Nazarenes gather in Kansas City for M7

Kansas City--Nazarenes from across the U.S. and Canada braved the Midwest's cold weather to come to Kansas City for Mission 2007 (M7), the Mid-Quadrennial Conference on Mission and Evangelism, and the denomination's largest gathering between general assemblies.

More than 4,000 people attended plenary, mega-seminar, and workshop sessions, as well as additional functions at the downtown Kansas City Convention Center in Bartle Hall. The conference ran from Monday, February 19, to Wednesday, February 21.

"We welcome the Nazarene family to Kansas City for a time to share and consider how to reach our mission field for Christ," stated Tom Nees, director of the USA/Canada Mission/Evangelism Department, and M7 director, as the conference began. "We are anticipating an exciting time of worship, learning, fellowship, and inspiration as Nazarenes from across our church come together to consider ministry in a post-modern world."

Rising secularism and growing cultural and religious diversity have left many church leaders wondering how to navigate among fast-paced societal change. M7 provided an opportunity for Nazarenes to get connected to the ideas and processes that can enable transformational ministry.

"I pray for a church that would be empowered to bring forth spiritual, missional disciples who would be innovative and radically obedient to the call of God," shared Church of the Nazarene General Superintendent Jerry D. Porter.

While a variety of activities occurred during the three-day conference, one significant event took place just prior to M7's official start. More than 200 volunteers were involved in a One Heart, Many Hands service project that benefited several inner-city sites in the Kansas City area.

M7 offered more than 240 workshops and a multi-site ministry track featuring nationally-known presenters from Leadership Network. According to Jim Dorsey, Evangelism Ministries director, many pastors and church leaders expressed excitement and gratitude for so many innovative and challenging multi-site and workshop offerings.

The first plenary session was held Monday evening and featured guest speaker Dan Boone, president of Trevecca Nazarene University. Additional speakers throughout the event included Oliver R. Phillips, Reggie McNeal, Susie Shellenberger, and General Superintendent Nina G. Gunter.

Each plenary service featured resurrection stories of changed lives from across the region. These stories were gathered on video specifically for M7.

Music was a special highlight of all conference services. Eon Trotman and David Hubbs served as conference music coordinators. Both Trotman and Hubbs have previous experience leading worship in many national and regional gatherings across the denomination.

The event ended Wednesday evening with General Superintendent Nina G. Gunter, speaking on the theme "What in the World is God Doing?" Her message was a powerful call to join God in the work He has assigned the Church. Using the new statement of mission, Gunter examined each part, laying a Scriptural foundation for energized response to this exciting mission.

Following her message, Gunter called all pastors to the altar for prayer. She then invited laypersons to surround these clergy members and to lay hands on them as a show of prayerful support.

The final picture of the conference, showing pastors and lay supporters holding hands in prayer, was indeed a symbolic snapshot of the event's purpose and perhaps the defining moment of Mission 2007: Into Faith … Out to the World.

Note: For more information on M7, including speaker biographies, photos, archived podcasts, and videos of plenary services, see M7conference.org. Additional features, photos, and information will be posted over the coming days and weeks.
--M7 Staff

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M7 Conference Daily Summaries


Kansas City--NCN News was pleased to partner with USA/Canada Mission/Evangelism to produce the daily news summaries for the M7 Conference. Each of the three Daily Summaries included information on speakers, events, spotlights, features, announcements, and news reports.

The following is a list of summaries that may be viewed by downloading the pdf version. Individual stories from each summary are listed below and linked to M7Conference.org.

M7 Daily Summary for Monday, February 19th
Click here for pdf version.

• Nazarenes Gather for M7 in Kansas City
• The Nazarene Presence in Kansas City
• Nazarenes Expand Ministries to Reach Students on Secular Campuses
• An Interview with Dan Boone
• An Interview with Oliver R. Phillips
• An Interview with Reggie McNeal
• Book Spotlight: Best Practices in Missional Discipleship: Renewing our Missional Heritage

Plans for Centennial Celebration unveiled at M7

Kansas City--As the Church of the Nazarene approaches its 100th anniversary in 2008, plans for the Centennial Celebration were officially launched by the Board of General Superintendents February 20 at the M7 Conference in Kansas City.

To include all Nazarenes worldwide in this historic and strategic milestone, the Centennial will be celebrated in every local church on October 5, 2008, across 24 time zones in 151 world areas.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of General Superintendents, Jerry D. Porter, Board chair, said, "We considered a mass gathering at Pilot Point, Texas or Centennial Celebration gatherings on each region, but ultimately we realized that this global celebration must be more. It must include every Nazarene worldwide! Thus, on October 5, 2008, over 18,000 congregations around the world will be united across space and time by sharing a common framework of scriptures, sermon, music, media, and sacraments."

The Centennial provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to equip, educate, and reinforce to new and long-term faithful Nazarenes alike the core values, doctrine, and mission of the church.

"Out of Many One, Out of One Many," the Centennial Celebration theme, draws on Nazarene heritage and godly commitment to the future of an international church.

"The global Nazarene family is enriched by our diversity of cultures, languages, and nationalities," said Porter. "Yet, what holds us together as one is greater than the factors that distinguish us. We have one faith, one call, one mission to make Christlike disciples. The Centennial invites us to celebrate our diversity and our unity, our message and our mission."

Each church will receive a Centennial Celebration kit with complete resources for the anniversary worship service and options for three Sunday services leading up to the Centennial Sunday.

Nazarene Youth International and Children's Ministries have developed ministries and activities for youth and children to participate in during this celebration. Sunday School Ministries has prepared a special series of four lessons for all age groups to emphasize the core values of the Church of the Nazarene during this month-long emphasis.

Lillenas Music of Nazarene Publishing House has produced a Centennial music package including the Centennial theme song "One." Other resources include DVD presentations for adults and for children, aids for celebrating a local church's history, and the Centennial Heritage Award for honoring persons who have played an instrumental role in the history of each church.

World Mission is assisting in translation of Centennial resources, and regional coordinators for the Centennial have been appointed on every world region to ensure that the celebration will include the entire Nazarene family.

Pastors will receive Centennial Celebration kits from district superintendents early in 2008. More information is available at nazarenecentennial.org.

Note: For a transcript of Porter's address at M7, Click Here.
--BGS

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More than 300,000 could be affected by Mozambique floods

Caia Region, Mozambique--On the night of February 10, Dave Restrick, a Nazarene missionary in Maputo, Mozambique, received a call from Fernando Gimo, superintendent of the Caia District. Gimo was calm, but spoke of an approaching tragedy: "We are sitting on the roof of our hut, and the water is rising every hour, higher and higher. In some lower elevated places of the village, the water is already three meters deep. Please pray with us that we will make it through the night."

An urgent call for prayer went throughout the region. Those prayers were answered as Gimo and his family did indeed make it through the night safely.

Since the beginning of the year, several parts of southern Africa have experienced continuous heavy rains and cyclones. In fact, since February 4, citizens near the Zambezi River in Mozambique have been on red alert because of high water levels. On February 9, the Cahora Bassa Dam was almost at full capacity and all floodgates had to be opened to prevent a total collapse of the dam. Shortly thereafter, 8,400 cubic meters of water were each second into the lower Zambezi River. At the same time, the influx of water above the dam continued to rapidly increase. By February 11, the water levels were just below those of Mozambique's great flood of 2000.

Ultimately, between 300,000 and 500,000 people will be affected and displaced by the flooding. Many of these people lost everything but the clothes on their backs. Hundreds of thousands of people continue to be in immediate need of food supplies.

Reports released this week from the Mozambique News Agency stated 120,791 people were rescued from islands in the river and low-lying areas along its banks, many of whom have been placed in accommodation and resettlement centers in Manica, Sofala, Zambezia, and Tete provinces.

The Disaster Management National Institute (INGC) alerted provincial governors and district administrators in the central region of the country to expect a worsening of the flood situation in the next two to three weeks due to forecasted rains.

INGC Director Paulo Zucula warned that hydrometric stations in Mutarara, in the western Tete, and Caia and Marromeu in the central Sofala provinces, are still showing above alert water levels.

Zucula said levels of the main Zambezi subsidiaries, including Revubwe, Luia, and Chire, are still very high due to continued rainfall, both in Mozambique and in neighboring Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, which may contribute to further flooding downstream the Zambezi.

Zucula added that a new peak of flooding in Zambia, which is higher than the floods in 2001, could reach Mozambique within the next three weeks.

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) in Mozambique is aiming to assist at least 2,000 families with the most basic food and non-food needs through an experienced team that provided flood relief in 2000.

According to NCM, the number of people affected by this natural disaster is large, but in the end, it is not about big numbers or tragic statistics. Behind each number is one family or one person who is going through severe pain--fathers whose tools for work are gone, mothers who do not have the ability to prepare a meal to feed their families, and children whose dearest possessions have been washed away.

Contributions can help alleviate the pain of loss and bring practical help in the form of goods and food. Even the smallest acts of love help chase away despair, making the love of Christ a practical reality in one of Mozambique's most difficult hours.

"Our brothers and sisters have called for our prayers. Please join me as we lift our Mozambique family in prayer and support during this time of uncertainty." --World Mission Director, Louie E. Bustle

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation through NCM can mark their checks "Mozambique Flood Relief ACM1501" 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. Immediate donations may also be made on-line: ncm.org/Mozambique.
--NCM (BBC photo and graphic)

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