MVNU's sixth president announced

Mount Vernon, Ohio--Mount Vernon Nazarene University's (MVNU) Board of Trustees has announced Daniel J. Martin as the sixth president of the institution, to follow E. LeBron Fairbanks. Martin is currently the vice president for University Advancement at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California.

After an intensive search process, including development of a timeline and leadership profile, focus groups, collection of recommendations and applications, and intensive interviews, presidential candidates were narrowed to two in October with a recommendation to the full board during their fall meetings this week. The announcement came at the close of meetings on Thursday, November 2. Martin has accepted the position and will officially begin presidential duties in February 2007. Fairbanks, current MVNU president, will begin a sabbatical in the spring, finishing out his MVNU career.

Martin has served in a number of roles in Nazarene higher education. Prior to going to Point Loma in 2000, he served at MidAmerica Nazarene University in various roles such as the vice president for Finance, vice president for Enrollment Development, and executive assistant to the president. Martin has two earned doctorate degrees in education from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Kansas. He also has a juris doctorate from the University of Kansas and a license with the Kansas Bar Association.

MVNU Board Chair David P. Wilson shared, "I am looking forward to a bright future for MVNU under the leadership of Dr. Dan Martin. He is a passionate, skilled, and well respected professional, uniquely qualified to lead MVNU into the 21st century with energy and vision."

Martin will be presented to the MVNU Board of Trustees and campus community on Friday, November 3. He and his wife, Pam, and two sons will move to the Mount Vernon area after the first of the year.

MVNU will hold a Farewell Celebration for President Fairbanks and his wife Anne on Saturday, December 2, at 1 P.M., in the R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium. Their 17-year legacy of university accomplishments and growth will be celebrated, along with memories from alumni, staff, and faculty. This event is by invitation only. For more information, contact (740) 392-6868, ext. 4341, or visit www.mvnu.edu/news.
--MVNU

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Sri Lanka under water again

Colombo, Sri Lanka--At least 19 people, including an infant and an eight-year old child, have died and more than 330,000 people have been rendered homeless by flooding in several districts of Sri Lanka in late October.

Ron Gilbert, South Asia Field strategy coordinator, and Herman Gschwandtner, South Asia Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) coordinator, were in the affected areas as the monsoon rains began to fall.

Landslides have cut off roads and train routes in several areas, marking the worst flooding in Sri Lanka's history other than the tsunami-related damage in 2004.

The government has allocated an initial $100,000 to help with relief efforts. NCM-Lanka, under the direction of George David Santhosam, is assessing the situation to see how NCM can best be used to help relieve the pain and suffering following these devastating floods.

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries for the relief efforts can mark their checks "ACM1549 South Asia Disaster Relief" 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. Online donations can be made at http://www.ncm.org/NeedsList/need.aspx?id=10217.
--Eurasia Region News, NCM

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Eurasia reprises leadership training

Ede, Netherlands--Thirty-three participants from the six fields of the Eurasia Region accepted the invitation to LE2006, a regional leadership development conference focused on following Christ's example of servant-leadership (Philippians 2).

Speaker Ron Lush introduced material on Christlike leadership that addressed the calls of Christ to follow and go.

The group considered its love for God, for others, for 'enemies,' and for one another as disciples on the road. Eurasia Regional Director Gustavo Crocker presented the region's mission and strategy and helped participants see their role in fulfilling both. Other presentations throughout the week focused on "Transforming our world: In Christ, Like Christ, For Christ," and included sessions on creating environments for leadership development at all levels of the church, healthy relationships in the church, appropriate profiles for leaders based on Biblical patterns, Wesleyan principles, and cultural possibilities.

LE2006 is the beginning of a two-year leadership development process that will move into local, district, field involvement, and follow-up. Participants will remain connected through Groupcare and will meet regularly with their field strategy coordinators to intentionally engage in leadership development initiatives close to home.
--John Haines, Regional Education Coordinator

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Thanksgiving Offering resources available

Kansas City--While many churches use Faith Promise to raise the World Evangelism Fund (WEF), the Thanksgiving Offering is still an important part of the process. The Thanksgiving Offering is a natural time for giving with an attitude of thanks for God's blessings. Even for churches that use Faith Promise, the Thanksgiving Offering provides an opportunity for givers to "catch up" on their commitments. For those who do not participate in Faith Promise, it is a way to give to the WEF offerings.

Stewardship Ministries provides a variety of resources to help churches promote the Thanksgiving Offering. In addition to offering envelopes and posters, there are bulletin inserts, PowerPoint slides, and clip art.

The envelopes and posters are designed for use at Easter and Thanksgiving, as well as Faith Promise, through 2009. Thus, any remaining envelopes can be saved and used later. Envelopes and posters may be ordered at stewardship.nazarene.org. (Note: Posters and envelopes are available year round for churches in world areas that celebrate Thanksgiving at different times of the year.)

Promotional resources are available on The Stewardship Network CD-ROM and DVD which can be ordered online as well. Each of the print resources (bulletin inserts, small posters, and clip art) are available free of charge at stewardship.nazarene.org.
--Stewardship Ministries

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NTS to hold Pre-M7 Conference Spiritual Formation Retreat

Kansas City--Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) will hold a Pre-M7 Conference Spiritual Formation Retreat, February 18-19, 2007.

The retreat is open to anyone desiring to deepen their spirituality. It will be a 24-hour directed retreat experience with opportunities for silence, solitude, prayer, and conversation. This formation event, to be held at the Sanctuary of Hope in Kansas City, Kansas, will begin Sunday afternoon, February 18 and will end Monday afternoon, February 19 just prior to the opening of the M7 Conference.

The event will be co-led by Doug Hardy, professor of Spiritual Formation and director of the doctor of ministry program at NTS, and by Alden Sproull, director of Pastoral Care and Clinical Chaplain at Redlands Community Hospital in Southern California. Both Hardy and Sproull are experienced spiritual directors and retreat leaders.

To learn more about registration and fee information, the schedule, and other important details, log on to www.nts.edu/m7retreat.
--NTS

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Other Stories

First superintendent of West Virginia North District passes away
Mount Vernon, Ohio--John W. Dennis, minister and retired superintendent of the West Virginia North District, passed away October 28 at his home in Mount Vernon, Ohio. read more

NCN News Briefs
Alabama North District: Gervayse Baggett, wife of former Kentucky and Southwest Ohio District Superintendent Dallas Baggett for 66 years, passed away October 27. She was 89. Funeral services were held October 29 in Decatur, Alabama.

Jamaica West District: Retired Pastor Charlotte Bowen passed away October 19. Bowen pastored several Nazarene churches in Jamaica over a 30-year span, including, Mt. Carmel, Petersfield, and Redberry. Services were scheduled for November 30 at the Mt. Shiloh church.

Church of the Nazarene Canada: Ian Wrong, national NCM coordinator for Canada, is in the critical care unit of St. Michaels Hospital in Toronto. Wrong has a blood clot on his brain that is inoperable. No further surgical procedures will be carried out as there is nothing more that the doctors can do. He is in stable condition with little response. Prayer is requested for Wrong, his wife, Elizabeth, and sons Edward and Peter.

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