More News From Around The District
On Sunday, June 6, Marilyn and Dr. Anthony were at Otter Lake for the 60th Anniversary of their church. It was a great day with former pastors Rev. & Mrs. Stanley Wilson and Rev. & Mrs. Joseph Poulmounter in attendance. Congratulations to Rev. James Franklin and this congregation on 60 profitable years serving Jesus in this community.Marilyn and Dr. Anthony also recently traveled to Brown City for the dedication of the Brown City Missionary Church. Dr. Anthony was invited because they were leaving the building his great grandfather, Rev. Ebenezor Anthony built when he was pastor there in 1895. They have a beautiful new facility on Burnside Road just east of town. Congratulations to our sister denomination.
Congratulations to the following pastors that have had successful pastoral reviews and received a 4-year renewal of their call:
- Rev. Tim Gocha (Warren Woods Church)
- Rev. Michael Hefner (Highland Church)
- Rev. Gary Slusher (Southwest Church)
- Rev. Michael Kempton (Hazel Park Church)
- Rev. Darrel Harvey (Flushing Community Church)
Rev. Larry Betz, pastor at Adrian First, was recently invited to pray the prayer of invocation at the State Senate in Lansing.
Campmeeting flyers have been mailed out this week. You can also download the poster from the www.emdnaz.org!
Dr. Anthony and Marilyn were on hand at the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island where they spent Memorial Day with the district teens. 2004 provided another 'Night to Remember.' While the weather did not cooperate, a great time was had by all at this annual Prom Alternative. This year we had the privilege of our General Superintendent, Dr. James Diehl being with us. In addition both Dr. John & Linda Seaman and Rev. Wayne and Debbie Brown , D.S.'s from the other Michigan districts were able to attend.
While in the 'neighborhood' coming home from Mackinac, Marilyn and Dr. Anthony spent a couple of hours at the Northern Michigan District Assembly in Clare. During Rev. Brown's report he announced that Rev. John Carr from the Eastern Michigan District will be moving back to Northern Michigan in the fall to start a new church in Petoskey. John and Lucy presently pastor the Bethel Church on our district. Prior to Bethel they pastored Richfield Church for six years and Alanson Church for 12 years. Part of our District Church planting plan is to help sponsor three New Start Churches on the Northern Michigan District.
Congratulations to Rev. Wayne Brown, DS of the Northern Michigan District, who received a unanimous 4 year renewal vote at their assembly.
Congratulations to Rev. Darold Ward and the Cass City Church. The church celebrated their 80th anniversary on Sunday, May 23rd. Special guests included former pastors Rev. A.E. and Evelyn McFarland and Rev. Bill and Donna Bixler .
Rev. Clarence Moorhouse, our director of Project Nehemiah, has resigned to accept a position as calling pastor at Richfield Church. He begins his new ministry assignment on July 1st. Clarence has been a valuable member of our district team and will be greatly missed in this assignment. We wish he and Rosalie well as they begin this new area of ministry. Also please pray for Rev. Robert Welch, pastor at Mt. Morris who had 4 heart stints put in to clear blockages in the arteries leading to his heart. He is home and doing well.
Mary Hefner, mother of Highland Church pastor Rev. Mike Hefner , passed away on the afternoon of Sunday, May 30.
Retired elder Rev. T. W. Chenoweth passed away on the morning of June 14 in Flint. Rev. Chenoweth most recently had been on staff at West Flint Church .
May 17th and 18th were spent on the Campground meeting with the Credentials Board. This is a very exhausting time as this board meets to review ministers's credentialing matters. Six ministers were approved for recommendation to the assembly for ordination.
Congratulations to our EMD Teens who finished second overall at Regional Celebrate Life at Olivet. Our Soccer team finished in first place. Please check the web site in coming days for more info on the standings of our EMD Teens.
Good news arrived to the Rev. Don Ault family of Gagetown. They have received word this week that their son Rob has returned safely to the US from Iraq.
Rev. Gary Griffin, associate at Brighton, has been loaned to the district to coordinate Campmeeting 2004. Following Campmeeting, Rev. Griffin will be pastoring a New Start Church.
Urgent Reminder!! Marriage Protection Amendment
petitions must be physically in the Lansing office no later than July 2nd. The address is listed on the outside flap of the petition itself. Please get as many signatures as possible over the next 18 days, then be sure your petitions are turned in. (If they're late, they won't count and all your effort will be wasted.) Thanks and God's blessings on all who are helping circulate the petition to protect and preserve one-man, one-woman marriage for our children and grandchildren. If you have not already signed or circulated a petition, please go to www.protectmarriageyes.org to find the name and phone number of your county coordinator, then call to request one (or preferably, a hundred). Or contact AFA-Michigan's office at 989-835-7978 or at gg@afamichigan.org
Newstart Notes
Congratulations to Rev. Jeff Crowder, pastor of Chelsea Church and Rev. Robert Moulding, pastor of New Covenant Church in South Lyon on their recent graduation from Nazarene Theological Seminary. They both earned the Master of Divinity Degree. Also, congratulations to Rev. Gregg Davis, pastor of Fenton Church who graduated from Olivet Nazarene University where he earned a Master of Church Management degree.On May 16, Dr. Anthony preached at Flushing Community Church in the AM and met with 7 New Start Congregations at Flushing in the PM for a first ever New Start combined service. Rev. Vera Davis of Love Mercy Ministry Church of the Nazarene in Detroit brought her youth choir and Rev. Mike Morris brought greetings.
Newstart Church Biographies on www.EMDNAZ.org/church_planting
Be sure to read all about our newest churches on the Church Planting section of the District Web site, EMDNAZ.ORG!