Etidings January 2003

E-Tidings Volume 3, Issue 1 January 2003

In this Issue:
  • From the District Superintendent
  • New Campground Managers Coming to District Center
  • News From Around Our Great District
  • Wermuths Celebrate Milestone
  • Youth News from District NYI Director, Greg Boisture
  • Lake Community Church Works to Benefit Girlstown
  • Top 10 Churches for AM Worship Attendance in December 2002
  • Top 10 Churches for Increase in AM Worship Attendance
  • About E-Tidings

From the District Superintendent:

       The goal is clear! Start twenty new churches on the Eastern Michigan District in the next two years! However, a lot of questions are yet to be answered:
  • Where will these churches be located?
  • Who will the church planters be?
  • Where will all the money come from?
  • Who will comprise the core group?
        These are all good questions that have answers developing as we speak. Already core groups are meeting in places like Armada, Northeast Sterling Heights, Oxford, and Detroit. Others are being planned for Clio, Fowlerville, Saline, Manchester, New Hudson, Mayville, Wixom and Grand Blanc. For this effort to be successful, it is going to require much prayer, sacrificial giving, and hard work on the part of our great pastors and laymen.

        If you are interested in being part of a "New Start Church", please contact me and share what you feel God is leading you to do in this church planting adventure. Everyone can join this effort in prayer and some in giving,  while still others will become part of a core group  Please write me of your interest  at emdds@emdnaz.org or you may contact our church planting coordinator, Rev. Michael Morris at mpmorris@juno.com.

"Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal:..." John 4:35-36

Stephen T. Anthony Rev. Alan and Anne Stokes

New Campground Managers Coming to District Center

The Camp Board, with the approval of the District Advisory Board, has called Rev. Alan and Anne Stokes to be the new Campground Manager. Rev. Stokes is a Nazarene elder and has been managing a Salvation Army Campground in Minneapolis for the past 5 years. Anne has served as secretary to the Nazarene District Superintendent of Minnesota, Rev. Richard Sickels. They have also pastored Nazarene Churches in Illinois and Arkansas. Rev. Stokes and wife Anne will be moving to the Campground following the first of the year.

Other News From Around Our Great District

Harvest Community Church in Lincoln Park welcomes their new co-pastor team, Revs. Steve and Pat Woodbury. The Woodbury's come to the Eastern Michigan District from the Salvation Army where they served as officers for a number of years in the Ann Arbor area.

Paul Carr, son of Rev. John & Lucy Carr at Bethel, has accepted a youth ministry assignment in Texas.

Rev. Larry Dahlberg has resigned as pastor at Sandusky effective February 3rd and has accepted a call to Colorado.

The Flint Eastside Mission is in desperate need of a Cargo Van. The van they use now is on it's last legs. It is used to pick up food from the Food Bank and transport other items for the mission. If you know of someone that has one they could donate or sell at a reasonable price, please contact Rev. Bill Burdine at 810-767-5312 (ofc) or 810-234-6130 (Hm) or e-mail at ESMission@aol.com.

The District is currently accepting applications for the position of Camp Caretaker for the Eastern Michigan District Center. Please send resumes to PO Box 608, Fenton, MI 48430.

Rev. and Mrs. Wermuth and Family

Wermuths Celebrate Milestone

Dr. Anthony and Marilyn joined with the family and friends of Rev. Dave and Eleanor Wermuth to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. The celebration was held at the Vassar Church of the Nazarene. Rev. and Mrs. Wermuth have the longest continuous service of ministry currently on the Eastern Michigan District. They have served the congregations at Holly, Beulah, Colling, and are presently in their 25th year of service at Vassar Church. Rev. Wermuth was appointed in 1961 and has served under the leadership of every district superintendent on the Eastern Michigan District. The Wermuth's are now in their 42nd year of ministry. The attached picture is the Wermuth's and their four children, David, Daniel, Ann, and Becky, along with their spouses.

Youth News from District NYI Director, Greg Boisture

There is a Superbowl outreach happening at Warren Woods.  They would like to invite any churches without full time youth pastors to join them.  There will be snacks and games throughout the evening to play as well as during half time of the Superbowl they will be having a special Collegiate or Professional football player sharing their testimony with the group. 
When: Sunday Jan. 26th, 3 pm until conclusion of the Superbowl game
Where:  Warren Wood Christian School in the Loft
Cost: $5 per person
Questions please call Pastor Steve Barkey at (586) 771-4821

Celebrate Life '03 is coming up fast and the forms for participants need to be sent in soon.  Celebrate Life is Feb. 1st at Warren Woods 8 AM to 5 PM.  This day of positive competition and good clean fun is for both early youth and senior youth.  There are a wide range of sports teams to participate in as well as the arts, for example painting and vocal solos.  All registrations need to be sent to Kandra Hewett postmarked by January 13th with the $20 per participant included.  Please check out the youth section of www.emdnaz.org to find out more information.  We would love to have a great turn out this year.  Come join the fun and get to know some new friends on the district.

"Night To Remember" is always a good way to spend the weekend of Memorial Day.  Packets of information will be out soon.  Encourage the teens in your youth group to participate in this event at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.  This is a Prom alternative, which means that instead of going to Prom at their school they would join us at "Night To Remember" and dress up in their prom clothes and enjoy an evening of great food and wholesome entertainment.  Watch for your packets in the mail for further details.

District Scholarships for Eastern Michigan District graduating seniors will be sent out to the churches soon.  You will also be able to download an application from www.emdnaz.org website in the next few weeks.  This merit scholarship is good for $500 to any Nazarene College or University, but is worth $1000 at Olivet Nazarene University (because they match the $500).  There will be four scholarships awarded by merit and one awarded to the top quizzer.  Keep an eye out for the information packets coming in the mail early February. 

EMD youth Quizzing has been a great success this year.  Scott Meikle from Detroit First is the Quiz Director and doing a fabulous job.  The quizzers are learning scripture and enjoying friendly competition and great fellowship.  The Jan. 11th quiz is at Richfield.  Feb. 15th is at Detroit First.  District Finals is March 14-15th at Warren Woods.  Come out and support your quiz team from your church, it's a ton of fun. 

Nazarene Youth Conference Meeting of the Century

There will be a meeting for all participants of NYC '03, March 8th, 2003 at West Flint Church of the Nazarene from 10 AM - 1 PM, lunch will be provided for all participants.  This is an important meeting and every one is expected to be there.  A lot of important information will be provided at this time, but most importantly we are going to begin building unity within the group and you will not want to miss this.  NYC is going to be held in Houston, Texas July 22nd - 27th, 2003. This trip will be a life change experience for all of the participants involved.  We are sorry to announce that there will be no new registrations accepted.  Although there is a waiting list if room becomes available.  This is a costly trip.  If you would like to sponsor a student or feel like you would want help a student participate in this event with any amount, please contact Greg Boisture @ (586) 598-8555.  

Is your youth group having a party that you would like to have a little Karaoke.  Well, the NYI department owns a Karaoke Machine that you can rent for $30.  All you need is a TV.  Contact Jeremy Selvidge at (810) 653-6218 for rental information.
We would like to welcome some of our newer Youth Ministers on the district.

Matt Gordan at Caro Church of the Nazarene and Cory Stipp at Howell Church of the Nazarene.

Members of Lake Community Church

Lake Community Church Works to Benefit Girlstown

Lake Community Church recently reached out to the Belleville Girlstown Foundation. The effort was led by the Lake Community Church MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. As a church, Lake Community were able to present 24 girls with gifts from their wish lists. Each received about $50 worth of gifts. Lake Community church is one of our new start churches. It currently meets in Belleville and was launched on November 18, 2001     

Top 10 Churches for AM Worship Attendance in December 2002

Remember: For complete statistics for every church and every month since Sept 2001, visit www.emdnaz.org and click on Sunday School, View Statistics.
  1. Flint Central (1339)
  2. Richfield (818)
  3. Warren Woods (766)
  4. Detroit First (581)
  5. Howell (552)
  6. Brighton (413)
  7. Plymouth (392)
  8. Adrian First (382)
  9. Metropolitan (348)
  10. Flint West (333)
Top 10 Churches for Increase in AM Worship Attendance *
  1. Flint Central (+107)
  2. Brighton (+48)
  3. Flushing Community (+43)
  4. Flint First (+30)
  5. Highland (+30)
  6. Bedford (+28)
  7. Detroit New Hope (+20)
  8. Bethel (+19)
  9. Rochester First (+17)
  10. Argentine (+15)
*(Comparison of December 2001 to December 2002)