September 2007

 

New York Pastor Committed to Reaching Asians for Christ

Rev. Hae Rhim (Philip) Park became pastor of Beautiful Grace Korean Church of the Nazarene in New York in January 2007.  He and his wife, Jae Sook Lee (Ruth) believe that they have entered into a new and unique mission field, for which their lifetime of training and experience have trained them.

 

Rev. Park was raised in a Buddhist and Confucian home.  When a family move placed them near a Nazarene congregation, Jesus Christ became a source of change in his life.  Rev. Park was called to missions at a Billy Graham Crusade in Seoul, Korea in 1973.  After attending Korea Nazarene University and Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, Rev. Park was ordained in 1992.

 

Rev. Park, along with his wife and two sons, served as full-time missionaries of the Church of the Nazarene in Thailand and other countries throughout Asia.  Fluent in four languages: English, Korean, Chinese, and Thai, the Parks are committed to brining their missionary zeal to the diverse population of New York.

 

There is a great need for Asian leaders to serve as NewStart pastors both in the US and around the world.  Rev. Park believes God is ready to do a great work among Asian peoples with prayer, passion, purpose, and priorities.  Their method of ministry is summed up in the acronym PRIORITIES: Plant ministries, Assess and assist current ministries, Revival through prayer, Training leaders, Network with district and world leaders, Enlarge the cross-cultural vision, Research and build for evangelism, and Share information and resources.

 

ONU Launches Hispanic Master of Ministry Program 

Dr. Carl Leth, Dean of the School of Theology and Religion at Olivet Nazarene University and Dr. Roberto Hodgson, National Hispanic Ministries Coordinator for the Office of Mission Evangelism USA/Canada, are pleased to announce that a new Hispanic Master of Ministry program is underway.  On Monday, July 30, twelve students and five faculty members as well as program administrators and support personnel gathered in a classroom on Olivet’s campus to celebrate this historic event, and to provide orientation to the first cohort group enrolled in the program.

 

Dr. Hodgson greeted the group with words of celebration. “This kind of program has been the dream and vision of the USA/Canada Hispanic Education Committee. Now, as a result of the interest and partnership of several entities of the church, and the door opened by Olivet Nazarene University, the dream has become a reality. You are pioneers in a new phase of leadership development for the church in the USA and Canada.”

 

While the number of program applicants surpassed 30, the first group of students is being limited to 12 participants.  Others will be admitted as the program further develops.  With over 400 Hispanic Nazarene congregations currently ministering in the USA/Canada, and a growing number of new congregations being started each year, the need for ministerial training at the master’s level and beyond is ever increasing.

 

ONU’s Hispanic Master of Ministry degree is a 2 ½ year program, combining intensive summer modules with online education. Coordinating the program is Rev. Wilfredo Canales, regional Hispanic theological education coordinator for the Central USA Region and a faculty member at ONU, in conjunction with Dr. Steve Franklin of the School of Theology and Religion.

 

This program is one link in a chain of ministerial training in the USA/Canada responding directly to the needs of our Hispanic constituency.  Already, the General Church has prepared Spanish-language modules that meet ordination requirements. NNU provides the Spanish-language modules in online format. Several districts have training centers that provide classes in Spanish. Nazarene Bible College is developing a Spanish-language Bachelor’s program, and conversations are underway with Nazarene Theological Seminary to provide additional training opportunities for Hispanic leaders.

 

A New Church Begins to Reach African Americans in Virginia 
Len and Beth Barber are partnering with the Virginia District and Roanoke East Gate Church of the Nazarene to launch a new Black congregation in the Roanoke Valley.  Under the supervision of Rev. Charles Tillman, Virginia District Black Ministries Director, the Barbers have been meeting with and developing a core group of committed members in preparation for the launch.  The first services of Greater Lighthouse Community Church were held on September 9^th at 11am in the youth room of East Gate Church.  Regular Bible Studies, called “The Gathering” will be held Tuesday evenings, also at East Gate.  The Barbe r s and the Greater Lighthouse Church are asking for your prayers as this congregation seeks to be a powerful tool of God to reach the Roanoke Valley.

 

First Regional Hispanic Ministries Event Held at SNU

The Church of the Nazarene office of Hispanic Ministries recently held a conference for Hispanic pastors and spouses on the campus of Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, OK. The regional event, held July 18-21, was the first of a series of similar conferences to be held in other U.S. regions.

Terry N. Toler, SNU Vice President of Church Relations, and Warren Rogers III, SNU Director of Admissions, greeted and addressed the almost 100 pastors and spouses from six districts. Dr. Roberto Hodgson, USA/Canada Hispanic Ministries Coordinator, reports the conference provided pastors and spouses with times of inspiration, fellowship, and learning.  Participants were also able to visit the facilities and experience student life at SNU, which offers a Latino Ministerial Education Initiative directed by Juan Vazquez-Pla.

 

Rev. Judy Sanders Appointed Pastor in Oklahoma City

Pastor Judy B. Sanders has been appointed the Senior Pastor of Oklahoma City New Life Community Church of the Nazarene.  Rev. Sanders comes to this position from Kansas City Risen Lamb International Church of the Nazarene where she served for two years as Associate Pastor, responsible for Women’s Ministries, small group leadership, and a satellite campus effort.  It was during her time attending Risen Lamb that Rev. Sanders received her call to preach, received her district license, and began the Course of Study towards ordination.

 

She comments, “I believe that Ministry is the heart of the Christian life.  I believe that the pastor’s role is to equip the members for ministry, assist members in discovering a meaningful place in ministry through training, encouragement, guidance.  I believe that effective pastors will strive to enable people to discover and develop their God-given gifts and to use them for the building of God’s Kingdom.  There is no greater joy than allowing God to use you assist in changing the lives of people by showing them the love of Jesus Christ.”

 

Pastor Sanders has a BA in Human Resources Management from Friends University and an MA in Education from Pittsburg State University.  Prior to her full-time ministry assignments, Rev. Sanders spent seven years as an educator of at-risk, urban youth.

 

Manhattan Lamb’s Church Launches New Vision Campaign

Recently, New York City's Lamb’s Church of the Nazarene has relocated to Manhattan's Lower East Side. In a diverse area between New York University, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Latino Lower East Side, the church is in a powerful position to reach the nations. Under the leadership of Pastor Gabriel A. Salguero, the church's vision is simple: “Loving and Empowering Our City.”

In addition to ministering in English, The Lamb’s Church has Chinese and Spanish language ministries led by Pastors Shih Fong Wu and Dario Falconi. They are experiencing growth in multi-ethnic new immigrant ministries as well as with young “post moderns.”

With this renewed vision and missi on, they are launching a vision fund campaign to catapult the urban, multicultural, and postmodern outreaches into the 21st century. As the church raises money for the “Loving and Empowering The City Vision Campaign,” they will continue to support these ministries:

• Multicultural leadership ministry training classes
• Chinese and Spanish ESL ministries
• Postmodern ministries for college and graduate students
• Multi-ethnic ministries for children
• Gifted-Hands ministries to HIV/AIDS, elderly, and hospice communities

For more information about the Lamb’s Church ministries, Click Here.

(Courtesy NCN News)

 

Ohio Pastor Receives Award from Cleveland Mayor

This past year has been a busy one for the staff of the Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center (URC), a Nazarene compassionate ministry center serving Cleveland’s west side.

Nueva Luz URC offers multiple faith-based programs such as Proyecto Luz, which is the cornerstone program of the organization. For more than eight years the organization has faithfully served the Cleveland community, including a special ministry to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. It also has offered Kids Church, fatherhood training, and cultural competency training to Clevelanders.

On August 1, 2006, Nueva Luz URC brought Nazarene pastor Dave Bever, Jr. and his youth initiative dream to their staff. Now, just one year later, that dream has become a reality as the R-Life program of Nueva Luz is now sharing life with more than 250 youth every week.

Because of this work and the impact it has had on Cleveland’s west side community, Bever, Jr. was selected to be the recipient of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s 2007 Night Out Against Crime Award this month.

“I have been blessed to join an amazing team of people at Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center,” Bever, Jr. said regarding the award and the success of the R-Life program. “They have been here for almost 10 years doing this work. Pastor M a x and Kim Rodas and Pastor Andy and Norma Anderson have laid a solid foundation; it is the outcome of God’s call and their response of obedience.”

The city of Cleveland hit an all-time high with the sharpest increase in multiple crime statistics last year. This year, because of Cleveland stake holders who have committed their lives to make a difference, the statistics are on a record-setting pace to being significantly lower.

One of those committed stake holders in the community is former Cleveland Browns running back and National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer Jim Brown, who attended the awards ceremony and the Night Out Against Crime.

“God has given me many amazing opportunities,” Bever, Jr., an avid Cleveland Browns fan, said about the entire experience, including meeting Brown. “I get to stand on the steps of City Hal l with the [former] running back from the NFL’s greatest team—the Cleveland Browns. Jim Brown’s Amer-I-can program has a strong presence in Cleveland, as well as many other cities around the U.S. It is through these types of organizations across the city, as well as partnerships with policy makers and community members, that will help continue the improvement of our city, one day and one life at a time.”  (Courtesy NCN News)

 

Central and East Central Region Black Nazarenes Celebrate Yearly Conference

Black Nazarenes from across the central US met recently in Lexington, Kentucky for their yearly regional conference.  The Lexington Gethsemane Church of the Nazarene served as host for the event.  The conference provided an opportunity for fellowship, worship, and encouragement in an atmosphere of love and community. 

 

This year’s event was one of the best ever.  Pastors were renewed and spirits were refreshed.  Some of the highlights included the All Church Concert on Saturday evening with a number of congregations participating, and a powerful Sunday morning service concluding in communion led by host pastor, Rev. Alfred Glasper.  There was an unusual presence of God during this sacred time.

 

A combined choir from the region will perform at the National Black Nazarene Conference in Orlando in July of 2008.  Preparations are also already under way for the next regional conference.  Financial assistance for the conference was provided by the Eastern Michigan and Indianapolis Districts as well as through the generosity of attendees.

 

Introducing Pastor Bryant Walker 

We are excited to welcome one of our newest recruits, Pastor Bryant (Jacque) Walker. He is the founding pastor of Look at God Restoration Ministries, in Memphis, TN, with his son, Elder Vernon Adam Warrick as Associate Pastor. Walker started the church in 2005 and now averages approximately 50 on Sunday mornings. This past June, Dr. Broadbrooks (D.S.) and Dr. Weisman (Assistant D.S.) starting working with Pastor Walker to bring his church into the Church of the Nazarene. That exciting process will complete in December of this year. In the meantime, Look at God Restoration Ministries, C.O.N. will celebrate moving into a new place of worship on October 7, 2007.

 

Pastor Walker shares a powerful and vibrant testimony of God’s saving grace in his life and the Lord’s calling on him to pursue full time ministry. His focus is “...feeding the homeless, visiting the sick and shut-in, and feeding the sheep The Word of God...” He has contagious passion for personal evangelism. He hardly ever misses an opportunity to share what God has done in his life—even with complete strangers!

 

We would be remiss not to also thank Dr. Joanne Ballard for introducing us to such a fine pastor and Pastor McArthur Jackson of Holiness Tabernacle C.O.N. for their support as well.

 

Again, welcome, Pastor Walker, to you, your family and your congregation as you minister in the Church of the Nazarene.

 

Executive Directors to Gather for Personal Development and Training

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries USA/Canada is sponsoring the first Executive Director’s Leadership Development Retreat October 29-31, 2007 at the Indianapolis Marriott East in Indianapolis, Indiana.  This is a time of fellowship, training, and peer-to-peer learning geared specifically for the chief executives of the Compassionate Ministry Centers in the United States and Canada.

 

Dr. Tom Nees will present in the area of personal leadership development and Dr. Phil Budd will present ideas and strategies for self-care and the combat of compassion fatigue.  There will also be a site visit to Shepherd Community Center and time to meet the new NCM USA/Canada Coordinator, Rev. Althea Taylor. 

 

This retreat will provide a chance to get away for a while as well as a chance to interact with people who understand the unique pressures of your ministry assignment.  If you have questions, call 800-306-9950 or register online at www.nazarenecompassion.org.

Vietnamese Ministries Excel Through Partnerships
Binh Quoc Huynh, Nazarene Vietnamese Mission Coordinator reports great success from a radio ministry partnership with several other denominations.  These Vietnamese pastors have been working together on a weekly radio program for Vietnamese audiences for six years.  This has been a useful tool to reach Vietnamese people for the gospel, as they are less prone to respond favorably to personal invitations and conversations.  Rev. Huynh has been able to contact and work with groups in California and Florida.  Vietnamese contacts in the US and Canada are springing up faster than leaders can be trained to serve them.  Continue to pray for this vital ministry. 

Upcoming Mission Strategy Events

• Rogers-Cunningham-Bowman Ministerial Institute – October 1-5, 2007 at ENC
• Sudanese Ministries Conference – October 5-7, 2007 in Lincoln, Nebraska
• ENC Region Hispanic Conference – October 10-13, 2007 at Camp Taconic, NY
• NCM Executive Director’s Leadership Development Retreat – October 29-31, 2007 Indianapolis, IN
• National Black Nazarene Conference – July 24-27, 2008 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, FL
• Hispanic Centennial Celebration – August 5-7, 2008 in Pasadena, CA

For more information, visit the Mission Strategy website.

The Mission Strategy E-news is a bi-monthly e-communication of news and information on multicultural, urban, and compassionate ministry.

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