Church of the Nazarene in PNG turns 50

Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea-Melanesia/South Pacific Field Strategy Coordinator James Johnson was one of the thousands of Nazarenes who attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the Church of the Nazarene's work in Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently. Johnson offers the following first-hand account of the event:

Pentecost … That is the only word in the English language that I can think of to describe the events of July 12 to 17 in the Papua New Guinea highlands. One local newspaper estimated 20,000 people participated in the opening day march kicking off the 50th anniversary celebration of the Church of the Nazarene in PNG. The mass of people marching toward the Kudjip mission station in the Western Highlands was almost beyond description. Nazarenes from all over PNG marched, grouped by districts, schools, and ministries, along with retired missionaries, serving missionaries, guests, and local and national government leaders. The group walked to the entrance of the mission station, which was lined on one side by women dressed in traditional colorful mari blouses and men on the other. Singing a song of welcome, the women beat out a rhythm on kudu drums as the men played their guitars.

Over the next five days, worship began and ended each day as thousands came to hear preaching from district superintendents and field, regional, and international representatives of the Church of the Nazarene. Even after enduring the blistering, equatorial sun and tropical downpours, attendees ended every day wondering how the next day could possibly be better than the last.

Everyone was quickly reminded, however, that God is always able to surpass our expectations. Like the first Pentecost, hundreds of people made a personal response to the call and invitation of God upon their lives. Accompanying this was the full range of holy emotion as the group encountered the Living God.

Each day also appeared to bring forth a higher crescendo of God's blessing, culminating in a Sunday morning worship service that drew an estimated 8,000 people. The sports field where the service was held was covered with people worshiping God and giving praise.

Joseph Sika and his 50th anniversary committee did an outstanding job organizing this event. The Church of the Nazarene reviewed its progress over the past 50 years with a deep sense of thanksgiving. With these celebrations, however, the focus was on what the church should become over the next 50 years. Gabriel Kaulo, National Board chairman, challenged the masses to work and pray toward the PNG church's goal of 100,000 members of the Church of the Nazarene in PNG by 2016.

These celebrations proved once again that God has not changed and that His grace and power still falls on His church. I will forever be grateful that I was a witness of this visitation by God on his people. It is my belief that everyone should have at least one opportunity to personally experience a day of Pentecost. Truly, Nazarenes in Papua New Guinea were given that opportunity at this momentous event.

Note: For photos, see this week's photo gallery on ncnnews.com.
--James Johnson, Melanesia/South Pacific Field Strategy Coordinator (Photos by Jeff Myers)

Back to top

BGS launches prayer initiative

Kansas City-"Together we have all committed ourselves anew to becoming intercessory prayer partners with God for all that the Lord is attempting and wanting to do in and through us," stated Jerry D. Porter, chairman of the Board of General Superintendents (BGS), in a recent statement to NCN News. "Our mustard-seed prayers release God as we 'stand in the gap' on behalf of our family, congregation, community, and world."

Along with their embrace of the commission of Jesus to "make disciples of all nations," members of the BGS have renewed personal covenants "to be discipled and to become disciple-multiplying disciplers."

With this emphasis came an invitation to each entity within the International Headquarters and Nazarene Publishing House to participate in intercession. Prayer centers for each department were identified, along with prayer schedules, prayer guides, and a listing of global requests.

Participants reported a renewal of spiritual passion as they prayed for spiritual refreshing. This Scriptural practice is the goal of church leaders as they seek to foster "a praying, discipling church."
--NMI, NCN News

Back to top

Maximum Mission: Argentina/Paraguay 2006

Formosa, Argentina-When five different cultures come together and try to communicate using five different languages, one can only picture chaos. Unless, of course, those cultures and languages are united under one mission: a Maximum Mission.

During the month of July, a team of 28 Brazilians travelled from Campinas, Brazil to Formosa, the northern corner of Argentina. The goal: to show the love of Christ to others.

Brazilians, Argentines, North Americans, Toba, and Guarani (Paraguay) became one under the banner of Christ and the Church of the Nazarene as accompanying the Brazilian team were four young ladies from the U.S. (and Puerto Rico) with Youth In Mission, ten Argentines from Buenos Aires who drove 17 hours to Formosa, several leaders and pastors from the Toba Indian community in Formosa, and the leadership team in Paraguay.

During these two weeks of heat, mosquitoes, uncomfortable living conditions, and late nights, the unified team truly did become one in spirit and purpose. Each morning they worked on one of the houses in the Center for Indigenous Development at the Toba Indian Reservation. In the afternoon, they put on a Vacation Bible School (VBS), provided entertainment, demonstrated the Evangicube, and wrapped up the evening with a viewing of the JESUS film.

After two weeks of VBS and JESUS films in Formosa and Paraguay, over 270 people had accepted the Lord and more than 600 had seen the JESUS film. In addition, many of the participants felt that God had been calling them to dedicate their lives to full time ministry.

Brazilian perspective

The Brazilian team was led by Aline Lopes, coordinator of Brazil's Missionary Training Center. Lopes described the 15 days on the mission trip as "wonderful."

"The needs are many and our hearts were pained to leave each of the two places in which we worked," Lopes stated. "The Tobas are in need of training, and in Paraguay the lack of workers is great, which only adds to the strength of the spiritual warfare we encountered there. Returning home, many of the participants gave this testimony: 'we will not be the same after this trip; we experienced many new things, and many people were reached.'"

Lopes continued: "Among the Toba tribe, the houses were scattered and we walked a lot in order to make home visits. Still, each time we arrived at a house we were well received. Entire families gathered around us to hear the good news of salvation and many broke down when they saw the picture of Christ crucified for their sins.

"In Lambaré, Paraguay, Pastor Estela received us gladly. The field in Paraguay is difficult, yet rarely do we hear people speak of it. However, during a presentation of the JESUS film in one of Lambaré's plazas, Christ touched many lives. After the film, we spent a long while in conversation and prayer with individuals who were turning their lives over to God. A young woman was contemplating suicide before she watched the film and prayed with Carolina Paz, one of our participants. In addition, an entire family was touched through a presentation to children in the Lambaré Cultural Center. This family will be discipled and their house will be a hub for preaching in Lambaré.

"Thirsty people searching for God, miracles, cures, renewal, and fruit for eternity are what we found in this impacting experience Paraguay/Argentina 2006.

"Continue to pray for Paraguay and Argentina. As Carlos Radi said, 'For many people these may only be numbers, but it would be different if someone close to us was among them.'

"God calls us to do His will and reach the thirsty."

Note: For photos, see this week's photo gallery on ncnnews.com.
----Robin Radi and Aline Lopes for NCN News-SAM

Back to top

Nashville children's pastor takes to roof to raise money for sports ministry

Nashville-(Nashville Tennessean) Those at Nashville's Grace Church of the Nazarene believe a new youth soccer program for the community was worth a few days on the roof.

On July 9, Children's Pastor Dustin Bilbrey went up to the Grace Church of the Nazarene roof until the $3,000 (U.S.) needed for sets of soccer goals and other equipment for the soccer program was raised.

The total went to just more than $3,000 on July 12 toward the conclusion of that evening's service and Bilbrey came down about 8 p.m.

"I told somebody I'd do whatever it took,'' Bilbrey said. "It was really hot, but it was worth it because we can buy the goals and reach out to the community. If I had to sweat a little …''

Bilbrey had a tent for shelter, as well as a sleeping bag, some electric fans, an ice cooler, and study materials to work on the master's degree he's seeking from Trevecca Nazarene University. read more

Back to top