Justice has a thread count

Thanks to an expatriate Iraqi pastor and some household staples, refugees in one low-cost Christian neighborhood of Amman are finding reason to hope.

Amman, Jordan--The fortunate Iraqis who flee home for safety have time to sell their houses in Baghdad before moving to Jordan, and can afford to rent places in the more affluent sections of Amman.

The poorer ones, driven from Baghdad by violence and kidnapping, experienced or threatened, land in Ashrafiyah, a predominantly Christian neighborhood in Amman, Jordan, where housing is cheap and the neighbors are like-minded.

It's also home to the largest Nazarene church in the Middle East.

"The Iraqi refugees come with nothing," said Rod Green, who coordinates Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) on the Eastern Mediterranean Field. "They come with just enough money to set themselves up and pay the first month's rent in an apartment, so their immediate needs are blankets, mattresses, heaters in the winter, and food and medicine."

That's where the church comes in.

Sharif*, a middle-aged Iraqi pastor, came to Amman three years ago to study theology. He started aiding refugees on his own last summer, starting with a list of families and 40 fans, a necessity in the warmer months in Amman.

He continued and expanded to blankets and mattresses that winter with financial support from a humanitarian organization in town, and was able to meet about half of the needs in the neighborhood by January 2006. That's when NCM got involved.

"He could only help half of people in need, so really quickly we started helping the other half," said Green, who organized additional resources through NCM. "The last blanket we gave out was at about five in the evening. It was getting dark, then snow started falling, which only happens once every two years in Jordan. It was kind of like a confirmation, that we did it, and that it was a necessary thing to do; that perhaps we'd heard the Lord correctly."

The turnover in Ashrafiyah's refugee program happens quickly and often. In the past year, about 70 percent of the names on Sharif's list have changed. Green estimates that about 300 families, averaging four members each, have passed through their relief program. But with refugees moving on from Jordan into other countries of Europe, North America, and the South Pacific, the real impact of Sharif's ministry is difficult to measure.

"These people have never known Christ, and now they do," said Green. "They're taking Him wherever they're going: to Australia, Finland, Sweden, Canada… and they keep in contact with [Sharif]; they call him all the time asking for prayer."

"They feel happy, very much, but it's not about myself," Sharif said, reflecting on how families react to the aid. "I do this in Jesus' name."
--Simone Finney, Eurasia Region Communications (*Name changed)

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Relief efforts continue after Typhoon Durian in the Philippines

Legaspi, Philippines--Typhoon Remind (Durian) ravaged the Albay province in the Bicol region of the Philippines on November 30, affecting more than 800,000 and leaving more than 1,300 missing or dead. Relief efforts through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and the Asia-Pacific Region are ongoing.

To keep the global Church updated on relief efforts following this tragedy, World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific has created a multimedia web page featuring a video and several photos. This page may be viewed by going to www.wmc-ap.org/typhoon-relief.

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation for the Philippines Typhoon relief efforts can mark their checks payable to "Philippine Typhoon Relief ACM1637," and mail them to the General Treasurer, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks may be sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. Immediate donations may also be made online at ncm.org. All donations remitted through the General Treasurer's Office will receive 10 percent Mission Special credit if the local church is identified.
--WMC-AP

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Former Native American Bible College site sold to Nazarene church

Albuquerque, New Mexico--USA/Canada Mission Strategy Director Oliver Phillips recently announced the site of the former Nazarene Indian Bible College in Albuquerque, New Mexico has been sold. The sale was recommended by Native American leaders and approved by the Board of General Superintendents.

After several years of study, Native American leaders concluded that the financial assets from the sale of the property should be used to advance new strategies for mission leadership development as well as evangelism among Native peoples in the U.S. and Canada.

The General Board of the Church of the Nazarene sold the campus to the Sandia Church of the Nazarene of Albuquerque on November 1, 2006. The Sandia church will continue to use the campus for a variety of ministry opportunities for various people groups, including Native Americans.

Looking toward the future of missions among Native Americans in the southwest U.S., the Southwest Native American District has started the Native American Rebuilding Initiative as a 10 percent giving special through which donations could be made. All donations remitted through the General Treasurer's Office will receive 10 percent Mission Special credit if the local church is identified. Churches and districts are encouraged to continue to send teams to the area.
--Mission Strategy

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Largest VBS Mission Offering in Nazarene history

Kansas City--Children's Ministries announces the largest amount ever collected for the Vacation Bible School (VBS) Mission Offering. In 2006, VBS kids made a big difference in the lives of AIDS orphans in Africa through the 2006 Kids Reaching Kids VBS Mission Offering Project, entitled ACTION AFRICA: Giving Hope to AIDS Orphans.

Currently, a massive, heartbreaking AIDS pandemic is happening throughout countries in Africa, leaving millions of kids without their parents. The impact AIDS has had on children and families throughout the world, especially in Africa, is overwhelming. Approximately 13 million children under the age of 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS, and the number of AIDS orphans is expected to exceed 40 million by 2010.

Thanks to kids who gave their money to the Kids Reaching Kids worldwide network, $336,044 (U.S.) was raised for ACTION AFRICA, an increase of 28 percent over the 2005 project, Mission H2O! In the past two years, the Kids Reaching Kids network has generated more than a half million dollars to benefit kids.

ACTION AFRICA helped to give hope to vulnerable orphans who have lost their parents to the AIDS pandemic, teaching kids how to plant vegetable gardens and raise livestock, so they can care for themselves and others.

Children's Ministries would like to thank everyone who gave to the 2006 VBS Mission Offering Project. Also, they'd like to recognize the top ten districts and top ten churches who gave to ACTION AFRICA.

The VBS Mission Offering runs from October 1 through September 30 every year. Contact Jeff Harmon at jharmon@nazarene.org in the Children's Ministries office for any questions or comments about the VBS Mission Offering Project.
--Children's Ministries (Note: All funds expressed in U.S. dollars)

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NCN News Briefs for December 15, 2006

• As of January 1, 2007, Barry and Charlie (Charlotte) Carney will assume the responsibility as coordinators of Work & Witness for the U.S. and Canada. The appointment is a collaborative initiative between Mission Strategy and the World Mission Department. (--Mission Strategy)

Tulsa, Oklahoma KTPX (Formerly PAX-TV)
Saturday 12/16: 4:30 P.M.
Monday 12/18: 4:30 P.M.
Saturday 12/23: 9:00 A.M.
--NCN News

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