World Mission relocates Taylors after second attack

Siteki, Swaziland--Last week, news of a February burglary and attack on David and Pat Taylor of the Nazarene College of Theology (NCT) in Siteki, Swaziland was released in the E-mail edition of NCN News.

The Taylors were victims of a home invasion where thieves terrorized them as they stole the couple's valuables, including their computers, and several hundred dollars in personal and donated project money. David sustained a near fatal machete wound to his neck, but recovered after being briefly hospitalized. He was also treated for injuries to his head and ear. He considered it a miracle that he survived the attack. Pat, who was threatened with a knife, received various bruises.

Upon leaving the Taylors home, the thieves threatened to kill the couple if they reported the incident.

Additional security precautions were instituted on the NCT campus and the Taylor's home. Prayer was requested for the couple, who have battled post-traumatic stress disorder. After staying with friends until they felt safe, the Taylors returned to their home.

On Monday, March 12, the thieves returned.

David Taylor described the incident in a communication to family and friends (communication was forwarded to NCN News):

"What I am about to share with you may be hard for you to believe but nevertheless, it is so. Around 1:45 A.M. Monday morning, Pat was awakened by a variety of metallic sounding noises from different places around the house. About 2:10, while she was still out of bed, I was awakened by a loud clanging of metal and Pat sensed there was someone in the house. I looked through the keyhole of our locked bedroom door and saw a silhouette of a man approaching our door. Within seconds he was smashing at the door with a crowbar, attempting to pry it open.

"While I am desperately pushing against the door, Pat called a missionary co-worker who lives across the lawn from us to come help us. We are both screaming as loud as we possibly could, the door was cracking and just before it broke open the invaders ran away. As one bolted through the backyard, Pat recognized him as the same one who attacked us three weeks and two days before.

"We realize now that they first entered our house by breaking the burglar bars in the office and had stolen the college computer I had borrowed from the college as well as our printer, and had piled them outside on the lawn. They walked around the house avoiding the new security structures in place and broke out the burglar bars in the guest bedroom and then came at the master bedroom door. Their primary motive we think may not have been robbery because they had already taken everything of value on their previous assault. They had threatened to come back to kill us.

"Just the Friday before, we were encouraged by the trauma counsellor to find another living arrangement because she believed we could not heal emotionally living in this house that had so many horrid memories.

"Now with this additional trauma, the only solution for healing is to return to our homeland and to our families. This decision was endorsed by the trauma counsellor and supported by the Africa Regional Office. We do not know what the future holds, but once again we are trusting the One who does, and we desperately solicit your continued prayers."

On Wednesday, March 15, the Taylors gave an emotional farewell to the students, faculty, and staff of NCT. On Thursday, they began their journey home to Canada.

According to World Mission Security, World Mission Director Louie E. Bustle and Africa Regional Director Eugenio Duarte immediately heightened security measures and safety precautions for the remaining missionaries and NCT. They will continue to assess the situation and make further modifications as necessary, but for the time being World Mission is confident remaining missionaries are safe.
--NCN News, World Mission Department

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NATIONAL CHAMPS

Point Lookout, Missouri--Despite being down 11-0 to start the game, the No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) Pioneers simply outworked and outplayed No. 13 Mayville State University (North Dakota) to beat the Comets 78-60 and win the 2007 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) Division II Men's Basketball National Championship.

The title is the first for the Pioneers, who last played in the finals in 2001 and have been in the championship tournament for the last nine years. The team made the NAIA Division II Final Four last year before bowing out one game and two wins short of their ultimate goal.

That goal would be realized Tuesday night.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Rocky Lamar, the Heart of America Athletic Conference coach of the year, and led by floor leaders Adam Hepker, Akuien Wour, Jacob Nellor, and Danny Hawkins, MNU used a 24-5 run to start the second half and blow open a halftime tie (31-31). The Pioneers utilized their work ethic, size, and a suffocating defense to dominate the Comets inside and the game was never in doubt after the 8 minute mark of the second half.

It was only a matter of time before Coach Lamar, in his twelfth national tournament, had his first national title--but not before the "player's coach" emptied his bench so his entire team had a chance to play in a game of this magnitude.

When the final buzzer sounded, a jubilant Lamar, an MNU alumnus, jumped into the arms of an assistant coach and the court was flooded with MNU players. The hundreds of Pioneer fans who made the trek from Olathe, Kansas to the Branson, Missouri area shouted "M-N-U!"

National Champion M-N-U finished the season 34-2.

Perhaps the Pioneers' toughest game on the way to the finals was their second round match-up against sister school Mount Vernon Nazarene University. MNU needed a Hawkins put-back with point-six seconds left on the clock to win 75-73. A Cougar 3-point shot at the buzzer clanged off the rim allowing the Pioneers to escape.

The MNU men were not the only team from the university making noise this week as the MNU women's team reached the semi-finals of the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament. The Lady Pioneers fell 80-68 to the College of the Ozarks (Missouri) in Sioux City, Iowa.

Note: For a list of Nazarene schools participating in championship tournaments this postseason, Click Here.
--NCN Sports

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Historic week for the Church of the Nazarene in Japan

Kyoto, Japan--The Japan District celebrated its Centennial anniversary of the Church of the Nazarene in Japan last week with a three day event that included the district's 61st district assembly. Nazarenes met from March 9 to 11 in Kyoto--where the work of the Church in Japan began 100 years ago. Delegates at the assembly also made history when they elected Motoko Matsuda Japan's first female district superintendent.

Matsuda has pastored the Kura Church of the Nazarene near Hiroshima for the past 15 years. A member of the District Advisory Board for the past four years, Matsuda has served as an ordained elder since 1997. Matsuda's late husband, Zenko Matsuda, also served as a Nazarene pastor. Upon her election, Matsuda told the delegates, "I am humbled by your confidence in me to lead this district."

Asia-Pacific Regional Director Vern Ward described Matsuda as a "strong, mentoring pastor" who "will bring her sincere, servant leadership to the office with many years of pastoral experience."

General Superintendent Nina G. Gunter, who made history herself in 2005 by becoming the Church of the Nazarene's first female general superintendent, served as keynote speaker for the Centennial.

Gunter challenged the hundreds of Nazarenes in attendance saying, "God has given us the resources, all we need to do is His mission … here in Japan and in the nations of the world"--a reference to the Church of the Nazarene's statement of mission, "To make Christlike disciples in the nations."

She also reminded delegates to remember His power, remember His purpose, remember His presence, and remember their participation.

Additionally, Gunter read a historical account of the Church of the Nazarene in Japan provided by Nazarene Archives. Gunter's manuscript read:

"In 1907, Japan became the eighth nation of the world in which the people called "Nazarenes" proclaimed the message of Christian Holiness. The work was progressing with new holiness churches, missions, and preaching points in Canada, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Japan, Mexico, Scotland, and the United States.

"Thus, by 1908, the anniversary date which commemorates the union of our parent denomination, we were already a people with work in eight nations and among five languages. This is clear evidence of who the Nazarenes were at the beginning and who we are today: We are a people of God who believe with strong conviction that Christ opens His church to those of all ages, nations, and races.

"Nazarene beginnings in Japan were modest. At first there were just two women: Rev. Lillian Poole and Rev. Lulu Williams, ordained ministers of the gospel who were sent to Japan from the American Holiness Church affiliated with the Oriental Mission Society. Later the American Holiness Church joined the Church of the Nazarene. They settled first in Tokyo for language school. Then, in 1907, they took up residence in Kyoto. Soon others augmented their work, including some whose names are known throughout the Nazarene world: Rev. Minnie Staples, Rev. J. I. Nagamatshu, Rev. Hiroshi Kitagawa, Rev. Nobumi Isayama, and Rev. W. A. Eckel."

One hundred years later in 2007, approximately 500 Japanese Nazarenes from the farthest northern and southern points of Japan gathered for the March 11 worship celebration. Nazarenes from Okinawa, an island 1,000 miles to the southwest of Tokyo, presented an Okinawan celebration dance dressed in historic costumes as part of the festivities.

Ward and his wife, Natalie, attended the events, along with representatives from Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Cambodia. In addition, several former Nazarene missionaries who had served in Japan joined the celebrations.
--NCN News, Asia-Pacific

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Jordanian official honored for work with Avain Influenza

Amman, Jordan--Dr. Nadeem Ammareen, a church leader in Jordan and member of Eurasia's Regional Advisory Council (RAC), was nationally awarded in February for his work in virology during the recent Avian Influenza (bird flu) crisis in Jordan.

Ammareen received the Istiqlal Medal, Third Order (also known as the Independence Medal) from King Abdullah on February 7 during a ceremony at the Royal Court.

Ammareen was awarded for work he did as head of the virology unit in Jordan's Ministry of Agriculture. He holds a bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine and surgery, as well as a master's in poultry diseases, and worked at the Ministry of Agriculture for six years, first in pathology, then as head of virology.

At the Ministry, he worked to identify, diagnose, and isolate viral diseases in animals, as well as preparing contingency plans for Avian Influenza in the region and isolating multiple strains of the virus.

When he began working for a private company at the beginning of February, Ammareen's daily Scripture reading brought him to Proverbs 22:29: "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men."

"I thought that this verse may mean my new situation because I changed my work," he said. "I have a good position and salary, so I am treated like a king. I was at the airport waiting to come back to Jordan, when my mobile rang and my mother was on the other side telling me that I will be awarded by his majesty the king."

Ammareen received the same award that his late father, Dr. Mukhles Amareen, received from the king.
--Mawia Halasa, Eastern Mediterranean Field

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NCN News Briefs for March 16, 2007

• Point Loma Nazarene University is seeking a vice president for Spiritual Development. The person hired into this position will provide leadership to the specific areas of responsibility within Spiritual Development and demonstrate spiritual maturity in directing the spiritual development efforts of the total university, both undergraduate and graduate, in pursuit of the university's mission and vision. Those wishing to be considered should apply on the university's web site at www.pointloma.edu/humanresources.
  
  
• See ncnnews.com for new and updated Nazarene news stories and photos throughout the week.

Nazarene schools in postseason basketball tournaments
Kansas City--Several Nazarene collegiate basketball teams are involved in national championship tournaments this month. For results, Click Here.

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