Middle East missionaries remain safe, but continue to live in fear

Jerusalem-According to the Eastern Mediterranean Field Office, all missionaries in Israel and Lebanon remain safe, though they remain in frequent danger as the Israeli-Hezbollah war continues. Nazarenes on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border live in fear each day as bombing persists. Many of the Nazarenes in Lebanon have relocated in the hills where they are away from the bombings. Bombs and missiles have fallen around five Nazarene churches - one in Haifa, Israel, one in Nazareth, Israel, and three in Beirut, Lebanon. All Nazarene missionaries remain safe and unharmed at this time.

Eastern Mediterranean Field Coordinator Lindell and Kay Browning in Jerusalem report Pastor Raja, wife Seta, and their two small daughters traveled from Beirut, Lebanon, to Jordan, Syria in mid-July. They crossed at the northern Lebanon-Syria border just hours before it was bombed. The family arrived safely, but was exhausted from the journey. Raja is the president of the Bible College in Jordan and needed to get back to teach.

There are three Nazarene churches in Beirut. According to the Brownings, none have been damaged, although a bomb fell very close to the church in the Ashrafiya neighborhood. The three Nazarene churches are helping people who have fled their homes near the Israeli border and are finding shelter in Beirut. Nazarenes are distributing food, water, milk for babies, mattresses, and medicines. Abdo Khanashat, the director of the Beirut Nazarene School, told the Eastern Mediterranean Field Office that "Lebanon is in a terrible and unbelievable situation. No one can imagine the disasters that are taking place here. Only God can help us in this situation."

Also, Pastor Boutros, wife Ramona, and their four children (ages 14-22) left Haifa, Israel and are staying with family in Nazareth. Twice they have tried to go home, but missiles hit a nearby port area when they were just minutes from the church and house compound. They are weary and worried for church members who are spending their days in bomb shelters. Pastor Boutros told the Field Office his family was understandably not prepared for this war, and since this is the first experience of war for his two youngest children, they are quite shaken.

On July 19, two missiles hit Nazareth. One hit and killed two small boys and the other one hit only 200 yards from the Nazarene church and parsonage. Feeling God's protection, the church still had a prayer meeting that night.

The Brownings state they are under heightened security in Jeruselem, but are currently in no danger. "Our prayer is that a ceasefire will come soon and the fears, trauma, and tragedy of war will end. It is again a time of sadness and pain in the Middle East, but we know God is sovereign even in time of war. Pray for our people whose hearts long for peace."

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries for the Middle East Crisis relief efforts can mark their checks "Middle East Crisis Response ACM1645" and mail them to the General Treasurer, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. Additional information can be found on www.ncm.org.

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

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"Proclaiming Christ through the airwaves can impact lives"

Morobe Province, PNG-In late 2005, a Nazarene Radio Ministry listener in Papua New Guinea (PNG) by the name of Bilen Yutikas (pictured) heard the program Krai Bilong Ol Meri (Cry of Women) and wrote to the ministry. In his letter, Yutikas, who is from Menyamya of Morobe Province, stated that he wanted to begin a Nazarene church in his village. The ministry's staff, including Daniel Eka, was excited and prayed that this would happen.

Eka quickly replied to his letter and in turn, received another message from Yutikas. The message read: "In my area there is no Holiness church. I am a Lutheran, but I am still in the dark. I need to come out from the darkness."

Soon after, Pastor John Yaeng of the Bulolo Church of the Nazarene came to Melanesia Nazarene Bible College for his Bible Extension Teacher Training class. Eka gave him a copy of Yutikas' letter for follow-up.

The following is Pastor Yaeng's story:

I wasted no time after receiving Yutikas' letter. I went back to my church and told my family about my upcoming trip to the district of Menyamya. I left the next day.

The road to Menyamya is rough and very narrow. It was a very frightening experience, but in my heart I prayed to God, "I am after a soul, my life is in your hands."

I arrived safely at the Menyamya government station at about 4 p.m. I didn't know where to go next. I looked so strange to the people, but with peace in my heart I approached one of the men who was working in a store. I said, "I am looking for Bilen Yutikas."

The man looked at me, pointed up, and said, "Sorry, Mr. Bilen's village is up the mountain."

By this time, it was about 6 p.m. so I had to look for a place to rest. I didn't know where to sleep. I asked another man to show me any church so that I could go in and stay over night. I felt in my heart that a church was the most secure place I could stay over night. The stranger showed me the Lutheran church. I said, "thank you" to the man and I went straight to the pastor's house. The pastor of the Lutheran church came out of his house and asked, "Who are you?"

I said, "I am a friend of Bilen Yutikas. I wanted to go over to his village, but it was getting dark. I wanted to stay over night in the church." The pastor, however, asked me to come and sleep in his house.

The next morning I started my journey to Bilen's village. It took me almost 12 hours to reach the top of the mountain. Finally, at 6:00 p.m., I arrived at Bilen's village. In his village I met a young man and asked him, "Where is Bilen Yutikas' house?" He said, "It is over there."

I went to his house, but he was not there. One of his young brothers told me he went to the river. He will be back soon. While I stayed in his house sharing stories with another man, Bilen's brother ran to the river to get him.

Bilen ran up the mountain to meet me.

He saw me smiling and the first thing he said was, "Are you Pastor Daniel Eka?" I said, "I am not Pastor Daniel, but I am a Nazarene pastor. I am Pastor John Yaeng from Bulolo Nazarene church.

Tears fell from Bilen's eyes.

I stayed with Bilen and his family for a week. Every night I had devotions with the whole village. They were anxious to hear the Word of God as there is no Holiness church in that area.

Many weeks later, as a surprise, Bilen Yutikas came to Kudjip for the PNG Church of the Nazarene's 50th Anniversary week. According to Eka, Bilen had never been to the Highlands. He didn't even know where Kudjip was located. God used an 11 year-old boy to direct Yutikas to come to Kudjip.

"We praise God for this marvelous and wonderful miracle," Eka said.

During the anniversary celebration, the radio staff was slotted to share about the ministry on Friday afternoon in the main arena. "The Lord brought Bilen right on time," Eka said. "We asked Bilen to share his testimony on how God had touched him through the radio program. Many people were in tears, praising the Lord for what he has done in Bilen's life."

Yutikas is now staying with Eka for a month. During this time, he is undergoing some basic Bible studies. Eka states Yutikas will then return to his village and work to start a Nazarene church building. The radio team plans to go to Yutikas' village in October to host a week-long crusade and baptize him.

"Please pray for the radio team, our travel, and also pray for Bilen - for God to put a deep hunger to live a holy life," Eka says. "All the glory and honor belongs to God."
--World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific (Photos by Jeff Myers)

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A Tale of Two Cities: Update No.3 of the Asia-Pacific Regional Office's move to Singapore

By Doug Flemming, Asia-Pacific Regional Communications Coordinator
Singapore-This week, our fourth here in Singapore, explorations for a new office site began with a visit to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) with my colleague Kevin Brunk. It is obvious that the URA is intent on attracting business. At face value, Singapore does appear to be an ideal city. According to some research done by the Asia-Pacific Regional Office's David Hane, Singapore is the world's most global city. While it ranks high in economic competitiveness, and productivity, it battles corruption. It also has arguably the world's best airport, the busiest container port, an efficient and comprehensive mass transit system, and the highest degree of Internet saturation. Also, its diverse population is a very manageable 4.3 million. We are enjoying many of these newfound benefits.

In contrast, Manila, a sprawling city of more than 15 million people, has served very well as the home for our regional office for the past 20 years. Even with this transition, some of our key regional leaders, along with strong churches, team members, APNTS and WMC-AP will remain there. Manila is a city whose politics, economy, and infrastructure have unfortunately given it a less-than-exemplary reputation. Poverty, socio-economic disparity, questionable politics, and notorious traffic problems are obvious for everyone to see.

David Hane commented: "Studies reveal that economic prosperity and personal security do not produce inner contentment and joy." As a regional office team we've been reading a devotional booklet called "Defining Moments," produced by the Love Singapore organization. This booklet reveals that behind the façade exist some disturbing realities about our new home:

• Divorce has increased three-fold in the last decade
• 60 percent of surveyed youth believe premarital sex is acceptable, and the average age of sexual experience is 15.5 years; consequently teen pregnancies are increasing up to 1,500 per year
• Family abuse, marital infidelity, and teen suicide are commonplace
• Singapore tops our region in the number of pedophiles
• 85 percent of the population is still unreached

Therefore, the four families of the Asia-Pacific Regional Office are challenged more than ever to "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which (God has) carried (us)." We are asking you, our Church family, to "Pray to the Lord (along with us) for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper (Jeremiah 29:7)." This past week, God has been answering our prayers regarding relationships, schooling, and other set-up issues. Here's a brief summary. Thank you for continue praying with us.

• We made progress towards acquiring office space for the regional office.
• All of our missionary families now have phone lines and internet in our homes (contact info@apronaz.org if you are interested in our new contact information).
• Our children (nine of them total) have visited their new school, International Community School, and have purchased their new school uniforms.
• The Brunks have fellowshipped in another one of their neighbor's homes, an Indian family, whose daughter has become one of Anna Brunk's new playmates. Kevin met a new neighbor who also just moved here from the Ivory Coast. She is excited to know more about the Church of the Nazarene and has requested a time to meet with Joan Brunk.
• Jacob Brunk (pictured above trying noodles) has finished his first few days of class at the Enigma Variations School, and has expressed that God really helped him through his testing and has given him some very good teachers.
• The Flemming kids have made some new "football friends" and have been out many nights playing soccer with them … kids from India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and of course, Singapore. We have been able to share with a Chinese family during the funeral ceremonies for their father, about Christ's promises of heaven.

--Doug Flemming for the A-P Region

Award winning songwriter Kim McLean to teach at Trevecca

Nashville-Dove and ASCAP (American Association of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) Award winning songwriter Kim McLean has accepted the post of adjunct professor of songwriting at Trevecca Nazarene University this fall. With more than 20 years of professional songwriting experience and over 200 songs recorded by artists like Tim McGraw, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, The Martins, LordSong, The Florida Boys, The Nelons, Sierra, and more, McLean will share songwriting technique, craft, and inspiration with students beginning in the fall semester August 29, 2006. Songwriting beyond genre, encompassing the art and gift of creating great music, and intelligent lyrics based on a strong musical education will be the focus of the class. McLean is a 2006 graduate of Trevecca.

As a touring recording artist, McLean's work has garnered her radio airplay in genres of Southern Gospel, Christian Country, Alt-Country, Country, Americana, and AAA, as well as television soundtrack spots on CBS' J*A*G, NBC's "West Wing," and ABC's "Hope & Faith." Her duet with Dolly Parton, "Angels and Eagles," has become an anthem of hope for parents to their children.

McLean also penned the quadrennial Nazarene Missions International theme for the Church of the Nazarene, called, "O The Cross," and the theme for a national women's conference to take place October 12-14th in Olathe, Kansas, "Come To the Fire." Her song, "Forgive the World," was recently used worldwide as the soundtrack for a film produced by United Methodist Communications to commemorate "Peace With Justice" Sunday.
--PRWEB release via TNU

Olivet expects more than 120,000 visitors for Bears training camp

Bourbonnais, Illinois-Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) expects more than 120,000 people to visit the campus and the Bourbonnais area during the 2006 Chicago Bears Training Camp, July 27 - August 16. This year marks the fifth consecutive year the Bears have made ONU their summer home.

"ONU and the Chicago Bears continue to enjoy a wonderful relationship," says Gary Griffin, director of university relations and camp coordinator. "Not only do the Bears provide a $1.5 million economic boost to the area, but they introduce the greater Chicago area to Kankakee County."

An Olivet Appreciation Day will take place Friday, August 4, at 7 p.m. All ticket proceeds from the event will benefit ONU. For more information, see the following web page: www.bearstrainingcamp.info/appreciationday.shtml.

All other practice sessions are free and open to the public. Practices began Thursday, July 27 and run through August 8, and August 13-16. For those in the Kankakee County area, up-to-date schedules are available on www.bearstrainingcamp.info or by calling 815-35-BEARS.
--ONU

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1,100 students experience Olivet through athletic camps
Bourbonnais, Illinois-With experienced coaches and an emphasis on the spiritual aspects of athletics found on few other campuses, the Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) Department of Athletics welcomed more than 1,100 campers during 16 sports camps this summer. read more

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