Nazarenes in the News: March 16, 2012

Friday, March 16, 2012

Global Ministry Center

Nazarenes in the News is a compilation of online news articles featuring Nazarene churches or church members.

First Church of the Nazarene sign helps convey message to public
Lemont, Illinois

(MySuburbanLife.com, March 14) The First Church of the Nazarene in Lemont is utilizing their damaged sign to convey a message to the public. Pastor Adam Lewis said the church placed a banner sign that asks "Does your life feel like our sign?" to draw those in need to church.

To see the video, click here.


Women praise effort of SHINE speakers, organizers
Porterville, California

(RecorderOnline.com, March 12) Close to 500 women attended the SHINE Christian Women’s Conference at Porterville Church of the Nazarene on Friday and Saturday. According to Associate Pastor Julie Cheney the goal of the conference is to give women encouragement and hope in their busy lives.

“A yearly event like this is a refreshment for your soul,” said Amber Rafferty, “It is what working moms need to continue to live a Godly life.”

New York Times best-selling author Lysa TerKeurst was guest speaker at the event along with local musician Monica Stahl of Visalia.

Women traveled from all over the country to attend SHINE, which provided “opportunities for women to worship in fellowship and prayer” and make positive life choices, according to Amy Miller, leader of Women’s ministries and SHINE organizer.

For the rest of the story, click here.

NMI president deems Florida youth retreat a success
Lake Placid, Florida

(NCN News submissions, March 14) "The Amazing Race: Mission Edition" was put on by Nazarene Missions International and three Florida districts for high school and college-aged students who feel called to Christian service. The students participated in three days of worship and activities at Lake Placid, Florida.

"This was our first effort at such an event," Dennis Moore said. "We had a great response from all those who attended. In my 27 years as an NMI president, I felt this was one of our most rewarding and impacting events we have ever sponsored." 

To view pictures of the event, see the NCN News Facebook page by clicking here.


Religion vs. regulation: Indiana's faith-based day cares caught in between
Indianapolis, Indiana

(IndyStar.com, March 11) At Westside Church of the Nazarene's child-care center, Bible time is set aside each day for the 2- to 5-year-olds. Once a week, all 60 children participate in a 25-minute chapel service. And some secular educational lessons are sprinkled with biblical references.

The day care, 8610 W. 10th St., is fully licensed by the state of Indiana, receives federal funding and has to meet scores of safety, health and employment rules and regulations.

Restricting religious expression isn't one of them.

"I've never once in 10 years had anyone from the state come in here and tell us what we can teach," said Dan Cramer, director of Westside Christian Preschool/Child Care. "If they did, I wouldn't take their money."

For the rest of the story, click here.


Barabbas reborn in downtown Sandy
Sandy, Oregon

(Sandy Post, March 14) Jamie Snodgrass of Boring would agree he's trying to recreate history, but in that process the pastor's “life” is at the whim of the masses.

Beginning this Monday and continuing the following four weeks, Snodgrass, pastor of the Sandy Church of the Nazarene, is being seen daily around Sandy dressed as and acting the role of Barabbas, a murderer and insurrectionist of the first century – spoken about briefly in each of the four gospels in the Christian Bible.

“I’m going to be all over town,” the pastor said. “This is the way I get to live for a month.”

He'll be seen on the sidewalks and in businesses, with cards and fliers and water bottles supposedly containing water from the Dead Sea.

He’ll be recruiting for Team Barabbas.

By 10 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 8, Snodgrass is expecting hundreds to gather outside the Sandy Church of the Nazarene to become part of history and recreate the trial before Pilate that ends with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

For the rest of the story, click here.

New Hispanic church plant for Canada Quebec District
Laval, Quebec

(Nazarene News Canada, March 9) The first official service of the newest congregation on the Canada Quebec District, Église du Nazaréen de Laval/Iglesia del Nazareno de Laval, was held on the evening of Sunday, March 4. Pastor Saul Vazquez leads this congregation, birthed from a house Bible study group of four families, as well as continuing to pastor the sponsor church (Montreal Central Church of the Nazarene/ Iglesia Central del Nazareno).

This marks the 10 year anniversary for our Hispanic brothers and sisters in establishing a Nazarene church in Quebec. District Superintendent K. Clair MacMillan attended a special service on March 10 to celebrate this achievement in praise and worship to God for their past and continued growth and blessing.

Please visit the district website (www.churchofthenazarenequebec.ca) for information on all of the Quebec District churches (some pages are still under construction).


NNU Roundup: Hope named GNAC Track Athlete of Year
Nampa, Idaho

(Idaho Press-Tribune, March 16) Senior Maurus Hope of Northwest Nazarene has been voted the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year.

Hope is the first male at NNU to win the award in the nine-year history of  the GNAC’s indoor track and field awards program.

Hope was the men’s top point producer in the conference meet, winning the 400 meters in a meet-record time of 48.45 and the 200 in a time of 21.91.  He also finished second in the 60 hurdles in a time of 8.52.


Stories to share? Send them to submitnews@ncnnews.com.
--Compiled by NCN News

 

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