November 2004 eTidings
In this Issue: (click the title to jump to the article) News Around our Great District

From the District Superintendent:

What a night it was last Tuesday as we watched the election returns. The results were never in doubt and the networks called the outcome very early in the evening. By a 60-40 percent margin, Proposal 2 passed and now amends our Michigan constitution to define marriage as between one man / one woman. This only happened because the Eastern Michigan District led the way in funding, gathering signatures, promoting, getting out the vote, and most importantly praying. Thanks to each of our pastors and laymen who were so involved in seeing that the God given institution of marriage remains what He intends it to be.

Dr. Stephen T. Anthony
District Superintendent Flint Eastside Mission Logo Rev. Margie Bryce

Special Lead Article for November By Rev. Margie Bryce

Director of Marketing and Development
Flint Eastside Mission
Pumpkin pie and turkey are naturals at Thanksgiving.

What may not be natural is heading out the door on Thanksgiving Day to serve strangers their holiday meal.

Plenty of wonderful things happen at the Flint Eastside Mission on that day.

Almost three dozen pies are brought in from one local church and members at other congregations either make donations or come to serve... and on an on it goes. It quickly becomes a cooperative effort to make

other people's Thanksgiving Day close to what we expect our own to be.

It's all for them.

As I work to get the word out about what God is doing at the Eastside Mission and to ask for financial support to help enable the ministry to continue, I see something I didn't see before: that WE need the Mission more than the people at the Mission need us.

I need to set the plate before the stranger.

I need to provide clothes to those with few out of my over-abundance.

I need to encourage the stranger.

I need to support this ministry financially.

And this deal gets even better!

As we serve others, God comes and serves US!

While we are busy thinking we are making a difference in their lives, our hearts get touched by the Holy Spirit as we set that plate down in front of the stranger that God loves.

And if you're quiet enough before God as you do it, you almost can feel Jesus Christ being formed in your heart!

That's absolutely amazing!

I am most thankful this year to serve a God like that.

I don't always understand that kind of love, but it is just stunning that I am on the receiving end of it, for I know just how scraggly and strange I can be!

May God bless you all richly this Thanksgiving!

To experience God through service at the Eastside Mission and to learn more about the ministry there... visit us online at www.flinteastsidemission.org and read more about us below.

More news:

Rev. Ray Raycroft , has been appointed pastor of the Argentine Church of the Nazarene . Rev. Raycroft has previously pastored several churches on the EMD including Monroe, West Flint, and Millington. He and wife Margaret will continue to reside on the Eastern Michigan District Campground.

Rev. Louis Cook , has been appointed pastor of the Otter Lake Church of the Nazarene . Rev. Cook is a bi-vocational pastor, also serving as a Flushing police officer. He and wife Shelly live in Columbiaville. This is their first senior pastor assignment.

Rev. Vince Flippo , pastor at Bedford Church , has received a unanimous 4 year renewal of his call. Rev. Flippo has served at Bedford Church since November of 1998. The church has grown numerically and financially under his leadership. Bedford has also undergone a total building renovation and has given their pastor and staff a housing allowance since he began as pastor.

On Sunday, October 3rd, South Flint Church celebrated their 75th Anniversary. Rev. Tom Harvey had the day well organized. Former pastor Rev. H.L.Woods and wife Erma were in attendance as were Dr. Anthony and Marilyn.

Dr. Anthony and Marilyn were also with Warren Woods Church on Sunday, September 26th for Warren Woods' 40th Anniversary. Former pastor & wife Rev. Jim & Marilyn Mellish were in attendance. Rev. Tim Gocha led the service and Mayor Steenburg of Warren was a special guest. Dr. John Bowling brought the message and a luncheon celebration was held following the service at a banquet center nearby. The following pastors and associates have resigned:
  • Rev Ed Kile - pastor at Millington has accepted a position with Hartland Home Care/Hospice as a Bereavement Counsellor.
  • Rev. Eric Spohr - pastor at Merritt Road is moving to attend school at Cincinnati Bible College.
  • Rev. Greg Boisture - associate at Bethel has accepted a senior pastor position in Indiana.
Cheryl Slusher has been moved to Heartland Healthcare in Ann Arbor across from St. Joseph Hospital. She continues to improve each day but it will be a very long recovery so please keep her and the family in your prayers. They are so grateful for all the love and prayers that have come their way during this time.

Jason and Michelle Crum with little Jeremiah! Rev. Todd & Nicki Owen, associate pastors at Morenci Church gave birth October 7 to a 7 lb. 12 oz. GIRL. She has been named Lauren Malia (Hawaiian name).

Rev. Jason & Michelle Crum (photo Left) , new pastor at Armada Church, gave birth October 9 evening to a baby BOY - Jeremiah. He weighed in at 5 lbs 11 ozs and 19.5 inches.

The Richfield and Crossroads churches each have a parsonage for sale in the Davison area. For more information, please contact Pastor Eric Slade at (810)625-2552.

Eastern Michigan District Nazarene Bible Institute Classes for 2004-2005

For the complete schedule, including Spring classes and complete information on the EMDNBI, visit their section of the District Web site at http://www.emdnaz.org/emnbi.

Sharing Ideas: New Family Recognition at Orchard Ridge


The Orchard Ridge Church has come up with a creative way to make new families feel welcome to the church fellowship. When a family has been with the church several Sundays they are presented with a very nice ceramic apple with the families' name and the date engraved on the side. This gift is presented to the family in a Sunday morning service in which they share how they came to be a part of the new church.

Orchard Ridge Sets New Attendance High

Pastor Steve Barkey reported a new attendance high was established at Orchard Ridge on Sunday, October 3 with 194 in the worship service. It was less than a year ago that the Orchard Ridge Church held its first public service. The growth and development of this new church is an example of what happens when hard work, a passion for people and God's blessing come together.

The people of Orchard Ridge also came up with a creative way to interact and serve their community last month. They hosted a warming station for the children and Armada Congregation parents of their neighborhood on Halloween. The warming station consisted of hot beverages, snacks, tissues, etc. This is one of the many creative ideas the Orchard Ridge Church is using to establish a relevant ministry in this rapidly growing community.

Armada Church Hosts Missionary From Peru

Over 80 people gathered on Sunday, October 3 to hear the fascinating stories of God's work in Peru from missionary Dr. Larry Garman at the Armada Community Church. The people of Armada are excited about missions because their church was started from the heart of missions nearly two years ago.

In October, Rev. Jason and Michelle Crum were installed as the new pastoral team at Armada. Pastor Crum comes to Armada from a staff position at Union Lake Church. The church also held the grand opening of its new facility on Main Street in Armada on October 17. Richfield Celebrates Victories of Three Plants
Recently the Richfield Church, under the leadership of Pastor Rob Prince hosted a Sunday evening service in which the church celebrated the lives impacted through the ministries of the three new churches Richfield has sponsored over the last few years. Flint New Life, Clio Community and Deer Park Churches shared testimonies of several people who came to know Christ as Savior as a result of the new churches being started in their communities.
Interestingly, the Richfield Church, one of the more rural churches on the district now averages around 1,000 in worship when you include the worship attendance of the ministries under its care.
Flint Eastside Mission Update

Flint Eastside Mission: Celebrating 10 Years Of Ministry

Dr. Anthony Brings in a Buck... with his car

And... is ready to donate to "Bring in a Buck" Sunday... After more than 12 years of serving the Eastern Michigan District and logging some hefty mileage, Dr. Stephen Anthony finally bagged a five-point... with his car.

The deer was really on the losing end, he said.

He's dead.

The car?

Well, it sustained a hefty repair bill.

At the end of all of it, Dr. Anthony's reply was, "I'll donate five dollars for the Bring in a Buck offering for the five-point that I took down!"

The Eastside Mission will happily accept this offer!

Don't forget...Bring in a Buck Sunday is Sunday, November 14

That's the day before opening season.

This special district-wide offering will benefit the people served by the Eastside Mission.

While we sincerely do hope that hunters get closer to a buck during this season than the Bring in a Buck drive... it does indeed permit hunters to say... "I brought in a buck this year!" (Even if you have bad aim!) And... should you want to be able to say "I brought in a ten-point this year!" then be sure to bring in ten dollars.

A twelve-pointer costs $12, and so on and so on... Happy Hunting!

Hunting for a Christmas gift for the person who has everything?

Have WE GOT IDEAS for you! Keep your eyes open for a Christmas list being developed by the Eastside Mission that will have some unusual gifts for the hard-to-buy-for. To be sure you get a list, go online and sign up for Friends and Family of the Eastside Mission.

Volunteer Appreciation banquet held Flint West Church hosted a Volunteer

Appreciation Banquet on October 15 for volunteers from the Eastside neighborhood who now volunteer there. This special group of about 30 was at one time on the receiving end of the Mission's services. They will tell you how the Mission helped them out, sometimes over a period of months or years, and how now they especially enjoy volunteering there. Thanks so much to the Women's Ministries Council at Flint West and Diane Bowser for serving us with a wonderful meal and for donating special gifts bags. First edition of Mission Matters goes into print Mission Matters, the quarterly publication of the Mission , went out for the first time last month. If somehow you missed it, please visit us online sign up to be part of the Friends and Family so you can be on our mailing list. AND... a pdf version of the newsletter is also there!

Trick or Cans nets 6,000 pounds of food

The Food Pantry at the Mission was filled to the brim this past week as the result of hard work by Richfield Church Youth Group. This annual project was even bigger than last year's effort with more than 6,000 pounds of food collected in area neighborhoods. The group also received donations to purchase another 1,000 pounds of food from the Eastern Michigan Food Bank for 18 cents a pound. This two-week project was also supported by VG's who donated grocery bags that the Richfield youth left on doorsteps with instruction on how to participate in the food drive for the Eastside Mission. A week later, youth were driven by volunteers parents back around the same neighborhoods to pick up donations. The food was delivered last Friday to the Mission and several workers there were overwhelmed with gratitude saying they had never received so much food at once. Last month the Eastside Mission served 804 individuals from the Food Pantry with 159 of those coming in for assistance for the very first time. These numbers will increase in cold weather months. The Food Pantry can be accessed by those who need it once a month and it operates as a supplement to a family or individual's food supply. When available, personal needs items (soap, toothpaste, feminine supplies) are also given out. Thanks to the youth and parents of Richfield Church as well as VG's... for your generosity toward those benefited by the Eastside Mission.

Eastside Mission visits congregations

Thus far several churches have taken advantage of the opportunity to have the Eastside Mission come to their church. Thus far, Lake Louise, Williams Lake, Lapeer and Ann Arbor Honey Creek have given us time to explain how the Eastside Mission is a unique opportunity to make compassion be a lifestyle for us as Christians. Flint East and Chelsea churches have already signed up and we continue to work toward visiting all churches on the district. While we have yet to connect with many pastors, please don't let that stop you from contacting us to schedule a time. Rev. Margie Bryce, Director of Marketing and Development, can be reached via e-mail at mebryce@flinteastsidemission.org.

Text Box: Eastern Michigan District PrimeTime Ministry is not about doing busy work around the church - it's about filling needs others do not have time to do.

PrimeTime Ministry is not about hanging out with old people - it's about sharing our spiritual journey with those who desperately need to hear the Gospel Message of love, joy, hope and forgiveness, so they can be prepared for eternity.

PrimeTime Ministry is not about retiring from all our ministries - it's about developing a focused ministry. Devoting our energy, passion and life skills to the one or two ministries we love and desire to continue so we can continue to be effective Kingdom Builders.

The Lord is preparing a special people for and extraordinary, life-changing encounter with His Spirit and His people in Barbados!

Team One is FULL with 22 members from

California, Michigan, New Hampshire and Nova Scotia!

Team Three has 13 members from California and Missouri!

Team Four has 14 members from Roxiana (IL) First Church!

Teams Two and Five are still open and available for immediate occupancy! The youngest PrimeTimer to register is not even a PrimeTimer yet. She will turn 50 in 2005 and is excited about this birthday because it qualifies her for this W&W adventure. The eldest to register will be a youthful 78 years young and she too is excited about her second PT W&W experience. When I spoke to her she said she would be 78 years old, trying to use this as an excuse to stay home. I told her she would be 78 years old anyway and she might as well be in Barbados in January instead of Nova Scotia! She laughingly agreed with my solid theology.

Our PrimeTime Ministry Work & Witness"Barbados Blitz 2006," is specifically designed to take into account the needs of PrimeTimers. Our vision is for five teams, with 20 - 25 PrimeTimers (ages 50+) each traveling to Barbados for two weeks, during 10 consecutive weeks. Trip dates:

Team One Jan 13 - 26; Team Two Jan 27 - Feb 9; Team Three Feb 10 - 23; Team Four Feb 24 - March 9; and Team Five March 10 - 23.

Work projects include: Painting interior and exterior surfaces; repairing / replacing doors & windows; repairing or building benches; general cleanup in & around the churches.

Ministry projects include: Services in the adult and teen prisons; Vacation Bible Schools; participating in their annual district "Tent Crusade;" visiting the hospital & shut-ins; canvassing communities & inviting locals to church; street services; possibly conducting services in public schools; preaching, singing and teaching Sunday School & Bible Classes.

The cost for PrimeTimers from the USA is $1,950.00 (USD) per person. This includes: Air fare, most meals (meals not included during travel & touring), insurance, housing, project funds ($350.00), devotional book, and commemorative shirt, ground transportation to & from ministry projects and office & administrative expenses. The cost for PrimeTimers from Canada is $1,100.00 (USD) per person. Our Canadian PT'ers will find it more convenient and less expensive to purchase their airline tickets and fly from a Canadian airport directly to Barbados.

I have estimated some expenses a little high to be sure they are covered. As we establish the final cost, we will reduce this total by the amount of any savings we realize. Some districts and local churches are going to pay the project cost ($350.00) for the PT'ers from their church or district who participate in our "Blitz 2006." I will encourage each local church to help with some or all of this cost for the PT'ers from their congregations who join "The Blitz 2006."

We have a new website for this PT W&W Blitz 2006 experience. It is an information sharing location from the recruiting phase through the last team's arrival home in March 2006. Forms, information, pictures, live chats and community will be found on this site. I encourage you to go to the site right now and subscribe to the email notice of updates we made to this site. This website's address is: www.GoPrimeTime.org

Be sure to tell your family and friends about this website so you may use it to help create excitement for PrimeTime Ministries and Missions in your local church.

We have three payment options to help with the cost of this trip. Each Payment Plan requires a $200.00 deposit and a completed application, be sent to Rev. Charles Bledsoe by November 10, 2004.

Applicants will be assigned to a team when both are received. You may join any team you choose as long as there is space available on that team.

Plan A : Twelve (12) Monthly Payments of $147.00 each, per person beginning November 10, 2004 through October 10, 2005

Plan B : Four (4) Quarterly Payments of $437.50 each, per person. January 10, 2005; April 10, 2005; July 10, 2005 and October 10, 2005.

Plan C : One (1) Payment of $1,750.00 per person, to be received by June 15, 2005.

These payment plans permit us to have the funds available to place deposits and purchase items we need for these Mission adventures.

Several PT'ers have already said this will be their first W&W trip. Many thought they had missed their opportunity to participate in W&W until now. These PT'ers represent a variety of life experiences, ages, financial situations and health concerns. They are like many of you! However, these brave PT'ers have decided they will not be deprived of this opportunity to experience the blessings and spiritual growth of a life-time by stepping out in faith and trusting the Lord as they travel to foreign soil to serve God as a "short-term missionary." What are you waiting for! Join a PT, W&W, "Barbados Blitz 2006" Team, today!

PrimeOpportunity!
This event has all the benefits many PrimeTimers are looking for in a Work and Witness project.
  1. Within the United States
  2. Close to home
  3. Low cost
  4. Multiple projects in which to participate
  5. Entire family can work together on same project
  6. Impacting the lives of people in need with God's Love in Action.
Join thousands of Nazarenes from across the globe for the World's Largest Work & Witness Project; June 19-24, 2005; Indianapolis, Indiana , in concurrence with the 26 th General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene.

The near east side of Indianapolis will once again see Nazarene church vans and buses unload hundreds of Nazarenes in their neighborhoods to make a difference in residents of this community. Organizations are already at work in this area are partnering with One Heart-Many Hands to select homes of the elderly, disabled and single parent families that need repairs and renovations.

This is your opportunity to join thousands of Nazarenes doing what Nazarenes do best - reaching out and meeting needs.

Registration fee is $150.00 per person due by January 31, 2005 . After this date the cost is $175.00 per person. The deadline for all registrations is April 30, 2005.

Your registration fee includes: Insurance for 5 days; Lunches delivered to job site for 4 days; community picnic on Friday; All evening activities listed on the Schedule; Project Identification & T-shirt; Administrative costs and Project materials.

Travel to Indianapolis, hotel costs, breakfast & evening meals are not included in the registration fee. For complete registration information contact:

One Hearts, Many Hands
1625 E. Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46201
www.OneHeartManyHands.com
Email: staff@OneHeartManyHands.com
317-809-4072 Ron & Laura Sylvester, Project Directors

PrimeDates to Remember!
2005:
  • April 30 - 1st District Spring Luncheon - Detroit Grace Church
  • May 14 - 2nd District Spring Luncheon - Flint First Church
  • May 21 - 3rd District Spring Luncheon - Adrian First Church
  • June 19-24 One Heart, Many Hands - Indianapolis, IN
  • June 22-July 1 General Conventions & Assembly - Indianapolis, IN
  • September 11 - Grandparents Day!
  • 26 PrimeTime Day at ONU (NEW DATE)
  • 26-30 General PT Event - Schroon Lake, NY
2006:
  • January 13-26 PT W&W Team One to Barbados
  • Jan 27-Feb 9 PT W&W Team Two to Barbados
  • February 10-23 PT W&W Team Three to Barbados
  • Feb 24-Mar 9 PT W&W Team Four to Barbados
  • March 10-23 PT W&W Team Five to Barbados
  • Spring Senior Summit Two at ONU
  • March / April General PT Event - Caribbean Cruise
  • April 29 1st Spring Luncheon
  • May 6 2nd Spring Luncheon
  • May 20 3rd Spring Luncheon
  • September 10 Grandparents Day!
2007:
  • General PT Event - Kansas City, MD
  • EMD PT Ministries W&W Trip to ???
Saving $12.50 per week X 3 years = $1,950.00.
Will you go with us? This is the PrimeTime W&W Team who traveled to Brazil last Fall for our denomination's first district sponsored PrimeTime Ministry Work & Witness Trip. Missions Update

A Million Hours of Prayer

A Million Hours Of Prayer- Jan- June 2005 There are 1.4 million Nazarenes in the world. If everyone prayed 45 minutes, the goal would be surpassed. That is 45 minutes prayed over a period of 168 days. One way to accomplish this is by taking a prayer walk by Region, Zone or District!

Phil. 1:4-6 "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Which of these churches will your church be?
Prevailing attitude in church A:
Our blessings outweigh our responsibilities
  • Missions is that annual weekend event for taking Faith Promise pledges.
  • Only those who are super-spiritual or those who are "called" get involved in missions.
  • Other than during the Faith Promise weekend, missions is rarely mentioned.
  • It's "okay" if you insist on going on a short-term mission trip like a Work and Witness.
  • One of the first things this church cuts in a financial pinch is missions giving.
  • Meetings focusing on missions aren't held very often and are poorly attended.
  • World Missions gets the minimum funding suggested (10% or less of the church's income).
  • Missions is, subconsciously at least, as seen as a "necessary evil" that occasionally intrudes on the real ministry of the church.
 Prevailing attitude in church B:
Our blessings bring equal responsibilities
  • World evangelization permeates church life throughout the year.
  • Every member expects to have some role in the global harvest.
  • God's heart for the nations is heard in almost every service.
  • Going on short-term or Work & Witness trips is the expected norm.
  • Church leaders make certain missions needs are met even before the electric bill is paid.
  • Mission informational and prayer meetings are held consistently and are well attended.
  • The church has a goal of giving no less than 25% of its income to world missions.
  • World evangelization is seen as half the reason the church exists.

Meet Your LINKS Missionaries!

The missionaries and their families who are in our care through the LINKS (Loving Interested Nazarenes Knowing and Sharing) program are pictured on the Missions section of the District Web site.

Urgent Need for Boxes of Clothes

The Compassionate Ministry collection center in Pennsylvania is in need of 500 more banana boxes of used clean clothes for Botswana children, sizes birth to teen.

Please mail your boxes of clothes to:
NCM NMI Relief Shipment
Attn : Mr. John Borgal
Fawn Grove Church of the Nazarene
5300 Fawn Grove Road
Pylesville, MD
21132

Developing Tomorrow's Missionaries

ATTENTION PLEASE! N.M.I. Presidents, Pastors and Youth and Children Leaders and Sunday School Teachers Plans are in the works to put into action a program that will bring help to our children and teens who have an interest in or feel called to be missionaries. Kansas City titled this program as "DEVELOPING TOMORROW'S MISSIONARIES" . You can help us get this program started by doing two important things. The first thing you need to do is appoint a Mission Call Director in your local church who will serve as a facilitator and mentor to your mission-called youth. The second thing you need to do is send me the names of those youth who have expressed the desire to serve the Lord in the area of missions. It is our goal to guide these youth into missions service as they grow in our local churches.
Please contact :
Sharon Drake , MCC
9404 Pineview Court
Davison, MI 48423
Phone: 1-820-658-3290
Email- drakesl@tir.com

Be Sure To Read The District NMI Newsletter

The Bi-monthly EMD NMI Newsletter is available on the NMI section of EMDNAZ.org. Everyone on the District will find news and information of interest in this Newsletter as well as some fun along the way. By the way, if you have not been to visit www.emdnaz.org/missions/ lately, check it out today! There are all sorts of useful resources there for our local churches and their Missions presidents. Bulletin inserts, clipart and information about the current exciting group of Missions books are freely available!