Saturday, December 5, 2015

Nazarene News: Member killed in church collapse from Nazarene Communication Network News of The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Friday, December 4, 2015 - Volume 1548 - This week in the Church of the Nazarene...

Nazarene News: Member killed in church collapse from Nazarene Communication Network News of The Global Church of the Nazarene of Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Friday, December 4, 2015 - Volume 1548 - This week in the Church of the Nazarene...


General secretary releases 2015 stats
General Secretary David P. Wilson and Nazarene Research Services released the annual church statistical reports for 2015. These detailed reports documenting the missional activities of the Church of the Nazarene on a global scale show growth for the denomination over the statistical year, as well as continued growth over the past decade.
Global reports show total current membership for the Church of the Nazarene at 2,441,372, a net increase of 146,266 (6.37 percent) from 2014.
The denomination welcomed in 143,076 new Nazarenes this year.
The fastest growing regions in membership were Eurasia (16.33 percent) and Mesoamerica (10.90 percent).
There are currently 29,945 churches in the denomination, an increase of 550 from last year's report. Of the churches listed, 21,912 are considered officially organized, a gain of 487 in that category.
Average weekly worship attendance increased by 5.72 percent in 2015 to 1,498,482.
The Church of the Nazarene has 17,395 ordained elders, 836 ordained deacons, and 9,663 licensed ministers.
Information is based on reporting received from districts for assemblies held October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015. For the full statistical report, click here.




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Fartura, Brazil

Member killed in Brazil church collapse
Only one wall of Fartura Church of the Nazarene was left standing after the storm.
A severe storm hit the south portion of Brazil’s Piauí state November 26, leaving a trail of destruction in several municipalities. One of the most affected areas was the town of Fartura, where the Fartura Church of the Nazarene collapsed, causing at least one death and several injuries.
“Pastor Francildo was conducting a service but needed to close the meeting because of the hailstorm and strong winds, asking everyone to return to their homes,” said Gerson Cardoso, field strategy coordinator for Brazil North.
Two men stayed behind to close up the church and were still inside when the building collapsed.
“Our brother, Florisvaldo Ferreira dos Santos, 56, could not get out in time and was hit by the falling roof,” Cardoso said.
Ferreira was taken to the hospital in critical condition along with several other people. He later died.
”Our attention now will be for the family of our brother Florisvaldo, for homes that were hit, and reconstruction of the church,” Cardoso said.

Fartura Church of the Nazarene before the storm.
How to Help
In addition to prayer, churches and individuals around the world can help by giving to the South America Disaster Relief Fund through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.
To send donations by mail, use these instructions:
In the U.S., make checks payable to "General Treasurer" and send them to:
Global Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
P.O. Box 843116
Kansas City, Missouri 64184-3116, United States
Be sure to put ACM125518 in the Memo area.
In Canada, make checks payable to "Church of the Nazarene Canada" and send them to:
Church of the Nazarene Canada
20 Regan Road, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3, Canada
Be sure to put ACM125518 in the Memo area.
For any other country, give through your local church or district, designating your gift to the South America Disaster Relief fund.
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Eurasia Region
Eurasia regional conference provides reconciliation, encouragement
Reconciliation was the theme of the quadrennial Eurasia Regional Conference, celebrating God’s presence and leading for the Church of the Nazarene amid recent years of economic difficulty, political tension, upheaval, and civil war. The November conference, which drew 640 people from nearly 50 nations, brought messages of hope at a time in the Eurasia Region when many people have much to forgive, and will have much to forgive in the future.
During the opening service, Regional Director Arthur Snijders said forgiveness is costly, a transaction in which at least one party always pays. He explained that Jesus paid the ultimate price to reconcile himself with humanity, demonstrating that forgiveness and reconciliation are not cheap.
The conference Scripture was taken from 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, which states “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

“We’re first citizens of the kingdom of God and then we’re residents of our country,” said J. K. Warrick, general superintendent with jurisdiction over the Eurasia Region. “We must be free of prejudice and our bias.”
Additional keynote speakers included leaders from each of Eurasia’s seven fields. Maria Gustzin, a local pastor from Budapest, spoke about how her family was oppressed during the days of Communism. Yet, as refugees poured into her city this summer, she found herself in an unexpected position of power. She chose to put aside that power to sit with refugees on the dirty ground of the Keleti train station and listen to their stories.
“They got on the trains, and we wished them well, and they shouted, ‘We hope you come to Syria so we can show you our beautiful country, because you welcomed us,’” she recalled. “Reconciliation means something more for me. It means not only forgiving my oppressors, it means not doing the same to others when in a position of power. Reconciliation means not only forgiving and letting go, but understanding that anything less than loving the other is cruel.”
Italy District Superintendent Daniel Fink described reconciliation as a future promised land.
“We are still on this side of the river,” he said. “There is work in progress. We are trying to detect and discern how to bring this world into God’s new land.”
He also pointed out that stories of reconciliation are rare in the Bible, because the Bible reflects life, and reconciliation is rare in life.
“When it happens, we should consider it a miracle,” Fink said.

Eurasians proved they were not afraid to confront complicated — and sometimes ignored — issues, attending workshops featuring topics including “Sexual Offenders and 
the Church” and ministry to people with disabilities. In other workshops, participants discussed stories of reconciliation in the Middle East, focused on youth work, or engaged in personal and spiritual development.
A theology day kicked off the activities, focusing on Indigenous holiness theology. The day featured a number of regional theologians presenting papers on different aspects of reconciliation. Theological topics were also included in the daily workshops, such as reflections
on youth ministry, and holding together the distinct Christian message while positively engaging with followers of other faiths.
The convergence of people from across the region also made it possible for the very first meeting of a new region-wide committee on the growing refugee crisis. The group was made up of Nazarenes from each of the region’s nations where significant numbers
of Middle East refugees have been displaced, are in transit, or are in the process of settling.
The group wrestled with the complicated questions, the fears, the unknowns of watching their governments make hurried plans to accept and settle large numbers of people on the move. They also discussed ideas for how 
to better coordinate their grassroots activities at all the points where they could intersect with refugees.
Following the conference, many stayed to participate in two days
 of meetings for Nazarene Youth International, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, regional educators, and district superintendent training.

At the close of a difficult and sometimes dark year for many parts of the Eurasia Region, coming together brought inspiration and joy to many of the participants.
“First of all I love the fact that we
get to meet people from different areas and hear from them what Christ is doing there,” said Selim Kolgeci, a local pastor in Kosova. “I get so very encouraged, and then I go back home to my home church and tell them, and they get encouraged as well.”
Despite the wide range of cultures and world areas, participants discovered they have much in common.
“There’s so much going on really close to where we live in our field and we don’t know anything about it,” said Sarah Montgomery, from the United Kingdom who now ministers in Poland. “It’s been so encouraging to hear from lots of different cultures. Being in Poland, we think the way the problems we have we’re alone. But actually, we’re not.”
The Eurasians returned home to be ambassadors for Christ in their cultures. The next regional conference will be held in four years at a site to be determined.
Additional conference news:

  • The Eurasia Region Education Council presented Kent Brower, vice principal of Nazarene Theological College-Manchester, with the Dr. Hugh Rae Award for a lifetime of service to higher education on the region. The award is named for the late Hugh Rae, a former principal of NTC-Manchester, and is given once in a quadrennium to a lifetime educator on the region.
  • Sabine Wielk, who stepped down last year as leader of Nazarene Youth International on the region, was given the Timothy Award, recognizing 14 years of service to the region’s youth.
  • A team from Nazarene Theological College-Manchester and several churches in the UK came to lead ministry among the 40 children aged 18 months to 14 years. The children enjoyed games on the beach, crafts such as painting on T-shirts, sports, field trips and playing their own movies at the hotel cinema.
  • Youth concluded the conference with their own mini-gathering, including a talent show, games, and many staying up all night talking before catching 
their early morning flights home, simply because they did not want to say goodbye to their new friends from other countries. “We’ve started to make deep connections, and hopefully in the future we’ll make connections with those countries to glorify God,” said Sumeet Gawali, a member of NYI from Mumbai, India.
  • Selvaraj Jayakumar, pastor and superintendent of the India Tamil Nadu West District, passed away suddenly in India, after delaying his departure to the conference. His son, Kingsley Jayakumar, a local pastor and India NYI coordinator, immediately returned home to be with his family. (read more)[Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region]
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Gottmadingen, Germany

Nazarene church helps German town settle refugees

Many refugees headed for Europe come from cultures that place great value hospitality, so there could be no greater expression of love and welcome than the community hosting a big meal for their new neighbors.
That’s exactly what happened 17 October when a network of churches and organizations in Gottmadingen, Germany, including the Nazarene church, welcomed 60 refugees to their community by hosting a banquet with international dishes, live music, cultural presentations, and plenty of conversation.
The refugees were resettled in Gottmadingen — a town of about 10,000 people — by the German government.
The banquet was carefully thought out to express welcome as well as build mutual understanding. By highlighting many different cultures through music, dancing, speeches, and food, the community sent the message that the new neighbors would enrich the community with their cultures. Additionally, long-time residents who had once immigrated from Italy, France, Portugal, and Turkey were on hand to share about their experiences, tips, and knowledge about adjusting to the culture after having lived in Germany for many years.
The night was also designed to help Gottmadingen understand a bit more about their new neighbors.
“The refugees gave testimony of where they came from and there was a big map of the world and they showed the places where they had gone through to reach Germany,” said Ludwig Duncker, pastor of the Gottmadingen Church of the Nazarene. “There were several activities to show the local people what the refugees had experienced.”
With 200 in attendance, the six-hour banquet was just the beginning.
The “social network,” which the informal group of churches and nonprofits call themselves, has assigned about 20 volunteers — including some Nazarenes — to journey alongside “adopted” refugee families. These volunteers will help answer questions and teach them systems like public transportation, government services, schools, how to sort their trash for pickup, and the like. They are also available for relational and emotional support, Duncker said.
Duncker has volunteered to assist a Syrian family with five children. They’ve been on a difficult journey to reach safety. The couple lost their parents during the conflict in Syria. At one point the husband was kidnapped. They took passage in a boat to reach Europe, but the boat’s engine broke down part-way. Now that they've made it to Germany, they are now trying to figure out life in a new culture and language.
“They had a terrible journey to come here to Germany, and they are so thankful and they are so positive and take the opportunity to learn German and to get integrated here in our area,” he said. “It touches the heart to know what they have gone through and how they want to establish a new life for their family.”
This family’s journey is multiplied exponentially, as thousands of refugees and economic migrants are entering Germany every day. The German government is requiring every town and village in the nation to take in a quota of refugees each year. Gottmadingen will take 140 refugees by the end of this year, according to Duncker.
The local government furnishes housing and works closely with the social network to make sure the new neighbors are being settled in ways sensitive to their needs.
Duncker said that everyone is working hard to ensure the new families are not all put together in one apartment building or area but are distributed throughout the community so they get to know the local German families around them and integrate into the culture more quickly.
The new families aren’t all from Syria. They also hail from Bulgaria, countries in Africa, and India, he added.
In nearby Büsingen, Uwe Burmeister, a member of the Gottmadingen church, is checking in on a young Iraqi refugee who fled his country alone because of threats on his life due to his faith. Burmeister helps him practice German and inquires about his needs.
Burmeister is the Gottmadingen church’s liaison with the town’s social network, which formed about five years ago with the idea of helping financially struggling people, the disabled, and providing support for local schools. The Nazarene church joined three years ago, which has gone a long way to help build trust with the other free and state churches in town, as well as non-religious organizations. They have worked side-by-side toward the common goals of improving their society.
Going forward, the local churches are talking of opening an international café together, where refugees and long-time residents can meet for fellowship, to practice German, and get to know each other, Duncker said.
“Some refugees comment that the Germans are very efficient in solving problems, but what they need is also the human aspect — that people accept them and love them and listen to their story,” he said.
The café would make space for the churches to meet those needs.
“The love of God drives us,” he said. “This is a really great challenge and a great opportunity for the Christian church in general. These people come to us now, and on a very personal level and human level we can share what it really means to be a Christian.”[Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region]
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Karen State, Myanmar

Southeast Asia NBC begins Myanmar extension center

Southeast Asia Nazarene Bible College, located in Chaing Mai, Thailand, announced its first extension program, located in Karen State, Myanmar. The program is headed by SEANBC Academic Dean Dinga and Yangon Campus Dean of Students Enkawla, who are together teaching two courses.
Students from four local villages are taking advantage of this theological training and have committed to completing the pastoral Course of Study leading to ordination. SEANBC is anticipating more classes and attendees as the program continues. 
After the classes, which are held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dinga and Enkwala visit neighbors and hold prayer in their homes. The principals also had the opportunity to preach in local churches and lead Sunday worship service. Group songs and children’s Bible recitation were among the activities during this fellowship. They also had the opportunity to go to the site of a house that recently burned in order to bless the family. Dinga and Enkwala prayed for the families and proclaimed God’s victory in the area.[Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region]
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Asia-Pacific
Adelaide, Australia

Nazarene farmer killed in Australia brush fire

The Australia Southern District reported a church member died in a major crop and scrub fire that started in Pinery and swept across the Adelaide Plains north of Adelaide, Australia.
Allan Tiller, a farmer who also served as the church secretary of the Pinery Church of the Nazarene, was killed fighting this fast moving fire. He is survived by his wife, Jenny, who was previously the Nazarene Missions International president of the Gawler Church of the Nazarene. Allan was well known on the district and will be missed by his family, church, and community.
“We are comforted by knowing that Allan was a committed believer in Jesus Christ who said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die,'” said Ian Davidson, former superintendent of the Australia Southern District.
The Asia-Pacific Region Church of the Nazarene, along with the entire church in Australia, extends condolences to Jenny Tiller and their family and friends in the Pinery and Gawler congregations.[Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region]
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Eurasia


Flags of the Nations: Germany

The flag of Germany is a tricolour consisting of three equal horizontal bands displaying the national colours of Germany: black, red, and gold.
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: Germany
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Germany in 1958.
Germany had a population of 80,996,685 in 2014. That same year, Germany reported 21 Churches of the Nazarene, 19 of which had been officially organized. Germany has 2,591 total members.
Located on the Eurasia Region, Germany is a Phase 3 district. For more information about the Eurasia Region, visit eurasiaregion.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.
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Mesoamerica
Turks and Caicos, Mesoamerica Region

Turks and Caicos work advances through basketball

Garrett Mitman, a high school junior from Wisconsin, USA, visited the Turks and Caicos Islands (in the Caribbean) while on vacation with his family. Garrett describes himself as a basketball junkie, loving the game and using every spare moment to improve his game.  While practicing dribbling drills on the resort’s court, he was approached by one of the workers, who suggested, “You should go off site and play with my nephew.” That sounded like an adventure, so he set out, not knowing this would lead to a life-changing experience.
When he walked up to the Bight Community Court, he got a lot of strange looks from the other players. He figured perhaps he was the first tourist to play with them, but when he started to play, he became just one of the guys. They invited him back night after night, and their kindness touched his heart. He witnessed that basketball had the power to bring people together.
When Garrett returned to the U.S., he felt he had left a piece of his heart with his new friends.
Garrett wondered how he could give something back to them. Going to his computer, he began to research. He discovered there was a Nazarene pastor in Turks and Caicos who had a thriving basketball ministry with youth. Five days later he had a Skype call with Pastor Nathalie Sweeting. They discovered they shared a love of basketball and a desire to improve the Bight Court.
For the rest of the story, see Engage magazine.
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South America
Santiago, Chile

Chile seminary re-elects rector

During the annual meeting of Nazarene Bible Seminary's Administrative Board, held November 16 at the seminary headquarters in Santiago, Chile, Oscar Varas Ruiz was re-elected seminary rector for a period of two years, 2016 to 2017.
He was ordained in the Church of the Nazarene and has a long ministerial career as pastor of the Iquique Church of the Nazarene and also as superintendent of the North District of Chile.
He earned a bachelor’s in theology from Nazarene Bible Seminary and a degree in theology from the Southern Cone Nazarene Theological Seminary in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is currently a student in the master’s program at Nazarene Seminary of the Americas in Costa Rica.
Varas is married to Maria Paz del Canto. They have two children, Oscar Jr. and Barbara.
The Nazarene Biblical Seminary is approved by the Church of the Nazarene's International Board of Education and serves the four Chilean districts through the certification program and bachelor’s in theology program. There are 87 students in six theological education by extension centers throughout the country.[Church of the Nazarene South America Region]
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Rosa Ainscough remembered

After a struggle against cancer in the last years of her life, Dr. Rosa Isabel Ainscough went to be with the Lord she loved and served her whole life. She was 75.
She and her beloved husband, Dr. Alberto Ainscough, pastored for 53 years in the churches of Conde, Terrero, Villa Ballester, and Villa Luro, in the Central Argentina District in Buenos Aires. Prior to this, from 1970 to 1973, they were the first missionaries from the South America Region to serve in India, using their profession and passion for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The couple also spent 17 years taking short-term medical teams to the northern part of Argentina where they ministered to the native peoples through medicine, construction, and outreach. Under their ministry, new churches such as Clorinda, Villa Elisa, Altos de Pilar, and Villa Luro were planted.
"Our prayers go out to her husband, Alberto, and their children Elizabeth, Alberto, and Noemí, and their spouses, Carlos, Alejandro, Fernanda, as well as their seven grandchildren: Melissa, Timoteo, Lucas, Brenda, Juan Manuel, Ezequiel, and Tomás (who is also with the Lord)," said Christian Sarmiento, South America regional director. "The Nazarene church in Argentina is grieving, but we hold to that blessed hope that our Pastor Rosita, as she was affectionately called, is with the Lord whom she honoured and served."[
Church of the Nazarene South America Region]
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USA/Canada
Global Ministry Center

Campus ministry leaders strategize with NYI staff

Front row: Mary Paynter, Anita Shepperd, Rhiannon Gamboa, Chris Bean
Second row: Steve Proffitt, Berna Proffitt, Ben Moore, Andy Bolerjack
Back row: Steve Myers, Scott Nading, Tim Streight, Wes Meisner, Craig Shepperd, Judy Meisner, Jeb Flynn
College rivalries were put aside as campus ministry leaders from non-Nazarene institutions met at the Global Ministry Center November 16 and 17.  Sponsored by the USA/Canada Region Nazarene Youth International, ministry leaders gathered to connect, grow, strategize, and encourage each other.  
In the past seven years, the number of intentional ministries sponsored by Nazarene districts and churches has more than doubled. These ministries are aimed at non-Nazarene community colleges, four-year colleges, and state universities. They take many forms, all with the purpose of making Christlike disciples among college students.  
Called “front-line ministry” by General Superintendent David W. Graves, the summit explored potential partnerships for Nazarene churches and discussed ways to overcome obstacles faced in this unique type of ministry. One of the strongest desires is to create resources for those who are interested in campus ministry at a school near them. Graves closed the meeting by praying for the group, and the leaders left with a sense of encouragement for this growing ministry within the Church of the Nazarene.[USA/Canada NYI]
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Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.

Nazarenes in the News
Columbia Grace Church of the Nazarene softball coaches Billy Sargent, left, and Jack Auville hold their National Nazarene Softball Hall of Fame awards received in Cincinnati at Springdale Church of the Nazarene. (Daily Herald staff photo)
Sargent, Auville inducted into National Nazarene Softball Hall of Fame
Cincinnati, Ohio
(The Daily Herald, December 3) If you have attended a service at the Grace Church of the Nazarene during the past several decades, chances are either Jack Auville or Billy Sargent welcomed you in and presented you with a church bulletin.
There are other members of the Grace Church who did the same, but there have been no other person during that time to coach their top men’s slow-pitch softball team. They have guided their team to many local and for that matter national championships.
I should note that at times Grace Church has fielded as many as three men’s teams and a women’s team during a season so they have had more coaches, but Sargent and Auville are in their fourth or fifth decade of making out the line-ups and guiding the players around the bases.
In fact, Sargent and Auville have so dedicated to their sports ministry that the two former Columbia Post 19 Junior American League baseball coaches were inducted into the Nazarene National Hall of Fame in Cincinnati during Labor Day weekend when their team repeated as champs in the 35th annual Nazarene National Tournament hosted by the Springdale Church of the Nazarene.
For the rest of this story, click here.

Senior Night at Sedona-Red Rock's last home football game: Pastor Jim with his mom (Judith Cunningham), wife (Cindy), daughter (Micheala- the senior in football gear) and son (Branaghan, also in football gear) and youngest son (Ashton).
True ministry occurs outside walls of church
Sedona, Arizona
(Verde News, December 1) For "Pastor Jim" Cunningham, his ministry happens most often outside the walls of his church. "I spend about three-fourths of my time ministering to the community, and to those outside my church," he says.
That ministry happens physically rather than with the 30 or 40 people who attend services at the Church of the Nazarene in the Village of Oak Creek. On the day we spoke, he had spent the first of two days helping to move to a new house, but it also means sitting with a family in the waiting room of a hospital, or talking to someone informally outside a local convenience store.
Pastor Jim started out in Sedona in 1983 and he and his wife were the first couple married at L'Auberge. His parents started the church, and after he attended Nazarene Bible College, he returned to the VOC in February 2009 to begin his first official pastorate. "The Sedona area has always felt like home to us, and we love it here. I'm a small town boy at heart."
For the rest of this story, click here.
Stories to share? Send them to news@nazarene.org.[Compiled by NCN News]
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Moving Ministers: November 2015

Compiled by the General Secretary's Office from district reports, Moving Ministers is a monthly listing of Nazarene ministers in new assignments on the USA/Canada Region. 
Roles included in the latest report are pastor and pastoral service. Entries were received from November 1 to November 30, 2015.
To view the November report, click here.
Moving Ministers As of: 12/2/2015
from 11/1/2015 to 11/30/2015
Name From To
Rev. Kevin M. Angel Pastoral Service
from Crossroads Community
Kent OH
to Pastor on 11/1/2015
Wichita Falls Lakeview
Wichita Falls TX
Rev. Dale Rex Braker Pastor
from Pittsfield
Pittsfield ME
to Pastor on 12/6/2015
Freetown
Freetown IN
Rev. S. Ted Brewer Unassigned
from Eastern Kentucky
Richmond KY
to Pastor on 8/2/2015
Pineville
Pineville KY
Rev. Robert B. Calhoon Unassigned
from South Central Ohio
Grove City OH
to Pastoral Service on 11/22/2015
Marysville
Marysville OH
Rev. Adrian Calhoun Student
from Chicago Central
Bourbonnais IL
to Pastor on 9/13/2015
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach FL
Rev. Zachary W. Carpenter Pastoral Service
from Roseburg Church on the Rise
Roseburg OR
to Pastoral Service on 11/9/2015
Meridian Valley Shepherd
Meridian ID
Rev. Stephen J. Dean Pastoral Service
from Lansdale Immanuel
Lansdale PA
to Pastor on 11/22/2015
Quincy MA Wollaston
Quincy MA
Rev. Cheryl L. Dickey Pastoral Service
from Visalia First
Visalia CA
to Pastoral Service on 11/1/2015
Cedar Park Hill Country
Cedar Park TX
Rev. Brenda K. El-Talabani Pastoral Service
from Jacksonville Oak Hill
Jacksonville FL
to Pastoral Service on 10/11/2015
South Bend First
South Bend IN
Rev. Marvin G. Frederick Pastor
from Waldron First
Waldron AR
to Pastor on 9/13/2015
Heber Springs
Heber Springs AR
Dr. Carlton F. Harvey Pastor
from Lake Havasu
Lake Havasu City AZ
to Pastor on 10/11/2015
Cleveland First
Cleveland MS
Rev. Gerald F. "J.J." James Pastoral Service
from Ridgefield
Ridgefield WA
to Pastor on 9/28/2015
Columbus Northwest
Columbus OH
Rev. Kendra L. Jones Pastoral Service
from Obetz
Obetz OH
to Pastoral Service on 9/6/2015
Murrieta Gateway
Murrieta CA
Rev. Moises Lopez De Lucio Pastor
from Col. Lindavista Shanka
Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Mexico
to Pastoral Service on 11/23/2015
Salem First
Salem OR
Rev. Juan J. Loredo Pastor
from Fort Wayne First
Fort Wayne IN
to Pastor on 11/15/2015
Sullivan
Sullivan IN
Rev. Janice D. Lum Pastoral Service
from Annandale Calvary
Annandale VA
to Pastoral Service on 9/29/2015
Rochester Calvary Community
Henrietta NY
Rev. Robert C. Milton Sr. Unassigned
from Alabama North
Jasper AL
to Pastor on 8/1/2015
Northside
Jasper AL
Rev. Phillip R. Nase Pastoral Service
from Quincy MA Wollaston
Quincy MA
to Pastor on 12/6/2015
Owego
Owego NY
Rev. Phillip R. Nase Pastoral Service
from Quincy MA Wollaston
Quincy MA
to Pastor on 12/6/2015
Owego
Owego NY
Rev. Scott W. Olson Unassigned
from Southwest Indiana
Bedford IN
to Pastor on 12/6/2015
Knoxville
Knoxville IA
Rev. Nathan E. Otte Pastoral Service
from Waldron First
Waldron AR
to Pastoral Service on 10/1/2015
Living Stones Community
Clovis NM
Rev. Matthew T Phillips Student
from North Central Ohio
Mount Vernon OH
to Pastor on 8/1/2015
Olive Branch
Hartford City IN
Rev. Dan A. Porterfield Unassigned
from Mid-Atlantic
Glen Burnie MD
to Pastoral Service on 11/15/2015
Orbisonia
Rockhill Furnace PA
Rev. Wendell B. Rhodes Unassigned
from Central California
Fresno CA
to Pastoral Service on 9/1/2015
Bakersfield Olive Knolls
Bakersfield CA
Rev. Stephen C. Rippee Pastoral Service
from Olivet
Georgetown IL
to Pastoral Service on 10/26/2015
The Well
Rev. Kristen M. Schildroth Pastoral Service
from Rumford RI Bethany
Rumford RI
to Pastor on 12/1/2015
Wakefield RI
Wakefield RI
Rev. Jason S. States Pastor
from 406 Church
Bozeman MT
to Pastoral Service on 11/1/2015
Columbus Shepherd
Gahanna OH
Rev. Mindy S. States Pastor
from 406 Church
Bozeman MT
to Pastoral Service on 11/1/2015
Columbus Shepherd
Gahanna OH
Rev. Mark C. Tipton Pastor
from HarvestPointe
Columbus GA
to Pastor on 11/8/2015
Belton First
Belton TX
Rev. Toby L. Warner Pastor
from Gilson Ridge Community
Titusville PA
to Pastoral Service on 8/18/2015
West Point
Lisbon OH
Rev. Eli D. Wyatt Pastor
from New Hope Community
Chandler AZ
to Pastoral Service on 9/1/2015
Farmington Crossroads Community
Farmington NM
For previous reports, see usacanadanazarene.org.
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Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Ambrose announces new Canadian Poverty Institute director

Ambrose University is pleased to announce Derek Cook as the new director of the Canadian Poverty Institute. 
“The Canadian Poverty Institute is a unique service initiative that will inspire and empower Ambrose students to think critically and practically about poverty,” said Gordon T. Smith, Ambrose president. “We are so very pleased to welcome Derek Cook into the leadership of this program, given his deep commitment to our mission and his extensive experience with the city of Calgary.” 
Cook comes to Ambrose with more than 25 years of experience developing policy and programs in the public and non–profit sectors. Most recently, he served from 2011 to 2015 as executive director of the Calgary Poverty Reduction Initiative (CPRI), Mayor Naheed Nenshi’s task force on poverty reduction. Under Cook’s leadership, the CPRI spent 18 months in consultation with local communities to develop Calgary’s Enough for All poverty reduction strategy. The strategy was unanimously approved by City Council in June of 2013, and the remainder of the project was devoted to implementation and building community capacity. 
Cook’s extensive experience with strategic poverty reduction and community consultation is an ideal fit for the Canadian Poverty Institute (CPI). Established at Ambrose last year, the CPI aims to train experts and to identify proven and replicable programs to address the many facets of poverty in Canada. The CPI contributes to Ambrose’s mission of preparing students for redemptive engagement in society; it provides a space to share the research and expertise of Ambrose faculty beyond the classroom; and it also enables the university to build partnerships with other institutions around the common goal of serving the wider community. 
John Rook, the founding director of the CPI, is encouraged to see the institute under Cook’s leadership. 
“I am delighted that Derek Cook has been chosen to lead and develop the work of the next phase of the CPI,” Rook said. “He is a man of deep faith and untiring passion for the work of poverty. His experience developing the Enough for All strategy, his knowledge of the presenting issues, his understanding of government policy, and his keen insights into church and society makes him eminently qualified to lead the next phase of this exciting institute. We are in good hands.” [Ambrose University]
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Colorado Springs, Colorado

NBC offers discounted personal finance class for clergy

Pensions and Benefits USA is collaborating with Nazarene Bible College to offer a new course called Securing Your Financial Future. Offered by NBC’s Institute for Ministry Enrichment, the course will cover personal financial issues such as investments, insurance, and retirement planning for clergy. It will place special emphasis on the importance of starting as soon as possible to build resources for a stable retirement.
“We’re pleased to join with NBC in this effort to help Nazarene ministers improve their financial understanding of matters that directly affect their lives,” said Don Walter, Pensions and Benefits USA director. “We believe the need for this is so great, we’re providing a scholarship of $40 for every Nazarene minister who takes this course.”
The course (IME8012) will be available in January 2016. With the P&B scholarship, the cost for Nazarene elders is only $20. Included in this price is a one-year subscription to NBC online library resources. This course fulfils the annual Church of the Nazarene Manual requirement for 20 hours of life-long learning. 
For details and to register, visit nbcime.com.[
Nazarene Bible College]
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San Diego, California

PLNU dedicates new science complex

Point Loma Nazarene University recently dedicated Sator Hall and Latter Hall on its San Diego campus. The new complex accommodates the increasing number of students who want to study science at PLNU. 
University President Bob Brower was joined by members of the PLNU Board of Trustees, faculty, students, alumni, donors, and community leaders to celebrate this addition to the university.  With participation from a number of individuals across the PLNU community, the ceremony recognized the success of the sciences at PLNU and celebrated the many individuals who worked tirelessly to see the fruition of the project, including the Sator and Latter families and pioneering faculty members in the STEM disciplines. 
“Excellent teaching, careful mentoring, and hands-on learning have been a hallmark of the PLNU Science Program,”  Brower said. “These inimitable characteristics, coupled with this new, innovative facility, will enable the science program to reach new heights and support the continued success of our PLNU science faculty and students.”
Designed by San Diego-based architectural firm Carrier Johnson + CULTURE and constructed by Rudolph and Sletten General Contractors, the 36,000-square-foot complex sits at the heart of the San Diego campus. The building, marked by a curved stainless-steel environmental screen and its prominent coastal site, is a memorable home for the university’s rapidly growing interdisciplinary science program, unifying Christian values with a broad curriculum and state-of-the-art technology, laboratories, and classrooms. 
The building project is an important addition, both academically and architecturally, according to Ray Varela, architect in charge for Carrier Johnson + CULTURE.
“Through the long arc of a perforated stainless-steel wall, the building subtly consecrates its Christian foundations in a salient design feature,” Varela said. “This unique screen filters sun and shade into the common area in a subtle echo of the qualities one finds in a cathedral space.”
With nearly 40 percent of PLNU’s undergraduate students majoring in one of the science-related disciplines and all undergraduate students required to complete a laboratory science course during their time at PLNU, the new building is a desirable addition to campus.
“Every student at PLNU will benefit from this investment,” said Sara Choung, chair of the Chemistry Department. “This much-needed facility better reflects the quality of the faculty, students, and alumni who have stretched PLNU’s science program in remarkable directions.”
The dedication marks PLNU’s commitment to both current and future students, faculty, and the San Diego region as an institution known for excellence in academic preparation, wholeness in personal development, and faithfulness to mission.[
Point Loma Nazarene University]
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In Memoriam

The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received November 30 – December 4, 2015.
Catherine (Lewis) Eades, 75, of Carrickfergus, United Kingdom, passed away December 2. She was the wife of retired missionary Ernest Eades, who served in Cabo Verde. 
Ruth (Artz) Frost, 93, of Kernersville, North Carolina, passed away November 23. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist Earl Frost, who served in Ohio and Michigan. Earl Frost passed away in 1984.
Ruth (Conner) Haddix, 89, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, passed away November 25. She was the widow of retired minister Carl Haddix, who served in Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. Carl Haddix passed away in 2013. 
Faith Holstein, 87, of Matthews, North Carolina, passed away November 30. She was the wife of retired minister David Holstein, who served in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, and Florida. 
Victor Peña, 94, of San Bernadino, California, passed away November 30. He was a retired minister, serving in Nicaragua and California. He is survived by his wife, Maria Castillo de Peña. 
Arnold Ruecker Jr., 75, of Silver Lake, Kansas, passed away November 24. He was the husband of Frances Ruecker, a minister at Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene.
Leola (Hay) Saunders, 76, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, passed away November 30. She was the wife of retired minister C. Joseph Saunders, who served in Ohio.
Kenneth Timblin, 74, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, passed away November 23. He was a retired minister, serving in Texas and New Mexico. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Timblin. 
Burma Walters, 59, of Saraland, Alabama, passed away November 22. She was the wife of minister Edward Walters, who serves at Open Arms Ministry.
Golda (Transue) Worley-Harris, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away November 19. She was the widow of retired minister Bobby Worley, who passed away in 1971. 
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]
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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  
2015 donation totals
In the past year, Nazarene churches distributed 47,430 Crisis Care Kits in emergency situations in countries around the world. Local churches also distributed 15,000 School Pal-Paks to children in need in various countries.
JESUS Film - Mozambique
"I was a thief," testified Emiralda from Mozambique. "I would steal from people and sell their goods on the black market. When I saw the JESUS film, I realized I was living my life wrong. This film was what God provided for a change in my life. Jesus is my Savior."
JESUS Film - Nepal
"I was sick and went to the church to ask for prayer," shared a mother in Nepal. "They were watching a film when I arrived, so I waited. As I waited, I saw Jesus healing many people brought to Him. I knew then He could heal me. When the team prayed for me, I felt myself get well!" 
JESUS Film - Zambia
"The headmaster, Mr. Masukume, asked for the microphone," shared a Zambian JESUS Film team leader. "In front of the whole village, he confessed his sins and asked to be forgiven because he had found new life in Christ. He now begins every morning at school with prayer."
PRAYER REQUESTS
PNG budget cuts
Recently announced national budget cuts in Papua New Guinea for 2016 are severe. According to available information, there could be a reduction of 40 percent in the funding assistance normally provided to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, as well as significant cuts to Rural Health Services that operate facilities in remote areas. This affects all of the church-run health services. The hospital is also running out of supplies such as antibiotics, painkillers, gauze, and gloves. Click here to read more from Nazarene Health Ministries’ website. 
HEALTH-RELATED REQUESTS
Accel and Raquel Ruiz
Please pray for Accel Ruiz and his wife, Raquel. Accel is battling cancer and Raquel is suffering from serious heart issues. Accel is a former professor of the Nazarene seminary in Mexico (Seminario Nazareno Mexicano) and has pastored churches in Mexico and the U.S.
BEREAVEMENT  
Mango Tree Centre mother
Fipe, a mother of four, passed away this week following heart surgery. She was 25. One of her children has cerebral palsy and attends the Nazarene Mango Tree Respite Centre in Fiji. For more information, click here.
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.
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Human Resources

GMC employment opportunities

People are our most valued resource. Our committed employees are involved in "Making Christlike Disciples in the Nations" in 159 world areas. 
The Global Ministry Center Human Resources Office professionals strive to deliver the highest possible service to our employees, and are responsible for the recruitment, placement and retention of qualified individuals to staff the ministry and administrative positions of the GMC. The many employee services include compensation and benefit administration, payroll, employment, employee relations, training, counseling, organizational communication and events, and workplace programs.
*Volunteer opportunities for GMC ministries are available now. Email bsikes@nazarene.org for details.
Employment Opportunities
Global Treasury Services — Accounts Payable Senior Accounting Technician (Full-time)
Office: Financial Services 
Ministry: Global Treasury Services
Title: AP Senior Accounting Technician
Description: The primary responsibility for this position is to process disbursements for the Global Ministry Center in a timely manner.  
Information Technology — Software Developer (Full-time)
Office: General Secretary 
Ministry: Information Technology
Title: Software Developer
Description: 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.  
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries — Computer Programming Coordinator (Full-time)
Office: Global Mission
Ministry: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Title: Computer Programming Coordinator
Description: Responsibilities for this position include leading NCM's development team in developing and maintaining NCM's Web applications, systems, and websites. 
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries — Donor Strategist (Full-time)
Office: Global Mission
Ministry: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Title: Donor Strategist
Description: Under oversight of the director of development, this position is responsible for fundraising through building partnerships and donor/sponsor engagement and communication, including managing the research, design, content, and production of NCM materials for information, promotion, and education. 
Nazarene Missions International — Senior Program Assistant (Full-time)
Office: Global Mission
Ministry: Nazarene Missions International
Title: Senior Program Assistant
Description: Assists the global NMI director with a variety of tasks and responsibilities, including logistics for NMI events and communication with NMI leadership. 
Pensions and Benefits — Administrative Assistant (Full-time)
Office: Financial Services
Ministry: Pensions and Benefits
Title: Administrative Assistant
Description: Responsibilities for this position include leading/managing special and cyclical projects primarily within the Benefits Services Area (BSA), providing administrative assistance to the administrative director and other staff-level positions, coordinating the education/training priorities of internal staff as well as plan participants, ensuring that the appropriate resources and support are provided to complete assigned projects, and processing customer service inquiries as needed. 
To obtain additional information, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
Location of our Positions
The GMC is the administrative hub for the Church of the Nazarene denominational ministries in 159 world areas. The GMC is conveniently located in Lenexa, Kansas, with easy access to I-35 and I-435 and within short driving distance to Kansas City International airport. All GMC positions report to this location.
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. Resumés are not necessary for entry-level positions, but they are preferred for professional level positions. 
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 U.S. Central Time. Completed applications may be mailed or emailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office.
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Kansas City, Missouri

NPH provides free small group lessons on refugee crisis
Each day thousands of refugees make their way from the Middle East to Europe in search of a life free of persecution. The Church of the Nazarene is there with necessities like food, water, clothing, and shelter as they journey through Jordan, Lebanon, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, and other countries to their new homes.
Word Action, an imprint of Nazarene Publishing House, developed two free small group lessons that explain how Christians must engage the social needs in today's world. These lessons can help church members lead groups in an engaging discussion and explore how faith intersects life in meaningful ways.To download a small group lesson for adults, click here. For a lesson geared toward youth, click here.
Syrian children wait to board a bus in Hungary
Scripture Focus
Matthew 2:3 After they had gone, an angel of Adonai appeared to Yosef in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave. For Herod is going to look for the child in order to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother, and left during the night for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until Herod died. This happened in order to fulfill what Adonai had said through the prophet,
“Out of Egypt I called my son.”[Matthew 2:15 Hosea 11:1]; Ruth 2:1 Na‘omi had a relative on her husband’s side, a prominent and wealthy member of Elimelekh’s clan, whose name was Bo‘az. 2 Rut the woman from Mo’av said to Na‘omi, “Let me go into the field and glean ears of grain behind anyone who will allow me to.” She answered her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out, arrived at the field and gleaned behind the reapers.
She happened to be in the part of the field that belonged to Bo‘az from Elimelekh’s clan, 4 when Bo‘az arrived from Beit-Lechem. He said to the reapers, “Adonai be with you”; and they answered him, “Adonai bless you.” 5 Then Bo‘az asked his servant supervising the reapers, “Whose girl is this?” 6 The servant supervising the reapers answered, “She’s a girl from Mo’av who returned with Na‘omi from the plain of Mo’av. 7 She said, ‘Please, let me glean and gather what falls from the sheaves behind the reapers.’ So she went and has kept at it from morning until now, except for a little rest in the shelter.”
8 Bo‘az said to Rut, “Did you hear that, my daughter? Don’t go to glean in another field, don’t leave this place, but stick here with my working girls. 9 Keep your eyes on whichever field the reapers are working in, and follow the girls. I’ve ordered the young men not to bother you. Whenever you get thirsty, go and drink from the water jars the young men have filled.”
10 She fell on her face, prostrating herself, and said to him, “Why are you showing me such favor? Why are you paying attention to me? After all, I’m only a foreigner.” 11 Bo‘az answered her, “I’ve heard the whole story, everything you’ve done for your mother-in-law since your husband died, including how you left your father and mother and the land you were born in to come to a people about whom you knew nothing beforehand. 12 May Adonai reward you for what you’ve done; may you be rewarded in full by Adonai the God of Isra’el, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” 13 She said, “My lord, I hope I continue pleasing you. You have comforted and encouraged me, even though I’m not one of your servants.”
14 When meal-time came, Bo‘az said to her, “Come here, have something to eat, and dip your piece of bread in the [olive oil and] vinegar.” She sat by the reapers, and they passed her some roasted grain. She ate till she was full, and she had some left over.
15 When she got up to glean, Bo‘az ordered his young men, “Let her glean even among the sheaves themselves, without making her feel ashamed. 16 In fact, pull some ears of grain out from the sheaves on purpose. Leave them for her to glean, and don’t rebuke her.” 17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. When she beat out what she had gathered, it came to about a bushel of barley.
18 She picked it up and went back to the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and Rut brought out and gave her what she had left over after eating her fill. 19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where were you working? Blessed be the one who took such good care of you!” She told her mother-in-law with whom she had been working; she said, “The name of the man with whom I was working today is Bo‘az.” 20 Na‘omi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Adonai, who has never stopped showing grace, neither to the living nor to the dead.” Na‘omi also told her, “The man is closely related to us; he’s one of our redeeming kinsmen.” 21 Rut the woman from Mo’av said, “Moreover, he even said to me, ‘Stay close to my young men until they’ve finished my harvest.’” 22 Na‘omi said to Rut her daughter-in-law, “It’s good, my daughter, for you to keep going out with his girls; so that you won’t encounter hostility in some other field.” 23 So she stayed close to Bo‘az’s girls to glean, until the end of the barley and wheat harvests; and she lived with her mother-in-law.
The Word to Live By “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his
mother and escape to Egypt” (Matthew 2:13).
Session Truth
God calls all believers to find their role and activity amidst refugees in our world.
Room at the Edges
Bonus lesson
1 IN October 2015, the world was shocked to see a young Syrian boy washed up on a Turkish shore, a victim of his refugee family’s treacherous journey from the violence in their homeland. In November, the world was shocked again as extremist French European Muslims killed 129 people in Paris and injured over 300 more. As the global refugee crisis in Europe continues to escalate, it births a
lot of questions, many fears, and much confusion. Media, both the professional conduits and sites such as Facebook, add to the overabundance of lenses used to view this issue. It becomes difficult to sort through conflicting information to get to the
truth. It may be that we are unaware of our own biases-- blinded by our own lenses and unaware of how we have been shaped by culture, politics, economics, and age, to name a few. At some point, we may have lost the ability to hear the human story in the headlines and recognize that it echoes our biblical narrative of the Jesus we love
and have committed to serve.
The lesson focus is the Ruth story--revisited through the lens with which it was written. In the process of remembering that story, we may find ourselves face to face with some forgotten details of our own history.
The desired outcome of this lesson would be for individuals to make the connection between today’s headlines and the fact that Jesus himself was a refugee, and to understand that Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer, is a metaphor for Jesus. In putting those elements together, we will find a very direct command regarding our role and 
Commentary
It can sometimes be surprising for people to make the connection that Jesus himself was a refugee. Looking at Matthew 2:13-15, we find that an angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream and commanded him to leave in the night for Egypt. In that step of obedience, Jesus and his parents became political refugees.
The first year or two of Jesus’ life were spent in a foreign land because a bloodthirsty ruler was on the throne.
In the story of Ruth, the first verse of chapter 1 tells us that Elimelech moved his wife and two sons from Judah to the country of Moab because there was a famine. Naomi and her family were economic refugees. It should also be noted that Naomi decides to return to Bethel for economic reasons. Ruth 1:6 “…the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them.”
One of the largest debates in the current refugee crisis regards economic refugees (often called “migrants”) versus political asylum seekers (usually called “refugees”). It is interesting to note that the biblical narrative addresses both groups, but we will see that the commandment for response makes no division between economics and war.
Geographically speaking, Moab was located in what is Jordan today. During the time stamp of this story, Moabite people were considered enemies of Israel and it was assumed that God himself was against this ethnic group. Moabites were born out of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughters and activity amidst refugees. If God calls us to ask ourselves honest questions about our biases, about our perceived understanding of an issue, and even about how fear drives both our perspectives and our actions, are we willing to listen?
It is easy to lose sight of the children in the debate over migration there are frequent negative references to this ethnicity in the Old Testament. In all of the following verses, Moab is portrayed negatively and with the frequent command, “Whatever you do, do not marry a Moabite woman.” (See Deuteronomy 23:3; Psalms 60:8; Isaiah 25:10; I Kings 11:1-4.)
This understanding of the strong anti-Moabite sentiment should be carried into the reading of the Ruth story. This Jewish chronicle of ancient Middle Eastern literature is full of additional clues that would have captured the attention of its audience. Time may have erased our ability to notice and appreciate them for what they were.
Names
Names carry with them symbolic meaning which should influence our
understanding of the characters in the story.
The name of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, means “to me kingship will
come.” While this may sound positive, it takes on a rather satirical or ironic flavor when he dies within the first few verses of chapter 1.
Naomi’s sons suffer a similar fate.
Kilion means “blotted out” and Mahlon means “perished from the world.”
Numbers
The number 3 is a Jewish symbolic number of wholeness. Naomi begins
her journey home as three, with Ruth and Orpah, but soon their numbers dwindle to two.
Gender and Ethnicity
Naomi is left to make her way home to Bethel with one Moabite daughterin-law.
The men have been removed from the story. There are no children
to carry on the family name. They are two widowed women walking home
through the Middle Eastern desert--a 7-day journey, an uphill climb with an elevation of 2,000 feet, and a Jordan River crossing ahead of them.
Women were considered absolutely useless, except as a source for producing the next generation. An ancient Jewish prayer, which was prayed daily, give insight into the status of women within the culture: “I thank you God, that I was not born a Gentile, a dog, or
a woman.”
Theme
The prevailing theme of the narrative is famine: Naomi left Bethel
with her husband and two sons because of a famine of food (Ruth 1:1).
She returns to Bethel with a famine of the soul (Ruth 1:20). She has no sons, no grandchildren, and thus, no way of providing for herself or for Ruth. She has no hope for a future.
The author of the Ruth narrative from the Story ensures that this serious condition of the two women is fully understood:
• Naomi enters the Bethel gates and says, “Call me Mara, which means bitterness, for I am no longer Naomi, which means pleasantness, because the hand of God is against me” (Ruth 1:20).
• By the end of chapter 1, God’s hand has gone against every Jewish
man in the story.
• By the end of chapter 1, God’s hand is even against the Jewish woman, Naomi.
• The author leaves the narrative with only one hope--a Moabite woman.
It is also interesting to note that the book of Ruth is the only book of the Bible that is named after a Gentile--from an ethnicity that God presumably hates, or at least makes clear that there should be no mixing of blood lines.
Setting The women return to Naomi’s Jewish home during the fall festival of Shavaut, which was the barley harvest.
Later on in history, King David will both be born and die during this same festival. During the festival, there was a celebration called “the Mitzvah of Leket,” which meant “the poor will glean.”
Plot
God’s provision for Naomi and Ruth is accomplished through the
ingenuity of Naomi, the obedience of Ruth, and the intervention of Boaz, who is their kinsman-redeemer. Ultimately, Boaz is a symbolic character of Jesus, who is our Kinsman-Redeemer.
In chapter 2, Boaz instructs his servants not to harm Ruth, to leave
room at the edges of the field for her to glean, and they are to go a step further and pull some of the barley that has already been harvested and  prepared and drop it on the ground for her (Ruth 2:15). At this point, those entering the story should be asking, “Who are the servants?” The answer is rather obvious.
Narrative Conclusion 
The conclusion of the Ruth narrative accomplishes the following:
• It establishes that hope for the widow, the most vulnerable in society must come ultimately through the kinsman-redeemer. The Kinsman-Redeemer (Jesus) intends to accomplish this through his servants.
• It establishes that the people of Yahweh have an active responsibility for the vulnerable amongst them, even those from an ethnic context that are considered political and/or religious
enemies of Israel’s God.
• It establishes that a new kingdom has been born in the midst of a
famine that is economic, political, and social. The Davidic kingdom is ushered in by the union of Ruth and Boaz.
And the birth of Christ comes through the line of David. The following point should be not only noted but explored and emphasized--not only does Ruth contribute Moabite blood into the royal bloodline, but the mother of Boaz is none other than Rahab, the harlot.
For an ancient Jewish audience, this narrative is politically radical, ethnically scandalous, and socially disturbing. It is also a clear directive about how we are to treat the foreigner, the migrant, the religiously different, and the enemy amongst us. The Mitzvah of Leket is for every kind of poverty and it is through
God’s people that the provision for the celebration comes. Indeed, the poor will glean as the servants leave room at the edges of their lives. Not only that, but the servants are told to disrupt the order
that they have already established in the harvest, they are to pull some out from the bundles they have already prepared and leave it at the edges. This is not only radical for the ancient hearers, but it
also a radical call to obedience in the 21st century.
Thoughts on the Refugee Crisis in Europe
The trickle of Middle Eastern refugees into Europe became a tidal wave when German Prime Minister Angela Merkel issued a statement in August that Germany would make room for Middle Eastern asylum seekers. That invitation was heard Message left on a wall in Keleti Train station, Hungary  by war-ravaged Syrians, by Afghanis living under the rule of the Taliban, by Iraqis, by Kurdish Christians, by Pakistanis, and by North Africans. Each of these people groups were existing in situations that were socially, politically, religiously, and ethnically volatile. There were many Syrians who were already living in camps in Turkey, having fled as ISIS (ISIL) gained power in their country (since 2008). Contrary to what the North American news media has sometimes reported, the neighboring Arab countries have already absorbed large numbers of refugees prior to Merkel’s
statement in August.
In August and September 2015, a human tide of refugees, both political and economic, has turned Eastern Europe into a transit zone to Western Europe.
Most have an ultimate destination of Germany, but other favored destinations are Sweden and Denmark.
The sheer numbers of people have led to questions about the import of radical Islam, about the differences between politically versus economically motivated immigration, and about the response of Christians and the Church.
In the current crisis, the pressure upon the European church to respond has created waves of fear and a variety of reactions. Picking up a political lens, an economic lens, or even a historicalreligious lens can bring a variety of issues into focus.
A Story
The first Middle Eastern refugee that I ever interviewed was at Keleti train station in Budapest, Hungary. I approached two young girls in their twenties, told them my name, and asked them theirs. They were hesitant with their English, but responded. The young man with them offered to translate as I asked them questions about their homeland and their destination country.
“How long have you been traveling from Syria?” I asked.
The young man motioned to the girl beside him, “We were married 28 days ago, so we have been traveling 25 days.”
Finding a way in the rain
“You are newlyweds?” I cried, incredulously. “Then why did you leave Syria?”
He shrugged, “Well, I received a letter saying that I was to report for the military. I have friends fighting for the military and friends fighting on the other side. Honestly, which side should I fight on? There is no good side. And, I don’t want to kill anybody and I don’t want to be killed.”
Whether it is a newlywed or a single, young man, or a twenty-something father, the answers often lead to a desire to live in peace and a feeling that there is no way to attain that in their home country.
One young man received the military letter the day after his birthday. In twelve hours, he made the decision to leave and said goodbye--“I have no desire to kill anyone. I want a life of peace.”
What happens when we use a Christian lens to view the current refugee crisis?
If the directive from Boaz to his servants encompasses a command from our KinsmanRedeemer, Jesus, then this becomes a question of obedience. To leave room at the edges, to help rather than harm the foreigner, and to actually disrupt the neat and tidy details of our
lives must produce visible mobilization and activity within the context of the current crisis.
It also introduces the concept that the coming kingdom is not a neat, tidy, and faultless bloodline of one nation or even one ethnicity. Because of both Ruth and Boaz, the ancestry of Jesus includes Moabite blood and the history of the prostitute, Rahab. From our adoption into the family of Christ, each of us carries the DNA of the refugee, the foreigner, the prostitute.
Ultimately, the central stumbling block for most Westerners is founded in the fact that the majority of the refugees are from a Middle Eastern Muslim context. For centuries, there has been an uneasy demarcation between Muslim and Christian lands and that boundary has maintained a tenuous peace. Suddenly, that line is being erased as hundreds of thousands of Muslims flood the “Christian” west and this produces fear. The questions before us: What do we, as believers, do with our fear of the other, the foreigner, even the enemy? And, out of what source do we make decisions about our response to this issue--out of our fear or out of our faith?
A. Discovering Our 21st Century Issues in the Biblical Narrative.
1. Divide the group into two or more. Assign one of the two scripture readings to eachgroup: Matthew 2:13-15 or Ruth 2.
2. Each group should answer the following questions:
• How, or in what ways, does the story of the main character(s) mirror the current refugee crisis?
• For what reasons does the text give for the character’s departure from their homeland?
After groups have read, discussed, and wrestled with their text, have them report their findings back to the whole group.
Read Matthew 25:41-43 and ask, Knowing that Jesus began his life as a refugee, how might that influence his words or the heart of this message?
B. Finding Clues.
1. Give a short presentation on some of the general clues in the story of Ruth (plot, setting, theme, numbers, names, gender/ethnicity). Have small groups work together to find how the
clues reveal something deeper in the text.
After they share their findings, ask them to consider, What instructions does Boaz give to the servants?
Follow their answers with a reminder that Boaz is a metaphor for Christ, who is our KinsmanRedeemer.
Then ask, Who are the servants to whom the kinsman-redeemer gives instructions?
Finally, in light of the refugee crisis, the enemy at the gate, the helpless, the homeless, and the vulnerable amongst us, what is the clear commandment? What does room at the edges, and pulling from the center of your harvest look like in practical terms?
C. Facing Our Fears.
1. Make a list of the ways that the current refugee crisis creates fear for the west.
2. Now make a list of the fears that would lead to making a decision to leave your home country as a refugee (they can be economic and political in nature).
3. Finally, make a list of fears that you might have as you travelled to your new destination.
4. Looking at the fears side by side, do they offer any insights?
5. Explore what the Scripture says about fear in the life of a Christian.
6. Spend some time praying for list 2 and 3, which were made with the refugees in mind.[by TEANNA SUNBERG is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. She lives in Budapest, Hungary with her husband, Jay Sunberg and 4 daughters. Her area of study and emphasis is missiology - she is a writer and a lecturer, and blogs at centraleuropenaz.org]
D. Take Away.
1. Both the Matthew and Ruth narratives deal with the issue of refugees in economic and political terms. The Bible is not silent on this issue, but is very clear: the Christian response is always one of mercy. There is no other option.
2. Individuals will wrestle with how much fear plays a part in their decision making when it comes to their response to the current refugee crisis. They should make the connection that fear, while natural, should not have a place in the life of a Christian. In this situation, as with any other, making a decision that is based or motivated out of fear is never wise.
3. Individuals should leave asking themselves,
• What are the practical ways that I can leave room at the edges of my life for vulnerable people?
• What does it mean for me to pull something out of the neat, well-ordered, planned safety of my harvest and give it away to the vulnerable?
4. The recent attacks in Paris, France, Europe and San Bernadino, California, United States have made us even more keenly aware of the threat terrorists pose in our world. With tens of thousands of these refugees pouring out of countries where these terrorist groups reside, many feel we should be very selective of how we offer
help to these people—the vast majority of whom are not part of a terrorist organization.
• In what ways might recent events affect the way we treat refugees in our world? In our community? In our church?
• Despite recent events, in what ways can we be the hands and feet of Christ in response to the refugee crisis in our world?
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Compassionate Churches:
Caring for Those in Crisis in Beirut and Beyond
As hundreds of thousands of refugees made their way toward Europe this fall, experts called it the largest refugee crisis since World War II. It’s not a crisis simply because Europe didn’t have the infrastructure to support a sudden influx of people, though. It’s a crisis because hundreds of thousands of people, each with a story of
loss, are on a desperate journey to seek safety and an opportunity to live with dignity.
Throughout the crisis, local Nazarene churches have been ministering to refugees in their communities. In the Middle East, this work began more than four years ago when the war in Syria began. More than 4 million people left Syria, mostly landing in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.
In Lebanon and Jordan, Nazarene churches have been ministering tirelessly to refugee children and families. These are not wealthy churches, but they have generously given what they have.
Through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Danil* received a scholarship to a Nazarene school in Beirut, Lebanon — his only opportunity for education because his parents could not afford it. When extremist militants attacked his hometown, Danil’s family--like most Christians in his town--witnessed terrifying persecution firsthand and quickly fled.
When he arrived in Lebanon around Christmas, the boy was exhibiting responses that suggested post-traumatic stress disorder. A camera’s flash sent him into a trembling fetal position, and he wouldn’t
talk to anyone for the first few months. By the end of the school year, though, he was opening up. He seemed to be searching for a sense of safety, and he found that through a Nazarene school willing to open its doors.
Danil in the safety of his school in Lebanon 
To learn more about the church’s compassionate work with refugee families, visit ncm.org/refugees.
Using the link below, see other stories of how Nazarene churches are ministering to families like Danil’s.
*Not his real name
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Olathe, Kansas

JFHP announces Christmas outreach special

Individuals and churches can reach out to neighbors, acquaintances, and friends this Christmas with theJESUS DVD in their own language. Through this DVD, you can ensure no cultural difference or language barriers stand in the way of everyone hearing the story of Jesus. Give the gift that carries the potential to lead those around you and their families to a decision to give their lives to Christ! With a DVD including up to 24 languages for only $1 each, you can truly give the story of Jesus to everyone you know. Make sure this is the Christmas that no one is left off your list and help welcome every nation into His Kingdom.
Two video options are available.
The JESUS DVD – American Immigrant Languages features the JESUS film in eight languages: Arabic, English, French, Farsi (Persian), Mandarin, Spanish (Latin American), Tagalog, and Vietnamese. It is also subtitled in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish, and Vietnamese. As an added bonus, The Story of Jesus for Children is also included in the same languages, subtitled in English.
The Story of Jesus Through the Eyes of Children DVD is in 24 languages: Arabic, Cantonese, English, Farsi (Persian), French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish (Latin American), Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese and is also subtitled in English.
To learn more and see pricing, click here.
For distribution ideas or to share stories, videos, and written reports from your outreach with JESUS Film Harvest Partners® and The JESUS Film Project®, email drobbins@JFHP.org or send mail to:
JESUS Film Harvest Partners
Attn: Diane Robbins
15055 West 116th Street
Olathe, Kansas 66220, United States[JESUS Film Harvest Partners]
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