Jamaica West District faced with another great loss

Mandeville, Jamaica-Pastor Errol Haughton passed away early Saturday morning, September 30. Haughton pastored the Mt. Carmel Church of the Nazarene and the Petersfield Church of the Nazarene in Jamaica.

District Superintendent Lionel Brown writes, "We were just about to complete our final class in 'Caribbean Thought and Culture' with our instructor, Dr. Edmonds, when our brother collapsed in one of the rooms. Five minutes before this happened, he was complaining of a severe headache. He was rushed to the hospital where he failed to respond to any treatment. The doctors ordered a brain scan, which revealed that he had several blood clots all over his brain.

"Please pray for us at this time as we are all morning the loss of another brother and friend," writes Brown.

In November 2005, Pastor Desmond Rankin from the same district in Jamaica was attacked and killed coming home from a Wednesday night service.

If you would like to pass along condolences, please send them to Lionel Brown, D.S., and he will make sure they reach the family of Pastor Haughton.
--Caribbean Region Communications

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Nazarenes in the Philippines recovering after powerful typhoon causes significant damage

Manila-The powerful typhoon Xangsane, with its intense rains and gusts of wind up to 100 miles per hour, pounded northern and central Philippines on Wednesday and Thursday, September 28-29. Six provinces in the Bicol region, where the Church of the Nazarene is active, bore the brunt of the typhoon. Electric and telephone poles were uprooted causing the entire region to lose electric power and telecommunication.

"Cell phones are the only means of communicating to our church leaders and family members outside of the region. We have to travel to town and stand in long lines for hours at gasoline stations or stores that have generators for charging our cell phones," stated District Superintendent Sulpicio (Jun) Detalo, Jr. "Sometimes the phone is not fully charged when they return the units to us. We are beginning to feel isolated. I feel somewhat lost in knowing what to do first in helping my church family."

The reports from the church continue to trickle in as communication is restored: extensive damage to doors and windows and loss of roofs. The District Center in Legaspi was damaged. The church building, the parsonage, and two of the classrooms were severely damaged. The Ligao Church of the Nazarene lost its roof from a fairly new building. Most parsonages have received damage, with at least five parsonages declared severely damaged. Two pastors spent the night in the rain. "We need emergency shelter for the pastors and help to rebuild the parsonages in Legazpi," explained Detalo. "We are trying to purchase materials and tents locally."

Some 4,000 ferry passengers were stranded and several houses were swept away by the raging waters pounding the shoreline. Crushing waves in the storm surge also washed the Magallanes Church of the Nazarene out to sea.

The destructive storm triggered landslides, caused several bridges to be rendered impassable, and blocked roads with debris, snapped tree branches, and fallen trees. "I want to visit the area, but there are warnings about not traveling there," explained Field Strategy Coordinator David Phillips. "I am really thankful that the next storm, which was supposed to have hit this coming Sunday, turned north and will miss the area."

"Recovery from the typhoon will take place," declared Phillips. "We are working closely with the Philippine Nazarene Compassionate Ministries coordinator to assist this district devastated by the storm." The local government and the church will be stretched thin financially and no doubt overwhelmed physically attempting to cope with the considerable number of critical projects simultaneously. The Legaspi area was hit by a volcano less than two months ago, and they had just sent home several of the farmers living near there.

"This storm came up so quickly that no supplies were transferred to that area before the storm," explained Phillips. "Pray that the pastors and congregations will maintain a positive attitude as they work to help family and neighbors rebuild their community."

Note: For a personal account of this tragedy and photos, see the following web page: Flood Waters in Antipolo
--Geneva Silvernail for NCN News-Asia-Pacific

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Church of the Nazarene markets headquarters property

The Church of the Nazarene has listed its International Headquarters campus in Kansas City on the market for sale. Zimmer Real Estate Services, L.C. is serving as the exclusive listing agent for the property. Currently, approximately 265 employees operate out of three office buildings.

According to Jack Stone, general secretary for the Church of the Nazarene, "Teamwork in the mission of the Church of the Nazarene can be greatly improved through a new building that will bring the entire staff under one roof."

In April, Zimmer was selected to provide development management services to the Church of the Nazarene during the development and construction of the new Global Ministry Center near 95th Street and Renner Boulevard in Lenexa, Kansas. This site is approximately 14 miles west of the current location. Construction is expected to be complete in 2008. The transition from an International Headquarters to the new Global Ministry Center will allow the Church of the Nazarene to best resource the ministries in over 150 world areas from this administrative facility.

Per the contract agreement with any potential buyer, the church offices will remain at the Paseo address until construction on the Global Ministry Center is complete.

Nazarene Theological Seminary and Nazarene Publishing House will remain at their current locations in Kansas City.

In 2006, the denomination's General Board took action gifting the Commons, King Conference Center, and two adjacent houses to Nazarene Theological Seminary for the purpose of extending their campus.

The General Board voted in 2005 to relocate Headquarters to the Lenexa site under the direction of the Board of General Superintendents and General Board Executive Committee.
--Global Ministry Center Communications

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TNU experiences "extraordinary" week of spiritual deepening

Nashville-Church of the Nazarene General Superintendent James H. Diehl led a Fall Spiritual Deepening Week for Trevecca Nazarene University students September 26-28, and according to Trevecca Chaplain Tim Green, "it was an extraordinary week."

"It was one of the best, if not the best attended revival by students, faculty, and staff we've seen in a long time," Green stated.

General Superintendent Diehl called the experience "a true movement from God" and "exceptional."

"I do rejoice," Diehl said.

With two services daily, the student body was moved by God to step up to new levels of commitment and response. Green reports: "There were many students who made decisions regarding God's call on their lives … Many said 'yes' to the call to Christian ministry."

One week prior to the revival, Trevecca students participated in a prayer labyrinth. This preparation led to an openness to hear the voice of the God and prompted a readiness of response. According to Green, "Dr. Diehl was sensitive to the needs and experiences of campus life. His ministry was anointed by God and it connected with the readiness and openness of the students. This combination is extremely powerful."
--NCN News

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Nazarene Bible College holds week of prayer

Colorado Springs-Students, faculty, and staff at Nazarene Bible College (NBC) are spending the week of October 2 through 8 in prayer for revival in the Church of the Nazarene and the U.S. During September, an attempt was made to telephone or E-mail every local church in the U.S. to solicit prayer requests. Following these contacts, over 400 requests from individuals and churches have been submitted.

Online students from across the U.S. have joined the campus community, so that well over 200 individuals will be praying from midnight, October 2 thorough midnight on October 8. Individuals have signed up to pray for one or more hours. Prayer requests have been compiled and E-mailed to all online students. Campus students, faculty, and staff will obtain a list of requests on campus. During the chapel services on October 3 and 4, the campus emphasized praying for the various requests.

Individuals or churches that wish to still submit requests may do so at PrayerRequest@nbc.edu.
--Laurel L. Matson, NBC vice president of Enrollment and Student Development

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Other Stories

Southern California Hispanic District receives church plant training
Palm Springs, California-During a retreat held September 25-28 by District Superintendent Orlando Serrano in Palm Springs, California, pastors from the Southern California Hispanic District were trained on how to plant new churches. read more

"Today's Family" Church of the Nazarene segment to air in Boston
Boston-The Platinum Television Group's program "Today's Family" will air its segment highlighting the work of the Church of the Nazarene twice in August in the Des Moines/Ames, Iowa area. Dates and times are as follows (all times local):

Boston, Massachusetts WBPX ION (formerly PAX-TV)
Thurs. 10/5: 7:30 AM
Thurs. 10/12: 7:30 AM
Thurs. 10/19: 7:30 AM
Thurs. 10/26: 7:30 AM
--NCN News

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