of additional resources, is included on the website. Everything on the website is downloadable and reproducible. If your church would like to support The God of the Underdogs or possible future missional efforts toward children, you can do so by supporting the Kids Reaching Kids annual Mission Offering Project. For more information about the current offering project, visit krknaz.com.[Kids Reaching Kids Mission Offering Project]
Additional NCNNews.com Stories This Week
Regional News
Eurasia
The Eurasia Region held its first Manual Translation Summit, a regional effort in Budapest, Hungary, to train teams translating the Church of the Nazarene Manual.
Eurasia Region holds Manual translation summitBy nazadmin for NCN News
Budapest, Hungary
The Eurasia Region held its first Manual Translation Summit in early February in Budapest, Hungary, a regional effort to train teams involved with translating the Church of the Nazarene Manual.
There were 10 language groups represented. Some of these groups have already begun updating their translations of the Manual to the current version (2013-2017). Others have an older version – 2005-2009 or even 1997- 2001. Other language groups don’t yet have a Manual, so their first priority is translating the Articles of Faith section.
Before any section of the Manual is translated, each language’s translation team needs to establish an agreed-upon lexicon of how terms will be consistently translated — not only throughout the Manual, but also in other Nazarene publications. These include both theological terms like “entire sanctification” and organizational terms like “District Advisory Board.”
Creating a “Nazarene lexicon” proves to be a complex task, as there are numerous technical and theological terms in the original English version that have no exact counterpart in some other languages. This means that translators need to find creative ways to retain the meaning of these English words when explaining them or replacing them with similar words in their own languages.
“’Superintendent’ is a strange word,” said Jonathan Phillips, the literature coordinator for Romania, who organized the summit, modeled after a similar summit held in South Carolina, USA, in early 2014. “How do you translate ‘superintendent’ into Bulgarian or Croatian when they don’t have a word that quite says that with the same connotations that the English word has?”
Finding an accurate translation of the Manual is critical to the unity and development of the church in every language group where the church has a presence.
“It’s important that the essentials of the Church of the Nazarene remain the same throughout the denomination,” Phillips said. The translation of the Manual makes it possible for “a single denominational identity — who we are, what we believe, and how we function — to be accessible to church leaders in their native languages.”
Translators also need to be careful to use theological terminology in their own language that shares the meanings of the Wesleyan-Arminian-rooted theological terms used in English in the Church of the Nazarene, which was founded in the U.S. before expanding to 159 world areas.
“There are other theological traditions in the country (of Hungary), and it’s so easy to automatically use terminology that the Calvinists or Catholics might use, because it’s in the culture, but then it has a different connotation,” said Imre Gusztin, the literature coordinator for Hungary.
Getting together and discussing different obstacles and challenges was helpful to the different language group representatives.
“We shared examples from the Hungarian translation process that we thought were unique problems and others said, ‘Oh, we are struggling with the same thing. How did you solve it?’ It gives you ideas and opens up a new way of thinking about how to respond to it,” Imre said.
Scott Stargel, head of Global Nazarene Publications, led the summit. Since many of the participants are also involved with literature translation projects beyond the Manual, he provided training on the Nazarene literature translation process. He also introduced the group to the Wesleyan-Holiness Digital Library, a free, multilingual website that shares works related to Wesleyan-Holiness literature and scholarly research.
Finally, Stargel provided training for an open source software program used by professional translators called OmegaT. It learns terms and expressions from the translator, and remembers them when the translator encounters them again later in the translation process. It also has a spellchecker for most languages.
“We wish we had this years ago," Maria Gusztin said. "I think this new software will ease the work.”[Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region]
Click "read more" for the full story about each district assembly.
Mesoamerica Region
District assembly season is well underway on the Mesoamerica Region, where several districts recently gathered to celebrate the past year's accomplishments.
Click "read more" for the full story about each district assembly.
On March 24, the Bahamas District celebrated 40 years of ministry under the theme, “Cross Over This Jordan — Possess your Promise Land” (Joshua 1:1-11). read more
Barbados District — We had a blessed time at our assembly, which was different in several ways. Firstly, we were surprised at the attendance, knowing that the assembly was being held for the first time in many years on a mid-week day. Our pastors and people showed their commitment to the organization by takingtime off or making other arrangements so as to attend this annual gathering. read more
The Dominica District ordained its first elders, Pastor Pascal Hilton of Bioche Church of the Nazarene and Pastor Claude Henderson of Pichelin Church of the Nazarene, during its third assembly March 27. read more
During the Trinidad and Tobago District's 60th assembly, the district launched its Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020 with the vision “to create a healthy nation by transforming people and communities through organisational effectiveness, doctrinal integrity, holistic education, inspiring leadership, and spiritual vibrancy.” read more
Pastor Leonel B. DeLeon was recently installed as North Central Field Strategy Coordinator. He shares his experience in the participation of nine of the district assemblies held in the Mesoamerican region, which are:
Southwest of Peten CA-4 20 Feb
Franja Oriental GT CA-4 21 Feb
Franja West CA-4 22 Feb
Franja Central GT CA-4 23 Feb
Coban North CA-4 24 Feb
North Verapaz CA-4 25 Feb
Northwest GT CA- 4 26 Feb
Northwest Honduras CA- 4 28 Feb
Southeast Honduras CA-4 01 Mar
I want to share three important areas: Mission, its importance and results.
The mission:After 15 years, being part of the assemblies again, I have enthusiastically seen the work that leaders at all levels have develop, from the layman to the district superintendent,a work that is the reason and meaning of our ministry at the field and regional levels.This task of “Building the Kingdom” is not so simple, because it goes from making contact, to producing mature Christians and faithfuldisciples.
The importance:it lies in accountability. It was very exciting and challenging to see, hear and try to understand the ministry, which each one developed.Everything apparently developed in an orderly manner, with each detail of the rules of order, listening to reports, some justifying their little or no growth and other excited to see their churches and districts flourishing.
I strived to see that every meeting was a time of challenge, rectification, congratulations and intercession for every leader who strove to fulfill his ministry.
The startup message was focused on explaining the core values of our denomination, and trying to raise awareness, so that we understood and put them into practice in our lives, as a way, a culture; being intelligent hristians.
We had time of prayer, intercession and challenge to live up to the claims of Christ and holiness.It was wonderful to live, feel and share with everyone at the various meetings.
Results: delivered reports, new challenges to create a comprehensive growth movement.Above all, pastors and leaders were motivated to be part of the global church team.We expect to see short and long term results, since this and other events that we will have through the year.
By: Pastor Leonel B. DeLeon, North Central Field Strategy Coordinator.
Editing: Mesoamerica Communications
This year, On March 24, the Bahamas District celebrated 40 years of ministry in grand style under the theme, “Cross Over This Jordan- Possess your Promise Land” (Joshua 1:1-11).
For The Bahamas District, stepping into its 40th year of ministry represents putting the desert wandering behind them and finally possessing the Promise Land. The district approached this in a few unique ways.
1. A red and white Gala Banquet to appreciate the legacy of their “Moseses”: those whom God used greatly in the past to bring this new generation to this most significant juncture. The goal was to honor 40 persons who have served the church faithfully for 25 years or more.
2. Church Planting Workshop to prepare and inspired the people for possession:
This workshop was based on the text “Principles of Church Planting” by Louie Bustle and Gustavo Crocker (and as a response to our training on church planting and growth held for the Caribbean Field, Nov. 2-8, 2015, in Barbados.)
3. Three nights of powerful preaching and teaching on the theme were held and the district was also blessed to have the General Superintendent minister at the Assembly who confirmed the focus of leaving the last behind and having the courage and faith as a new generation of Israelites to finally cross over the Jordan.
We also ordained two new elders, Callie Theoc and Elizabeth Ann Roberts and organized a church: New Jerusalem Church of the Nazarene.[by: Revd. John C. Wildgoose, III, District Superintendent, Bahamas District Church of the Nazarene.]
We had a blessed time at our assembly, which was different in several ways. Firstly, we were surprised at the attendance, knowing that the assembly was being held for the first time in many years, on a mid-week day. Our pastors and people showed their commitment to the organization by taking time off or making other arrangements so as to attend this annual gathering. It is evident that some delegates were not able to attend, but generally we were happy with the representation.
It was also our privilege to welcome to our district for the first time Sisters Rosa Saenzand Rachelle Crocker. They both received a very warm Bajan welcome. It is hoped that we will be able to welcome them again in the not too distant future.
Yet another highlight for us was welcoming our General Superintendent, Dr. Crocker to our assembly for the first time. Whereas Dr. Crocker visited our island in October 2014 for a Field evangelism seminar, this was his first district assembly. We thoroughly enjoyed his leadership and were definitely blessed by his Spirit- inspired messages.
For Dr. Saenz our Regional Director, it was welcome back home. Over the years Dr. Saenz has carved a place in the hearts of Barbadian Nazarenes for himself. He is well loved in Barbados.
Beside these observations, the highlight of the Superintendent’s challenge was his call for a more coordinated effort in fulfilling the Great Commission. Whereas, we welcomed over 200 new Nazarenes for 2014, he highlighted the need for faster growth. The Ds also called for greater synergy amongst the leaders as the district prepares to celebrate 90 years of ministry next year.
Finally, it was our joy to see four persons ordained as Elders, one as Deacon and 18 persons received district ministers’ Licenses, the most in recent history. That was a special and memorable occasion.
God cntinues to build his church and we are blessed to be labourers together with Christ. May the entire Nazarene family continue to pursue the heart of God as we make Christ-like disciples of all nations[By: Rev. Dr. Orlando Seale, District Superintendent.]
Dominica District Assembly
The Church of the Nazarene Trinidad and Tobago District made history when it held its 60th District Assembly on Saturday 28th March, 2015 in the JFK (John Fitzgerald Kennedy) Auditorium at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. It was not only the first time in 60 years that the District Assembly was not being held at the St. James Church of the Nazarene, but also the occasion for the launch of the District’s Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020 with the vision “to create a healthy nation by transforming people and communities through organisational effectiveness, doctrinal integrity, holistic education, inspiring leadership, and spiritual vibrancy.” The theme of the Assembly was “the Future Glory of this Church.”
The District Assembly was chaired by the Mesoamerica English Field Strategy Coordinator Dr R Alphonso Porter who welcomed 180 delegates and 20 official visitors in behalf of Presiding General Superintendent Gustavo A. Crocker and Mesoamerica Regional Director Dr Carlos Saenz.
Newly appointed Caribbean Nazarene College (CNC) President Dr. Anthony Manswell, and his wife Barbara, presented their first Education Report.
The highlight of the Assembly was the District Superintendent’s Report. District Superintendent Dr. Victor George told delegates that there were now 29 organized churches on the District, with the last being the Lowlands Nazarene House of Praise which received organized status on the 23rd February, 2014. He informed the Assembly that the District had gained 196 members bringing its current membership to 4994, following the death of 26 members and the removal of 444 members by Church Board removal. Churches gave just over TT$ 300,000 to Global Missions. Churches with the highest membership intake were presented with awards of recognition by the Presiding Officer Dr. Porter.
Moreover, District Superintendent Dr. Victor George told the gathering that “a Strategic Document has been developed to provide a cohesive and clear understanding of what areas we need to focus on and how we are to transform ourselves to ensure that the Church of the Nazarene survives, thrives, and becomes a more viable living entity.” He also said that an Operational Matrix has been developed with activities and timelines consolidated over a five year period for each strategic pillar. Furthermore, a budget has been determined for the ministries and functions that need to be involved for each initiative. He stated that the strategic Plan outlined the Vision, Mission, Core Values, Strategic Direction, Objectives, and Deliverables of the Church of the Nazarene Trinidad and Tobago District for the period 2015 – 2020. After a short deliberation, the Assembly approved the adoption of the Strategic Plan unanimously. The Presiding Officer called upon delegates to pray for the District Superintendent, his wife Marilyn, daughter Shimeka, and son Michael as the first family of the District.
In more Assembly business, delegates also approved a recommendation to increase the Gospel Magazine (Local Radio Evangelism) Budget from 1.25% to 1.35% of last year’s giving of tithes and offerings. Delegates also approved Andy Edwards from the St. James Church of the Nazarene as the newest District Licensed Minister.
(Dr. Alphonso Porter presents Pastor Andy Edwards with his District Minister’s Licence.)
Dr. Porter asked each ordained Senior Pastor to give a short testimony of their current standing before God. He also invited the unassigned Pastors to stand to receive the blessing of the Assembly.
In closing the meeting, Dr. Porter asked delegates to observe a minute of silence in recognition of the 26 members who had died in 2014.
The results of the election ballot were announced with Rev. Dexter Daly, Rev. Rian Williams, Gary Francois, and Dr. Gelien Matthews being elected to the District advisory Board. Rev. Farouk Mohammed, Rev. Ruth Lawrence, Rev. Paul Bunsee, Rev. Patricia Derry, and Rev. Dexter Daly were elected to the District Credentials Board. Rev. Gregory Isaacs, Rev. Vilma Mohammed, Rev. Dr. Peter Stroude, Rev. Mark Lawrence, and Rev. Alvilene Williams were elected to the District Ministerial Studies Board.
Rev. Kwame Payne
District Communications Team
Pastor Leonel B. DeLeon was recently installed as North Central Field Strategy Coordinator. He shares his experience in the participation of nine of the district assemblies held in the Mesoamerican region, which are:
Southwest of Peten CA-4 20 Feb
Franja Oriental GT CA-4 21 Feb
Franja West CA-4 22 Feb
Franja Central GT CA-4 23 Feb
Coban North CA-4 24 Feb
North Verapaz CA-4 25 Feb
Northwest GT CA- 4 26 Feb
Northwest Honduras CA- 4 28 Feb
Southeast Honduras CA-4 01 MarI want to share three important areas: Mission, its importance and results.
Florida church helps repurpose space for new Panama child development center
Panama City, Panama
What difference could eight teenagers, a senior pastor, a youth pastor, and Nazarene Missions International president make in just seven days?
That is exactly what the group that traveled from Redland Church of the Nazarene in Miami, Florida, to Panama City, Panama, asked themselves. The Redland group embarked on a journey to partner with the Samaria Church of the Nazarene to help fix the one and only Sunday school room in the church. The 15 by 15 foot room needed to be repurposed to better serve the church and the community through a soon-to-open child development center. The Redland group needed to help plaster walls, re-layer and tile the floor,replace windows and doors, and add a small kitchen and bathroom to the back of the structure.
When they arrived at the Samaria church March 22, the task seemed daunting. Through enthusiasm and hard work, not only was the team able to help with the refurbishing of the Sunday school room, they also helped remodel the sanctuary, visited an orphanage, participated in a kids evangelistic event, and took much-needed supplies to a nearby orphanage.
At the conclusion of the trip, participants were satisfied with the work that was completed and with the new friendships forged.
“We are very grateful to the Redland church (Pastor Treavor Pound, Pastor Ricardo Barrera, and Maria Kircshner) for all their efforts in bringing such a formidable group to help us complete this much needed project," said Amable Polanco, senior pastor of the Samaria church. "We will forever be grateful that you came, helped us, and showed us your love and support.”--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region
Extreme Nazarene Missions began its latest church planting project in Ecuador to establish a church in Cuenca.
Leaders from the Church of the Nazarene's North Andean Field and Extreme Nazarene Missions decided to launch a church planting project Cuenca, a city with a population of more than 400,000 located 260 miles south of Quito on the Sierra South District. Cuenca is known for tourism and has no sizable Church of the Nazarene.
Extreme Nazarene Missions has planted more than 80 churches in Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador. The church planting project is Extreme’s 85th overall and third in Ecuador after Ambato and Ibarra.
The church will be planted using the 40/40 model. A 40/40 church planter is a single young person with a call to missions or to serve God as a church planter. He or she is between 18 and 30 years of age, single, and is mature in Christian character. Extreme Nazarene will pair five Ecuadorian 40/40s with five North American 40/40s of the same gender. Together they will work with a South American pastoral couple and North American married couple.
Applications are currently being accepted for the 40/40 and pastoral positions. Applicants will undergo an interview process and the team will be selected. The Ecuadorians selected to be 40/40s will need to raise $250 per month along with travel expenses. The team will begin in January 2016. Team members will commit to 28 months, including four months of seminary classes and missionary training in Quito, Ecuador, one month of Master’s Plan training in Cali, Colombia, and 23 months planting the church in Cuenca. During their time in the field, the missionaries will continue to take online seminary classes and will finish having completed half of the courses for a bachelor’s degree in intercultural studies. The pastoral couple will be salaried and will commit to four years at the church plant.[Church of the Nazarene South America Region]
Budapest, Hungary
There were 10 language groups represented. Some of these groups have already begun updating their translations of the Manual to the current version (2013-2017). Others have an older version – 2005-2009 or even 1997- 2001. Other language groups don’t yet have a Manual, so their first priority is translating the Articles of Faith section.
Before any section of the Manual is translated, each language’s translation team needs to establish an agreed-upon lexicon of how terms will be consistently translated — not only throughout the Manual, but also in other Nazarene publications. These include both theological terms like “entire sanctification” and organizational terms like “District Advisory Board.”
Creating a “Nazarene lexicon” proves to be a complex task, as there are numerous technical and theological terms in the original English version that have no exact counterpart in some other languages. This means that translators need to find creative ways to retain the meaning of these English words when explaining them or replacing them with similar words in their own languages.
“’Superintendent’ is a strange word,” said Jonathan Phillips, the literature coordinator for Romania, who organized the summit, modeled after a similar summit held in South Carolina, USA, in early 2014. “How do you translate ‘superintendent’ into Bulgarian or Croatian when they don’t have a word that quite says that with the same connotations that the English word has?”
Finding an accurate translation of the Manual is critical to the unity and development of the church in every language group where the church has a presence.
“It’s important that the essentials of the Church of the Nazarene remain the same throughout the denomination,” Phillips said. The translation of the Manual makes it possible for “a single denominational identity — who we are, what we believe, and how we function — to be accessible to church leaders in their native languages.”
Translators also need to be careful to use theological terminology in their own language that shares the meanings of the Wesleyan-Arminian-rooted theological terms used in English in the Church of the Nazarene, which was founded in the U.S. before expanding to 159 world areas.
“There are other theological traditions in the country (of Hungary), and it’s so easy to automatically use terminology that the Calvinists or Catholics might use, because it’s in the culture, but then it has a different connotation,” said Imre Gusztin, the literature coordinator for Hungary.
Getting together and discussing different obstacles and challenges was helpful to the different language group representatives.
“We shared examples from the Hungarian translation process that we thought were unique problems and others said, ‘Oh, we are struggling with the same thing. How did you solve it?’ It gives you ideas and opens up a new way of thinking about how to respond to it,” Imre said.
Scott Stargel, head of Global Nazarene Publications, led the summit. Since many of the participants are also involved with literature translation projects beyond the Manual, he provided training on the Nazarene literature translation process. He also introduced the group to the Wesleyan-Holiness Digital Library, a free, multilingual website that shares works related to Wesleyan-Holiness literature and scholarly research.
Finally, Stargel provided training for an open source software program used by professional translators called OmegaT. It learns terms and expressions from the translator, and remembers them when the translator encounters them again later in the translation process. It also has a spellchecker for most languages.
“We wish we had this years ago," Maria Gusztin said. "I think this new software will ease the work.”[Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region]
Mesoamerica
Region celebrates district assemblies
District assembly season is well underway on the Mesoamerica Region, where several districts recently gathered to celebrate the past year's accomplishments.
On March 24, the Bahamas District celebrated 40 years of ministry under the theme, “Cross Over
Mesoamerica Region celebrates district assemblies by nazadmin for NCN NewsMesoamerica Region
Click "read more" for the full story about each district assembly.
On March 24, the Bahamas District celebrated 40 years of ministry under the theme, “Cross Over This Jordan — Possess your Promise Land” (Joshua 1:1-11). read more
Barbados District — We had a blessed time at our assembly, which was different in several ways. Firstly, we were surprised at the attendance, knowing that the assembly was being held for the first time in many years on a mid-week day. Our pastors and people showed their commitment to the organization by takingtime off or making other arrangements so as to attend this annual gathering. read more
The Dominica District ordained its first elders, Pastor Pascal Hilton of Bioche Church of the Nazarene and Pastor Claude Henderson of Pichelin Church of the Nazarene, during its third assembly March 27. read more
During the Trinidad and Tobago District's 60th assembly, the district launched its Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020 with the vision “to create a healthy nation by transforming people and communities through organisational effectiveness, doctrinal integrity, holistic education, inspiring leadership, and spiritual vibrancy.” read more
Pastor Leonel B. DeLeon was recently installed as North Central Field strategy coordinator. He shared his experience at nine of the district assemblies held on the Mesoamerican Region. read more
Assemblies in North Central, its mission, importance and results: Pastor Leonel B. DeLeon
Southwest of Peten CA-4 20 Feb
Franja Oriental GT CA-4 21 Feb
Franja West CA-4 22 Feb
Franja Central GT CA-4 23 Feb
Coban North CA-4 24 Feb
North Verapaz CA-4 25 Feb
Northwest GT CA- 4 26 Feb
Northwest Honduras CA- 4 28 Feb
Southeast Honduras CA-4 01 Mar
I want to share three important areas: Mission, its importance and results.
The mission:After 15 years, being part of the assemblies again, I have enthusiastically seen the work that leaders at all levels have develop, from the layman to the district superintendent,a work that is the reason and meaning of our ministry at the field and regional levels.This task of “Building the Kingdom” is not so simple, because it goes from making contact, to producing mature Christians and faithfuldisciples.
The importance:it lies in accountability. It was very exciting and challenging to see, hear and try to understand the ministry, which each one developed.Everything apparently developed in an orderly manner, with each detail of the rules of order, listening to reports, some justifying their little or no growth and other excited to see their churches and districts flourishing.
I strived to see that every meeting was a time of challenge, rectification, congratulations and intercession for every leader who strove to fulfill his ministry.
The startup message was focused on explaining the core values of our denomination, and trying to raise awareness, so that we understood and put them into practice in our lives, as a way, a culture; being intelligent hristians.
We had time of prayer, intercession and challenge to live up to the claims of Christ and holiness.It was wonderful to live, feel and share with everyone at the various meetings.
Results: delivered reports, new challenges to create a comprehensive growth movement.Above all, pastors and leaders were motivated to be part of the global church team.We expect to see short and long term results, since this and other events that we will have through the year.
By: Pastor Leonel B. DeLeon, North Central Field Strategy Coordinator.
Editing: Mesoamerica Communications
This Jordan — Possess your Promise Land” (Joshua 1:1-11).
Bahamas District Assembly was a Blessed TimeFor The Bahamas District, stepping into its 40th year of ministry represents putting the desert wandering behind them and finally possessing the Promise Land. The district approached this in a few unique ways.
1. A red and white Gala Banquet to appreciate the legacy of their “Moseses”: those whom God used greatly in the past to bring this new generation to this most significant juncture. The goal was to honor 40 persons who have served the church faithfully for 25 years or more.
2. Church Planting Workshop to prepare and inspired the people for possession:
This workshop was based on the text “Principles of Church Planting” by Louie Bustle and Gustavo Crocker (and as a response to our training on church planting and growth held for the Caribbean Field, Nov. 2-8, 2015, in Barbados.)
3. Three nights of powerful preaching and teaching on the theme were held and the district was also blessed to have the General Superintendent minister at the Assembly who confirmed the focus of leaving the last behind and having the courage and faith as a new generation of Israelites to finally cross over the Jordan.
We also ordained two new elders, Callie Theoc and Elizabeth Ann Roberts and organized a church: New Jerusalem Church of the Nazarene.[by: Revd. John C. Wildgoose, III, District Superintendent, Bahamas District Church of the Nazarene.]
Barbados District — We had a blessed time at our assembly, which was different in several ways. Firstly, we were surprised at the attendance, knowing that the assembly was being held for the first time in many years on a mid-week day. Our pastors and people showed their commitment to the organization by taking time off or making other arrangements so as to attend this annual gathering.
Barbados District Assembly
It was also our privilege to welcome to our district for the first time Sisters Rosa Saenzand Rachelle Crocker. They both received a very warm Bajan welcome. It is hoped that we will be able to welcome them again in the not too distant future.
Yet another highlight for us was welcoming our General Superintendent, Dr. Crocker to our assembly for the first time. Whereas Dr. Crocker visited our island in October 2014 for a Field evangelism seminar, this was his first district assembly. We thoroughly enjoyed his leadership and were definitely blessed by his Spirit- inspired messages.
For Dr. Saenz our Regional Director, it was welcome back home. Over the years Dr. Saenz has carved a place in the hearts of Barbadian Nazarenes for himself. He is well loved in Barbados.
Beside these observations, the highlight of the Superintendent’s challenge was his call for a more coordinated effort in fulfilling the Great Commission. Whereas, we welcomed over 200 new Nazarenes for 2014, he highlighted the need for faster growth. The Ds also called for greater synergy amongst the leaders as the district prepares to celebrate 90 years of ministry next year.
Finally, it was our joy to see four persons ordained as Elders, one as Deacon and 18 persons received district ministers’ Licenses, the most in recent history. That was a special and memorable occasion.
God cntinues to build his church and we are blessed to be labourers together with Christ. May the entire Nazarene family continue to pursue the heart of God as we make Christ-like disciples of all nations[By: Rev. Dr. Orlando Seale, District Superintendent.]
The Dominica District ordained its first elders, Pastor Pascal Hilton of Bioche Church of the Nazarene and Pastor Claude Henderson of Pichelin Church of the Nazarene, during its third assembly March 27.
Dominica District Assembly
As we celebrated Dominica’s 3rd District Assembly this year, we were blessed to be a part of a truly historical event.
On March 27th, at Bataca Church of the Nazarene in Dominica, Pastor Pascal Hilton of Bioche Church of the Nazarene and Pastor Claude Henderson of Pichelin Church of the Nazarene became the first two Ordained Elders for the Dominica District!
Though Church of the Nazarene has had a presence in Dominica for 35 years, they have never before had an ordained elder. General Superintendent Dr. Gustavo Crocker and Regional Director Dr. Carlos Saenz officiated this historic event.
Thank you to Missionary family Steven and Amanda Pettit along with District Superintendent Joscelyn Martin of Antigua for their help in making this ordination a reality for these two deserving men of God. Congratulations to both pastors as they lead the way to a bright future for the Church of the Nazarene in Dominica.[By: Pastor Steven Pettit, Church Development, Church of the Nazarene Caribbean Field, Mesoamerica Region.]
During the Trinidad and Tobago District's 60th assembly, the district launched its Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020 with the vision “to create a healthy nation by transforming people and communities through organisational effectiveness, doctrinal integrity, holistic education, inspiring leadership, and spiritual vibrancy.”
Trinidad and Tobago District Assembly 2015
The District Assembly was chaired by the Mesoamerica English Field Strategy Coordinator Dr R Alphonso Porter who welcomed 180 delegates and 20 official visitors in behalf of Presiding General Superintendent Gustavo A. Crocker and Mesoamerica Regional Director Dr Carlos Saenz.
Newly appointed Caribbean Nazarene College (CNC) President Dr. Anthony Manswell, and his wife Barbara, presented their first Education Report.
The highlight of the Assembly was the District Superintendent’s Report. District Superintendent Dr. Victor George told delegates that there were now 29 organized churches on the District, with the last being the Lowlands Nazarene House of Praise which received organized status on the 23rd February, 2014. He informed the Assembly that the District had gained 196 members bringing its current membership to 4994, following the death of 26 members and the removal of 444 members by Church Board removal. Churches gave just over TT$ 300,000 to Global Missions. Churches with the highest membership intake were presented with awards of recognition by the Presiding Officer Dr. Porter.
Moreover, District Superintendent Dr. Victor George told the gathering that “a Strategic Document has been developed to provide a cohesive and clear understanding of what areas we need to focus on and how we are to transform ourselves to ensure that the Church of the Nazarene survives, thrives, and becomes a more viable living entity.” He also said that an Operational Matrix has been developed with activities and timelines consolidated over a five year period for each strategic pillar. Furthermore, a budget has been determined for the ministries and functions that need to be involved for each initiative. He stated that the strategic Plan outlined the Vision, Mission, Core Values, Strategic Direction, Objectives, and Deliverables of the Church of the Nazarene Trinidad and Tobago District for the period 2015 – 2020. After a short deliberation, the Assembly approved the adoption of the Strategic Plan unanimously. The Presiding Officer called upon delegates to pray for the District Superintendent, his wife Marilyn, daughter Shimeka, and son Michael as the first family of the District.
In more Assembly business, delegates also approved a recommendation to increase the Gospel Magazine (Local Radio Evangelism) Budget from 1.25% to 1.35% of last year’s giving of tithes and offerings. Delegates also approved Andy Edwards from the St. James Church of the Nazarene as the newest District Licensed Minister.
(Dr. Alphonso Porter presents Pastor Andy Edwards with his District Minister’s Licence.)
Dr. Porter asked each ordained Senior Pastor to give a short testimony of their current standing before God. He also invited the unassigned Pastors to stand to receive the blessing of the Assembly.
In closing the meeting, Dr. Porter asked delegates to observe a minute of silence in recognition of the 26 members who had died in 2014.
The results of the election ballot were announced with Rev. Dexter Daly, Rev. Rian Williams, Gary Francois, and Dr. Gelien Matthews being elected to the District advisory Board. Rev. Farouk Mohammed, Rev. Ruth Lawrence, Rev. Paul Bunsee, Rev. Patricia Derry, and Rev. Dexter Daly were elected to the District Credentials Board. Rev. Gregory Isaacs, Rev. Vilma Mohammed, Rev. Dr. Peter Stroude, Rev. Mark Lawrence, and Rev. Alvilene Williams were elected to the District Ministerial Studies Board.
Rev. Kwame Payne
District Communications Team
Pastor Leonel B. DeLeon was recently installed as North Central Field strategy coordinator. He shared his experience at nine of the district assemblies held on the Mesoamerican Region. read more
Assemblies in North Central, its mission, importance and results: Pastor Leonel B. DeLeon
Southwest of Peten CA-4 20 Feb
Franja Oriental GT CA-4 21 Feb
Franja West CA-4 22 Feb
Franja Central GT CA-4 23 Feb
Coban North CA-4 24 Feb
North Verapaz CA-4 25 Feb
Northwest GT CA- 4 26 Feb
Northwest Honduras CA- 4 28 Feb
Southeast Honduras CA-4 01 MarI want to share three important areas: Mission, its importance and results.
- The mission: After 15 years, being part of the assemblies again, I have enthusiastically seen the work that leaders at all levels have develop, from the layman to the district superintendent, a work that is the reason and meaning of our ministry at the field and regional levels.This task of “Building the Kingdom” is not so simple, because it goes from making contact, to producing mature Christians and faithful disciples.
- The importance: t lies in accountability. It was very exciting and challenging to see, hear and try to understand the ministry, which each one developed.Everything apparently developed in an orderly manner, with each detail of the rules of order, listening to reports, some justifying their little or no growth and other excited to see their churches and districts flourishing. It strived to see that every meeting was a time of challenge, rectification, congratulations and intercession for every leader who strove to fulfill his ministry. The startup message was focused on explaining the core values of our denomination, and trying to raise awareness, so that we understood and put them into practice in our lives, as a way, a culture; being intelligent Christians. We had time of prayer, intercession and challenge to live up to the claims of Christ and holiness.It was wonderful to live, feel and share with everyone at the various meetings.
- Results: delivered reports, new challenges to create a comprehensive growth movement.Above all, pastors and leaders were motivated to be part of the global church team.We expect to see short and long term results, since this and other events that we will have through the year. by: Pastor Leonel B. DeLeon, North Central Field Strategy Coordinator.
Editing: Mesoamerica Communications
What difference could eight teenagers, a senior pastor, a youth pastor, and Nazarene Missions International president make in just seven days?
That is exactly what the group that traveled from Redland Church of the Nazarene in Miami, Florida, to Panama City, Panama, asked themselves. The Redland group embarked on a journey to partner with the Samaria Church of the Nazarene to help fix the one and only Sunday school room in the church. The 15 by 15 foot room needed to be repurposed to better serve the church and the community through a soon-to-open child development center. The Redland group needed to help plaster walls, re-layer and tile the floor,replace windows and doors, and add a small kitchen and bathroom to the back of the structure.
When they arrived at the Samaria church March 22, the task seemed daunting. Through enthusiasm and hard work, not only was the team able to help with the refurbishing of the Sunday school room, they also helped remodel the sanctuary, visited an orphanage, participated in a kids evangelistic event, and took much-needed supplies to a nearby orphanage.
At the conclusion of the trip, participants were satisfied with the work that was completed and with the new friendships forged.
“We are very grateful to the Redland church (Pastor Treavor Pound, Pastor Ricardo Barrera, and Maria Kircshner) for all their efforts in bringing such a formidable group to help us complete this much needed project," said Amable Polanco, senior pastor of the Samaria church. "We will forever be grateful that you came, helped us, and showed us your love and support.”--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region
South America
New project launched in Ecuador Leaders from the Church of the Nazarene's North Andean Field and Extreme Nazarene Missions decided to launch a church planting project Cuenca, a city with a population of more than 400,000 located 260 miles south of Quito on the Sierra South District. Cuenca is known for tourism and has no sizable Church of the Nazarene.
Extreme Nazarene Missions has planted more than 80 churches in Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador. The church planting project is Extreme’s 85th overall and third in Ecuador after Ambato and Ibarra.
The church will be planted using the 40/40 model. A 40/40 church planter is a single young person with a call to missions or to serve God as a church planter. He or she is between 18 and 30 years of age, single, and is mature in Christian character. Extreme Nazarene will pair five Ecuadorian 40/40s with five North American 40/40s of the same gender. Together they will work with a South American pastoral couple and North American married couple.
Applications are currently being accepted for the 40/40 and pastoral positions. Applicants will undergo an interview process and the team will be selected. The Ecuadorians selected to be 40/40s will need to raise $250 per month along with travel expenses. The team will begin in January 2016. Team members will commit to 28 months, including four months of seminary classes and missionary training in Quito, Ecuador, one month of Master’s Plan training in Cali, Colombia, and 23 months planting the church in Cuenca. During their time in the field, the missionaries will continue to take online seminary classes and will finish having completed half of the courses for a bachelor’s degree in intercultural studies. The pastoral couple will be salaried and will commit to four years at the church plant.[Church of the Nazarene South America Region]
Flags of the Nations: Paraguay
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: Paraguay
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Paraguay in 1980.
Paraguay had a population of 6,703,860 in 2014. That same year, Paraguay reported 28 Churches of the Nazarene, 26 of which had been officially organized. Paraguay has 768 total members.
Paraguay is on the South America Region. It has three Phase 1 districts.
For more information about the South America Region, visit samnaz.org.
* = The weekly highlighted flag is raised on the middle of three poles in compliance with U.S. government protocols. It flies to the left of the GMC host-nation United States flag, which flies above the host-state flag of Kansas. The Christian flag flies on the third pole.
The Global Ministry Center is the mission and service hub of the Church of the Nazarene.
The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received April 6-10, 2015.
Lois (Millard) Chapman, 96, of Miltonvale, Kansas, passed away April 4. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist W. Emerson Chapman, who served in Massachusetts, Indiana, and Kansas. W. Emerson Chapman passed away in 1999.
John Frye, 89, of Garrett, Indiana, passed away April 7. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in Michigan and Indiana. He was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne (Clark) Frye, in 2007.
Mozelle Hendley, 87, of Trenton, Georiga, passed away March 18. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist William Hendley, who served in Alabama and Mississippi. William Hendley passed away in 2013.
Rena Huff, 93, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away April 8. She was the widow of retired minister Cecil Huff, who served in Alabama. Cecil Huff passed away in 2001.
Gary Jones, 82, of Hamilton, Ohio, passed away April 4. He was a retired minister and assistant district superintendent, serving in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and leading the Southwestern Ohio District. He is survived by his wife, Doloris (Owens) Jones.
Mariana Pereira, 34, of Brazil passed away March 26. She served as district Nazarene Youth International president, national NYI secretary, minister at Sousa Church of the Nazarene, and as a volunteer at the Global NYI Office.
Mary (Smith) Phelps, 89, of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, passed away April 8. She was the widow of retired minister Stannard Phelps, who served in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana. Stannard Phelps passed away in 1988.
Glendle Rains, 85, of Norman, Oklahoma, passed away April 5. He was a retired minister, serving in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Rains.
Margaret "Peg" (McLaughlin) Randolph, 82, of Bethany, Oklahoma, passed away April 6. She was a lifelong Church of the Nazarene member, volunteering in Vacation Bible School, Children's Bible Quizzing, church choir, church orchestra, and at the church campground. She was also a Sodexo Food Service employee at Southern Nazarene University.
Esther True, 95, of Ventura, California, passed away March 27. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist Ira True Jr., who served in Oregon, Washington, and California. Ira True Jr. passed away in 2009.
Dorothy (Green) VanArsdel, 97, of McMinnville, Oregon, passed away April 4. She was the widow of retired minister J. L. VanArsdel, who served in California and Oregon. J. L. VanArsdel passed away in 2000.
Mildred Vanderpool, 94, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away April 2. She was the widow of retired minister and district superintendent Crawford Vanderpool, who served in Oregon, Washington, and Arizona and led the South Dakota and Arizona districts. Crawford Vanderpool passed away in 2007.
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section 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 news@nazarene.org.[Compiled by NCN News]
This week: Paraguay
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Paraguay in 1980.
Paraguay had a population of 6,703,860 in 2014. That same year, Paraguay reported 28 Churches of the Nazarene, 26 of which had been officially organized. Paraguay has 768 total members.
Paraguay is on the South America Region. It has three Phase 1 districts.
For more information about the South America Region, visit samnaz.org.
* = The weekly highlighted flag is raised on the middle of three poles in compliance with U.S. government protocols. It flies to the left of the GMC host-nation United States flag, which flies above the host-state flag of Kansas. The Christian flag flies on the third pole.
The Global Ministry Center is the mission and service hub of the Church of the Nazarene.
Global Ministry Center News
In MemoriamLois (Millard) Chapman, 96, of Miltonvale, Kansas, passed away April 4. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist W. Emerson Chapman, who served in Massachusetts, Indiana, and Kansas. W. Emerson Chapman passed away in 1999.
John Frye, 89, of Garrett, Indiana, passed away April 7. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in Michigan and Indiana. He was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne (Clark) Frye, in 2007.
Mozelle Hendley, 87, of Trenton, Georiga, passed away March 18. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist William Hendley, who served in Alabama and Mississippi. William Hendley passed away in 2013.
Rena Huff, 93, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away April 8. She was the widow of retired minister Cecil Huff, who served in Alabama. Cecil Huff passed away in 2001.
Gary Jones, 82, of Hamilton, Ohio, passed away April 4. He was a retired minister and assistant district superintendent, serving in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and leading the Southwestern Ohio District. He is survived by his wife, Doloris (Owens) Jones.
Mariana Pereira, 34, of Brazil passed away March 26. She served as district Nazarene Youth International president, national NYI secretary, minister at Sousa Church of the Nazarene, and as a volunteer at the Global NYI Office.
Mary (Smith) Phelps, 89, of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, passed away April 8. She was the widow of retired minister Stannard Phelps, who served in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana. Stannard Phelps passed away in 1988.
Glendle Rains, 85, of Norman, Oklahoma, passed away April 5. He was a retired minister, serving in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Rains.
Margaret "Peg" (McLaughlin) Randolph, 82, of Bethany, Oklahoma, passed away April 6. She was a lifelong Church of the Nazarene member, volunteering in Vacation Bible School, Children's Bible Quizzing, church choir, church orchestra, and at the church campground. She was also a Sodexo Food Service employee at Southern Nazarene University.
Esther True, 95, of Ventura, California, passed away March 27. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist Ira True Jr., who served in Oregon, Washington, and California. Ira True Jr. passed away in 2009.
Dorothy (Green) VanArsdel, 97, of McMinnville, Oregon, passed away April 4. She was the widow of retired minister J. L. VanArsdel, who served in California and Oregon. J. L. VanArsdel passed away in 2000.
Mildred Vanderpool, 94, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away April 2. She was the widow of retired minister and district superintendent Crawford Vanderpool, who served in Oregon, Washington, and Arizona and led the South Dakota and Arizona districts. Crawford Vanderpool passed away in 2007.
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section 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 news@nazarene.org.[Compiled by NCN News]
Global praise reports and prayer requests
Recent praise reports and prayer requests from NCN News, Nazarene Missions International, and JESUS Film Harvest Partners include:
PRAISES
JESUS Film - Haiti
"I lived in darkness," said Erik from Haiti. "I did things which were not pleasing to God. But when I saw how Jesus has suffered for me, I realized I had to change my life. That is why I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and will encourage my friends to do the same."
JESUS Film - Liberia
"I wasted my life," Isaac said after a JESUS Film showing in Liberia. "I have known the truth, but refused to live by it for so many years. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed and would like to publicly confess and repent, asking God for forgiveness."
JESUS Film - Sri Lanka
"I really love Jesus now," said Sevenu in Sri Lanka. "His teachings have changed me into a real man. I want to receive Him into my heart."
PRAYER REQUESTS
Ecuador property taxes
Please continue to pray for the tax situation in Ecuador. Property taxes have risen 1,000 percent. After weeks of waiting, Nazarene leaders report that the attorney has asked for copies of the property taxes to present to authorities.
Chile mudslides
Heavy rains in Northern Chile have caused mudslides resulting in lives lost, people missing, people awaiting rescue, damaged roadways, and towns being cut off. There are two Nazarene churches in the area and word is that everyone in these congregations is okay and they are helping others who have lost much. Pray for the people who are suffering from property losses or disappearance of loved ones. Pray also for those who are extending a helping hand.
MORE...
For more global concerns and continued requests, see the NMI Prayer Mobilization Line by clicking here or JESUS Film Harvest Partners by clicking here.
To share additional praises or prayer requests, please use the comment section below or see the Prayer Mobilization Line's Facebook page.
PRAISES
JESUS Film - Haiti
"I lived in darkness," said Erik from Haiti. "I did things which were not pleasing to God. But when I saw how Jesus has suffered for me, I realized I had to change my life. That is why I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and will encourage my friends to do the same."
JESUS Film - Liberia
"I wasted my life," Isaac said after a JESUS Film showing in Liberia. "I have known the truth, but refused to live by it for so many years. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed and would like to publicly confess and repent, asking God for forgiveness."
JESUS Film - Sri Lanka
"I really love Jesus now," said Sevenu in Sri Lanka. "His teachings have changed me into a real man. I want to receive Him into my heart."
PRAYER REQUESTS
Ecuador property taxes
Please continue to pray for the tax situation in Ecuador. Property taxes have risen 1,000 percent. After weeks of waiting, Nazarene leaders report that the attorney has asked for copies of the property taxes to present to authorities.
Chile mudslides
Heavy rains in Northern Chile have caused mudslides resulting in lives lost, people missing, people awaiting rescue, damaged roadways, and towns being cut off. There are two Nazarene churches in the area and word is that everyone in these congregations is okay and they are helping others who have lost much. Pray for the people who are suffering from property losses or disappearance of loved ones. Pray also for those who are extending a helping hand.
MORE...
For more global concerns and continued requests, see the NMI Prayer Mobilization Line by clicking here or JESUS Film Harvest Partners by clicking here.
To share additional praises or prayer requests, please use the comment section below or see the Prayer Mobilization Line's Facebook page.
GMC employment opportunities
The following positions are available at the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center:
Business Center — Front Desk Receptionist
The receptionist will answer phones, greet guests, and handle other front desk tasks and clerical work as assigned.
Financial Services — Administrative Assistant
This position works under the direction of the general treasurer, primarily providing administrative and clerical support.
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.
Stewardship Ministries — Copywriting Intern (Summer temporary)
This position supplements fulfillment of the constant writing needs of Stewardship Ministries for Web, social media, and print publications in pursuit of developing holistic, generous disciples. This position works with all members of the Stewardship Ministries team to create and edit copy that accurately depicts and complements the purpose of each project. In addition to copywriting, duties include customer service, social media engagement, and minimum data entry.
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 or email bsikes@nazarene.org.
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 theopen 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 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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.
Sunday School and Discipleship Ministry International's The Discipleship Place congratulates the following individuals approved by their pastor and local church board to receive a certificate of lay ministry. Upon approval, they will complete lay ministry courses.
NCN News now part of Nazarene.org
NCN News, the official news service of the Church of the Nazarene, is now part of the newly redesigned nazarene.orgwebsite at nazarene.org/news. The transition strengthens the Church of the Nazarene’s Web presence and provides it with more dynamic content.
Nazarene.org was re-launched earlier this year to provide both visitors and longtime Nazarenes a more user-friendly, streamlined, and mobile-friendly online resource. The majority of NCN News visits now come from mobile devices and the previous, independently located site was originally designed for desktop users.
Readers going to ncnnews.com will be automatically redirected to nazarene.org/news.
Both new sites were developed by the Asia-Pacific Church of the Nazarene Communications Office.
For more information, questions, or to submit stories, email news@nazarene.org.
Business Center — Front Desk Receptionist
The receptionist will answer phones, greet guests, and handle other front desk tasks and clerical work as assigned.
Financial Services — Administrative Assistant
This position works under the direction of the general treasurer, primarily providing administrative and clerical support.
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.
Stewardship Ministries — Copywriting Intern (Summer temporary)
This position supplements fulfillment of the constant writing needs of Stewardship Ministries for Web, social media, and print publications in pursuit of developing holistic, generous disciples. This position works with all members of the Stewardship Ministries team to create and edit copy that accurately depicts and complements the purpose of each project. In addition to copywriting, duties include customer service, social media engagement, and minimum data entry.
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 or email bsikes@nazarene.org.
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 theopen 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 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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.
Resources
Nazarene Foundation launches mobile giving website for district assemblies, conventions
The Church of the Nazarene Foundation launched a mobile website that enables districts to accept various methods of giving during offerings at district assembly and associated conventions. The website,nazgive.com, allows donors without cash or checks to give using a debit card, credit card, or automatedbank account transaction.
“We are excited about offering this service to districts,” said Mark Lail, executive vice president of the Church of the Nazarene Foundation. “People who historically have been unable to participate in the offering will now have the chance to donate by using this website.”
Nazgive.com is available to districts at no cost, aside from transaction fees charged by credit cardcompanies. The Church of the Nazarene Foundation also offers various promotional materials to help districts communicate the Web address to assembly attendees.
For more information about nazgive.com, call 913-577-2983 or email info@nazarenefoundation.org.[-Church of the Nazarene Foundation
“We are excited about offering this service to districts,” said Mark Lail, executive vice president of the Church of the Nazarene Foundation. “People who historically have been unable to participate in the offering will now have the chance to donate by using this website.”
Nazgive.com is available to districts at no cost, aside from transaction fees charged by credit cardcompanies. The Church of the Nazarene Foundation also offers various promotional materials to help districts communicate the Web address to assembly attendees.
For more information about nazgive.com, call 913-577-2983 or email info@nazarenefoundation.org.[-Church of the Nazarene Foundation
- Patty Fawver, Grace Church of the Nazarene, Mid-South District
- Ally Fletcher, Connecting Point Church of the Nazarene, Central California District
- Dr. Joyce Wade Kinslow, Bristow Church of the Nazarene, Northeast Oklahoma District
- Ray Allen Rose, Holtville Church of the Nazarene, Southern California District
- Carlos Ruiz, SonRise Church of the Nazarene, Rocky Mountain District
- Stephanie Ruiz, SonRise Church of the Nazarene, Rocky Mountain District
- Trevor Stanley, Odon Church of the Nazarene, Southwest Indiana District
The Discipleship Place also congratulates the following people who completed courses in the month of March:*
- Bobby D. Brown, United Methodist Green Cove Springs Church
- Communicating the Gospel in a Pluralistic World, Exploring Nazarene History and Polity, Youth Ministry Academy
- Margaret Bryson,
Bethel Church of the Nazarene, Southwestern Ohio District- Children's Ministry Course
- Shaniqua Callendar, Beckless Road Church of the Nazarene, Barbados District
- Practicing Wesleyan-Holiness Spiritual Formation
- Lenora Lou Coffman, Cross Lanes First Church of the Nazarene, West Virginia South District
- Exploring John Wesley's Theology, Exploring Nazarene History and Polity, Telling the New Testament Story of God, Telling the Old Testament Story of God
- Sandy Colbrun, Keene Church of the Nazarene, New England District
- Adult Worker, Sunday School Superintendent
- Ally Fletcher, Connecting Point Church of the Nazarene, Central California District
- Telling the New Testament Story of God, Telling the Old Testament Story of God
- Julie Ann Galino, Pico Church of the Nazarene, Philippines Luzon District
- Children's Ministry Course
- William G. Guensch, Indian Head Church of the Nazarene, Mid-Atlantic District
- Exploring John Wesley's Theology
- Suzanne Michelle Hoepfl, Orlando Metro West Church of the Nazarene, Florida District
- Practicing Wesleyan-Holiness Spiritual Formation
- Albert Huerta, Hawthorne Hispanic Church of the Nazarene, Anaheim District
- Youth Ministry Academy
- Dr. Joyce Wade Kinslow, Bristow Church of the Nazarene, Northeast Oklahoma District
- Youth Ministry Academy
- Jerry Kline, Oakdale Family Church of the Nazarene, Central California District
- Telling the New Testament Story of God, Telling the Old Testament Story of God
- William Marsden, Seashore Community Church of the Nazarene, Philadelphia District
- Exploring Nazarene History and Polity
- David Mathiesen, Connecting Point Church of the Nazarene, Central California District
- Sunday School Superintendent
- Michele McCartney, Greene Church of the Nazarene, East Ohio District
- Youth Ministry Academy
- Ray Allen Rose, Bristow Church of the Nazarene, South Texas District
- South Texas District
- Ray Allen Rose, Holtville Church of the Nazarene, Southern California District
- Faith-Sharing Strategies, Stewardship
- La Donia Shaw, Defiance Church of the Nazarene, Northwestern Ohio District
- Telling the New Testament Story of God
- Carla Spurgeon, Springs Valley Church of the Nazarene, Southwest Indiana District
- Practicing Wesleyan-Holiness Spiritual Formation
- Nicole Stalkfleet, Baytown Church of the Nazarene, South Texas District
- Exploring John Wesley's Theology, Telling the New Testament Story of God
- Todd Sutphin, Salem Church of the Nazarene, Virginia District
- Practicing Wesleyan-Holiness Spiritual Formation, Telling the Old Testament Story of God
- Kevin Travis, Parkersburg Broadway Church of the Nazarene, West Virginia North District
- Communicating the Gospel in a Pluralistic World, Exploring John Wesley's Theology, Exploring Nazarene History and Polity
- Jonathan Wheeler, Clear Lake Church of the Nazarene, Southern California District
- Exploring Nazarene History and Polity
Please note: The above individuals are being recognized because they contacted DiscipleshipPlace.org to request a certificate of completion . Many individuals complete courses but do not contact organizers to be recognized.[Compiled by DiscipleshipPlace.org of Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International]
NCN News, the official news service of the Church of the Nazarene, is now part of the newly redesigned nazarene.orgwebsite at nazarene.org/news. The transition strengthens the Church of the Nazarene’s Web presence and provides it with more dynamic content.
Nazarene.org was re-launched earlier this year to provide both visitors and longtime Nazarenes a more user-friendly, streamlined, and mobile-friendly online resource. The majority of NCN News visits now come from mobile devices and the previous, independently located site was originally designed for desktop users.
Readers going to ncnnews.com will be automatically redirected to nazarene.org/news.
Both new sites were developed by the Asia-Pacific Church of the Nazarene Communications Office.
For more information, questions, or to submit stories, email news@nazarene.org.
_____________________________
Senior Editor: Frank M. Moore
Managing Editor: Chad E. Schnarr
Associate Editor: Sarah A. Glass
Contact us:
Nazarene Communications Network
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas 66220 United States
Voice: (913) 577-0562
Fax: (913) 577-0857
Email: ncnnews@ncnnews.com
____________________________
Senior Editor: Frank M. Moore
Managing Editor: Chad E. Schnarr
Associate Editor: Sarah A. Glass
Contact us:
Nazarene Communications Network
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas 66220 United States
Voice: (913) 577-0562
Fax: (913) 577-0857
Email: ncnnews@ncnnews.com
____________________________
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