Moyobamba, Peru
Peru national retreat attracts more than 600 pastors
The Church of the Nazarene in Peru held a national pastors’ retreat 23-27 October in the Cerrado Ayaymama Colosseum in Moyobamba. The retreat was called “At a Steady Pace” and was organized by the Peru National Board of the Church of the Nazarene.
More than 600 pastors and leaders from all over the country attended, nearly all of whom said the retreat was a blessing to Peru.
“This retreat was really what we needed,” said Ediberto Solano, South District superintendent. “God has ordered and aligned our thoughts and, more importantly, the mission to which we are called. Going to the altar to renounce what was ours was very meaningful. This new anointing will take us to new levels of God’s grace, we start 2019 with a steady pace.”
Colombian pastor Francisco Jamoco spoke about finances, local educator and pastor Jhonatan Salgado spoke on the themes of whole family health and dangers in pastoral families, and Technical Secretary of the Peruvian Congress Tomas Gutierrez spoke on pastoral challenges and the history of the Church of the Nazarene in Peru.
The music was led by the band Courageous from the Church of the Nazarene Lugar de Bendición. South America Regional Director Christian Sarmiento and General Superintendent David Busic preached at the event.
“Nazarenes are a people of grace and peace,” Busic said. “[There is a] need for personal and social holiness, instantaneous and progressive holiness, and spiritual and practical holiness [in Peru].”
Many of the pastors were moved by this call to pursue holiness in their personal and social lives.
“The retreat has been a great blessing and challenge for our lives in ministry,” said David Robles, pastor of the Pueblo Libre Church in Lima. “We feel challenged to carry on the message of holiness which God has entrusted to the Church of the Nazarene.”
Not only were pastors spiritually challenged at the retreat, but pastors were rejuvenated in fellowship with one another both in and out of worship and presentations.
“The extraordinary part has been meeting with friends and colleagues serving the same Lord,” said Edilberto Hernandes, pastor of the Canto Grande Church in Lima. “This has been wonderful.”
The national retreat motivated pastors to go back to their churches and continue making Christlike disciples in the nations.
“I give thanks to God for giving me the opportunity to have participated in this national pastors’ retreat,” said Gino Perez, pastor at the Parachique Church on the North Pacific District. “For me, it was a renewal from God and all of the topics covered were important and necessary for my life and ministry. Thanks be to God for our leaders who organized this retreat and just about every pastor could receive from God because as pastors we are always giving.” (Church of the Nazarene South America) Read more
Kansas City, Missouri
A place to be: Missouri church provides safe space
Pastor Alice Piggee-Wallack and her church, True Light Church of the Nazarene, opened their doors to meet needs in an area downtown where approximately 30 percent of the population live below the poverty level.
On a Friday morning, a group of women sits around a circular table, listening to a presentation on nutrition. They chat about eating habits that are both nutritious and economical. Later, they will make tuna salad together in a new commercial kitchen.
The class participants, most of whom are without homes, are there for True Light Family Resource Center’s day shelter, a place to learn, to rest, and to be. True Light FRC has been ministering to people in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, since 2002. That’s when Pastor Alice Piggee-Wallack and the church she leads, True Light Church of the Nazarene, opened their doors to meet needs in an area downtown where approximately 30 percent of the population live below the poverty level.
“We definitely wanted to create a safe space for women and children,” Piggee-Wallack said. “The first thing I know about the day shelter is that it wasn’t planned. I believe that God brought it about.”
Emancipation Station
The idea for a ministry was born when Piggee-Wallack drove to a homeless shelter to pick up a friend for some volunteer work at the church. When she arrived, the shelter’s doors were locked. Six women sitting on the building’s front steps caught her attention; one was caring for two babies. Curious, she introduced herself and discovered that shelter offered services overnight only, and the women had nowhere to go during the day.
“So I said, ‘Get in the car!’” Piggee-Wallack said.
Two trips later, all of the women were with Piggee-Wallack at True Light Church of the Nazarene’s offices. As she spent the day with them, the pastor says their fortitude struck her. They used their time to look for jobs and housing. They looked after one another and helped care for the babies.
In the following weeks, more groups came by. Realizing this was a problem without an easy solution, Piggee-Wallack sat down with church members to discuss what a day shelter would look like and pray for its creation. Emancipation Station — a day shelter for women — was born.
In the decade and a half since its inception, True Light has grown dramatically. The sheer scope of the center’s programs is impressive. In addition to Emancipation Station, they run a short-term residence for women called Freedom House. Men are also welcome at a number of other ministries, including a computer center, clothing closet, diaper distribution center, and at community breakfasts — all there to help people change their stories.
A safe haven
Emancipation Station is, at its core, a safe space. Once the night shelters close in the morning, there are few safe places for women to spend the intervening hours until the shelters open again around 6:15 p.m. In Kansas City, where both heat and cold are extreme, a comfortable, dry spot is a haven from the elements.
According to Patricia Porsche, manager and mentor for Freedom House, the day shelter is open seven days a week to provide consistency.
“We’re open for our homeless ladies no matter what the weather is,” Porsche said.
Women of all backgrounds and experiences are welcome, as are women in all stages of life; some of the women are in and out of homelessness or live in other forms of housing.
“We don’t care where a person is, we don’t care what they’ve done, where they’ve been,” Piggee-Wallack said. “The only thing we care about is where they’re going. God loves you, and He has plans for you. Now, if you can accept that, you’re welcome here.”
Because the women who stay at Emancipation Station are multifaceted, the shelter has been developed to match. It offers places to do laundry, shower, rest, and join together for a meal. The shelter also hosts a variety of classes on topics such as on nutrition, sewing, and knitting, as well as Bible studies and opportunities to hear from special speakers.
“We want to get ladies engaged, and that helps us move them from where they are to where they want to be,” Piggee-Wallack said.
Mona Lisa Crouch has been coming to the day shelter for a while now. She learned about it from a friend, who initially introduced her to the Saturday morning breakfasts. When she discovered the showers and classes, she began coming regularly.
“It’s just awesome how everyone is treated up here, with such dignity and respect,” Crouch said. “And nobody — nobody — thinks they’re better than anybody else.”
A depth of care
The Freedom House is next door to the shelter in a well-decorated, two-story home, the first in a line of historic clapboard houses stretching for blocks. Up to five women can live there at a time, following an application and interview process. The program starts at 90 days, but women can stay up to a year if they’re making good progress.
At Freedom House, each resident is assigned a social worker who helps them set their own goals along with a plan for accomplishing them. Freedom House becomes a way station during periods of transition and change.
“Going over there, it’s not a shelter,” said resident Ginellis Thurman. “It’s your home.”
It’s easy to see that if you go in. Downstairs, leather couches and armchairs overflow with throw pillows. Upstairs, each room is tidy and unique to the woman who lives in it. A Bible lies open on a bedside table, the text almost entirely highlighted.
“This is a safe haven for ladies,” Thurman said.
Engaged in community
Part of the agreement at both the house and the day shelter is that everyone lends a hand; Thurman was helping in the kitchen and paused lunch preparations to share about her experience. If the women at the Freedom House aren’t spending a set number of hours helping at the shelter, they have to be working elsewhere or looking for work.
Likewise, the women who come to the day shelter are expected to engage in the enrichment activities in addition to joining the community lunch. Crouch enjoys sewing — a class offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“[It’s] relaxing,” Crouch said. “Therapeutic, basically, for me.”
Wilma Postlewait and Ann Trent spearheaded the sewing classes four years ago. They have space for about seven women to be sewing at a time, using both sergers and sewing machines. The projects are simple but professional: pillowcases with perfectly straight edges, scented pot holders, and lanyards. Some women with housing make decor for their apartments, and others make clothes for themselves. The group has even started selling their work at a pop-up shop they share with a few other sewing groups from around Kansas City.
“All Ann and I need to go home content at the end of our day is knowing that somebody was proud of what they did,” Postlewait said.
Sometimes, Ann and Wilma function as listening ears instead of sewing instructors.
“When we first started, we were going to teach sewing,” Trent said. “But a lot of times, it just comes to listening.”
“Or saying a prayer,” Wilma adds.
Creating a relaxed atmosphere is central to all of True Light’s ministries.
“You don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not, and you don’t have to put on a façade,” Crouch said.
A Hard Environment
A single-night, nationwide count of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in 2017 revealed a total of 2,287 people experiencing homelessness in Kansas. About 85 percent were people who were sheltered in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens. But, as Piggee-Wallack discovered, those shelters aren’t always able to provide the necessary resources and protection.
Some of the women who come to Emancipation Station are survivors of abuse, both past, and current. For them, the shelter is a haven for many reasons. Others, like Crouch, come for the community. Sometimes, it’s the only place where women can rest. But every person who walks through the door will know one thing: they are valued.
“Regardless of our race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, we share so much in common,” Piggee-Wallack said. “And when we can actually see that, it makes it easier to be able to care for each other and to worship together.” (Republished with permission from the Winter 2018 edition of NCM Magazine)To read more stories of compassion, visit ncm.org to subscribe to NCM Magazine and receive future issues as they are released. Read moreCampinas, Brazil
Brazil celebrates 60 years of the Church of the Nazarene
One day before the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil’s 60th anniversary 13 October, local Nazarenes held a celebration in Campinas, São Paulo, where the first church was planted.
General Superintendent David Busic and his wife, Christi, participated in the celebration with South America Regional Director Christian Sarmiento and Nazarene Youth International Global Director Gary Hartke. The Brazil field strategy coordinators and Sub-Region Director Manuel Lima were also present.
“It was a remarkable night with the presence of leaders of each district singing ‘Holiness to the Lord’ in unison,” said Geraldo Nunes, Brazil holistic ministries coordinator.
A short video was shared at the celebration that told the story of the church over the last 60 years, and a Bible with an insert explaining the history of the church in Brazil was released.
The Church of the Nazarene in Brazil started when Ervin Stegemoeller, a Nazarene church member, was relocated to Brazil for work. He quickly realized there was no Nazarene presence in the country, so he reached out to Nazarene Headquarters.
That’s when pioneer missionary Earl Mosteller was asked to choose a city in Brazil from which the church would reach the rest of the country. The geographic location, socio-cultural status, and the presence of the Stegemoeller family were significant reasons why Campinas was selected as the pioneer city.
Mosteller recorded his experiences in his diary of the first service of the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil 13 October 1958.
“In our service, there were only 12 people, including children, but with God, we were the majority,” Mosteller wrote. “Today we are happy because, in addition to the beginning of this missionary project in Brazil, we also celebrate 50 years of our church in the world. We hope that in 50 years, the advance of the Church of the Nazarene in this immense country will be compared to our international church.”
After that first service, Nazarene leaders mobilized an army of volunteers, and the Gospel was delivered to the needy throughout the city. Orchestras, choirs, bands, and theater groups were formed and utilized to promote the Gospel in large public gatherings.
Many geographical borders have been broken since then. Today, the church in Brazil has more than 190,000 members and has built more than 600 churches.
“I am a fruit of the missionary work of the church in Brazil,” Nunes said. “When I look back at the history of our church, I can testify of the move of God in the whole country. We live in a time where the new generations of pastors, leaders, and members have tremendous opportunities to contribute in the preaching of the message of Christ so that more people may know Him.” (Church of the Nazarene South America) Read moreSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
Mesoamerica Central Field holds its first NMI congress
The Mesoamerica Central Field hosted its first Nazarene Missions International Congress as part of an NMI strategy to develop leaders in local churches. The event was held 2-3 November at the Dominican Nazarene Seminary.
Approximately 115 district and local leaders from 12 of the 13 districts on the Central Field attended, representing the countries of Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
Congress presenters included General Superintendent Gustavo Crocker, Global NMI Director Lola Brickey, Mesoamerica Regional Director Luis Carlos Saenz, and many more.
Ana Maria thanked each presenter for accepting the invitation to share and for challenging those who attended to be faithful in their service to God.
“I am grateful to the leaders for taking this time and for being willing to prepare themselves for the challenges presented in the conferences in their respective districts and local churches to make Christlike disciples in the nations,” Ana Maria said. (Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica) Read more
AfricaZimbabwe
Tennis Mutowa remembered
Tennis Alfas Mutowa passed away 26 October. He was 83 years old.
When the Church of the Nazarene entered Zimbabwe in 1963, Mutowa was among the first converts under the ministry of missionary Morris Hall. Soon after he joined the church, Mutowa received a call to ministry and was sent to Malawi to study.
He returned to Zimbabwe in 1965 and became the first fully trained Nazarene minister. He was considered a gifted evangelist, and he planted and grew several churches in Zimbabwe.
Mutowa is survived by his wife, Margaret, their five children, and their many grandchildren.
Prayer is requested for the Mutowa family. (Church of the Nazarene Africa) Read more
The 10 stars on the flag represent the main islands of the nation. The blue represents the ocean and the sky.
The band of white and red represents the road toward the construction of the nation and the colors stand for peace (white) and effort (red).
Flags of the Nations: Cabo Verde
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: Cabo Verde
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Cabo Verde in 1901.
Cabo Verde, the home nation of General Superintendent Eugénio R. Duarte, had a population of 560,899 in 2017. That same year, Cabo Verde reported 63 Churches of the Nazarene, 57 of which have been officially organized. Cabo Verde has 8,519 total members.
Cabo Verde has one Phase 2 district and one Phase 3 district on the Africa Region. For more information about the Africa Region, visit africanazarene.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 moreAsia-Pacific
Tabuyoc, Philippines
From left to right: Ernesto Rulloda, Mission Director Bob McCroskey Sr., Pastor Ricareda Valenzuela, and DS Andres Valenzuela
Pioneer Filipino district superintendent passes away
Andres Valenzuela, a pastor, pioneer superintendent of the Luzon District, and the first Flipino superintendent of the Metro Manila District, passed away 30 October in Urdaneta Pangasinan, Philippines. He was 85 years old.
Valenzuela was born 17 March 1933 in Tabuyoc, Philippines, into a Roman Catholic family. Valenzuela was the oldest son of the late Francisco Valenzuela and his wife, Marina Valenzuela.
After graduation from high school, Valenzuela enrolled in the second class of the Fitkin Memorial Bible Training School (now Philippine Nazarene College) in La Trinidad. During his time at Fitkin, Valenzuela pastored a church in Baguio City, and he and several other students helped plant a church in Barangay Cabaroan in San Fernando City.
In March 1958, Valenzuela graduated from college and was the youngest among the first seven Filipino men who were ordained during the 4th Philippine District Assembly.
After graduation and ordination, Valenzuela was appointed pastor of the Caboroan Church of the Nazarene and served for two years with his younger brother Patricio. In 1960, Andy married Ricareda Verceles just after her graduation from Nazarene Bible College. One year later, Andy and Rica accepted the call to pastor the Church of the Nazarene in Agbannawag. During this pastorate, Andy founded the Tabuyoc Church of the Nazarene in the Pampanga province.
In March 1967, Andy was elected assistant district superintendent of the Philippines District on the third ballot. After a year traveling with Philippines Mission Director Robert McCroskey Sr., Valenzuela was elected the first Filipino district superintendent in the Philippines in a near-unanimous vote. In 1971, Rica became the first woman to be ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines and served as pastor in Binalonan, Laoac, and Tabuyoc churches.
When the Philippines District was divided in March 1973, Andy became the first superintendent of the new Luzon District, which encompassed the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. In June 1976, Rica was elected as the first Asian representative to the Nazarene World Mission Society Council (now Nazarene Missions International) of the Church of the Nazarene. She served for two terms in this position until June 1985.
Andy was elected superintendent of the Metro Manila District in 1980. While serving in Manila, Rica pastored the Central Church of the Nazarene in Cubao and was also the first district children's ministry coordinator.
The Valenzuelas both dual enrolled at Asia Theological Seminary and at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary when it first opened in November 1983. Andy received Distinguished Service Awards from the Metro Manila District in 1983 and from the Luzon District in 1987.
After graduation from APNTS in 1986, Andy resigned as superintendent of the Metro Manila District and the Valenzuela family migrated to northern California to plant and pastor Filipino churches. The Valenzuelas co-founded the New Life Church in Vallejo, California, serving there until they retired in 2014. Andy also served as the USA/Canada Filipino Ministry facilitator for the Church of the Nazarene from 1991 to 2014.
In June 2017, they returned to live in their hometown in the Philippines. The Valenzuelas were honored in a special service at the Tabuyoc Church in August 2017, and they were presented plaques by Philippines Nazarene College as outstanding alumni in October 2017.
Andy Valenzuela is survived by his wife, Rica, their two children, Abner Valenzuela and Brenda Valenzuela Fortune, and their five grandchildren. (Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary via NCN News submissions) Stories to share? Send an email to news@nazarene.org Read more
MesoamericaNicaragua
Nicaragua PK retreat reminds participants they are 'Chosen By God'
The Nicaragua Central District held a pastors’ kids retreat themed “Chosen By God” 3-4 November at the Skylark Retreat Center. A total of 70 people between the ages of 5 and 35 attended, including children, youth, and adults.
District Superintendent Maria Antonia Ponce organized the event, Paulino Munoz was the retreat speaker, Aydalina Maraga was the workshops teacher, and Juan Jose Picado led games.
Ponce led a powerful time of prayer over the participants, Medary Jaime personally mentored children between the ages of 5 and 12, and there were two altar calls where at least 18 youth renewed their commitments to God and their parents.
“It was a blessed time, and the youth expressed their gratefulness to God, the church, and the donors,” Ponce said. (Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica) Read more
South America
A place to be: Missouri church provides safe space
Pastor Alice Piggee-Wallack and her church, True Light Church of the Nazarene, opened their doors to meet needs in an area downtown where approximately 30 percent of the population live below the poverty level.
On a Friday morning, a group of women sits around a circular table, listening to a presentation on nutrition. They chat about eating habits that are both nutritious and economical. Later, they will make tuna salad together in a new commercial kitchen.
The class participants, most of whom are without homes, are there for True Light Family Resource Center’s day shelter, a place to learn, to rest, and to be. True Light FRC has been ministering to people in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, since 2002. That’s when Pastor Alice Piggee-Wallack and the church she leads, True Light Church of the Nazarene, opened their doors to meet needs in an area downtown where approximately 30 percent of the population live below the poverty level.
“We definitely wanted to create a safe space for women and children,” Piggee-Wallack said. “The first thing I know about the day shelter is that it wasn’t planned. I believe that God brought it about.”
Emancipation Station
The idea for a ministry was born when Piggee-Wallack drove to a homeless shelter to pick up a friend for some volunteer work at the church. When she arrived, the shelter’s doors were locked. Six women sitting on the building’s front steps caught her attention; one was caring for two babies. Curious, she introduced herself and discovered that shelter offered services overnight only, and the women had nowhere to go during the day.
“So I said, ‘Get in the car!’” Piggee-Wallack said.
Two trips later, all of the women were with Piggee-Wallack at True Light Church of the Nazarene’s offices. As she spent the day with them, the pastor says their fortitude struck her. They used their time to look for jobs and housing. They looked after one another and helped care for the babies.
In the following weeks, more groups came by. Realizing this was a problem without an easy solution, Piggee-Wallack sat down with church members to discuss what a day shelter would look like and pray for its creation. Emancipation Station — a day shelter for women — was born.
In the decade and a half since its inception, True Light has grown dramatically. The sheer scope of the center’s programs is impressive. In addition to Emancipation Station, they run a short-term residence for women called Freedom House. Men are also welcome at a number of other ministries, including a computer center, clothing closet, diaper distribution center, and at community breakfasts — all there to help people change their stories.
A safe haven
Emancipation Station is, at its core, a safe space. Once the night shelters close in the morning, there are few safe places for women to spend the intervening hours until the shelters open again around 6:15 p.m. In Kansas City, where both heat and cold are extreme, a comfortable, dry spot is a haven from the elements.
According to Patricia Porsche, manager and mentor for Freedom House, the day shelter is open seven days a week to provide consistency.
“We’re open for our homeless ladies no matter what the weather is,” Porsche said.
Women of all backgrounds and experiences are welcome, as are women in all stages of life; some of the women are in and out of homelessness or live in other forms of housing.
“We don’t care where a person is, we don’t care what they’ve done, where they’ve been,” Piggee-Wallack said. “The only thing we care about is where they’re going. God loves you, and He has plans for you. Now, if you can accept that, you’re welcome here.”
Because the women who stay at Emancipation Station are multifaceted, the shelter has been developed to match. It offers places to do laundry, shower, rest, and join together for a meal. The shelter also hosts a variety of classes on topics such as on nutrition, sewing, and knitting, as well as Bible studies and opportunities to hear from special speakers.
“We want to get ladies engaged, and that helps us move them from where they are to where they want to be,” Piggee-Wallack said.
Mona Lisa Crouch has been coming to the day shelter for a while now. She learned about it from a friend, who initially introduced her to the Saturday morning breakfasts. When she discovered the showers and classes, she began coming regularly.
“It’s just awesome how everyone is treated up here, with such dignity and respect,” Crouch said. “And nobody — nobody — thinks they’re better than anybody else.”
A depth of care
The Freedom House is next door to the shelter in a well-decorated, two-story home, the first in a line of historic clapboard houses stretching for blocks. Up to five women can live there at a time, following an application and interview process. The program starts at 90 days, but women can stay up to a year if they’re making good progress.
At Freedom House, each resident is assigned a social worker who helps them set their own goals along with a plan for accomplishing them. Freedom House becomes a way station during periods of transition and change.
“Going over there, it’s not a shelter,” said resident Ginellis Thurman. “It’s your home.”
It’s easy to see that if you go in. Downstairs, leather couches and armchairs overflow with throw pillows. Upstairs, each room is tidy and unique to the woman who lives in it. A Bible lies open on a bedside table, the text almost entirely highlighted.
“This is a safe haven for ladies,” Thurman said.
Engaged in community
Part of the agreement at both the house and the day shelter is that everyone lends a hand; Thurman was helping in the kitchen and paused lunch preparations to share about her experience. If the women at the Freedom House aren’t spending a set number of hours helping at the shelter, they have to be working elsewhere or looking for work.
Likewise, the women who come to the day shelter are expected to engage in the enrichment activities in addition to joining the community lunch. Crouch enjoys sewing — a class offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“[It’s] relaxing,” Crouch said. “Therapeutic, basically, for me.”
Wilma Postlewait and Ann Trent spearheaded the sewing classes four years ago. They have space for about seven women to be sewing at a time, using both sergers and sewing machines. The projects are simple but professional: pillowcases with perfectly straight edges, scented pot holders, and lanyards. Some women with housing make decor for their apartments, and others make clothes for themselves. The group has even started selling their work at a pop-up shop they share with a few other sewing groups from around Kansas City.
“All Ann and I need to go home content at the end of our day is knowing that somebody was proud of what they did,” Postlewait said.
Sometimes, Ann and Wilma function as listening ears instead of sewing instructors.
“When we first started, we were going to teach sewing,” Trent said. “But a lot of times, it just comes to listening.”
“Or saying a prayer,” Wilma adds.
Creating a relaxed atmosphere is central to all of True Light’s ministries.
“You don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not, and you don’t have to put on a façade,” Crouch said.
A Hard Environment
A single-night, nationwide count of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in 2017 revealed a total of 2,287 people experiencing homelessness in Kansas. About 85 percent were people who were sheltered in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens. But, as Piggee-Wallack discovered, those shelters aren’t always able to provide the necessary resources and protection.
Some of the women who come to Emancipation Station are survivors of abuse, both past, and current. For them, the shelter is a haven for many reasons. Others, like Crouch, come for the community. Sometimes, it’s the only place where women can rest. But every person who walks through the door will know one thing: they are valued.
“Regardless of our race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, we share so much in common,” Piggee-Wallack said. “And when we can actually see that, it makes it easier to be able to care for each other and to worship together.” (Republished with permission from the Winter 2018 edition of NCM Magazine)To read more stories of compassion, visit ncm.org to subscribe to NCM Magazine and receive future issues as they are released. Read moreCampinas, Brazil
Brazil celebrates 60 years of the Church of the Nazarene
One day before the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil’s 60th anniversary 13 October, local Nazarenes held a celebration in Campinas, São Paulo, where the first church was planted.
General Superintendent David Busic and his wife, Christi, participated in the celebration with South America Regional Director Christian Sarmiento and Nazarene Youth International Global Director Gary Hartke. The Brazil field strategy coordinators and Sub-Region Director Manuel Lima were also present.
“It was a remarkable night with the presence of leaders of each district singing ‘Holiness to the Lord’ in unison,” said Geraldo Nunes, Brazil holistic ministries coordinator.
A short video was shared at the celebration that told the story of the church over the last 60 years, and a Bible with an insert explaining the history of the church in Brazil was released.
The Church of the Nazarene in Brazil started when Ervin Stegemoeller, a Nazarene church member, was relocated to Brazil for work. He quickly realized there was no Nazarene presence in the country, so he reached out to Nazarene Headquarters.
That’s when pioneer missionary Earl Mosteller was asked to choose a city in Brazil from which the church would reach the rest of the country. The geographic location, socio-cultural status, and the presence of the Stegemoeller family were significant reasons why Campinas was selected as the pioneer city.
Mosteller recorded his experiences in his diary of the first service of the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil 13 October 1958.
“In our service, there were only 12 people, including children, but with God, we were the majority,” Mosteller wrote. “Today we are happy because, in addition to the beginning of this missionary project in Brazil, we also celebrate 50 years of our church in the world. We hope that in 50 years, the advance of the Church of the Nazarene in this immense country will be compared to our international church.”
After that first service, Nazarene leaders mobilized an army of volunteers, and the Gospel was delivered to the needy throughout the city. Orchestras, choirs, bands, and theater groups were formed and utilized to promote the Gospel in large public gatherings.
Many geographical borders have been broken since then. Today, the church in Brazil has more than 190,000 members and has built more than 600 churches.
“I am a fruit of the missionary work of the church in Brazil,” Nunes said. “When I look back at the history of our church, I can testify of the move of God in the whole country. We live in a time where the new generations of pastors, leaders, and members have tremendous opportunities to contribute in the preaching of the message of Christ so that more people may know Him.” (Church of the Nazarene South America) Read moreSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic
Mesoamerica Central Field holds its first NMI congress
The Mesoamerica Central Field hosted its first Nazarene Missions International Congress as part of an NMI strategy to develop leaders in local churches. The event was held 2-3 November at the Dominican Nazarene Seminary.
Approximately 115 district and local leaders from 12 of the 13 districts on the Central Field attended, representing the countries of Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
Congress presenters included General Superintendent Gustavo Crocker, Global NMI Director Lola Brickey, Mesoamerica Regional Director Luis Carlos Saenz, and many more.
Ana Maria thanked each presenter for accepting the invitation to share and for challenging those who attended to be faithful in their service to God.
“I am grateful to the leaders for taking this time and for being willing to prepare themselves for the challenges presented in the conferences in their respective districts and local churches to make Christlike disciples in the nations,” Ana Maria said. (Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica) Read more
AfricaZimbabwe
Tennis Mutowa remembered
Tennis Alfas Mutowa passed away 26 October. He was 83 years old.
When the Church of the Nazarene entered Zimbabwe in 1963, Mutowa was among the first converts under the ministry of missionary Morris Hall. Soon after he joined the church, Mutowa received a call to ministry and was sent to Malawi to study.
He returned to Zimbabwe in 1965 and became the first fully trained Nazarene minister. He was considered a gifted evangelist, and he planted and grew several churches in Zimbabwe.
Mutowa is survived by his wife, Margaret, their five children, and their many grandchildren.
Prayer is requested for the Mutowa family. (Church of the Nazarene Africa) Read more
The 10 stars on the flag represent the main islands of the nation. The blue represents the ocean and the sky.The band of white and red represents the road toward the construction of the nation and the colors stand for peace (white) and effort (red).
Flags of the Nations: Cabo Verde
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: Cabo Verde
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Cabo Verde in 1901.
Cabo Verde, the home nation of General Superintendent Eugénio R. Duarte, had a population of 560,899 in 2017. That same year, Cabo Verde reported 63 Churches of the Nazarene, 57 of which have been officially organized. Cabo Verde has 8,519 total members.
Cabo Verde has one Phase 2 district and one Phase 3 district on the Africa Region. For more information about the Africa Region, visit africanazarene.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 moreAsia-Pacific
Tabuyoc, Philippines
From left to right: Ernesto Rulloda, Mission Director Bob McCroskey Sr., Pastor Ricareda Valenzuela, and DS Andres ValenzuelaPioneer Filipino district superintendent passes away
Andres Valenzuela, a pastor, pioneer superintendent of the Luzon District, and the first Flipino superintendent of the Metro Manila District, passed away 30 October in Urdaneta Pangasinan, Philippines. He was 85 years old.
Valenzuela was born 17 March 1933 in Tabuyoc, Philippines, into a Roman Catholic family. Valenzuela was the oldest son of the late Francisco Valenzuela and his wife, Marina Valenzuela.
After graduation from high school, Valenzuela enrolled in the second class of the Fitkin Memorial Bible Training School (now Philippine Nazarene College) in La Trinidad. During his time at Fitkin, Valenzuela pastored a church in Baguio City, and he and several other students helped plant a church in Barangay Cabaroan in San Fernando City.
In March 1958, Valenzuela graduated from college and was the youngest among the first seven Filipino men who were ordained during the 4th Philippine District Assembly.
After graduation and ordination, Valenzuela was appointed pastor of the Caboroan Church of the Nazarene and served for two years with his younger brother Patricio. In 1960, Andy married Ricareda Verceles just after her graduation from Nazarene Bible College. One year later, Andy and Rica accepted the call to pastor the Church of the Nazarene in Agbannawag. During this pastorate, Andy founded the Tabuyoc Church of the Nazarene in the Pampanga province.
In March 1967, Andy was elected assistant district superintendent of the Philippines District on the third ballot. After a year traveling with Philippines Mission Director Robert McCroskey Sr., Valenzuela was elected the first Filipino district superintendent in the Philippines in a near-unanimous vote. In 1971, Rica became the first woman to be ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines and served as pastor in Binalonan, Laoac, and Tabuyoc churches.
When the Philippines District was divided in March 1973, Andy became the first superintendent of the new Luzon District, which encompassed the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. In June 1976, Rica was elected as the first Asian representative to the Nazarene World Mission Society Council (now Nazarene Missions International) of the Church of the Nazarene. She served for two terms in this position until June 1985.
Andy was elected superintendent of the Metro Manila District in 1980. While serving in Manila, Rica pastored the Central Church of the Nazarene in Cubao and was also the first district children's ministry coordinator.
The Valenzuelas both dual enrolled at Asia Theological Seminary and at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary when it first opened in November 1983. Andy received Distinguished Service Awards from the Metro Manila District in 1983 and from the Luzon District in 1987.
After graduation from APNTS in 1986, Andy resigned as superintendent of the Metro Manila District and the Valenzuela family migrated to northern California to plant and pastor Filipino churches. The Valenzuelas co-founded the New Life Church in Vallejo, California, serving there until they retired in 2014. Andy also served as the USA/Canada Filipino Ministry facilitator for the Church of the Nazarene from 1991 to 2014.
In June 2017, they returned to live in their hometown in the Philippines. The Valenzuelas were honored in a special service at the Tabuyoc Church in August 2017, and they were presented plaques by Philippines Nazarene College as outstanding alumni in October 2017.
Andy Valenzuela is survived by his wife, Rica, their two children, Abner Valenzuela and Brenda Valenzuela Fortune, and their five grandchildren. (Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary via NCN News submissions) Stories to share? Send an email to news@nazarene.org Read more
MesoamericaNicaragua
Nicaragua PK retreat reminds participants they are 'Chosen By God'
The Nicaragua Central District held a pastors’ kids retreat themed “Chosen By God” 3-4 November at the Skylark Retreat Center. A total of 70 people between the ages of 5 and 35 attended, including children, youth, and adults.
District Superintendent Maria Antonia Ponce organized the event, Paulino Munoz was the retreat speaker, Aydalina Maraga was the workshops teacher, and Juan Jose Picado led games.
Ponce led a powerful time of prayer over the participants, Medary Jaime personally mentored children between the ages of 5 and 12, and there were two altar calls where at least 18 youth renewed their commitments to God and their parents.
“It was a blessed time, and the youth expressed their gratefulness to God, the church, and the donors,” Ponce said. (Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica) Read more
South America
Campinas, Brazil
Thousands participate in NYC Brazil
Young people from across Brazil recently converged in Campinas with a single purpose: to live out the immeasurable love of God. The gathering was Brazil’s Nazarene Youth Conference, held 11-13 October at the Campinas Central Church under the theme Immeasurable.
More than 2,000 people were present during the Saturday night service and approximately 1,300 people participated in communion.
“[This was] a unique and remarkable moment for the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil,” said Mariana Belufe, NYC Brazil event secretary.
During the services, local musicians Tiago Arrais, Gabriel Guedes, Nazateen Music, and Paulo César Baruk led worship.
The event speakers were General Superintendent David Busic, Regional Director Christian Sarmiento, Nazarene Youth International Global Council President Adiel Amadeu, Nazarene Youth International Regional/National President Christiano Malta, and local pastors Rafael Machado and Aguiar Valvassoura.
In addition to training periods and workshops, five Maximum Mission projects were completed simultaneously throughout the Campinas region. Some projects included painting soccer/basketball courts at two regional schools, evangelism in public squares, and evangelism in church neighborhoods. Approximately 1,000 volunteers worked together on these projects to expand the Kingdom and bring love to the ends of the earth.
“We lived unforgettable days that will remain in our memory,” Belufe said. “There are things we can measure, but we believe that the seed planted in the heart of each adolescent and youth, as well as the love of God and what the Lord will do in future generations, cannot be measured, for this is immeasurable.” (Church of the Nazarene South America) Read moreSan Francisco, Venezuela
Venezuela church starts mission in new community
The El Caujaro Church of the Nazarene in San Francisco, Venezuela, completed an outreach project to plant a church-type mission in the Caminos de Jesús neighborhood.
The project was part of the South America Region’s Living the Great Commission initiative. Church members first received training in evangelism through the Disciples in Ministry program before serving the local children by providing spiritual and physical nutrition to them and their families.
Despite the fact that many problems and challenges arose, the volunteers were determined to finish the project. Thanks to the support of these volunteers, the El Caujaro church, and the international supporters, land was acquired where a temporary chapel was built to begin the church-type mission in Caminos de Jesús.
Approximately 70 children and 30 adults attended the opening service 26 October. Everyone gave thanks to God for the work that had been done in the area, and many people committed their lives to the Lord, including Samuel, a 5-year-old boy, who said that he will be the future pastor of the church.
“We are convinced that very soon the Church of the Nazarene in Caminos de Jesús will be organized,” said Carlos Cordero, Venezuela holistic ministries coordinator. “We believe this is one of the ways we are living the Great Commission.” (Church of the Nazarene South America) 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 5-9 November 2018.
J. Michael Buck, 61, of Grove City, Ohio, passed away 27 October. He was a minister, serving at Lifepoint Church of the Nazarene in Columbus, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Dale Buck.
Glenn Carpenter, 84, of Maceo, Kentucky, passed away 7 November. He was the spouse of retired minister Berdena Carpenter, who served in Kentucky and Indiana.
Terry Connally, 84, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away 3 November. He was a retired minister and educator, serving in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Texas, and Kansas. He is survived by his wife, Charlene Connally.
Erlene Fivecoat, 91, of Newberg, Oregon, passed away 4 November. She was the spouse of retired minister Don Fivecoat, who served in Oregon.
William Hodge, 76, of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, passed away 1 November. He was a retired minister, serving in Missouri, California, Illinois, Indiana, and Florida. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Hodge.
Etna James, 75, of Rising Fawn, Georgia, passed away 31 October. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist W. Riley James Jr., who served in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. W. Riley James Jr. passed away in August.
Kenneth Jewell, 91, of Kankakee, Illinois, passed away 3 November. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in Indiana. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Jewell.
Harold McKellips, 87, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away 2 November. He was a retired minister and educator, serving in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and California. He is survived by his wife, Shirley McKellips.
Carlton Mills, 76, of Seminole, Flordia, passed away 6 November. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in New York, Florida, Ohio, and Maryland. He was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam Mills, in 2012.
Tennis Mutowa, 83, of Zimbabwe, passed away 26 October. He was a retired minister, serving in Zimbabwe. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Mutowa.
Delia Sayes, 94, of Bourbonnais, Illinois, passed away 1 November. She was the widow of retired minister and educator J. Ottis Sayes, who served in Texas, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. J. Ottis Sayes passed away in 2003.
Grafton Smith, 96, of Carrollton, Texas, passed away 31 October. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Georgia. He is survived by his wife, retired minister and evangelist Roma Smith, who served in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Georgia.
Andres Valenzuela, 85, of Tabuyoc, Philippines, passed away 30 October. He was a retired minister and district superintendent, serving in the Philippines and leading the Metro Manila District. He is survived by his wife, Rica Valenzuela.
Bernice Wolfe, 92, of Lupton, Missouri, passed away 31 October. She was the wife of retired minister Roy Wolfe, who served in Indiana, West Virginia, and Ohio.
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 moreHuman 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.
Customer Service Coordinator (Full-time)
Financial Services
Description: This person will provide customer service and support for local and district users of the fundingthemission.org website as well as individual donors. Additionally, duties will include the processing of funds donated to various ministries of the Church of the Nazarene, Inc. using the donor database and customer relationship management software.
Director (Full-time)
Stewardship Development
Description: Reporting to the Global Communications Director, this person will be responsible for daily oversight and administration of pastoral leadership development, resourcing and growing a giving church culture through educational materials and training. This individual will oversee all fundraising, denominational marketing, brand development, and advancement strategies for constituent development and donor care.
Helpdesk Technician (Full-time)
Information Technology
Description: This person will be responsible for providing training, support, and guidance to technology users.
Missionary Training Coordinator (Full-time)
Global Missions Personnel
Description: This person will develop and improve systems and training for Global Missions in order to equip Nazarene missionaries, identify training and development needs throughout the missionary life cycle, and improve training resources and systems to respond to those needs.
Office Assistant (Part-time, temporary – 15 to 20 hours/week for 6 to 9 months)
Stewardship Development
Description: This person will give administrative support to the assistant director of the COMPASS Initiative. Duties will include tracking and reporting expenditures and managing program participants’ applications, report, and requests.
Sr. Accounting Technician – Accounts Payable (Full-time)
Financial Services
Description: This person will review and process disbursements for the Global Ministry Center. Other duties include, but are not limited to maintenance of vendor files, scanning of payables, training of new system users, and 1099 processing.
To obtain additional information for GMC positions, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
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.
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
Thousands participate in NYC Brazil
Young people from across Brazil recently converged in Campinas with a single purpose: to live out the immeasurable love of God. The gathering was Brazil’s Nazarene Youth Conference, held 11-13 October at the Campinas Central Church under the theme Immeasurable.
More than 2,000 people were present during the Saturday night service and approximately 1,300 people participated in communion.
“[This was] a unique and remarkable moment for the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil,” said Mariana Belufe, NYC Brazil event secretary.
During the services, local musicians Tiago Arrais, Gabriel Guedes, Nazateen Music, and Paulo César Baruk led worship.
The event speakers were General Superintendent David Busic, Regional Director Christian Sarmiento, Nazarene Youth International Global Council President Adiel Amadeu, Nazarene Youth International Regional/National President Christiano Malta, and local pastors Rafael Machado and Aguiar Valvassoura.
In addition to training periods and workshops, five Maximum Mission projects were completed simultaneously throughout the Campinas region. Some projects included painting soccer/basketball courts at two regional schools, evangelism in public squares, and evangelism in church neighborhoods. Approximately 1,000 volunteers worked together on these projects to expand the Kingdom and bring love to the ends of the earth.
“We lived unforgettable days that will remain in our memory,” Belufe said. “There are things we can measure, but we believe that the seed planted in the heart of each adolescent and youth, as well as the love of God and what the Lord will do in future generations, cannot be measured, for this is immeasurable.” (Church of the Nazarene South America) Read moreSan Francisco, Venezuela
Venezuela church starts mission in new community
The El Caujaro Church of the Nazarene in San Francisco, Venezuela, completed an outreach project to plant a church-type mission in the Caminos de Jesús neighborhood.
The project was part of the South America Region’s Living the Great Commission initiative. Church members first received training in evangelism through the Disciples in Ministry program before serving the local children by providing spiritual and physical nutrition to them and their families.
Despite the fact that many problems and challenges arose, the volunteers were determined to finish the project. Thanks to the support of these volunteers, the El Caujaro church, and the international supporters, land was acquired where a temporary chapel was built to begin the church-type mission in Caminos de Jesús.
Approximately 70 children and 30 adults attended the opening service 26 October. Everyone gave thanks to God for the work that had been done in the area, and many people committed their lives to the Lord, including Samuel, a 5-year-old boy, who said that he will be the future pastor of the church.
“We are convinced that very soon the Church of the Nazarene in Caminos de Jesús will be organized,” said Carlos Cordero, Venezuela holistic ministries coordinator. “We believe this is one of the ways we are living the Great Commission.” (Church of the Nazarene South America) 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 5-9 November 2018.
J. Michael Buck, 61, of Grove City, Ohio, passed away 27 October. He was a minister, serving at Lifepoint Church of the Nazarene in Columbus, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Dale Buck.
Glenn Carpenter, 84, of Maceo, Kentucky, passed away 7 November. He was the spouse of retired minister Berdena Carpenter, who served in Kentucky and Indiana.
Terry Connally, 84, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away 3 November. He was a retired minister and educator, serving in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Texas, and Kansas. He is survived by his wife, Charlene Connally.
Erlene Fivecoat, 91, of Newberg, Oregon, passed away 4 November. She was the spouse of retired minister Don Fivecoat, who served in Oregon.
William Hodge, 76, of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, passed away 1 November. He was a retired minister, serving in Missouri, California, Illinois, Indiana, and Florida. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Hodge.
Etna James, 75, of Rising Fawn, Georgia, passed away 31 October. She was the widow of retired minister and evangelist W. Riley James Jr., who served in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. W. Riley James Jr. passed away in August.
Kenneth Jewell, 91, of Kankakee, Illinois, passed away 3 November. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in Indiana. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Jewell.
Harold McKellips, 87, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away 2 November. He was a retired minister and educator, serving in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and California. He is survived by his wife, Shirley McKellips.
Carlton Mills, 76, of Seminole, Flordia, passed away 6 November. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in New York, Florida, Ohio, and Maryland. He was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam Mills, in 2012.
Tennis Mutowa, 83, of Zimbabwe, passed away 26 October. He was a retired minister, serving in Zimbabwe. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Mutowa.
Delia Sayes, 94, of Bourbonnais, Illinois, passed away 1 November. She was the widow of retired minister and educator J. Ottis Sayes, who served in Texas, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. J. Ottis Sayes passed away in 2003.
Grafton Smith, 96, of Carrollton, Texas, passed away 31 October. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Georgia. He is survived by his wife, retired minister and evangelist Roma Smith, who served in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Georgia.
Andres Valenzuela, 85, of Tabuyoc, Philippines, passed away 30 October. He was a retired minister and district superintendent, serving in the Philippines and leading the Metro Manila District. He is survived by his wife, Rica Valenzuela.
Bernice Wolfe, 92, of Lupton, Missouri, passed away 31 October. She was the wife of retired minister Roy Wolfe, who served in Indiana, West Virginia, and Ohio.
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 moreHuman 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.
Customer Service Coordinator (Full-time)
Financial Services
Description: This person will provide customer service and support for local and district users of the fundingthemission.org website as well as individual donors. Additionally, duties will include the processing of funds donated to various ministries of the Church of the Nazarene, Inc. using the donor database and customer relationship management software.
Director (Full-time)
Stewardship Development
Description: Reporting to the Global Communications Director, this person will be responsible for daily oversight and administration of pastoral leadership development, resourcing and growing a giving church culture through educational materials and training. This individual will oversee all fundraising, denominational marketing, brand development, and advancement strategies for constituent development and donor care.
Helpdesk Technician (Full-time)
Information Technology
Description: This person will be responsible for providing training, support, and guidance to technology users.
Missionary Training Coordinator (Full-time)
Global Missions Personnel
Description: This person will develop and improve systems and training for Global Missions in order to equip Nazarene missionaries, identify training and development needs throughout the missionary life cycle, and improve training resources and systems to respond to those needs.
Office Assistant (Part-time, temporary – 15 to 20 hours/week for 6 to 9 months)
Stewardship Development
Description: This person will give administrative support to the assistant director of the COMPASS Initiative. Duties will include tracking and reporting expenditures and managing program participants’ applications, report, and requests.
Sr. Accounting Technician – Accounts Payable (Full-time)
Financial Services
Description: This person will review and process disbursements for the Global Ministry Center. Other duties include, but are not limited to maintenance of vendor files, scanning of payables, training of new system users, and 1099 processing.
To obtain additional information for GMC positions, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
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.
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
Copyright © 2018 Church of the Nazarene, Inc., All rights reserved.
Nazarene Communications Network
You are receiving this email because you are a member of the clergy
in the Church of the Nazarene or have subscribed to this newsletter.
Material created and owned by NCN News may be used for church newsletters and bulletins.
ABOUT US
The The Global 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
***
No comments:
Post a Comment