The Global Church of the Nazarene News from Lenexa, Kansas, United States: "Toler undergoes treatment for cancer" The Global Church of the Nazarene Communication Network News "This week in the Church of the Nazarene..." Volume 1638 for Friday, 23 September 2016
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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Toler undergoes treatment for cancer
General Superintendent Emeritus Stan Toler was recently diagnosed with cancer and began treatment this week.
The family posted the following statement on Toler's Facebook page:
The family posted the following statement on Toler's Facebook page:
Stan and Linda Toler were supported by their family as Stan began a series of chemotherapy treatments for bile duct cancer [September 20]. Following the treatments, a timeline for surgery will be decided. Stan remains positive and confident in his faith.
Dr. Toler’s fall speaking schedule has been rearranged. Updates on his progress will be posted on this page. His church family and friends worldwide are asked to pray for his complete healing according to James 5:14-15. Toler is the founding, executive director of the Resource Center for Pastoral Leadership at Southern Nazarene University. He was elected a general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene at the 2009 General Assembly and Conventions in Orlando, Florida, and served in the position four years. He was awarded emeritus status in 2013. Toler previously served as a pastor for more than 40 years in Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Toler has written more than 100 books, which have sold more than 3 million copies.
He and his wife, Linda, an educator, have two married sons, Seth (Marcy) and Adam (Amanda), and five grandchildren.Read more
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Eurasia Region
Vision 2020: CIS Field embraces challenge to double in 15 years
The Commonwealth of Independent States Field is preparing to double in churches, membership, and countries, starting with 16 new churches by the year 2020.What would it look like to double the number of Nazarene churches in the CIS Field (Commonwealth of Independent States) in the next 15 years?
So far, it’s looking like families moving into cities and countries where the denomination does not yet have a presence, and in some cases drawing on the experience and insights of other churches and groups who have already been at work there for a long time.
20-20 vision
In 2015, the denomination’s six general superintendents met with Nazarene field strategy coordinators from around the world and, during one session, presented statistics that demonstrated the denomination has doubled in size every 15 years since it was first organized more than a century ago.
“What would it look like if we’re doubled by 2030?” asked Jerry Porter, general superintendent. Field Strategy Coordinator Scott Rainey remembers Porter then pointing out that, in some areas of the world, the Nazarene church is expanding well ahead of that pace. That’s when Porter threw out a challenge: “What if we doubled in five years – by 2020?”
Rainey had been sitting there with a pencil, writing down figures for what the CIS Field would look like with double the number of current churches. It would go from 44 local congregations to 88 and from more than 1,500 attendees to more than 3,000. Currently, there are Nazarene churches in six countries in the CIS; Rainey thought about expanding to be present in a total of 12 countries.
Just the year before, when Rainey had stepped into leadership for CIS, he met with the district superintendents and learned that the youngest church had been planted seven years before. But the leaders expressed a strong desire to grow again.
Rainey returned to his field after hearing about Vision 2020 and met with the leaders again.
“We prayed, we talked; I had them begin to pinpoint where they think we could be in their district in terms of numbers: attendance, membership, number of churches, and number of countries that we’re in. These were the categories of particular interest to me.
“I asked them to make faith projections for their district: By faith where do they see us by 2030? I was shocked at how close their added faith projections were to the ones for the field. We were looking at doubling in size – by faith – in 15 years, which basically says this to me: we don’t want the fast-growing places in the world to make up for our lack of growth.”
Their short-term goal was to add 16 churches by 2020, starting with four new churches in the first year.
God going before
And, it’s happening. In some ways, it seems God was orchestrating all of this before Rainey ever heard about 2020. Four families were already sensing that God was calling them into pioneer places to plant churches.
Hard soil
Behind all of these developments is the shadow of restrictive government legislation in several CIS countries, which limits evangelism to very specific settings and contexts and makes it difficult to register the church in new areas.
“This is going to happen because of hard work and total commitment," Davide Cantarella said. "I think it’s a reality that the doubling of churches can happen [but] it will take a commitment that maybe has not been there before.”
Rainey and Cantarella described how, in the first 20 years of religious freedom after the Communist government collapsed across the former Soviet Union, people were fascinated with Christianity, and any church that was opened flourished and grew.
“We have enjoyed incredible freedom, but also a rising in materialism and a lack of interest in any religious message,” Cantarella said.
As a result, several countries have been tightening their control over religious activity. When meeting with established Christian leaders in one of the new countries to find out what they knew about ministry there, Rainey said the leaders were very glad to have the partnership of another Christian denomination but were honest about the difficulty of working there.
Rainey recalls the local leaders said: “We’ve been praying and we sense that something new is happening in [our country], and your coming is like evidence that God is starting something fresh here and we welcome you. We’ll work with you.”
Yet one of the national Christian leaders cautioned, “In 1994, soon after the fall of the Soviet Union, we worked really hard to plant churches in [our country] and in that year we planted 30 churches. And this year, in 2015, we worked really hard to plant churches, just as hard as we did in 1994, and we planted one church.”
Rainey believes the Church of the Nazarene in the CIS Field will embrace the challenge.
“Once people see their leaders doing this – the commitment and perseverance to make steps to plant new cities and churches – I believe local churches will begin to get that passion again,” Rainey said. “People will begin to be bold. They’ll say, ‘Why don’t our group of 10 people start trying to plant a church?’ We hope this will become a church planting movement. We could far exceed our goal.”[Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region]
The Commonwealth of Independent States Field is preparing to double in churches, membership, and countries, starting with 16 new churches by the year 2020.What would it look like to double the number of Nazarene churches in the CIS Field (Commonwealth of Independent States) in the next 15 years?
So far, it’s looking like families moving into cities and countries where the denomination does not yet have a presence, and in some cases drawing on the experience and insights of other churches and groups who have already been at work there for a long time.
20-20 vision
In 2015, the denomination’s six general superintendents met with Nazarene field strategy coordinators from around the world and, during one session, presented statistics that demonstrated the denomination has doubled in size every 15 years since it was first organized more than a century ago.
“What would it look like if we’re doubled by 2030?” asked Jerry Porter, general superintendent. Field Strategy Coordinator Scott Rainey remembers Porter then pointing out that, in some areas of the world, the Nazarene church is expanding well ahead of that pace. That’s when Porter threw out a challenge: “What if we doubled in five years – by 2020?”
Rainey had been sitting there with a pencil, writing down figures for what the CIS Field would look like with double the number of current churches. It would go from 44 local congregations to 88 and from more than 1,500 attendees to more than 3,000. Currently, there are Nazarene churches in six countries in the CIS; Rainey thought about expanding to be present in a total of 12 countries.
Just the year before, when Rainey had stepped into leadership for CIS, he met with the district superintendents and learned that the youngest church had been planted seven years before. But the leaders expressed a strong desire to grow again.
Rainey returned to his field after hearing about Vision 2020 and met with the leaders again.
“We prayed, we talked; I had them begin to pinpoint where they think we could be in their district in terms of numbers: attendance, membership, number of churches, and number of countries that we’re in. These were the categories of particular interest to me.
“I asked them to make faith projections for their district: By faith where do they see us by 2030? I was shocked at how close their added faith projections were to the ones for the field. We were looking at doubling in size – by faith – in 15 years, which basically says this to me: we don’t want the fast-growing places in the world to make up for our lack of growth.”
Their short-term goal was to add 16 churches by 2020, starting with four new churches in the first year.
God going before
And, it’s happening. In some ways, it seems God was orchestrating all of this before Rainey ever heard about 2020. Four families were already sensing that God was calling them into pioneer places to plant churches.
- Ukrainian family Oleg and Ira Kuz felt God was leading them to plant a church in L’viv, in the western part of Ukraine where there is no Nazarene church. Rainey and his family also sensed a burden to be involved in church planting, and at the Kuz’s invitation agreed to relocate and partner with them in the endeavor.
- Davide and Tatiana Cantarella, long-time leaders in Moscow, Russia, and throughout the CIS through theological education, had been feeling drawn to a new country where the Church of the Nazarene has no presence. Through an exploratory trip and numerous meetings with Christian leaders there, their family is now planning to relocate in January 2017.
- Another couple has relocated this summer to a sensitive area in the CIS to begin developing relationships and support local believers with the hope of starting Nazarene work in their new city.
- On the other side of Russia, a South Korean family is moving to Vladivostok, where they felt God was calling them to plant a church. Additionally, field leaders have chosen two locations to plant churches in 2017: Chisinau, Moldova, to start a Romanian-speaking congregation; and Georgia, where a couple from outside the Eurasia Region has agreed to establish Nazarene presence.
Hard soil
Behind all of these developments is the shadow of restrictive government legislation in several CIS countries, which limits evangelism to very specific settings and contexts and makes it difficult to register the church in new areas.
“This is going to happen because of hard work and total commitment," Davide Cantarella said. "I think it’s a reality that the doubling of churches can happen [but] it will take a commitment that maybe has not been there before.”
Rainey and Cantarella described how, in the first 20 years of religious freedom after the Communist government collapsed across the former Soviet Union, people were fascinated with Christianity, and any church that was opened flourished and grew.
“We have enjoyed incredible freedom, but also a rising in materialism and a lack of interest in any religious message,” Cantarella said.
As a result, several countries have been tightening their control over religious activity. When meeting with established Christian leaders in one of the new countries to find out what they knew about ministry there, Rainey said the leaders were very glad to have the partnership of another Christian denomination but were honest about the difficulty of working there.
Rainey recalls the local leaders said: “We’ve been praying and we sense that something new is happening in [our country], and your coming is like evidence that God is starting something fresh here and we welcome you. We’ll work with you.”
Yet one of the national Christian leaders cautioned, “In 1994, soon after the fall of the Soviet Union, we worked really hard to plant churches in [our country] and in that year we planted 30 churches. And this year, in 2015, we worked really hard to plant churches, just as hard as we did in 1994, and we planted one church.”
Rainey believes the Church of the Nazarene in the CIS Field will embrace the challenge.
“Once people see their leaders doing this – the commitment and perseverance to make steps to plant new cities and churches – I believe local churches will begin to get that passion again,” Rainey said. “People will begin to be bold. They’ll say, ‘Why don’t our group of 10 people start trying to plant a church?’ We hope this will become a church planting movement. We could far exceed our goal.”[Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region]
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Kyiv, Ukraine
Running for refugees: Nazarenes partner to fund education for Syrian children
On a warm morning in April, more than 2,500 kilometers away from Beirut, Lebanon, a handful of Nazarenes from Germany, Bulgaria, Moldova, Russia, the USA, and Ukraine joined 15,000 participants at the ‘START’ line of a track in Kyiv, Ukraine. Despite their diversity, the Nazarenes shared one common goal — they were running to raise US$7,000 for the Agape Table Project, which provides hot meals to the children of the Beirut Nazarene School. The group surpassed their goal, raising $9,000 for the project.
The 50 children who attend the Beirut Nazarene school belong to refugee families from the civil war in Syria. Because of their refugee status, they cannot attend a Lebanese school. To minister to children traumatized by their war-torn past, the Nazarene church in Beirut has been providing school and meals for the children over the past year. In October 2015, the ministry was running out of funds. Pastor Andrew Salameh was struggling with the reality that he would have to tell teachers, children, and parents that the doors of the school were closing. In the very midst of those dark moments, an email arrived, bringing hope.
Tanya Cantarella, a Nazarene pastor in Russia, contacted Pastor Salameh with the idea of having a team of Nazarenes that would run in a Kyiv half-marathon to raise funds. She committed that all monies raised would go to Agape Table. It was a lifeline for the Beirut school.
Running for a reasonLast November, sitting together at Eurasia Regional Conference, the Cantarella and Sukanen families, both serving in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Field, began to discuss an idea. Less than six months from that night, Kyiv was scheduled to host a marathon. What if the families would commit to run in the event together? Everyone at the table was willing except for Tanya’s husband, Davide. Running in an organized race was not an activity that he would do for recreation alone. The question was posed to Davide, “What cause would be important enough for you to run?”
He responded, “I would run if it helped Syrian refugee children.” Inspired by that answer, the Nazarene runners joined together to raise money for the Agape Table Project. It was at the same conference that Tanya found one of the key members of the running team: Cindy Phelps, who is serving with her husband, Dick, in Varna, Bulgaria. Now in retirement, the Phelpses have made a home as Mission Corps volunteers in Bulgaria’s seaside city.
Soon, the team of runners was well on its way to meeting their projected goal and the group of runners was growing in numbers and diversity. Tanya connected with friends and colleagues to raise awareness of the refugee situation. As she and her Italian husband, Davide, trained for the marathon during Moscow’s harsh winter. Neither the snow, nor ice, nor sickness managed to stop the couple, who are also parents, from training. The Sukanens, Mission Corps volunteers in Moldova, organized logistics for the team.
Team effortMeanwhile, the Phelpses in Varna were getting the word out to friends in the U.S., hoping to stir hearts. Cindy, a child psychologist for 30 years, knew that research demonstrates children cannot learn without proper nutrition. Phelps said the Agape Table Project is an example of the church going back to the roots of Christianity by providing for the social needs of their society. When the day of the race dawned, there were 16 Nazarenes runners amid the 15,000 participants competing in the race. As a team, they were a large presence showing their unity and cause with matching shirts that said “AGAPE TABLE PROJEKT.”
The team was well supported on the sidelines by CIS Field Strategy Coordinator Scott Rainey, his wife Jenni, and their two daughters; Linda Russell from the CIS; Pastor Vladimir and Sylvia Masyuk, and Phelps’s husband, Dick. Moldova church planter Sergey Talalai, who is Ukrainian, brought his Moldovan youth group to Kyiv to be a part of the event.
When asked why she chose to participate in the Kyiv marathon, Phelps said, “Everybody can do something; you just have to have the desire in your heart.”
As the day of races came to a close, weary but elated athletes came together for a celebratory ceremony and the Nazarene team received a baton for participating. Addressing the crowd, Kyle Sukanen spoke for the group, “We did our part of the race, now we pass the baton to the people in Beirut. Continue the race.”[Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region]
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Politics and Jesus: Our Prophet, Priest, and King by Shawna Songer Gaines for Holiness Today
This morning my sleepy little coffee shop is abuzz with chatter about a big political speech given last night. Eavesdropping on the conversations at tables around me becomes my “water-cooler” perspective on recent events.A circle of retired gentlemen solve the problems of the world one expresso at a time. A father and daughter trade policy positions, and life, over steamy cups of something sweet. And a group of women with open Bibles talk about how their faith impacts their politics.
I can’t help but take in the jumble of stories all around me. Each group weaves together various bits of their life in conversation with one another. But there is one common thread through each story: politics and politicians.
Reading quickly through 2 Kings, you will find stories that at first glance seem as random as my jumble of coffee shop conversations. Stories are there of prophets speaking the word of the Lord, kings fumbling the political ball, women arguing over their sons, nations positioning themselves with and against one another, priests attending to the needs of the temple, little slave girls with a curious perspective—typical ancient world water-cooler conversations.
For the rest of the article, see Holiness Today.
Politics and Jesus, Our Prophet, Priest, and King by Shawna Songer Gaines
Jesus calls the church to be engaged in the political arena.
This morning my sleepy little coffee shop is abuzz with chatter about a big political speech given last night. Eavesdropping on the conversations at tables around me becomes my “water-cooler” perspective on recent events.A circle of retired gentlemen solve the problems of the world one expresso at a time. A father and daughter trade policy positions, and life, over steamy cups of something sweet. And a group of women with open Bibles talk about how their faith impacts their politics.
I can’t help but take in the jumble of stories all around me. Each group weaves together various bits of their life in conversation with one another. But there is one common thread through each story: politics and politicians.
Reading quickly through 2 Kings, you will find stories that at first glance seem as random as my jumble of coffee shop conversations. Stories are there of prophets speaking the word of the Lord, kings fumbling the political ball, women arguing over their sons, nations positioning themselves with and against one another, priests attending to the needs of the temple, little slave girls with a curious perspective—typical ancient world water-cooler conversations.
When you read these stories, it is tempting to assume the main story line is about the kings, the political leaders of their time, and the rest of the stories are subplots. After all, the book is about kings, isn’t it?
My husband and co-pastor, Tim, and I preached through the book of 2 Kings during a particularly heated political season a few years ago. When we first selected this book, we also assumed that it would be a timely conversation partner because of its focus on the people with the power: kings.
But what we and our congregation uncovered was the challenging and often strained relationship between prophet, priest, and king. Each character had an important role to play in leading God’s people and each one needed the other.
The prophet is the one who brings the word of the Lord. Throughout Scripture, and especially in 2 Kings, we find that the word of the Lord is not always welcome in places of power, like the palaces of kings. Just ask Elisha after his confrontation with Jezebel! The role of the prophet is to confront the king (the power-holder) with the limit of his or her position and the overwhelming authority of God.
The priest is one who mediates the covenant between a holy God and a people made holy by God’s grace alone. The mere presence of the priest is an uncomfortable reminder that we are sinners in need of grace. The priest is also the one who anoints the King from among the people, giving him the authority to rule and instructing him in the ways of the Lord. During the reign of wicked kings, priests largely fall out of the conversation, but when kings “do what is right in the eyes of the Lord,” suddenly priests reappear in the narrative.
The king is one anointed by the priest as a servant of the Lord to govern the people and receive God’s protection. They must execute law and rule with authority, but they do so as a servant who acts under the authority of the Most High King. Ideally, the king gives ear to the prophet and works in coordination with the priests to lead God’s people and navigate tenuous relationships among the nations.
An ideal relationship between prophet, priest, and king is never fully realized in the book of 2 Kings, primarily because the kings refuse to listen to the prophets and priests. Kings want to believe that they are the main characters in the story and everyone else is just the supporting cast.
But let’s give kings and political rulers a break. The fault is not theirs alone. We talk, live, and worry as though the history of the world rises and falls on their shoulders. Even our coffee shop conversations reflect it: the single thing that unites our random stories and subplots is one’s nation and the people who rule over it.
Jesus: Prophet, Priest, and King
Christians have often struggled with the role of the church in political life. Often, we think that the church has two options: 1) Propping up broken political systems and throwing ourselves completely behind one person or political agenda or, 2) Tending only to “souls” and avoiding politics and any other subject that meddles in the messy and tangible stuff of life.
The first option is what happens when the people of God forget the role of the prophet. The second option is what happens when we forget the role of priest and the means of grace in God’s world.
Where can we find a model of prophet, priest, and king working in harmony and reflecting God’s kingdom? No nation today is quite like ancient Israel. Today, God’s people are spread throughout every country, speaking every language, worshiping in great diversity and supporting any number of political systems and parties around the world. There is no one king, one prophet, one priest. But the model of prophet, priest, and king is still critical for understanding our engagement in the political process of any nation.
As Christians, we recognize that the role of prophet, priest, and king find their ultimate fulfilment in one person: Jesus Christ. Jesus is our prophet, priest, and king.
As prophet, He announces the word of the Lord in His very life because He is the Word Made Flesh. As priest, He mediates a new covenant in which God’s people are made holy in the blood of the lamb by the Lamb that was slain. As king, He has authority to rule and reign over God’s people because He is God with us.
The work of prophesying and priesting and even kinging is all done in the shadow of Christ who fills all three offices and whatever space there may be between those offices. Because we believe that Christ is coming again to bring about God’s reign with perfect harmony, the work we do right now to proclaim the word of God, mediate the grace of God and engage the processes of governing the children of God ought to bear witness to this future reality.
We have work to do
But what does this mean for Christians living a big jumbled-up story, balancing faith, family, church, work, and figuring out where politics fits in the mix? It means we have work to do.
* We must do the prophetic work of speaking truth to power, even when kings fail to listen, because Christ is the Word that changes everything.
* We can do the priestly work of mediating grace in tangible ways that are more real than any law, election, or foreign policy agenda because in Christ, grace flooded our world.
* We can do the royal work of governing without fear or anxiety when we participate in the political systems of our nations, even as kingdoms rise and fall, because Christ is our king and His reign has no end.
This work is too big for any one individual. We must work together to discern when and how the holy people of God need to be engaged in prophetic, priestly, and political work, open to truly hear from one another and be challenged to seek more faithfully after the prophet, priest, and king, Jesus Christ. The reality of Christ as prophet, priest, and king means that Christians can and should talk about politics.
In those conversations Christians will disagree with one another. But even those disagreements can be undertaken in holiness when we recognize that our political perspectives are not meant to make ourselves the main character of the story, but to spur one another to a deeper faithfulness to the One who is.
After all, neither we nor the “kings” that govern us are the main characters of this story. We can disagree as we discern together because our words, prayers, and policies are called to be submissions to, and reflections of Jesus Christ who is—
Prophet and Word. Priest and Covenant. King and God.[Shawna Songer Gaines is a pastor and author living in Nashville. She and husband, Tim Gaines, recently published Kings and Presidents: Politics in the Kingdom of God through Beacon Hill Press.]
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Nazarenes in East Africa train, equip refugees for ministry by Michelle Lane for Engage magazine
As more than half a million refugees seek shelter throughout northeastern Africa, longtime Nazarene missionaries Gabor* and Tafui* Buhari are employing innovative ways to serve them: radio broadcast, training in handicrafts, and reuniting separated family members.
One of the tools they have found most effective is radio ministry. Through radio, Gabor, Tafui, and their partners are reaching areas near and far, especially those they cannot easily or safely travel to. Nazarene in East Africa transmit radio programs through World Mission Broadcast in 11 native languages, reaching thousands of listeners every week. Counterintuitively, the radio programs that are broadcast to camps made up of refugees and local communities from other faith groups do not include explicit gospel messages. There is a lack of openness to Christianity among these groups. Instead, programs cover subjects like reconciliation, peace, hope, love, public hygiene, relationships, family, and marriage. Through these neutral topics, the people find many needs met, and every message brings them God’s comfort.
“They’re scared,” Gabor explains. “They lack peace, so we talk about peace. They lack love; we talk about love. They lack hope; we talk about hope.”
For the rest of the story, see Engage magazine.
*Names changed for security reasons
Nazarenes in East Africa train and equip refugees for ministry by Michelle McLane
As more than half a million refugees seek shelter throughout northeastern Africa, longtime Nazarene missionaries Gabor* and Tafui* Buhari are employing innovative ways to serve them: radio broadcast, training in handicrafts, and reuniting separated family members.
Refugee internet radio
One of the tools they have found most effective is radio ministry. Through radio, Gabor, Tafui, and their partners are reaching areas near and far, especially those they cannot easily or safely travel to. Nazarene in East Africa transmit radio programs through World Mission Broadcast in 11 native languages, reaching thousands of listeners every week. Counterintuitively, the radio programs that are broadcast to camps made up of refugees and local communities from other faith groups do not include explicit gospel messages. There is a lack of openness to Christianity among these groups. Instead, programs cover subjects like reconciliation, peace, hope, love, public hygiene, relationships, family and marriage. Through these neutral topics, the people find many needs met, and every message brings them God’s comfort.
“They’re scared,” Gabor explains. “They lack peace, so we talk about peace. They lack love; talk about love. They lack hope; we talk about hope.”
As more than half a million refugees seek shelter throughout northeastern Africa, longtime Nazarene missionaries Gabor* and Tafui* Buhari are employing innovative ways to serve them: radio broadcast, training in handicrafts, and reuniting separated family members.
One of the tools they have found most effective is radio ministry. Through radio, Gabor, Tafui, and their partners are reaching areas near and far, especially those they cannot easily or safely travel to. Nazarene in East Africa transmit radio programs through World Mission Broadcast in 11 native languages, reaching thousands of listeners every week. Counterintuitively, the radio programs that are broadcast to camps made up of refugees and local communities from other faith groups do not include explicit gospel messages. There is a lack of openness to Christianity among these groups. Instead, programs cover subjects like reconciliation, peace, hope, love, public hygiene, relationships, family, and marriage. Through these neutral topics, the people find many needs met, and every message brings them God’s comfort.
“They’re scared,” Gabor explains. “They lack peace, so we talk about peace. They lack love; we talk about love. They lack hope; we talk about hope.”
For the rest of the story, see Engage magazine.
*Names changed for security reasons
Nazarenes in East Africa train and equip refugees for ministry by Michelle McLane
As more than half a million refugees seek shelter throughout northeastern Africa, longtime Nazarene missionaries Gabor* and Tafui* Buhari are employing innovative ways to serve them: radio broadcast, training in handicrafts, and reuniting separated family members.
Refugee internet radio
One of the tools they have found most effective is radio ministry. Through radio, Gabor, Tafui, and their partners are reaching areas near and far, especially those they cannot easily or safely travel to. Nazarene in East Africa transmit radio programs through World Mission Broadcast in 11 native languages, reaching thousands of listeners every week. Counterintuitively, the radio programs that are broadcast to camps made up of refugees and local communities from other faith groups do not include explicit gospel messages. There is a lack of openness to Christianity among these groups. Instead, programs cover subjects like reconciliation, peace, hope, love, public hygiene, relationships, family and marriage. Through these neutral topics, the people find many needs met, and every message brings them God’s comfort.
“They’re scared,” Gabor explains. “They lack peace, so we talk about peace. They lack love; talk about love. They lack hope; we talk about hope.”
In fact, refugees have been so deeply touched by the love of Christ through Nazarene radio that they now run many of the radio programs produced, writing and recording programs to reach their communities. Sixty to 65 programs are created every three months. These are posted to the Africa East Field isoundcloud.com website and Facebook, and pastors are encouraged to download and broadcast the programs in their local areas.Providing security
Ministry to refugees in east Africa reaches well beyond radio. The physical needs within the refugee camps are overwhelming. There are constant requests for food, material resources, and help finding separated loved ones.
When Tafui met refugee women and children from the camps, she was struck by the complex issues that brought suffering to their everyday lives.
“I found that women refugees and the children are more affected by their [lack of] security,” Tafui said.
Young women are targets for human trafficking and refugee children often go without basic education.
“They are suffering lack of enough resources, lack of security in their home area. They’re raped, they’re trafficked…. So, I spent time with some of them. They shared their struggle. They shared their challenge. They shared their suffering.”
Seeing their needs, Tafui began praying. She discussed the problems with church leaders, refugee leaders, and United Nations Refugee Agency local leaders. In the cultures of northeast Africa, women are viewed as responsible to provide for the well-being of the family unit. These women needed to feel the encouragement of being useful and productive. Through help from a professional beads worker in Central Church Refugee French congregation, they started the bead working group “Trainers Training.”
In doing bead work, the women find something to put their hands to and create. However, the group’s greater purpose is to train women leaders in the slum areas where the refugee community lives, to articulate messages of Christian hope, love, and peace to their communities. Then, they are encouraged to train other young people. Through this purposeful gathering, in addition to weekly prayer meetings and Bible studies, the Buharis and their partners are finding another way to creatively take the message of the gospel everywhere.
Reuniting families
Many refugee cases involve one or more members of a family fleeing across borders, becoming separated from spouses, parents, children, or other loved ones.
One man became a refugee by deserting the military. He encountered the message of the gospel through Nazarene bible study prayer fellowship and decided that he must return to his family. However, he faced the possibility of punishment from his government for desertion. For several months, Gabor and Tafui prayed with the man for safety for him and his family. Finally, when he went home, the government granted him amnesty. After some time, his wife became a Christian, and his family began to accept him as a Christian. He is now a leader in the underground church in his area.
As ministry continues, the Buharis recognize several challenges. The local and state governments are frequently unstable; communities and families lack security, and sometimes are in critical danger. Also, travel is difficult due to continually changing regulations; the appropriate paperwork for travel is in short supply. Safe and legal travel methods are essential as families attempt to reconnect or refugees take the risk to return and share the message of Christ with their families.
Additionally, ministry resources are scarce, especially training and teaching materials. This can make equipping and training new leaders difficult.
Still, God works miracles. Even people who do not have any access to the gospel message find themselves hearing directly from the Spirit. Several people have testified first encountering Jesus through dreams and visions. Five years ago, one man became a follower through a vision of Jesus. Although the man did not have access to a Bible, through these visions and reading another faith’s holy book, his eyes were opened and he recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Now, he is a radio presenter, teacher, and pastor of a Nazarene bible study fellowship.
The Buharis are grateful for the prayers of people around the world. There is so much to do, and the partnership of the Nazarene community is needed.
“We encourage all Nazarenes,” Gabor says, “to open their home, their church, their heart for the refugee – to connect them to Jesus.”
*Names changed and exact location omitted for security reasons
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Brazil districts host joint women's ministry training
The Sao Paulo and the Southeast Sao Paulo districts in Brazil held a joint women's ministry training for 100 local leaders and coordinators, led by Regional Women's Ministry Coordinator Waner Nunes.
Southeast Sao Paulo District Coordinator Marcilene Felix presented the district women's ministry project during the September 10 training. She encouraged attendees to join together, using their gifts and talents for the kingdom of God to fulfill the Great Commission through this ministry.
"Thanks to all the leaders who participated in this meeting," Nunes said. "We pray that all may bear more and more fruit and that the kingdom of God may advance."[Church of the Nazarene South America Region]
The Sao Paulo and the Southeast Sao Paulo districts in Brazil held a joint women's ministry training for 100 local leaders and coordinators, led by Regional Women's Ministry Coordinator Waner Nunes.
Southeast Sao Paulo District Coordinator Marcilene Felix presented the district women's ministry project during the September 10 training. She encouraged attendees to join together, using their gifts and talents for the kingdom of God to fulfill the Great Commission through this ministry.
"Thanks to all the leaders who participated in this meeting," Nunes said. "We pray that all may bear more and more fruit and that the kingdom of God may advance."[Church of the Nazarene South America Region]
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Flags of the Nations: Colombia
The flag of Colombia is a horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue, and red. Yellow represents gold found in the Colombian land, blue represents the seas on Colombia's shores, the rivers that run through, and the sky above, and red represents the blood spilled for Colombia's independence.
Since September 1, 2009, the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center (GMC) proudly flies a flag each week of one of the many nations in which the denomination is present in ministry. Leaders were invited to send a national flag to be flown at the GMC alongside the flag of the United States*. The national flags rotate weekly, and photos of them raised are sent to the church leaders of that country.
This week: Colombia
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Colombia in 1975.
Colombia had a population of 46,736,728 in 2015. That same year, Colombia reported 86 Churches of the Nazarene, 83 of which had been officially organized. Colombia has 20,896 total members.
Located on the South America Region, Colombia has one Phase 3 districts, two Phase 2 districts, and four 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 flag of Colombia is a horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue, and red. Yellow represents gold found in the Colombian land, blue represents the seas on Colombia's shores, the rivers that run through, and the sky above, and red represents the blood spilled for Colombia's independence.
Since September 1, 2009, the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center (GMC) proudly flies a flag each week of one of the many nations in which the denomination is present in ministry. Leaders were invited to send a national flag to be flown at the GMC alongside the flag of the United States*. The national flags rotate weekly, and photos of them raised are sent to the church leaders of that country.
This week: Colombia
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Colombia in 1975.
Colombia had a population of 46,736,728 in 2015. That same year, Colombia reported 86 Churches of the Nazarene, 83 of which had been officially organized. Colombia has 20,896 total members.
Located on the South America Region, Colombia has one Phase 3 districts, two Phase 2 districts, and four 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.
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Chiclayo, Peru
Peru leaders receive training at education conference
Nazarene Theological Seminary of Peru hosted its annual national theological education conference September 8 through 10 to continue training those who lead the decentralized theological education programs.
More than 50 people representing most of Peru's districts attended, including teachers, pastors, and district superintendents. The themes and the presenters were “Theological Education and Mission” by missionary Irene Avelar, “The Sermon Dealing with Contemporary Challenges” by South America Regional Education Coordinator Jorge Julca, “Human Sexuality” by Gusman Quinteros, “University Methodology in Adult Education” by Professor Santiago Bobadilla of Santo Toribio University, and “Theological Education in Postmodernity” by David Aranda of the Evangelical Seminary of Lima.
Nazarene Theological Seminary of Peru hosted its annual national theological education conference September 8 through 10 to continue training those who lead the decentralized theological education programs.
More than 50 people representing most of Peru's districts attended, including teachers, pastors, and district superintendents. The themes and the presenters were “Theological Education and Mission” by missionary Irene Avelar, “The Sermon Dealing with Contemporary Challenges” by South America Regional Education Coordinator Jorge Julca, “Human Sexuality” by Gusman Quinteros, “University Methodology in Adult Education” by Professor Santiago Bobadilla of Santo Toribio University, and “Theological Education in Postmodernity” by David Aranda of the Evangelical Seminary of Lima.
Pastor David Balcazar directed a session in which district representatives worked in small groups to evaluate the decentralized theological education program using the SWOT analysis tool (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).Marcial Banda, director of the Diploma in Child and Adolescent program, introduced the program and presented upcoming projects for the next several years. There were also presentations on the youth pastor bachelor's program and Diploma in Youth Ministry, and David Balcazar was installed as the national coordinator of youth ministry.[Church of the Nazarene South America Region]
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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 September 19-23, 2016.
R. Harold Brown, 88, of Denver City, Texas, passed away September 20. He was a retired minister, serving in Missouri, Texas, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife, Vera Brown.
Ruth (Briemann) Colvin, 83, of Craigsville, Virginia, passed away September 19. She was the widow of retired minister William Colvin, who served in Virginia. William Colvin passed away in 2012.
Darrell Dennis, 83, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away September 17. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. He is survived by his wife, Helen Dennis.
Edward Redmon, 90, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away September 17. He was a retired minister, serving in Kentucky. He is survived by his wife, Ethel "Darleen" (Adamson) Redmon.
Laura Richards, 83, of Kissimmee, Florida, passed away September 15. She was the widow of retired minister Maynard Richards, who served in Michigan. Maynard Richards passed away in 1989.
Gregory White, 51, of DeSoto, Texas, passed away September 11. He was a minister, serving in Texas. He is survived by his wife, Beretha White.
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section by clicking here.
Note: Please join 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]
The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received September 19-23, 2016.
R. Harold Brown, 88, of Denver City, Texas, passed away September 20. He was a retired minister, serving in Missouri, Texas, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife, Vera Brown.
Ruth (Briemann) Colvin, 83, of Craigsville, Virginia, passed away September 19. She was the widow of retired minister William Colvin, who served in Virginia. William Colvin passed away in 2012.
Darrell Dennis, 83, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away September 17. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in Indiana, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. He is survived by his wife, Helen Dennis.
Edward Redmon, 90, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away September 17. He was a retired minister, serving in Kentucky. He is survived by his wife, Ethel "Darleen" (Adamson) Redmon.
Laura Richards, 83, of Kissimmee, Florida, passed away September 15. She was the widow of retired minister Maynard Richards, who served in Michigan. Maynard Richards passed away in 1989.
Gregory White, 51, of DeSoto, Texas, passed away September 11. He was a minister, serving in Texas. He is survived by his wife, Beretha White.
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section by clicking here.
Note: Please join 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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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 jveigl@nazarene.org for details.
Employment Opportunities
General Superintendents’ Office — Administrative Assistant (Full time)
Office: General Superintendents’ Office
Title: Administrative Assistant
Description: This position provides administrative support for the General Superintendents’ Office, including travel expense reconciliation, proofreading of correspondence, and credential processing. It also assists with preparation of the annual office budget and monthly reports, as well as events as needed.
Global Mission Administration — Communication Specialist (Full time)
Office: Global Mission
Ministry: Administration
Title: Communication Specialist
Description: The Global Mission communication specialist will contribute insight and support the work of the Global Mission administrative director; help foster collaborative communication efforts between the regions and Global Mission team; advance the implementation and continuous improvement of the Global Mission communication strategy; collaborate on the improvement of existing and the creation of new initiatives, stories, and projects; and participate in and assist in the development of communication procedures and planning of meaningful gatherings for communicators.
Global Mission Office — Social Media and Digital Content Manager (Part-time)
Office: Global Mission
Ministry: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Title: Social Media and Digital Content Manager
Description: This position works under the oversight of the director of development and communications manager and is responsible for the execution of social media marketing and communications plans, including developing and executing a comprehensive social media strategy to increase visibility, traffic, engagement, and constituent support. Applicant must have the ability to create excellent content and think strategically about how social media fits within an overall business/ministry marketing strategy.
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 humanresourcesgroup@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.
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 jveigl@nazarene.org for details.
Employment Opportunities
General Superintendents’ Office — Administrative Assistant (Full time)
Office: General Superintendents’ Office
Title: Administrative Assistant
Description: This position provides administrative support for the General Superintendents’ Office, including travel expense reconciliation, proofreading of correspondence, and credential processing. It also assists with preparation of the annual office budget and monthly reports, as well as events as needed.
Global Mission Administration — Communication Specialist (Full time)
Office: Global Mission
Ministry: Administration
Title: Communication Specialist
Description: The Global Mission communication specialist will contribute insight and support the work of the Global Mission administrative director; help foster collaborative communication efforts between the regions and Global Mission team; advance the implementation and continuous improvement of the Global Mission communication strategy; collaborate on the improvement of existing and the creation of new initiatives, stories, and projects; and participate in and assist in the development of communication procedures and planning of meaningful gatherings for communicators.
Global Mission Office — Social Media and Digital Content Manager (Part-time)
Office: Global Mission
Ministry: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Title: Social Media and Digital Content Manager
Description: This position works under the oversight of the director of development and communications manager and is responsible for the execution of social media marketing and communications plans, including developing and executing a comprehensive social media strategy to increase visibility, traffic, engagement, and constituent support. Applicant must have the ability to create excellent content and think strategically about how social media fits within an overall business/ministry marketing strategy.
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 humanresourcesgroup@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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The Global Church of the Nazarene Communications Network
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The Global Church of the Nazarene Communication Network News
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
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