Books for Pastors -- Tools for Ministry: Global Update
Friday, December 8, 2006
Kansas City
General Nazarene Missions International (NMI) Director Daniel Ketchum reports $2.45 million has been received to date for the Books for Pastors -- Tools for Ministry global project as part of NMI's 90th anniversary offering. The project targets 60 languages, 14,000 pastors, and 27,442 students.
This report came Wednesday, December 6 during a series of meetings involving the Board of General Superintendents and department directors at International Headquarters. Reports from additional Nazarene leaders in South Africa, Mozambique, and Australia were made possible by video conferencing.
From Africa, Salatiel Munedzimwe, Africa literature coordinator, reports many pastors are using newly acquired materials resulting from the Books for Pastors offering. The result is continued growth in the region.
Munedzimwe stated, "The Holiness Message is more comprehensible when it is read and heard in one's own language."
By equipping pastors with new materials, their ministry is both affirmed and is fostering new growth. Twenty-one languages in Africa have been targeted for editorial development.
Munedzimwe continued, "The Books for Pastors project has elevated our awareness of the need to continue development of literature as well as leaders."
David Wesley of Nazarene Theological Seminary spoke of the sacrificial involvement of Peruvian Nazarenes to the NMI offering. In an area of limited resources, Nazarenes have sacrificially given $430 to this offering, ignoring their own near lack of even essential resources, Wesley reported. This story could be told from other global areas as well.
Jesse C. Middendorf, jurisdictional general superintendent for the Horn of Africa Field, stated 148 newly licensed ministers are recipients of resources made available through the Books for Pastors project. The ripple effect is stimulating the development of training strategies and will surely result in providing the church with potential ordinands in the near future.
World Mission Department Education Coordinator Bob Woodruff, speaking from Australia, said, "All regions will eventually be involved in this project." Woodruff then highlighted the four principles on which the accountability/management element of the project is built:
1. This is a strategic initiative.
2. Accountability mechanisms ensure fidelity to the projects aims.
3. This project integrates a denomination-wide plan with the regional initiatives.
4. This project is a collaborative one, combining regional and general church resources.
Jerry Lambert, International Board of Education commissioner, summed up the report by referring to the "leveraging power" of gifts.
Lambert said, "The Board of General Superintendents gave their blessing to this project. A blessing not only includes the spoken word, it includes the affirming touch, the empowering affirmation, and the commitment to see the blessing actualized."
In response, Jerry D. Porter, Board of General Superintendents chair, expressed appreciation and offered a pledge to seek God's mind for direction in responding to challenges, "¿ beyond our loaves and fishes."
--NCN News (Note: All funds expressed in U.S. dollars) in responding to challenges, "¿ beyond our loaves and fishes."
--NCN News (Note: All funds expressed in U.S. dollars)
This report came Wednesday, December 6 during a series of meetings involving the Board of General Superintendents and department directors at International Headquarters. Reports from additional Nazarene leaders in South Africa, Mozambique, and Australia were made possible by video conferencing.
From Africa, Salatiel Munedzimwe, Africa literature coordinator, reports many pastors are using newly acquired materials resulting from the Books for Pastors offering. The result is continued growth in the region.
Munedzimwe stated, "The Holiness Message is more comprehensible when it is read and heard in one's own language."
By equipping pastors with new materials, their ministry is both affirmed and is fostering new growth. Twenty-one languages in Africa have been targeted for editorial development.
Munedzimwe continued, "The Books for Pastors project has elevated our awareness of the need to continue development of literature as well as leaders."
David Wesley of Nazarene Theological Seminary spoke of the sacrificial involvement of Peruvian Nazarenes to the NMI offering. In an area of limited resources, Nazarenes have sacrificially given $430 to this offering, ignoring their own near lack of even essential resources, Wesley reported. This story could be told from other global areas as well.
Jesse C. Middendorf, jurisdictional general superintendent for the Horn of Africa Field, stated 148 newly licensed ministers are recipients of resources made available through the Books for Pastors project. The ripple effect is stimulating the development of training strategies and will surely result in providing the church with potential ordinands in the near future.
World Mission Department Education Coordinator Bob Woodruff, speaking from Australia, said, "All regions will eventually be involved in this project." Woodruff then highlighted the four principles on which the accountability/management element of the project is built:
1. This is a strategic initiative.
2. Accountability mechanisms ensure fidelity to the projects aims.
3. This project integrates a denomination-wide plan with the regional initiatives.
4. This project is a collaborative one, combining regional and general church resources.
Jerry Lambert, International Board of Education commissioner, summed up the report by referring to the "leveraging power" of gifts.
Lambert said, "The Board of General Superintendents gave their blessing to this project. A blessing not only includes the spoken word, it includes the affirming touch, the empowering affirmation, and the commitment to see the blessing actualized."
In response, Jerry D. Porter, Board of General Superintendents chair, expressed appreciation and offered a pledge to seek God's mind for direction in responding to challenges, "¿ beyond our loaves and fishes."
--NCN News (Note: All funds expressed in U.S. dollars) in responding to challenges, "¿ beyond our loaves and fishes."
--NCN News (Note: All funds expressed in U.S. dollars)