New Mission Strategy appointments to meet growing challenge
 Kansas City-The burgeoning ethnic population and membership within the Church of the Nazarene is one of the most critical challenges facing the denomination as it readies to celebrate its 100th birthday. With almost 18 percent of the congregations in the U.S. and Canada considered ethnically specific or multicultural, resourcing these congregations and training new leaders for starting new congregations requires focused and strategic planning for the future. Mission Strategy USA/Canada has recently made three appointments to enhance this opportunity:  Binh Quoc Huyn has been appointed mission coordinator for Vietnamese ministries. Huyn currently serves on the Oregon Pacific District, planting new Vietnamese congregations. He also hosts and moderates a weekly Christian radio talk show to spread the Word of God to hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese families on "Vietnamese Public Radio" and "TNT Radio Network," broadcasted over 20 cities throughout the U.S., Europe, and Australia.
 Dorzell King, pastor of the International Risen Lamb Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, was appointed Black Ministries Recruiter within Multicultural Ministries. King's responsibility, which will be effective January 1, 2007, is the recruitment of African American ministers to the denomination. King is a graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University and pastors of one of the fastest growing NewStarts in recent times.
In collaboration with World Mission, Jose Pacheco is now assigned to the UCME department. Pacheco assists in the production of Spanish Literature for the USA/Canada context. With varied needs in production, translation, and contextualizing, Pacheco will help the USA/Canada Region equip and serve our growing Hispanic Nazarene constituency. Increasingly, there are English materials that could be adapted to the Hispanic context.
--Oliver Phillips, director of Mission Strategy
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South American Southern Cone leaders gather seeking holiness
 Pilar, Argentina-"I want to be like Christ. Your Holiness I seek. I want the world to see the truth I have in Jesus Christ. Make me salt. Make me light." Those were the words sung throughout the recent Southern Cone Holiness Campaign, held November 17-19 in Pilar, Argentina.Leaders from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay converged at the Southern Cone Nazarene Theological Seminary as South America Regional Director Christian Sarmiento and Southern Cone Field Strategy Coordinator Juan José Zani welcomed General Superintendent James H. Diehl. Diehl had been traveling around the Southern Cone the two weeks prior for district assemblies. Workshops were presented focusing on the ministries of Nazarene Missions International, Sunday School Ministries, Nazarene Youth International, and Evangelism Ministries. Diehl preached three holiness sermons that highlighted the need for each leader to be filled with the Holy Spirit above all else. On Saturday morning, November 18, Diehl delivered a challenging sermon to the 2006 graduating class of Nazarene Theological Seminary Southern Cone. Diehl also participated in the presentation of degrees to the graduates. On Sunday morning, November 19, Diehl ordained two new elders in the Church of the Nazarene, Marcelo Sosa from the North Uruguay District, and Roberto Gonzalez from the Argentina Litoral District. Overflowing crowds gathered each evening at the Altos de Pilar Church of the Nazarene. For the second night's service, additional seating and a projection screen where installed outside of the church to accommodate the crowd. Hundreds of people lined the altars seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
--NCN News-SAM
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MVNU, NTS joining forces to give MVNU graduate students new M.Div degree option
 Mount Vernon, Ohio-Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) Adult and Graduate Studies students now have a new option for completing a master of divinity degree. Joining forces with Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS), located in Kansas City, MVNU now provides the option of taking courses from both institutions in order to achieve the master of divinity.The procedure for the program includes application and enrollment at MVNU and NTS (or Nazarene Graduate Theological Studies Union) for the graduate student. Minimum requirements for admission consist of holding a bachelor's degree with a 2.5 grade point average or higher. Students register for 30-45 hours of master of ministry coursework at MVNU, 15-30 hours of online courses from NTS, and 30 hours of residential modular courses required by NTS. Courses can be taken concurrently from both schools provided pre-requisites are met. Other requirements include taking a minimum of two courses from NTS in each of three sections: Bible; Theology/Church History/Philosophy; and Practics. In addition, there are four courses that must be taken on-location at NTS. "MVNU is proud to offer this unique means for our graduate students to obtain the master of divinity," said Bruce Petersen, MVNU master of ministry program coordinator. "We've had a number of inquiries regarding the possibility of such a partnership due to the fact that many of our adult students cannot just pick up and move to Kansas City. This joint venture provides a convenient and effective opportunity for course completion." MVNU's master of ministry courses can also be transferred to master's-level programs at other theological seminaries, such as Ashland (Ashland, Ohio) and Asbury (Wilmore, Kentucky or Orlando, Florida). For more information on the master of ministry or master of divinity at MVNU, please contact program coordinator Bruce Petersen at (740) 392-6868, ext. 3608, or e-mail bruce.petersen@mvnu.edu. For additional information about MVNU's Adult and Graduate Studies, visit ags.mvnu.edu.
--MVNU
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NCN News Briefs for December 1, 2006
 - General Nazarene Missions International President Eunice Brubaker has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Brubaker underwent surgery November 29 in Topeka, Kansas. Prayer is requested for Eunice and her family as follow-up treatment and recovery take place. (NCN News-Africa, Nazarene News-Canada)
- More than 1,000 people attended a series of revivals in Beirut, Lebanon. A Nazarene leader in the city reported "the presence of the Lord was evident." (NMI Prayer Mobilization Line)
- In a gospel-resistant country in Africa, an entire village turned out recently to watch the JESUS film. Villagers reportedly cried out to watch the film a second time. There are now 350 people attending worship in this village. JESUS Film Harvest Partners (JFHP) reports that as of November 7, 2006, more than 10,000 new mission churches have been started and more than 14,000 pastors are in training through the JFHP ministry. (NMI Prayer Mobilization Line)
- David Falk has been appointed as the new International Field Operator (medical and other non-food projects) for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Canada. One of the projects NCM Canada will be focusing on this coming year is ministry to Bangladesh. NCM Canada will fund the training of 30 pastors through to ordination. These 30 pastors will become church leaders in Bangladesh and they will be asked to teach and mentor other pastors in training. NCM Canada will also partially fund the training of an additional 250 pastors in Bangladesh over a three year period. (Nazarene News-Canada)
- Nazarene pastor/evangelist Tom Floyd passed away at his home in Peoria, Arizona on October 21, 2006 after a four year battle with cancer. He was 71. Floyd pastored churches in Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, and California. (Floyd family)
- Betty Bowes, a retired Nazarene Headquarters employee in Church Schools/Sunday School Ministries, passed away on Thursday, November 23. A memorial service was held November 30 at Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene. (Nazarene Headquarters Human Resources)
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Other Stories
Professor and friend awarded 2006 Alumnus of the Year at NNU
Nampa, Idaho-The Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) Alumnus of the Year is someone who has "rendered special and outstanding service to NNU" or has, by personal achievement, "brought honor and distinction to the university" and exemplifies the Christian ideals of the university. read more
Olivet names 2006 "O" Award winners
Bourbonnais, Illinois-Les and Leslie Parrott of Seattle and Robert Collins of Pataskala, Ohio were named winners of the 2006 "O" Awards during Olivet Nazarene University's "Festival of Keyboards" concert on Saturday, November 11. read more Bowlings receive honorary degrees
Bourbonnais, Illinois-In a surprise ceremony during the 2006 Homecoming concert, Olivet presented President John C. Bowling and Jill Cheeseman Bowling with honorary degrees. read more Clergy Appreciation Day held at Africa Nazarene University
Ongata Rongai, Kenya-The third annual Clergy Appreciation Day was held on the campus of Africa Nazarene University (ANU) October 26, 2006, featuring Africa Regional Director Eugénio Duarte as guest speaker. read more Korean church supports technology and training
Manila-High tech facilities, dedicated faculty, creative students, and a vision to "Communicate Christ ... by all means possible," are the elements of a dynamic communication studies program at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) in Manila, Philippines. read more Dr. Rosa Lee honored for community service by Antigua & Barbuda
Codrington, Barbuda-Rosa Lee, a Nazarene layperson on the Caribbean Region known for her extensive work for the church, was one of several from Antigua & Barbuda to received an outstanding citizen award - considered the highest of it's kind for the nation. read more MAC participants prepare for interregional ministry projects
Guatemala City-In October, the Mexico and Central America (MAC) Region officially initiated on-line training of its eight volunteers who are participating in Projects Isaiah and Caleb. read more Former missionary Elva Reed passes away
Quincy, Massachusetts-Elva (Pettit) Reed passed away November 20. She was 82. read more Women's Soccer: Lady Cougars capture NCCAA national title in dramatic fashion
Kissimmee, Florida-Going to a shootout for the second straight match, the Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) women's soccer team captured its second National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national title in four years... read more Trevecca athletic director Alan Smith to retire in May
Nashville-Trevecca Nazarene University athletic director Alan Smith has announced this will be his final year at the helm of the Trevecca athletic department. read more Former Trojan Gary Jackson passes away
Winter Haven, Florida-Former Trevecca Nazarene University Trojan baseball player Gary Jackson passed away on Sunday, October 15, 2006. read more SNU basketball team wins top 15 battle at Point Loma
San Diego-The Southern Nazarene University (SNU) Crimson Storm men's basketball team improved to 5-0 on the year with a 97-85 defeat of sister Nazarene school, Point Loma Nazarene, on Saturday night, November 18 in San Diego. read more
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