December 5, 2002
Volume 0247
Senior Editor: David J. Felter

News This Week
Oklahoma Church Destroyed by Fire
Japan-Based FNCF Hits Year Three
Church Nears Record Faith Promise Figure
Gospel Music Loses a Legend
Bronx Bethany Celebrates Anniversary
Nazarene Elected Attorney General
Out of Africa
International Church of the Nazarene Web Links
Prayer Mobilization Line
Personal Notes
Nazarene Collegiate News
NCN Broadcast Schedule

Oklahoma congregation rebounds from fire
The Wagoner, Oklahoma Church of the Nazarene was destroyed on November 16 when a fire spread throughout the building, leaving the church in smoking ashes. Inspectors speculate the fire began in the Sunday School office’s copy machine, which was turned off, but plugged in. Fortunately, the damage was done late on a Saturday afternoon when the building was unoccupied and no injuries were sustained. The fire department was quick to respond to the emergency call; fighting the blaze until realizing the building was unable to be saved.

The congregation met for worship the following day in a nearby wedding chapel. The church continues to receive an outpouring of support from the Northeast Oklahoma district; Wagoner city officials, including the mayor, who has offered the city’s services to help with cleanup; the community; and surrounding churches. Wagoner First Baptist Church has graciously offered its youth building to Wagoner Nazarene to use for worship services free of charge. The Wagoner church has accepted the offer, but insists on paying for the building’s use.

The heart of the Wagoner church – its people – has decided to rebuild at the same location. The spirits of those affected remain positive and optimistic as they continue to pray. They hope to have a new building resurrected as soon as Thanksgiving, 2003. One of the church’s pastors, Rev. Marylin Rogers, proves the outlook of the church to be positive by proclaiming, “We believe the Lord will bring beauty from the ashes.”
--NE Oklahoma District

Japan-Based FNCF celebrates third anniversary
Filipino Nazarene Christian Fellowship is celebrating its third anniversary. Based in Japan, FNCF is a unique ministry aiming to reach the 7 million Filipino contract workers who live outside of their home country. November 23 marked the date that Tino and Carol Benzonan, church planters sent by the Philippine Metro Manila district, started the ministry three years ago. Philippine Field Director David Phillips was the guest speaker for the anniversary celebrations.

With the assistance of a team of workers, including Jun Ooka of Japan, the Benzonans have helped to establish three Filipino congregations in Japan with a total average Sunday morning attendance of more than 100. The majority of the members of the congregations are new Christians. Key components of the ministry are evangelism and the training of lay leadership. Numerous evening home Bible studies are conducted as part of the strategy, as is the distribution of tracts in train stations and utilizing everyday conversations.

Church nears record for Faith Promise pledges
The Olathe, Kansas College Church of the Nazarene is nearing a monumental figure for Faith Promise pledges. After advertising the offering for just two Sundays, the church has received a remarkable $828,830.00 in pledges. With one Sunday to go, the church, located adjacent to MidAmerica Nazarene University, expects the total to top the $850,000 mark. NCN News speculates that figure to be the highest ever recorded for Faith Promise pledges in the Church of the Nazarene.
-- NCN News

Howard "Happy" Goodman goes home
The gospel music world suffered a big loss Thanksgiving weekend, when Howard "Happy" Goodman, a long-time member of the legendary Happy Goodman Family, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 81. Goodman had been hospitalized for seven months as a result of a variety of complications following knee surgery, and was undergoing therapy and rehabilitation when he developed pneumonia a week prior to his death on Saturday morning, November 30.

Born November 7, 1921, Goodman was given the nickname “Happy” by his mother. Goodman grew up in Alabama, learning to play the piano at age 12 and beginning his gospel music career in 1938 with his sisters. He met his wife of 53 years, the former Vestal Freeman, as a young teenager and the two married in 1949. They immediately began singing and traveling. Together, with Howard's brothers, Sam and Rusty, The Happy Goodman Family became a household name.

The Happy Goodman Family has been showered with accolades throughout the years, accumulating three Grammy Awards, numerous Dove Awards, and recording 15 Number One songs, including “I Wouldn’t Take Nothin’ For My Journey Now.” The group performed more than 3,500 concerts, including performing at the White House for President Jimmy Carter in 1979. They were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998.

Goodman is survived by his wife; Vestal, son; Rick, daughter; Vicki Meadows, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

For more information about The Happy Goodman Family and the life of Howard Goodman, visit www.happygoodmans.com.

Thirty-Eight years for Bronx Bethany
The Bronx, New York Bethany Church of the Nazarene was formerly established in 1964 by a determined group of immigrants, coming to the United States only a few years earlier. Under the leadership of V. Seymour Cole, there were 21 charter members of this new church. Dr. Cole tirelessly pastored the congregation for 36 years before retiring and turning the pulpit over to Dr. Samuel Vassel. Vassel, a former Bishop of the Holiness Christian Church in Jamaica, was installed as pastor in September 2000 to continue the legacy of the church.

Today, after 38 strong years, the Bronx Bethany Church continues to grow both in number and in stature as it reaches out to the Bronx community. The small church that began with only 21 members is now going strong with close to 600 members.

Dr. Vassel will be the opening night speaker at the Millennium 3 Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, February 17-19, 2003.
--NCN News

Nazarene elected Attorney General
Phill Kline was recently elected Attorney General of Kansas after an extremely close race. As one of five children raised by a single parent, Phill learned early on the importance of hard work, dedication to excellence, and commitment to justice. As he campaigned for, and ultimately won this highly influential title, Kline proclaimed, “Justice is standing up for what is right and true.” Kline is a graduate of Central Missouri State University and University of Kansas School of Law. He served in the Kansas House of Representatives for eight years. Mr. Kline and his family are members of the Central Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas.

Out of Africa
Joanie Doerr, NCN - Africa, supplies all information for this summary.

Amazing growth in Angola
Membership in Nazarene churches in Angola has more than doubled in the last year, according to Field Director Eugenio Duarte. Duarte, in conjunction with Jonas Mulate, reports membership has risen from 1039 in 2001 to 2117 members this year.
--NCN—Africa, Shelly Potts.

Food distribution in Lesotho complete
Anton and Carolyn Hol, Nazarenes in Volunteer Service, report that 960 bags of maize were delivered to needy families in the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho, concluding a massive food relief and seed-corn distribution effort. The project, through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, was completed with the help of several people from a South African club, who donated the use their 4 X 4 vehicles to transport each of the 110-pound bags. Farmers must now battle cold temperatures and frost, which is slowing the growth of the crops.
--NCN—Africa, Shelly Potts.

Church of the Nazarene Ministry Links
All links to the varied global ministry functions of the Church of the Nazarene can be found by going to http://www.nazarene.org. A drop-down box will list all the sites available for your surfing pleasure. Visit us often!

Prayer Mobilization Line
This information can be found by going to http://www.nazarenemissions.org/pml
Personal Notes
Nazarene Bible College President loses mother
Mrs. Lucille Sanders, widow of Dr. E. H. Sanders and mother of Dr. Hiram E. Sanders, died November 25, 2002. Funeral services were held in Sapulpa, Oklahoma on November 29. Dr. E. H. Sanders was a former District Superintendent of the Northeast Oklahoma district. Mrs. Sanders is survived by her son, Dr. Hiram E. Sanders, who is currently President of Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Wife of former District Superintendent dies
Geneva Holstein, wife of J. Ted Holstein, passed away November 27, 2002 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Holstein was suffering from three brain hemorrhages. She is survived by her husband; J. Ted; children; Linda, Sandy and Ken; and several grandchildren. J. Ted Holstein is a former District Superintendent of the Wisconsin and Kentucky districts.

Nazarene Collegiate News
KNU receives prized grants, ranking of “Excellent”
Thanks to several significant grants, Korea Nazarene University is constructing a Dream School and is able to equip the KNU campus to continue to offer programs for the disadvantaged. The provincial and national Ministry of Education awarded KNU a $523,000 (US) grant for the development of the new Dream School.

In part because of its work with the disadvantaged, Korea Nazarene University was among the top institutions of higher education listed in a new study of Korea's 197 universities. Because of this “Excellent” ranking, KNU receives a $650,000 (US) grant. The grant will be used for multimedia equipment for new programs, as well as the installation of an elevator. An additional grant, in the amount of $1.3 million (US), is earmarked for the construction of a special library complete with learning packages, software, and equipment for the physically and mentally challenged. Of the 197 universities in the Republic of Korea, 10.6 percent of the disadvantaged students in the nation's universities are at KNU.

KNU President Dr. Bill Patch gives all the credit to God, stating, "God has enabled us to begin developing a solid university that is distinctly Christian, Wesleyan in theology, and totally involved with the society around it. Our praise goes to our Lord for the beautiful opportunity He has given us to share our faith in this educational process."

ENC loses professor to brain tumor
The Eastern Nazarene College family lost one of its own when Daniel Shea, Professor of Biology, passed away Sunday evening, December 1. Shea had been fighting a brain tumor for the last few years, though he chose to teach throughout his fight. The 52-year-old Shea joined the ENC family in 1977 and was still teaching select classes as late as the fall semester this year. He is survived by his wife; Mary Lou, and his daughter; Samantha. Memorial services were held on campus at the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to ENC’s Scholarship Fund.

Olivet nursing programs receive full accreditation
Olivet Nazarene University’s undergraduate and master’s degree nursing programs were recently awarded maximum accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), according to the University’s Office of Academic Affairs.

The undergraduate program was awarded 10 years of accreditation and the master’s program, five years of accreditation.

The CCNE is an accrediting agency that ensures the quality of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education programs nationwide. Yale University, The Ohio State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin are among institutions whose nursing programs are accredited by the CCNE.

“The CCNE is a prestigious accrediting body in nursing education, so achieving this accreditation is a real mark of distinction,” said Dr. Gary Streit, Olivet’s vice president for academic affairs.

The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission had previously accredited Olivet’s nursing programs for 23 years. The first class of students from the University’s new Master of Science degree in nursing program completed all degree requirements in October 2002. Degrees will be conferred in January 2003.

NCN Sports Bytes:

Lady Trojans pile up victories, jump to record ranking
The Trevecca Nazarene University Lady Trojans basketball team recently pulled a triple-whammy by winning consecutive tournaments and beating the country’s #1 NAIA team in the process. The 8-1 Trojans won the State Farm–Nazarene Invitational held at Trevecca by beating #25 Point Loma Nazarene 66-65, MidAmerica Nazarene 83-77, and Olivet Nazarene 70-68 in overtime. The #16 Lady Trojans then hosted the La Quinta Inn Classic at Trevecca’s Moore Gymnasium and opened tourney action by beating #20 Georgetown, Kentucky 79-71. The ladies then pulled off arguably the biggest win in school history when they topped the NAIA’s top-ranked team, the Southern Nazarene University Crimson Storm, 74-71. Putting the icing on the cake, the Trojans then avenged their only loss of the season by whipping #10 Lambuth 92-66. The streak earned the Lady Trojans, coached by Julie van Beek, their highest ranking in school history when they were voted #7 in the country. SNU held onto the #1 position despite the loss and not receiving any first-place votes. Their hold on #1 can be attributed to destroying their next three opponents by an average of 32 points per contest. The latest NAIA women’s basketball poll contains three Nazarene schools: #1 SNU, #7 TNU, #22 PLNU. ONU sits just outside the top-25 at #29.
--TNU

NAIA Cross Country National Championship Team Results:
Men:
10th MNU
26th PLNU
27th ONU

Women:
24th ONU

NCCAA Cross Country National Championship Team Results:
Men:
2nd MNU
6th ONU

Women:
7th ONU
12th MNU

ENC
Women’s Basketball: 1-2
Men’s Basketball: 0-3

MNU
Football: 9-2, Final NAIA rank: 8 (Won Conference Championship, season complete.)
Women’s Basketball: 5-2
Men’s Basketball: 6-4, NAIA rank: 24 (Div. 2)
Men’s Cross Country Final NAIA rank: 3

MVNU
Women’s Soccer: 14-8-1
Men’s Soccer: 15-8-0
Volleyball: 36-13
Women’s Basketball: 4-2
Men’s Basketball: 7-0, NAIA rank: 17 (Div. 2)

NNU
Women’s Basketball: 3-0
Men’s Basketball: 1-3

ONU
Women’s Soccer: 16-9-0
Volleyball: 33-11, Final NAIA rank: 25
Women’s Basketball: 5-4, NAIA rank: 29
Men’s Basketball: 5-4
Baseball Preseason NAIA rank: 18

PLNU
Volleyball: 25-6, Final NAIA rank: 6 (Won Region II Championship, will host National Championship tournament.)
Women’s Basketball: 5-1, NAIA rank: 22
Men’s Basketball: 5-2
Women’s Cross Country Final NAIA rank: 23
Men’s Cross Country Final NAIA rank: 22
Baseball Preseason NAIA rank: 22

SNU
Volleyball: 19-16
Women’s Basketball: 5-1, NAIA rank: 1
Men’s Basketball: 7-2

TNU
Volleyball: 31-15
Women’s Basketball: 8-1, NAIA rank: 7
Men’s Basketball: 2-3

NCN Broadcast Schedule
Satellite Program Guide
*All Times Are Eastern*
NCN Broadcasts on DISH Network Channel 9602

December 8: NCN Sunday (Featuring Services from Nazarene Congregations)…11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
December 10: NCN News…8:00 p.m. to 8:05 p.m.
Mission Today…8:05 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
December 15: NCN Sunday (Featuring Services from Nazarene Congregations)…11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
December 17: NCN News…8:00 p.m. to 8:05 p.m.
NCN Profile…8:05 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The preceding information may be used in newsletters and
bulletins.. For more information or to report stories, contact
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