Philippines, Asia-Pacific Region
Typhoon Mangkhut devastates Philippines
Typhoon Mangkhut, the world’s most intense storm this year, hit the northern tip of the Philippines early Saturday and killed more than 80 people before moving toward Hong Kong, China, where it killed four more people. About 50 people are still missing, and the death toll could rise above 100 as search and rescue missions continue.In Guangdong, Philippines, more than 2.5 million people were evacuated. Winds of over 127 miles per hour and gusts of as much as 189 mph tore through the landscape. Rice and corn crops worth an estimated $177 million were destroyed, and 450 homes were damaged, with flooding in nine provinces.
The village of Ucab in the Cordillera region was hit by one of 50 landslides triggered by heavy rains. Hopes of finding survivors in the rubble faded on Monday as rescuers in the region struggled to reach dozens of people feared trapped.
Philippine Nazarene College in La Trinidad sustained serious flooding. The damage at the college and at other churches and schools is still being assessed by local Nazarene Compassionate Ministries staff.
NCM staff in the Philippines are coordinating a response in Pangasinan and Benguet with local pastors. Churches are beginning to collect supplies for neighbors in need and connecting with other local organizations to further their reach.
An assessment team is being organized to visit churches in the northernmost part of Luzon — the area most impacted by the typhoon — and they will deliver Crisis Care Kits and generators as needed.
How You Can Help
Pray
Please pray for those facing the devastation left by the storms and the ensuing floods. Pray for those who have lost loved ones and homes. Pray for those who are most vulnerable during and after the storm, especially senior adults, individuals with disabilities, and people living in poverty. Pray for the swift delivery of the supplies and care they need, and pray for the months of recovery ahead. Pray for church leaders and churches responding to the needs around them. To send a prayer or note of encouragement, go to ncm.org/pray.
Give
Churches and individuals around the world can provide support through the Emergency Relief: 2018 Storm Response. Donations will be used for immediate needs, such as water and food, as well as long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
To send donations by mail:
In the U.S., make checks payable to "General Treasurer" and send them to:
Global Treasury Services
The Global Church of the Nazarene
P.O. Box 843116
Kansas City, Missouri 64184-3116, United States
Be sure to put 132634 in the Memo area.
In Canada, make checks payable to "Church of the Nazarene Canada" and send them to:
The Global Church of the Nazarene Canada
3657 Ponytail Drive, Mississauga, Ontario | L4X 1W5
Be sure to put 132634 in the Memo area.
For any other country, give through your local church or district, designating your gift to Emergency Relief: 2018 Storm Response. (Nazarene Compassionate Ministries) Read more
Manila, Philippines
Philippines Field launches assessment center for survivors of online child exploitation
The Church of the Nazarene’s Philippines-Micronesia Field recently launched Shechem Children’s Home, the first online sexual exploitation of children assessment center in the Philippines.Leody Echavez, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries coordinator for the field, shared about the challenges of sexual exploitation in the Philippines.
“We often think of sex trafficking as adults filming videos for other adults, but this problem has taken on a new face,” Echavez said. “Now, parents and relatives sell sexual videos of their own children, sometimes under a year old. Over 80 percent of the time it involves a direct relative. The Philippines is particularly vulnerable to [online sexual exploitation of children], not only because of poverty levels, but also because most children speak English and can, therefore, take instructions from predators.”
Shechem Children’s Home will fill a gap in the process of rescuing exploitation victims. With a staff comprised of a social worker, a psychologist, a counselor, a medical doctor, and nurses, critical care can be provided to survivors while professionals assess how best to aid in the survivors’ recovery and reintegration into safe settings.
“The comprehensive assessments of the child and his or her family is critical in determining the permanency plan for the child, be it reunification with relatives or reintegration through another avenue such as adoption, foster care, or independent living,” said Stephen Gualberto, Philippines-Micronesia field strategy coordinator.
Several organizations partnered to make this center possible. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and the Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines will own and administer the home. The International Justice Mission will provide all legal counsel and protection for the children, as well as trauma-informed care training for the staff. The Philippines Children’s Ministries Network will provide a community social worker and additional resources for the home.
“There’s a continuum of care for victims of online sexual exploitation,” said Reynaldo Bicol Jr., Manila field office director for the International Justice Mission. “The recourse now is to rescue a child and immediately bring them to a shelter, regardless of the situation. With the assessment center, our hope is that [Shechem] will serve as a model on how to properly care for children who are being rescued.”
Shechem Children's Home's board and staff ask for continued prayer for their ministry’s physical needs, including financial partners who are willing to participate in this ministry. (Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific) Read more
Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
City by city, road by road by Kaitlyn Haley Deisher
In the bustling city of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pastor Mike had been leading a healthy congregation for many years. Lubumbashi is a transportation hub for mineral products, making it the industrial center for mining in southeastern Congo. Major arteries of roads connect this southern city to the rest of the country in every direction.Mike always felt called to be a pastor, and this calling was evident in the way his church thrived through his leadership.
As time passed, Mike began to feel a yearning and sense of urgency to reach the villages around Lubumbashi. He felt his heart break that the people in these villages lived without hope in Christ.
But Mike couldn’t believe that God would use him in this way. He didn’t feel gifted in evangelism and wondered why God would place this new calling on his heart that he had never felt before.
While he was wrestling with this calling, God was stirring a desire in the hearts of others to plant new churches in the area. Gavin and Jill, missionaries to the Central Africa Field, observed that only one or two villages in that area had churches.
They developed a new strategy: the field would mobilize pastors to follow the major roads from city to city planting churches using the church members in the previous city to plant a new church in the next. In this way, the major roads would guide them to create a network of churches from the two small churches that were already in existence.
After prayer, Gavin and Jill felt that God was calling Pastor Mike to accomplish this task. They trained Pastor Mike and members of his congregation to use evangelistic tools like the EvangeCube, and Mike’s church began their work of reaching out to a neighboring community.
On the first day of their new ministry, as they walked to the neighboring community for the first time, Pastor Mike began to doubt whether God was really calling them to this work. In fact, Mike was so overcome with doubt that he tried to cancel the outreach event on the spot, and he asked everyone to turn around. Mike’s congregation stopped him. They urged him to pray and ask the Lord for guidance. As they prayed, Mike again felt a sense of urgency for the lost in that community and they continued walking.
When they arrived in the community, Mike began sharing the gospel with a group of people who were there. Three people gave their lives to Christ, and a large group followed them back to the church. As they continued to return to the people of the village, they established a church, and as it grew, the people in the new congregation began reaching out to another community near them.
After five years of ministering in this way, Pastor Mike and members from these congregations have successfully planted five new churches in the area. These churches are located in the middle of some of the major transportation arteries in the region and continue to grow stronger through their connection.Five years ago, Pastor Mike wasn’t sure that God would be able to use him to reach the communities around his church without a natural gifting for evangelism. But as God continued to call and as Mike and his congregation took steps of obedience, God has been faithful to provide all that was needed. Pastor’s Mike’s story and these five new churches transformed by the gospel are a witness of God’s love and creativity in reaching the lost. Read more
Chiclayo, Peru
Peru theology conference teaches Christlike discipleship
More than 100 faculty members, local pastors, and other guests received tools and insights to facilitate better discipleship at a theological conference hosted by Peru Nazarene Theological Seminary.The conference, held 6-8 September, featured Frank Moore, general editor for the Church of the Nazarene; Stan Rodes, Global Clergy Development administrative director; Francisco Cabanillas, Peru NTS professor; and Tomas Gutierrez, professor at the National University of San Marcos.
The event mirrored the denomination’s Global Theological Conference, held 18-21 March in Leesburg, Florida, USA. The Peru conference utilized the same theme — Christology — and similar discussion topics, including Wesleyan theology, prevenient grace, spiritual pilgrimage, lifelong learning, development of ministerial boards, learning to teach, and Christian ethics.
“We experienced three days of dialogue and prayer for the theology of our church, specifically what it means to be a people of holiness centered in Christ,” said Oscar Suárez, regional communications coordinator for Peru.
To conclude the event, guests were awarded a certificate of participation and were encouraged to use what they learned to continue making Christlike disciples in Peru.
“It was a time of great blessing,” Suárez said. “The participants expressed that their hope is that these kinds of spaces will continue to develop with the end goal being to strengthen the theological education in our church.” (Church of the Nazarene South America) Read more
The flag of Germany is a tricolor consisting of three equal horizontal bands displaying the national colors of Germany: black, red, and gold.
Flags of the Nations: Germany
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 80,594,017 in 2017. That same year, Germany reported 19 Churches of the Nazarene, all of which had been officially organized. Germany has 2,297 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.Read more
USA/Canada
Lenexa, Kansas
403(b) retirement changes: Fidelity will not accept checks starting in 2019
Fidelity Investments will no longer accept paper checks for contributions to the Nazarene 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan accounts of ministers and church laypersons as of 1 January 2019.
“We have been sharing this information with constituents since we received notice from Fidelity,” said Don Walter, director of Pensions and Benefits USA. “During this same time, we have been at work developing an online contribution system to streamline the process.”The result is Online 403(b) Contributions. The system has been up and running for months and is now being used by almost 500 churches across the United States. This represents less than 25 percent of the churches now making contributions to the 403(b) accounts of staff members.
Users can access Online 403(b) Contributions from the home page of pbusa.org. A green icon in the upper right corner [403(b) Deposits] opens the link to the secure portal. From there, the user can create a profile, set up bank accounts, add or delete personnel, and make and track electronic contributions.
A two-part training video and an informational flyer are available to explain how to create accounts and use the system.
“We regret any inconvenience this transition may cause,” Walter said. “We are sincerely interested in making sure there is no hiatus in the transmission of payments to the 403(b) accounts of participants. Although there may be some discomfort in the initial switch to this system, we believe it will be minor compared to the overall improvements Online 403(b) Contributions provides.”
Pastors are encouraged to share this information with those responsible for making payments on their behalf to the 403(b) plan. If you have questions, contact Pensions and Benefits USA at pensions@nazarene.org or 888-888-4656. (Pensions & Benefits USA) Read more
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 17-21 September 2018.
Vilma Horne, 90, of Sumter, South Carolina, passed away 14 September. She was a retired minister, serving in South Carolina. She was preceded in death by her husband, retired minister Charles Horne, who served in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia, Florida, and Tennessee. Charles Horne passed away in 2009.
William Youngman, 85, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, passed away 15 September. He was a retired minister and educator, serving in Kansas, Massachusetts, and Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Victoria Youngman.
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) Read more
Human Resources
GMC employment opportunities
People are our most valued resource. Our committed employees are involved in "Making Christlike Disciples in the Nations" in 162 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 occasionally available. Email jveigl@nazarene.org for details.
Employment Opportunities
Candidate Development Specialist (Full-time)
Global Missions Personnel
Description: This person will assist with missionary candidate development, coordinate and assist with events, work independently and with a team, and perform a wide variety of responsibilities with high confidentiality.
Helpdesk Technician (Full-time)
Information Technology
Description: This person will be responsible for providing training, support and guidance to technology users.
Project Manager (Full-time)
Nazarene Youth International (NYI)
Description: This person will be responsible for facilitating connection to district, national, field, and regional NYI leadership and the distribution of resources to support the mission of NYI. This person will support the NYI core values of evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development (“BE, DO, GO”) by emphasizing youth ministry throughout the Church of the Nazarene and sharing the stories of local youth and youth workers and will manage the day-to-day and long-term connection projects of NYI.
To obtain additional information for GMC positions, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
Church of the Nazarene Foundation
All positions are located within the Global Ministry Center in Lenexa, Kansas.
Accounting Clerk (Part-time)
Under the direction of the Director of Finance, the Accounting Clerk performs routine accounting functions of average difficulty in the areas of cash receipts, accounts payable, and other entry-level related office duties. Learn More
JESUS Film Harvest Partners
To learn more about positions available at the JFHP, visit jfhp.org. All positions are located on-site in the Olathe, Kansas, office. Recent openings: Full-Time Assistant Field Services Coordinator.
Nazarene Bible College
To learn more about positions available at the NBC Administrative Offices, visit nbc.edu/jobs. All positions are located within the Global Ministry Center in Lenexa, Kansas.
Nazarene Theological Seminary
To learn more about current positions available at NTS, see the following employment opportunities. All positions are located on-site on the Kansas City, Missouri, campus.
Location of Global Ministry Center Positions
The GMC is the administrative hub for the Church of the Nazarene denominational ministries in 162 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, 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. Read more
Freedom Sunday highlights anti-trafficking efforts
On Sunday, 23 September 2018, thousands of churches around the world will join in Freedom Sunday. This unique service is specifically set aside for congregations to pray for, learn about, and support church-led anti-trafficking efforts.
Churches will plan Freedom Sunday services, which aim to inform and unite congregations in prayer. They are also encouraged to discuss action steps they can take as congregations, both globally and locally.
An estimated 40.3 million people are currently being trafficked. That includes labor and sex trafficking, adults and children, and people from all over the world. The multi-billion dollar industry is truly a global tragedy.
The Church of the Nazarene participates and spearheads anti-trafficking efforts globally, including projects in Moldova, Germany, India, and the Philippines.
Plan a Freedom Sunday service with the worship planning guide and bulletin inserts. To sign up to host a Freedom Sunday event and find more resources, visit ncm.org/freedom-sunday.
To learn about the Church of the Nazarene’s involvement in anti-trafficking movements, visit ncm.org/antitrafficking. (Nazarene Compassionate Ministries)Read more
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ABOUT US
The Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Organized in 1908, the denomination is now home to about 2.5 million members worshipping in more than 30,000 local congregations in 162 world areas.
Address:
The Global Church of the Nazarene
Global Ministry Center
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas 66220, United States
Phone: (913)577-0500
Email: info@nazarene.org
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