Historic election on South Africa's Gauteng District

Johannesburg--On Saturday, January 27, the Gauteng District in South Africa elected its first black district superintendent, Bethuel Mkonda, on the eighth ballot.

The Gauteng District was formed 12 years ago after the apartheid in South Africa as a merger of three racially separate districts. It has been led by its first district superintendent, Rudie Booyens, an Afrikaner, since that time. Mkonda has served as a pastor and church planter on the district since its formation. He has also served as a member of the District Advisory Board and in other district offices for the past 12 years.

Commenting on the event surrounding this momentous election, General Superintendent Jesse C. Middendorf stated, "The spirit in the assembly was a magnificent demonstration of unity and outstanding openness to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. This historic occasion brought cheers and applause across the assembly."
--Board of General Superintendents

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Lamb's Manhattan Church of the Nazarene moves to Lower East Side

New York--On January 30, Metro New York District Superintendent Art Alexander announced a financial transaction had been completed with the Hampshire Hotel Group involving a 99 year land lease for the Times Square property owned by the Metro New York District and used by the Lamb's Manhattan Church of the Nazarene.

The Lamb's Church has been relocated to another building owned by the district on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The proceeds from the hotel transaction will be used to assist the Lamb's Church in its future development, as well as to establish new church plants in Metro New York.

The Metro New York District also established a non-profit subsidiary organization called Manhattan Initiative, Inc. that will carry out the mission of new church development.

Alexander appointed Gabriel Salguero as the new pastor of the Lamb's Church. Salguero will be a featured speaker at the upcoming M7 Conference in Kansas City (February 19-21).
--John Bowen, NCN News submissions

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Extending Hope: NTS students continue relief efforts in New Orleans

Kansas City--For many students, the week between Christmas and New Year's is a time of respite. For 10 Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) students, however, it became a week of gaining invaluable hands-on ministry experience; more importantly, it provided an opportunity for these students to offer hope and help in New Orleans - a city that continues the long road to recovery from Hurricane Katrina and where hope is difficult to find.

On Tuesday, December 26, the 10 NTS students and NTS Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling Judi Schwanz boarded a bus and headed south. Students were making the journey as a part of an NTS class - Pastoral Care and Trauma Response. The class had spent time in Kansas City preparing, then spent another three to four days in training and spiritual reflection in New Orleans before going out into the city, seeking individuals and families in need of pastoral care.

The team instantly came face-to-face with the immediate needs the New Orleans community continues to experience. When asked about the significance of such a ministry experience for those preparing to be ministers, Schwanz reflected, "Our students realized firsthand the importance of pastors providing a safe relationship to hurting people - even to people they would only be with for a short-time. Time and time again, we realized the healing power of just listening to people's stories."

Schwanz continued, "The people living in New Orleans are still living in crisis. No matter how much we read, or how many newscasts we watch, those images are still two-dimensional. This ministry experience put a face on the devastation; a real personality to the story of loss and pain - making very real for our students the importance of pastoral and trauma care."

The team came back to Kansas City with the burdens of many on their hearts. One example is the story an 83 year-old woman, "Ms. Laura," whose story was recounted by NTS student Laura Rand:

It was a beautiful day when we met Ms. Laura sitting on the porch of her home. When asked how she was doing, she mumbled that it was a lousy day. She looked at our Nazarene Disaster Response shirts as we approached and read the words out loud, "restoring hope." She said cantankerously, "I ain't got no hope." We sat to visit with her and she began to tell her story. "After Katrina, I was picked up by a boat from my porch. Can you imagine? I am 83 years old and they lifted me into a boat! I was taken to a bridge where I sat without food and water for two days. Finally, I was transported to Texas where they treated me well. And now, I live in this tin can," pointing to the FEMA trailer sitting in her front yard, "because my house is uninhabitable." Her house was stripped to the studs some time ago; she did not know if her house would ever be rebuilt. Proudly, she spoke of when she first bought the house in the 1970's. She recalled how lucky she was to have gotten the house. But now, as we peered into her house through the glassless window, we sensed her frustration at the storm and its destruction. We listened to her for 45 minutes, although it did not seem that long. Our hearts broke with her already broken heart and we began to understand her sense of hopelessness. In response, we did all that we could do - we extended God's hand of grace through our hugs, our listening ears, and our prayers. Although her world seems hopeless, maybe on that day, in that hour, during that moment, she found a glimmer of hope.

Andy Teston, an NTS student and pastor of the Blackwell, Oklahoma Church of the Nazarene, says of his experience, "I received a call to pastoral ministry at an early age and have been a pastor for 10 years. In recent months, I've had a growing awareness that God has called the Church to engage the world. This experience in New Orleans confirmed my own call to a ministry outside the four walls of a church building. New Orleans broke my heart. This is where the church needs to be - in the midst of suffering - because that is where God is."
--NTS

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Summer home of Chicago Bears preparing for Super Bowl XLI

Bourbonnais, Illinois--Olivet Nazarene University (ONU), the summer training camp home for the National Football League's Chicago Bears for the last five years, is gearing up for a celebration of Super Bowl XLI, which features the Bears against the Indianapolis Colts.

Preparations are underway for a campus-wide gathering at the Chicago-area university, featuring multiple viewing screens, football-themed catering, prizes, and special contests. Hundreds of students are expected to attend, sporting their favorite Bears or - if they dare - Indianapolis Colts gear.

"It's a unique situation for our campus," says Kathy Steinacker, director of student activities, who is coordinating the Super Bowl gathering. "Even though we host the Bears' training camp, and we're so close to Chicago, there are quite a few people rooting for the Colts. We draw students from all over the U.S., and in particular, we have a large population from the Indianapolis area."

The party is scheduled for Sunday, February 4, from 4:30 P.M. to 10 P.M. in the Ludwig student center.

Some members of the ONU community are choosing to get an up-close and personal view of the Super Bowl. A number of ONU staff members are making the trek to Miami, including ONU president John C. Bowling and his wife, Jill.

"Olivet has been very pleased with our ongoing relationship with the Chicago Bears," says Bowling. "It's been exciting to watch the progress the team has made from training camp this summer through the rigors of the season. Now we are thrilled to celebrate with them in this major accomplishment."

The Bears haven't made an appearance in the Super Bowl since they won it in 1985.

No matter what the big game's outcome, the Bears' success this season is sure to have a significant impact on training camp at ONU this summer. Typically, the summer camp draws between 80,000 to 100,000 fans to the Bourbonnais campus. University officials are already preparing for what could prove to be a record-breaking attendance in 2007. An Olivet Appreciation Day is held each year at the Bears training camp, in which all proceeds go to benefit the school.

Related News:
Shandon Melvin, a Kentucky Nazarene who was recently named creative director for the NFL, designed this year's Super Bowl logo. Melvin also designed the official logo for the 2005 game - Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida. His design for the 2008 game in Glendale, Arizona has been chosen by the league as the official logo of Super Bowl XLII.
--ONU, NCN News

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NCN News Briefs for February 2, 2007

• Breaking News: Kathryn Johnson, wife of former General Secretary B. Edgar Johnson, passed away today, Friday, February 2. There will be no viewing and service arrangements are pending at this time. Nampa College Church of the Nazarene is the contact for specific arrangements. More information will be available in the coming days on ncnnews.com. (--General Secretary's Office)
  
  
• Donald Ault, Sr., retired missionary to Guyana, passed away January 27. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth. (--NMI Prayer Mobilization Line)

• Mary Boyett, wife of Georgia District Secretary H. Eugene Boyett, died January 29. H. Eugene Boyett previously served as district secretary for the Alabama South District. Funeral services will be February 2 at Shawmut First Church of the Nazarene in Valley, Alabama. Alabama South District Superintendent Roy Fuller, Georgia District Superintendent Roy E. Rogers, and Gerald Parmer of Dublin, Georgia will officiate. (--Georgia District)

• L. Wayne Sears, an ordained elder and minister in the Church of the Nazarene since 1940, passed away January 6. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Engle Sears. Funeral services were conducted by Gary Aills at Oak Lawn Church of the Nazarene, Oak Lawn, Illinois. (--NCN News submissions)

• Mary Lou Steigleder, a retired missionary, passed away Sunday, January 28. Steigleder served with her husband, Philip, in South Africa for 35 years. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 5 at Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene. (--Mission Services)

• Missouri Highlands Health Care (MHHC) recently purchased the Annapolis, Missouri Church of the Nazarene and parsonage to renovate into a medical clinic as their current clinic in Annapolis is no longer large enough to accommodate the community's healthcare needs. MHHC, a federally qualified health center which sees all patients regardless of their ability to pay, states the church building will continue to serve the needs of the community. The Annapolis church had several stained-glass windows that MHHC is making available. The windows are 30 inches by 60 inches and in excellent condition. Each contains a phrase, such as "He is Lord," and "God is Love." For pricing and additional information, please call Sherilyn Clark at 573-663-2313. For a photo, read more
  
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