| Global Weekly Summary |
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August
13, 2004 Global
News This Week
Bethany
First selects Busic to be new senior pastor Busic takes the place of Melvin McCullough, who accepted the invitation to serve as the first president of the Church of the Nazarene Foundation on March 14. When making the announcement, McCullough stated his experience as pastor at BFC had been the most fulfilling of his life, “However, I’m at peace that God has confirmed in my heart this new challenge, and I look forward to beginning the new job of resourcing Nazarene ministries through the foundation.” McCullough served as BFC pastor for 18 years. The last search for a pastor at BFC was conducted in 1985 and resulted in a call to McCullough, then a young district superintendent from Washington. Before 1985, it was 15 years since BFC called Ponder Gilliland in 1970. In the 2004 selection process, more than 60 ministers were considered for the position. As the church board continued to seek God’s guidance, Busic emerged as a clear choice. Becoming pastor of BFC will be something of a homecoming for Busic as he grew up in Bethany, attending Williams Memorial Church of the Nazarene. Busic is a 1982 graduate of Bethany High School and attended Southern Nazarene University (SNU), graduating with a degree in religion in 1988. He is also a 1993 graduate of Nazarene Theological Seminary. Busic is currently the senior
pastor of the Central Church of the Nazarene located in Lenexa, Kansas
on the Kansas City district, a church that has grown from 470 to more
than 1,000 members in the last six years. Before coming to Central, Busic
was pastor of the Vineyard Community Church of the Nazarene in Livermore,
California. He also served as associate pastor of Shawnee, Kansas Church
of the Nazarene from 1989 to 1993, and as youth pastor of Williams Memorial
Church of the Nazarene in Bethany from 1985 to 1989.
100 gather in Ethiopia for worship, workshops “After eight hours on roads ranging from pavement to dirt, and crossing two small rivers, we arrived at the Salamba Church of the Nazarene in the small village of Kucha, Ethiopia. Approximately 100 youth, youth leaders, and pastors from all over the district met us there. They had been meeting together all day, singing, and preaching while they waited for us. There is such an incredible hunger for spiritual and leadership teaching. Many walked for many miles just to attend. We had an exciting time together - worshipping, praying, learning, and playing. We conducted a variety of training workshops, introduced Bible Quizzing, did EvangeCube training, and of course, had a choir competition. Everyone had a fantastic time together.” For
more information about NYI activities and news from Africa go to www.nyitoday.org/africa.
For additional pictures, see this week’s NCN News Photo
Page. Togo
gets first Nazarene church building This week, after a long wait while the needed sales documents were prepared and exchanged, District Superintendent Russ Lovett wrote three checks in order to officially buy the property. Said Ledjou, “We joyfully thank the Lord our God and the people that He used to make this possible. Now we have one permanent building belonging to the Church of the Nazarene where we can meet to praise and worship the Lord our God.” Togo
Nazarenes aren’t stopping at one building. Ledjou indicates that
the church planting ministry in Togo is now ready to mature, and they
intend on building churches for Lomé congregations in Attiegou
and Adidogome. HIV/AIDS
teaching held in Nigeria In
addition to learning more about the danger of HIV/AIDS, District Nazarene
Youth International chairman Okon David spoke, challenging participants
to remain focused on Jesus. Pastor Iyaks Inyang also preached at the retreat,
reminding the youth to be ready for the second coming of Christ.
EJUMAC:
Count on Me Several representatives from the Nazarene Youth International (NYI) department in Kansas City, including NYI director Gary Hartke, were in attendance. Hartke, MAC Regional Director Christian Sarmiento, Regional NYI President David González, and Regional NYI Coordinator Germán Picavea challenged the youth to live pure lives and be completely committed to Christ. Trino Jara, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries coordinator for Africa, was given the Timothy Award for his prior service as NYI president of the MAC region. Picavea was also given special recognition for his outstanding work with the youth of the region. During the final service, Picavea darkened the auditorium and began to read statistics about poverty, abuse, substance abuse, disease, and other problems that plague the world. Then the youth each lit a candle, gathered around a large wooden cross, and prayed, "God, count on me. I want to be a light for those who do not know you and who are living in darkness." For
a photo gallery of the event, see the NCN News Photo
Page. SENDAS
personnel participate in mission trip to Panama The day before leaving the community, 16 people were baptized in Lake Ballano. That night, the Kuna chief, or Saila, for the community came to the farewell service for the group and spoke of the great example that he had seen. He told his people to have the same attitude shown by the SENDAS group. For
additional pictures, see this week’s NCN News Photo
Page.
Black
Nazarenes challenged to renewal in Orlando The
1,800 Nazarenes gathered for the event came to celebrate the journey of
joy and holiness that the Church of the Nazarene has afforded them. Seven
Nazarenes from South Africa also witnessed this event, participating in
the worship as well as the workshops offered participants. The workshops
were designed to empower leaders to return to their communities of faith
with a renewed sense of shaping ministry that is culturally contextual
and relevant. Bishop John Bryant of the African Methodist Episcopal Church delivered what could be considered the keynote address. Bryant’s sermon combined the politically prophetic with the power and attraction of emotion, rhetoric, and reverence. At its conclusion, more than 40 individuals responded to the call to accept Christ. Along with Nazarene Publishing House (NPH), ministry-related vendors provided exhibits for attendees. Oliver Phillips, director of Mission Strategy, presented a workshop entitled, “The Certain Sound of the Trumpet,” exploring preaching using the dialectical method based on the methodologies of the late Samuel D. Proctor. Phillips noted that NPH sold over 70 copies of Proctor’s book by the same title. In addition, President David McClung of Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) hosted a luncheon for 60 pastors and leaders on the ENC Region. The Saturday evening presentation, “A Gospel Extravaganza,” exposed the talent extant among this group of Nazarenes. More than eight choirs rendered selections exemplifying the cultural variety of Black congregations. Phillips presented the Black Ministries Strategy Committee, introducing recently appointed Mission Director Elmer Gillett, and Sam Vassel, the newly elected member representing the ENC Region. “This is not merely a Black exposition…” Phillips said of the event. “It is an authentic Nazarene expression through a people who have seized the opportunity to be members of a denomination that prides itself in including all groups of people in its evangelistic and leadership endeavors. With more than 145 congregations that minister to predominantly Black communities, the Church of the Nazarene is living out the Great Commission mandate with passion and zeal.” Plans are underway for the next conference, which would be held on August 2–5, 2007. The location of the conference is yet to be determined. For
pictures of the event, see: http://www.enc.edu/%7Emcclung/y40730/y40730.html. Nazarene
family seriously injured in Oregon crash The girls were quickly life-flighted to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, while Rod and Stephanie were taken to a hospital in Lincoln City. The parents were reunited with their daughters the next day after being transported via ambulance to Legacy Emanuel. Six-year-old Emily suffered a skull fracture and was immediately put in the intensive care unit (ICU) upon arrival. She was only recently released from the hospital, along with her parents, who were initially listed in serious, but stable condition. Eight-year-old Rebecca remains in the ICU with critical head injuries. She has undergone two surgeries to correct her injuries and while there are some recent signs of improvement, including reduced swelling in her brain, the family continues to request prayer for Rebecca. Residents of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Rod and Stephanie Leupp have served the Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Seminary. Rod Leupp is the son of Edythe Leupp and occasionally writes for Holiness Today. Note:
Click on the photo to view an enlarged version. Fuller,
who currently pastors the Washington D.C. area Calvary Church of the Nazarene
in Annandale, Virginia, is a 1982 graduate of Olivet Nazarene University
(ONU). He recently received a doctor of ministry degree in leadership
and preaching from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky and is a graduate
of Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Before serving in Annandale,
Fuller pastored churches in Oregon, Ohio and Payne, Ohio. As stated on
the Calvary church web site, Fuller’s ministry passion is “to
see unchurched people of all backgrounds become fully devoted followers
of Jesus Christ.” He and his wife, Cheryl, currently reside with
their son in Fairfax, Virginia. Ohio
church burglar sentenced to prison Wohlheter, 22, was sentenced to six months in prison recently in a Coshocton County Common Pleas Court. He was charged with one count each of theft and breaking and entering, both fifth-degree felonies, in connection with burglarizing the Coshocton Church of the Nazarene on January 11. According to the indictment, Wohlheter is accused of stealing a laptop computer and the alms box from the church. Wohlheter was previously convicted of attempting to burglarize a Wesleyan church in February. He served a 60-day jail sentence on a first-degree misdemeanor charge of attempted breaking and entering from Coshocton Municipal Court. According to a pre-sentence investigation, Wohlheter told authorities he broke into the Nazarene church because he was "broke and desperate for money." Wohlheter also admitted to being under the influence of narcotics at the time of the incident. At his hearing, Wohlheter told the court he was sorry for what he did and that he felt bad. He also claimed that God had forgiven him. "I'll leave the issue of forgiveness up to God," Judge Richard Evans said to Wohlheter. "The way to prove you're sorry is to make a meaningful change. To say you're sorry doesn't account for much.” "You appear to be moving not forward, but backward," Evans said, referring to Wohlheter's previous criminal conviction. "I think you need to change your lifestyle." Authors of the pre-sentence investigation stated that Wohlheter has shown no insight into his criminal behavior. Wohlheter also told authorities that he "believes he is the smartest person on earth" with little tolerance of others without the same intellectual capacity. "Prison isn't fun. Maybe if this kid gets a taste of prison, he'll use that brain of his -- and he's got a good one," said Norm Davitt, Wohlheter's defense attorney. In addition to a jail sentence, the court ordered
Wohlheter to pay $250 in restitution to the church and an additional $1,755.75
to the church's insurance company. Regional
Resources:
Nazarene Foundation receives first gift Church
of the Nazarene Ministry Links NMI
Prayer Mobilization Line: On-Line
Pastor's Calendar:
Former
FBI ‘Most Wanted’ to speak at SNU Some of the forgotten victims of crime are the children of inmates who are left without a father or mother, through no fault of their own. Angel Tree, a ministry of Prison Fellowship, strives to help break this potential cycle of children following in their parent’s footsteps in many ways, but the initial start is by sharing unconditional love with them at Christmas. Each year in early fall, incarcerated dads and moms can sign up to have church volunteers deliver gifts, with consent of the guardians, to their children at Christmas. The Christmas gifts are presented as being from the mom or dad in prison, assuring the children that they haven’t been forgotten. This
all started when Mary Kay (Mahaffey) Beard robbed a bank and ultimately
became one of the FBI’s “Most Wanted.” After her capture,
Mary Kay made a Christian commitment while in prison. During her incarceration,
Mary Kay watched inmates wrap small tubes of toothpaste, bars of soap,
and bottles of shampoo to give to their children for Christmas presents.
Nazarene
Global Educational Links:
NCN
News – August 6, 2004
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