January 17, 2003
Volume 0302
Senior Editor: David J. Felter

News This Week
Stats Tell Story of Growth
Lives Changing in Brazil Prison
Thai HIV/AIDS Kids Receive Christmas Treat
Toddlers/Twos, and Babies, Too!
Venezuela Unrest Affects Nazarenes
NCM Aims to Blanket Bangladesh
Out of Africa
International Church of the Nazarene Web Links
Prayer Mobilization Line
Personal Notes
Nazarene Collegiate News

Stats tell story of growth
Kansas City—The General Secretary’s office recently released information based on 2002 ministry achievements for the global church. The accompanying graphic illustrations tell the story of the numbers. Obviously, what’s missing is the human dimension. Behind these encouraging numbers are people…people whose lives have been transformed through the message of Christ. Church leaders report growth and renewal in many areas. We are pleased to present such good news.

(Click Here to Enlarge)

São Paulo State Penitentiary home to a congregation of 40 Nazarenes and their pastor
After a prison uprising in mid-February 2000, Antonio Leão, Paulistano district superintendent and Jabaquara church pastor, decided to form a prison ministry in the São Paulo, Brazil State Penitentiary to help reform inmates and bring them to a knowledge of Christ as their savior. Pastor Max Idele Oliveira is one of the many prisoners whose life has been changed by the work of Leão and the Church of the Nazarene in this penitentiary. In fact, Oliveira was recently the recipient of a district license. The congregation of inmates has even begun ministering to their fellow prisoners while showing a good grasp of theology and the principles of Christian living. As a surprise for Leão, the inmates performed a Christmas play depicting the life of Christ from the announcement of His birth to His temptation. At the end of the program, they sang “Jesus Christ Changed My Life.”

Known among the prisoners as “the church that cares,” the Nazarene church has gained respect by working to improve the prison and the conditions the prisoners live in. Church members have replaced glass in broken windows, painted walls and ceilings, mowed the prison lawn, and donated a sewing machine so prisoners could work. For every three days of work, their sentence is reduced by one day.

In a cooperative effort with the Roman Catholic and Assembly of God churches, the Church of the Nazarene is setting up a community radio system within the prison made of speaker boxes strung throughout the complex so religious services can be aired. The Church of the Nazarene will provide 600 meters of wire and an amplifier for the project.

Hanging on the walls of the small prison church are 10 posters, sent to the churches in Brazil by Stewardship Services, reminding Christians of their responsibility to take the gospel to all nations, using their time, talents, and means to accomplish the mission. This message has penetrated the three-foot thick walls of São Paulo State Penitentiary, proving not even the gates of a prison can prevail against the church.

For more information on this ministry, including a riveting personal account of a visit inside the penitentiary, please visit http://www.ncnnews.org/brazil.html. Missionary Steve Heap takes the reader on a vivid journey around the prison, beautifully describing each detail of his December visit.
--SAM Region

Nazarenes host Christmas party for HIV/AIDS children in Thailand
Thanks to Bangkok First Church of the Nazarene and a 13-member Nazarene Youth International team from Japan, several children of HIV/AIDS victims in Thailand had a memorable Christmas this year. The children and their parents were special guests at a Christmas party organized by Nazarene missionary Ceny Hirahara and the Bangkok First Church "New Life for HIV/AIDS Victims" team. The party was funded through the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Christmas Project as part of the ongoing ministry of Bangkok First Church’s HIV/AIDS ministry. The party included singing, drama sketches, gift giving, viewing The JESUS Film, and a question and answer time.

Hirahara was pleased with the response to the Christmas celebration. “The Japan NYI team members were able to mingle with the local people very well. Through their testimonies, songs, and other presentations, they established friendships with the children. Their visit had a fruitful impact on the lives of many of the children and parents.”

It is estimated that 2.23-percent of the population in Thailand is infected with HIV. Last year, more than 150 people died each day in Thailand as a result of AIDS.
--Dave Hane, NCN News, Asia-Pacific Region

The Value of Early Christian Education: Reaching Children in the Church Nursery
Recent brain research reveals a child’s first three years of life are the most significant in the learning process. In fact, children learn more rapidly in their first three years than during the rest of their lifetime. Despite this information, teaching in many Sunday School classrooms usually starts at about age three. According to Kathy Lewis, Children’s Ministries Nursery Curriculum Editor, “If we accept the findings of modern researchers in brain development, it is imperative that a child’s Christian education begins as early as possible, both in the church and in the home.”

The most educationally appropriate method for teaching babies, toddlers, and twos is through learning centers. Learning centers address children’s different interests and abilities, encourage and teach them to make choices, and give children one-on-one contact with their teachers.

WordAction has recently produced a free nursery recruiting and training video. The 2:18-minute recruiting segment can be used as a roll-in to services or gatherings. The video is designed to raise the awareness of the local church to the need for quality care in the church nursery and to extend an invitation to church members to respond to that need. The 9:18-minute Toddlers/Twos and Babies, too! training segment can be used to inform the curriculum committee about the new nursery curriculum, as well as training workers after the curriculum has been purchased. The video shows children interacting with the curriculum, and it includes testimonials from nursery workers who have used the product.

Those interested can receive this free video by E-mailing a request to Kathy Lewis at klewis@nazarene.org, or by calling 1-888-644-4510.
--Children’s Ministries

Venezuela unrest affecting many Nazarenes
Despite riots, strikes, and violence, the Church of the Nazarene in Venezuela remains unharmed. It is not, however, unaffected.

Political unrest over Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chavez, has resulted in bank and oil strikes, public protests, and military action. While church members continue to feel safe traveling and attending services, the strikes have made doing so more difficult. Missionary Craig Zickefoose reports Nazarenes in Venezuela suffer from shortages of key items like gasoline, cooking gas, and food staples. The missionaries have had to park their cars and use public transportation due to the shortages.

Though some meetings have been cancelled due to transportation challenges, the unrest has not curbed all activities. In early January, 48 students attended a CENETA class taught by Ralph Neil from Northwest Nazarene University.

As problems continue in Venezuela, Nazarenes request prayer for five district assemblies that will take place in February and March.
--SAM Region

Blanketing Bangladesh
A cold wave sweeping through northern Bangladesh is causing intense suffering in a country of 130 million where 46-percent of the people live below the poverty line. As temperatures continue to drop, the poor are scrambling to fields and cattle markets to scrape and gather cow dung, which is then dried for combustible fuel. The desperate need for warmth has driven the price of a cow dung cake to just under $2 US. More than 300 people have died, with dozens added every night as the biting cold and damp fog continues. At night the temperatures are near freezing.

Six months ago Bangladesh endured cyclonic storms, hailstorms, and floods that swept away rice production in 29 out of 64 districts. The flooding also caused extensive damage to wheat, maize, and vegetable crops. Less than two months later, disastrous flooding impacted nearly a third of Bangladesh. Millions lost their homes and have struggled to find food and shelter, among them 13 Nazarene churches and their members. Because of these losses, the cold weather is having a disastrous effect.

Bangladesh district superintendent Nathan Biswas and pastors James Baroi and Atul Roy from the hardest-hit area of Dinajpur have asked, on behalf of thousands of Nazarenes, for desperately needed help. The typical home in this area has dirt flooring with thin mats for beds and no indoor heating. Used to temperatures of 75-95 degrees Fahrenheit, most of the people do not have warm clothing or blankets. A year ago Nazarenes gave generously for blankets in another part of Bangladesh that was unexpectedly hit with extreme temperatures. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries is setting a goal of providing two blankets for each of 5,000 families. At $5 each, 10,000 blankets will cost $50,000. NCM Administrative Director Bob Prescott will be in Dinajpur in late January. NCM has set a goal to get blankets delivered to those in need by that time.

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation can mark their checks "Bangladesh Blankets– ACM1633" and mail them to:

In the U.S., make checks payable to General Treasurer and mail to:
General Treasurer
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, MO 64131

In Canada, make checks payable to Church of the Nazarene and mail to:
Church of the Nazarene Canada
20 Regan Road, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3

All donations remitted through the General Treasurer's Office will receive 10-percent Mission Special credit if the local church is identified.
--NCM

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

Nazarene Disaster Response Africa
In August 2002, Nazarene Disaster Response Africa (NDRA) conducted training seminars in South Africa and Kenya. In the seminars, special emphasis was placed on disaster preparedness as well as disaster prevention. Participants were encouraged to begin income-generating activities geared to supporting NDRA with local resources. According to Heinz Schubert, coordinator for NDRA-Africa, a number of responses are being received from the participants.

One of the respondents, Pastor Alex Okulah of the Kenya Lake Victoria district, writes:

“In my local church at Malunga, we are actively involved in the implementation of NDRA. The committee set up is coming up very strongly and is projected to act as our module center for the entire district, a resources center for educational and developmental purposes. To date, the following projects have been identified:

1) Vegetable Gardening. This project is started in small gardens with a view to acquiring more spacious land. The crops will help us generate income that can be used for other programs.

2) Brick Manufacturing. This project is expected to support our committee by generating income for transportation and other services. The bricks are currently reaching their final stage in the manufacturing process.

3) Care for Orphans. This project is very sensitive due to high risks from the HIV/AIDS virus. When families from the community lose their loved ones due to HIV/AIDS, the children are left behind with nobody to care for them. Hence, much of our profit from vegetable gardening will be contributed to the care of orphans.”

“Pastor Okulah has also visited other churches on his district, making them aware of the need to be prepared for disasters,” stated Schubert. “Okulah is one of a growing number of Nazarenes who ‘discover’ their hearts of compassion and are adopting compassion as a lifestyle.”
--NCN News, Africa.

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
Former Dakotas D.S. passes away
L. Eugene “Gene” Plemons, former district superintendent of the Dakotas (1987-1989) passed away December 29. In addition to being a pastor, Plemons served on staff at MidAmerica Nazarene University and Southern Nazarene University.

Van Hooks appointed as USA/Canada Work&Witness Coordinators
Tim and Debbie Van Hook have been appointed to serve as the Work&Witness coordinators for the United States and Canada by Tom Nees, USA/Canada Mission Strategy director and Marty Hoskins, director of Candidacy and Volunteerism in the World Mission Department.

The Van Hooks have been the full-time Work&Witness coordinators at Nazarene Indian Bible College in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the past 5 1/2 years. During that time they have supervised the work of 55 teams. Many campus buildings have been built during this time with Work&Witness labor and contributions.

In this new assignment the Van Hooks will recruit and train Work&Witness teams for service in the United States and Canada. They will also be available to help ministries prepare for the use of these teams.

The Van Hooks will continue to live on the NIBC campus (recently renamed as the Nazarene Native Mission Training Center). For further information, contact the W&W office or the Van Hooks at 1-505-452-1151.

Harrison takes office
Steve Harrison was recently elected to the West Virginia State Senate from District 8. Harrison is a graduate of Brown University. Harrison and his wife, Kristen, are active members of Charleston, West Virginia First Church of the Nazarene.

Nazarene Collegiate News
Record number of graduates for 40-year-old NTC-Brazil
A record 95 students recently graduated from Brazil’s Nazarene Theology College this year, marking the school’s 40th year of training students for ministry.

Ceremonies recognizing the graduates and celebrating the anniversary took place the first weekend of December, 2002, with Luciano Duarte Silva, Rector of the college, leading the ceremonies. Former Rector Elton Wood delivered the commencement address to the nearly 100 graduates. Also in attendance was the school’s first graduate, Felicio O. De Mario, who was recognized for his 40 years of ministry. De Mario currently ministers to senior adults at the Campinas Church of the Nazarene.

Originally named Nazarene Seminary and Bible Institute, NTC-Brazil was founded by Earl Mosteller in 1962. There are currently 100 students on campus and 700 studying at centers across Brazil. NTC-Brazil alumni currently minister in countries all over the world, including Europe, Africa, North and South America.
--SAM Region

Sports Bytes:

Crusader men pull off biggest win in recent history
Point Loma Nazarene 73, Loyola Marymount 71

Point Loma Nazarene University forward John Anderson caught an alley-oop pass from freshman point guard Corey Thomas and dunked home the winning bucket with 8.5 seconds remaining as the “tiny” NAIA Crusaders upset Division I Loyola Marymount 73-71 before 1,124 December 30 at Loyola’s Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.

Trent Berglund, whose free throw tied the game at 71, scored 15 of his game-high 17 points in the second half for PLNU. With the win, the Crusaders improved to 9-4 on the season.

“It was one of the best games we’ve played all year,” Berglund said. “By the time we got the lead about 10 minutes into the second half, we knew that we could win the game.”

Loyola Marymount may best be known for its storied 1989-90 season in which one of its players, Hank Gathers, tragically collapsed on the court and died of heart failure. Led by Gather’s best friend, Bo Kimble, 11th-seeded LMU made a valiant 1990 NCAA Tournament run that saw them reach the “Elite 8,” break points-scored records, and make every national headline. In memory of his friend, Kimble shot all his free throws left-handed during the tournament. LMU lost to eventual NCAA National Champion UNLV in the 1990 regional finals.

PLNU’s win over Loyola Marymount was in the middle of a stretch that has seen the Crusaders win six of their last seven games. Their record now stands at 11-5.
--PLNU, NCN News

ENC
Women’s Basketball: 1-7
Men’s Basketball: 1-7

MNU
Women’s Basketball: 11-4
Men’s Basketball: 12-5, NAIA rank: 13 (Div. 2)

MVNU
Women’s Basketball: 9-9
Men’s Basketball: 12-5

NNU
Women’s Basketball: 8-4
Men’s Basketball: 2-10

ONU
Women’s Basketball: 11-8
Men’s Basketball: 9-9
Baseball Preseason NAIA rank: 18

PLNU
Women’s Basketball: 12-5, NAIA rank: 22
Men’s Basketball: 11-5
Baseball Preseason NAIA rank: 22

SNU
Women’s Basketball: 13-3, NAIA rank: 3
Men’s Basketball: 11-6

TNU
Women’s Basketball: 13-2, NAIA rank: 8
Men’s Basketball: 9-5

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

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