E-Tidings December 2003
From the District Superintendent
God sent His Son Jesus not to a palace and not into sanitary conditions but to the filth of an animal shelter. His first bed was the feed trough the animals used. His mother was a young teenager of no notoriety while His earthly father was a hard working carpenter.
It was not an accident that this is how and where Christ was born. He was sent into the filth and squalor that sin had created in the world to redeem the common everyday people like us. He was entrusted to Mary and Joseph in those days and to you and me today.
The angel said it perfectly correct "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." Luke 2:10 (NKJV) The joy of the world 2000 years ago is still reason for joy today. CHRIST IS BORN!
Marilyn and I want to wish each of our district family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year.
Merry Christmas!Dr. Stephen T. Anthony,
District Superintendent
In this issue:
- News from Around Our Great District
- PrimeTimers Return from Brazil with Exciting Memories and Stories to Share
- Merry Christmas from the Eastside Mission
- Deer Park Church Holds Preview Service
- Great Resources for Local Mission Presidents Available at EMDNAZ.org
- Meijer To Support Camp Programs
- Camp Facility Openings
News from Around Our Great District
Catherine Earhart, the mother of Kathy Alger (wife of Rev. Paul Alger, former pastor at Beecher Community) passed away Sunday evening, December 14th. Please remember Kathy's family in your prayers.Congratulations to Rev. Dan and Kristen Black, pastor at Lake Community Church, on the birth of their son, Hudson Taylor Black.
Dr. Anthony and Marilyn had the privilege of joining with Rev. Steve and Sharon Barkey, pastor of New Start Church - Orchard Ridge for their Core Group Prayer Meeting. It is so encouraging to see this house church beginning to form and new people finding Christ as savior. This month they moved into the local elementary school for the beginning of core group worship. Many thanks to Rev. Tim Gocha and the Warren Woods Church who have enthusiastically and generously sponsored this Church.
Saturday evening, December 20th, Dr. Anthony had the privilege of speaking for the Forward in Faith dinner at Detroit Grace Church. Over 175 people attended this fund raising dinner to make commitments for the new Gym that is nearing completion. In attendance was Rev. Warren Rogers who partnered with the district in 1979 to help the new Grace Church get started under the leadership of their current pastor Rev. Robert Hunter. Campaign Director for Forward in Faith was Rev. Larry Bolling. Forward in Faith is the new denomination fund raising program available through Stewardship Services at headquarters. The new facility is being named in honor of Rev. Rogers. In the picture (right) Rev. Rosa Hunter presents the plaque to Rev. Rogers. The plaque that will hang in the building. The new gym was designed by Hull-Stevens and Assocs. and Cliff Shaum Builders was the contractor. Financing was arranged through Nazarene Credit Union.
Orchard Ridge Church, under the leadership of Rev. Steve Barkey had their first service Sunday December 21st in Washington Township and 153 individuals attended. Congratulations to this fine New Start pastor and his Core Group.
Rev. Ron Blake, pastor of Detroit First Church announces the addition of Rev. Mike Keffer as Minister to Youth and Families to their staff. Rev. Keffer along with wife Linda and sons Andrew (photo left), Josiah, and Christian will begin their ministry on January 18th. Rev. Keffer has been a Youth Pastor for 23 years and recently served at Lakeholm Community Church of the Nazarene in Ohio.
Allen Park Church under the leadership of Rev. Bob McFarlane had a wonderful Christmas program on Sunday, December 21st. Rev. McFarlane writes the following: What a beautiful time of year and what a WONDERFUL day we had yesterday at Allen Park Church with the Children's program. Under the direction of "Miss Chris" Bednarczyk, our children did the "A Shepherd's Story" and we had 154 in the morning service. We are averaging over 31 children on Sunday mornings (with 80% of these kids from unchurched homes). The kids did a GREAT job and they love "Miss Chris." I'm so glad that the Lord sent her our way. I realize that other churches have had more in their service than us, but this is the most we have had since I've been pastor here on a Christmas Sunday. Just had to brag about our kids, Miss Chris and our attendance.
PrimeTimers Return from Brazil with Exciting Memories and Stories to Share
On October 24, 2003, 23 PT'ers from Michigan, New Hampshire, Ontario and Nova Scotia departed for Florianopolis, Brazil on the first District Sponsored, International PrimeTime Ministry W&W adventure in the history of our denomination. With teenage enthusiasm & excitement laced with high expectations we boarded planes in 4 different cities each with the same South American destination. Our team represented 1052 years of Christian experience and ranged in age from 53-76 (Average: 65.4)Our first experience was the Nazarene Clinic in Rio de Janeiro. We walked through the physical manifestation of the vision Dr. Harolde Neves drew on a napkin 25 years ago. His vision is to build the largest hospital in Brazil, by building clinics near many Nazarene Churches throughout Brazil. He told us the building cost of a single clinic is only $12,000 USD and when 2 or 3 clinics are in operation the revenue generated will allow them to be self supporting & will accelerate the construction of the remaining clinics. Can you envision the impact our churches will have when a Nazarene Clinic is next door or down the street from the local Nazarene church?
Our next stop was the Niplopolis Nazarene Church in Rio. The church was full when we arrived, so we entered through a rear door, up a few steps and onto the platform to be seated in the choir seats. This service was the smaller of the 4 worship services which totals 2,000 in attendance each Sunday. We were welcomed with energetic handshakes, heartwarming hugs, brilliant smiles and an enormous sense of genuine acceptance. It felt like we had known these people all our lives. The singing was so powerful I felt like an invisible hand was pushing me toward the wall behind me. The innocence of pure worship from people who possesses a childlike faith was overwhelming and humbling. We soon discovered this was consistent throughout the churches we visited in Brazil. That afternoon we rushed to the airport and flew south to Florianopolis where we received another world-class, heartwarming Brazilian welcome.
The highlight for many of "The Gang" was the love & warmth of the Brazilian people and the power & sincerity of their worship. What we witnessed & experienced must have been what the Nazarene Church was like 75 years ago.
Here are a few statements made by The Gang: "I thought I would never be able to go on a Work & Witness trip because of my age." "When I mailed my registration form, I prayed the Lord would provide the funds and He did!" "I did not know what I could do in Brazil." "My life will never be the same." "I'll never forget this experience or the Brazilian people." "Where are we going on our next PT Work & Witness adventure?"
These comments, and others, reveal to me the incredible need for bold, innovative, creative ideas that do not restrict PrimeTimers to some socially-imposed limitations and interests. PrimeTimers need a vision to challenge them to reach beyond their comfort zones and into the yet-to-be-discovered realm of possibilities. Challenges that catch their attention, will excite them and enflame their hearts to do something BIG for God. Are other PrimeTime W&W opportunities in the works? ABSOLUTELY! In January / February 2006, we have a PrimeTime Ministry, Work & Witness "Blitz" to Barbados! Five Teams X Two Weeks = Ten Weeks! But a better question is: "Are YOU willing to accept the challenge of PrimeTime Work and Witness?" Dream on, PrimeTimers! Catch the Vision!
Merry Christmas from the Eastside Mission
We take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you for your support of the Mission this past year. We have reached thousands of individuals with the love of Jesus through Compassionate Ministries in 2003. The hungry were fed, others were clothed and received furniture and appliances. Infants have diapers and formula, cribs to sleep in, car seats to travel in and clothes to wear. Many were fitted with eye glasses and received medical care on site. The New Life Church of the Nazarene, located in the Mission building, provides the spiritual direction we all so desperately need. We laugh, cry and pray with them. They are our neighbors and family and your support enables us to demonstrate the love of Jesus to them. May God allow us to continue to reach out into a community that needs Him so. We speak for ourselves and for them when we say; Thank you and Merry Christmas. Bill & Barb Burdine
Saturday December 20th, Dr. Anthony and Marilyn had the joy of joining with Rev. Bill and Barb Burdine and the other volunteers to feed Christmas dinner and distribute gifts to over 400 precious people on the Eastside of Flint at our Eastside Mission. Thanks to the pastors who brought volunteers from their churches to help. Those involved were, Rev. and Mrs. Ron Sharp - Flint East, Rev. Eric Slade - New Hope, Rev. and Mrs. Ken Brier & family - Cornerstone, and Dr. and Mrs. David Bowser & family - West Flint. Thanks to all our churches that support the Eastside Mission.
