Veteran Nazarene educator Mark Moore passes away peacefully

Kansas City- Mark R. Moore, a long-time Nazarene educator and mentor, died Wednesday, February 15 after battling cancer. He was 89.

Born in Vilonia, Arkansas, Moore received degrees from Bethany Nazarene College (bachelor of arts in 1937 and bachelor of theology in 1938), Baylor University (master of arts in 1946), Olivet Nazarene College (honorary doctor of divinity in 1962), and Africa Nazarene University (doctor of letters in 1998).

Moore served as a pastor from 1938 to 1944, and was president of the Bethany Nazarene College Alumni Association for four years. He was the recipient of the prestigious "B" Award from Bethany in 1962.

From 1944 until 1946 Moore was a chaplain in the U.S. Army. He was a prisoner of war during his service as a chaplain in World War II. Moore's unit was captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. He received the Purple Heart for injuries suffered in action during the war.

After the war, Moore was an associate professor at Bethany from 1946-1948 before becoming superintendent of the Northwest Oklahoma District (1948-1952) and the Chicago Central District (1952-1968). As a district superintendent, Moore organized more than 50 new churches.

In 1968 Moore became president of what is now Trevecca Nazarene University. His term of service at Trevecca was marked by significant accomplishments: Trevecca earned regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and a 10-year re-affirmation of that status; four residence halls were added-Redford Apartments, Shingler Apartments, Bush Apartments, and Benson Hall; a faculty office facility, Tidwell Building, was renovated; and the Moore Physical Education Building (begun in1967) was completed. The annual operating budget grew from $1.06 million to $3.7 million, and the value of the campus property increased from $2.7 million to $6.6 million. Also, the acreage of the campus was increased when surrounding land was purchased during the Moore years.

While the Moore administration worked to improve the campus, attention was also given to strengthening academic offerings. The Physician Assistant Program was added and earned accreditation. The groundwork had been laid for the accreditation by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) of the Teacher Education Program and by the National Council for Social Work for the Social Work Program. The total number of majors available increased from 13 to 37. The number of full-time faculty grew from 40 to 49, and the percentage of faculty members who held an earned doctorate increased from 23 percent to 47 percent. In 1976, President Moore led Trevecca in the celebration of the school's 75th anniversary.

Moore served as Trevecca's president until 1979 when he resigned after being elected executive secretary of education for the Church of the Nazarene.

At age 70 he retired from the secretary of education position, but just over a year later Moore was asked to come out of retirement to move to Nairobi, Kenya and become the founding vice-chancellor of Africa Nazarene University (ANU). He served for nearly 4 years at ANU, establishing the campus plans, building the first buildings, planning the curriculum and faculty, and beginning classes as a Bible College in anticipation of government approval (which was received shortly after he left) to begin offering liberal arts and seminary degrees.

Since 1970, Moore has invested time in service to the General Church in a number of capacities, including membership on the General Board, Department of World Missions, and the General Church of the Nazarene Finance Committee.

In August of 2001, Moore was honored with the Bronze Star for heroism during World War II. Specifically, his acts of heroism included assisting wounded and dying men as a prisoner of war after being bombed.

He is survived by his wife, Clarice Endora (Pyles) Moore, and his sons Mark and Brad.

Visitation will be this Sunday, February 19 from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. and 7:30 to 9:00 P.M. at McGilley Funeral Home, 123rd and State Line in Kansas City.

Funeral services will be held Monday, February 20, at 4:00 P.M. at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas.

Note: For a photo of Dr. Moore with the four current Nazarene university presidents who are graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University, see this week's photo galley on ncnnews.com.
--NCN News, TNU, Moore family

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Board of General Superintendents brief USA/Canada district superintendents on Centennial Celebration

Irvine, California-The Board of General Superintendents announced plans for the Centennial Celebration to the USA/Canada district superintendents at their annual conference this week in Irvine, California. The Church of the Nazarene will reach its 100th anniversary in 2008.

In a desire to include every Nazarene worldwide in this historic and strategic milestone in the church, the Centennial will be celebrated in every local church on October 5, 2008. The celebration will take place across 24 time zones in 150 world areas.

"How thrilling it will be to sense the bonds of a growing Nazarene family in 2008 as we unite in cultural diversity around common worship content, each pastor knowing that more than 14,000 fellow pastors are standing in their pulpits that day to proclaim the same message, scripture, and theme," district superintendents were told.

Because the Centennial Sunday affords the unique opportunity to inform new Nazarenes and to celebrate with all Nazarenes our doctrine, core values, and heritage, extensive celebration resources are being developed for each local church to assist pastors in proclaiming our message and mission. Each church will receive a Centennial Celebration kit with complete resources for the October 5, 2008, worship service providing for cultural adaptation but allowing Nazarenes around the world to share a common framework of sermon, scriptures, music, media, and ceremonies. An array of additional resources will equip churches for an optional three Sunday services leading up to the Centennial Sunday.

The Centennial Celebration kit will include resources not only for denomination-wide emphasis but also for celebrating a local church's history and for honoring persons who have played an instrumental role in the history of that church with the Centennial Heritage Award.

District superintendents will begin informing their pastors immediately. Each district will provide a day of training in spring 2008 for their pastors to utilize the Centennial Celebration resources.

The Centennial is a global celebration for the Church of the Nazarene. The Board of General Superintendents will also be meeting with the regional directors in February to ensure participation for Nazarenes worldwide because "the Centennial celebration affords us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate holiness in a way that no Nazarene generation has yet been privileged to do."
--Board of General Superintendents

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Indian Nazarenes unfairly arrested en route to district assembly

Eastern Maharashtra, India-Twenty Nazarenes from the Eastern Maharashtra District were threatened by Hindu extremists while traveling to their District Assembly on January 26. Four of the delegates, including one pastor and his son, were imprisoned, falsely accused of forcing Christian conversions, and were repeatedly denied bail.

Initial reports from Internet news agencies stated as many as three Nazarene pastors were arrested.

Delegates from several churches in central India had gathered at a lodge on the evening of the 26th, where they planned to spend the night before traveling by bus to their district assembly in Nagapur the next day.

While there, members of local Hindu extremist groups stopped one of the delegates and asked where they were going, then accused him of forcing people to convert to Christianity. The delegate was badly beaten by a crowd that gathered there and was taken into police custody when local authorities intervened.

The other delegates were threatened, taken to a Hindu temple and told to bow to Hindu deities or be burned to death. Those who refused were sent to the police station and held for two days without food. While in custody, the delegates were forced to sign belief statements in front of local media-one woman refused, and was arrested.

"The arrests were unlawful from all angles," said the Eastern Maharashtra District Superintendent. "But when the crowd is against you, no law can protect you in this country, especially in states like the one where this happened."

A local Nazarene pastor was summoned from his home by the police after they questioned the group, and his 18 year-old son joined him out of concern. Police asked about the delegation and accused them of forcibly converting innocent and illiterate people to Christianity by offering money, jobs, and church facilities. Though the pastor insisted the delegates were believers already, he and his son were both arrested.

The pastor was questioned repeatedly over several days, sometimes in front of the local media.

"Some people, along with media, came to interview me under pressure and tried to assault me," he said. "But they failed because God was with me and was protecting me."

Bail was finally posted, and the four prisoners were released after five days.

"This was the power of prayer: all over India, people of God were praying for us," said the pastor. "I take [everything that happened to us] as the grace of God to my family and me, because the Bible says, 'Blessed are those who suffer for His gospel.' I am honored to suffer for Christ. I have experienced that the mighty hands of God are protecting me and working for me."

All delegates returned home safely, and the pastor's son said the experience strengthened his own faith in Christ.

"This is just a small sample of what our brothers and sisters in parts of the world go through every day while living out their faith in word and deed," said Eurasia Regional Director Gustavo Crocker. "But even thought events like this unsettle us, they do not deter us from being salt and light to this world that badly needs the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ."

Continued prayer is requested for Nazarene brothers and sisters who continue serving the Lord in spite of such difficult circumstances.
--Eurasia Region (Photo taken from BosNewsLife.com)

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Vision cast for continued church growth at combined East, West Tamil District Assembly

Chennai, India-Tamil Nadu nationals draped traditional floral garlands on General Superintendent Paul G. Cunningham and his wife, Connie, Eurasia Regional Director Gustavo Crocker, and Nazarene Missions International Director Daniel Ketchum and his wife, Carol, as two district assemblies met in tandem recently at the Calvary Church of the Nazarene in Chennai, India.

Pastors and delegates from 41 East and West Tamil Nadu churches, under the leadership of West Tamil Nadu District Superintendent Jayakumar, attended the event.

Jayakumar was re-appointed for two years as West Tamil Nadu District Superintendent.

In other actions, Cunningham appointed Arthur Hope as new superintendent for East Tamil Nadu District. Hope serves as associate pastor at Chennai Calvary and teaching professor at Hindustan Bible Institute.

Host pastor C.S. Dhas and his wife, Nirmala, graciously welcomed 150 total delegates and friends. Dhas also serves as superintendent for the Sri Lanka District.

Crocker proclaimed a call for Nazarenes to be Christian, holy, and missional. Ketchum, who served as South Asia Field strategy coordinator, projects God can help establish 300 new churches with 10,000 new Nazarenes each year for the next five years. These and other goals were envisioned by district superintendents and ministry leaders at the 2005 South Asia Leadership Team meeting.

Also, Simon Jothi, dean of South Asia Nazarene Bible College (SANBC), highlighted the institution's increased enrollment. SANBC Principal Sunil Dandge, former superintendent of the East India District, leads the de-centralized SANBC campus with a current enrollment of 1,300 students from five nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka), as well as 125 professors providing 25 required courses in 14 languages.

John Haines, Eurasia Region education and literature coordinator, has invested creative counsel for years in South Asia Field theological education and anticipates the first graduation for SANBC on May 1 in Bangalore, India.

"God is blessing this educational effort as an increasing number of students respond to the call of God to prepare for ministry leadership in hundreds of new churches throughout South Asia," stated Carol Ketchum.
--Eurasia Region News (Carol Ketchum South Asia Field)

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South Carolina District, Nazarene leadership reach out to Bahamian pastor Dieunous Senatus

Nassau, The Bahamas-Earlier this year, it was reported that Dieunous Senatus, assistant pastor at Victory Chapel Church of the Nazarene in Nassau, The Bahamas, lost his wife as she gave birth to a son. Senatus eventually lost his son, also, as "Baby Isaiah" never recovered from the affects of oxygen deprivation.

On Thursday, January 26, Senatus stood with The Bahamas District Superintendent Daniel Small as South Carolina District Church of the Nazarene pastors, evangelists, and laymen reached out to Senatus to offer comfort, prayer, and song.

Approximately 70 people participated in the act, held in the crowded parking lot of the Central Church of the Nazarene in Nassau. Among those present for the brief service were General Superintendent Emeritus W. Talmadge and Genell Johnson, South Carolina District Superintendent James and Charlotte Bearden, and Trevecca Nazarene University President Dan and Denise Boone.

Senatus was presented with a love offering after the gathering.

The group was taking a tour of the island, conducted by Nassau Trinity Church of the Nazarene Pastor Alvan Burrell as part of the Pastors and Spouses Retreat for the South Carolina District, which also included laypersons. The group knew of Senatus' story and asked Burrell to arrange the meeting.
--NCN News Submissions

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