• From the District Superintendent
  
  • News around the EMD
    
  • Prayer Needs
    
• Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI)
  
  • FIVE PRINCIPLES OF THE MASTER'S PLAN FOR MAKING CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES
  • Children's Quizzing Schedule for 2007-2008
• Nazarene Missions International (NMI)
  
• Flint Eastside Mission
  
• NYI Quizzing Information on emdnaz.org
  
• About eTidings
  

From the District Superintendent

From the D.S.

I can barely remember what it was like in the first decade of my life. Everything was new and I was just discovering the wonder of life. You are not suppose to make major decisions in those early days of life, but as I look back upon it, two choices were made in my life for which I am and will be eternally grateful. The first was a decision I personally made – to ask Christ into my life as Savior. How fortunate I was to hear the Gospel at an early age and have enough sense to respond to the invitation. The second was a decision that was made for me, it was to begin attending a new Nazarene Church that was starting in the Williams Lake Elementary School across the street from our humble home. That was the 50 years ago. It was the first Sunday of November 1957. You probably have heard the story before but let me share it with you just one more time.

Several ladies that attended the Pontiac First Church of the Nazarene lived in the Waterford/Clarkston area. They felt there was a need for a Nazarene Church in this fast growing community and decided to take some action. Ruth Klingman and Shirley Hewitt devised a simple plan, one would call the DS (Dr. W.M. McGuire) to see if he would give them permission to meet while the other would contact the Williams Lake Elementary School principal to see if she would let their group use the building for church services. With approval from both, these ladies set out to canvass the neighborhood and invite people to the first service. One of those doors they knocked on was that of the Anthony family. Little did we or anyone else know that first Sunday of November 1957 where that beginning journey would take them.

Those early days are so etched in my memory and I am thankful for the vision, sacrifice, hard work, faith and prayer that went into starting that new church. Congratulations Williams Lake Church on your 50th Anniversary. Like I told you Sunday, the past has been great – but I really believe the best is yet to come!!!!

“The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.”  Psalms 16:6 (KJV)

District Superintendent

News around the EMD:

Vassar Church Breaks Ground for New Facility
The Vassar Church under the direction of their pastor Rev. David Wermuth, unexpectedly broke ground for their new facility when the excavator arrived and began moving earth before all of their permits and financing were finalized. The excavator indicated he knew the pastor and church and wasn’t worried about it. The church is planning on building a two phase structure that will house both a sanctuary and classrooms. Earlier this year they paid cash for a beautiful 10.5 acre parcel from the Eagles Club located 4 miles east of Vassar. Pastor Wermuth is completing his 28th year of ministry at Vassar.

Richfield Church of the Nazarene presents BRIAN ARNER in Concert Sunday, November 18th 6:00 p.m.
Brian has emerged as one of the finest voices in inspirational Christian music. Since beginning his full-time ministry fifteen years ago, Brian has completed four solo recordings including arrangements produced and orchestrated by seven-time Grammy nominee Mr. Lari Goss. These recordings minister to the hearts and souls of all who hear them and have been played across the country on numerous radio stations. Although Brian is a skilled musician, he is first and foremost a music minister. He lives what he sings, and all that he sings is soul and spiritually stirring.

We would like to announce the new member of the Pastor Marshall (Associate Pastor of Rochester First) & Rachel Ruddle home. Gracelyn Alice Ruddle was born on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 @ 3:56 pm and was 6 lbs 10 ozs and 18 1/4 inches.

The Eastern Michigan Nazarene Bible Institute (EMNBI) classes have been announced for Fall and Winter of 2007. Complete details on the courses, locations and enrollment info are available at: http://www.emdnaz.org/emnbi_index.php

2008 NMI Convention and District Assembly will be held at Flint Central Church with General Superintendent Dr. Paul Cunningham presiding. The dates are as follows:

• NMI Convention – April 13 – 14, 2008
• District Assembly – April 14 – 15, 2008

Prayer Needs/Praises:

Terry Clees Jr. Makes Remarkable Progress
The son of Adrian Madison Nazarene pastor, Rev. Terry Clees, continues to make remarkable progress. Terry Jr. was injured by an IED in Iraq and had a serious head injury as well as multiple body injuries. Our churches have been in prayer for him and he has made remarkable progress. From being in a coma to now in rehabilitation, he continues to gain strength. His family has placed a video of him on MySpace that can be viewed at the following link.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21057700

A fund has been established to assist Rev. & Mrs. Clees travel to Minnesota to visit with their son during his rehabilitation. Contributions can be made to the Eastern Michigan District and sent to PO Box 608, Fenton, MI 48430. Mark your donation in the Memo line “Clees Travel”

FIVE PRINCIPLES OF THE MASTER’S PLAN
FOR MAKING CHRISTLIKE DISCIPLES
(Continued)

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

      There are five principles that we should embrace in order to make Christlike disciples who make Christlike disciples….  They are as follows:

1.  PRAYER AND FASTING
2.  THE AUTHORITATIVE WORD OF GOD
3.  THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
4.  GENUINE ACCOUNTABILITY
5.  RELATIONAL MULTIPLICATION

            THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT becomes reality as the WORD OF GOD becomes authoritative in us as we PRAY AND FAST.  It is my argument that the Church of the Nazarene, which was born in the fires of Holy Spirit revival, nurtured in the holiness movement where we believed in and experienced second blessing heart holiness, and grown in the atmosphere of the continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our churches and denominational meetings, has become an eclectic and loosely connected association of local congregations, many of whom have never known the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Sadly, many of our churches never seek the infilling, indwelling, cleansing power of the Holy Spirit as He comes in the “baptism with fire and the Holy Spirit.”  Is it any wonder that for all our innovative church growth methods and strategies, we are producing Christians today that are less Christian than many pagans were a century ago?

            Furthermore, as Bill Hull says, “I have thrown down the gauntlet.  I maintain that the evangelical church is weak, self-indulgent, and superficial, that it has been thoroughly discipled by its culture” (Bill Hull, 1988). 

            Listen to George Barna who says, “There is strong support among Christians for the notion that an individual is free to do whatever pleases him, as long as it does not hurt others.  Two out of five Christians maintain that such thinking is proper, thus effectively rejecting the unconditional code of ethics and morality taught in the Bible.  Three out of ten Christians agree that nothing in life is more important than having fun and being happy.  Christians express such love for money, possessions, and other material objects that their Christianity cannot be said to rule their hearts.  For instance, more than half of the Christian public believes that they never have enough money to buy what they need, not what they want.  One out of four believers thinks that the more you have the more successful you are.  The fact that the proportion of Christians who affirm these values is equivalent to the proportion of non-Christians who hold similar views indicates how meaningless Christianity has been in the lives of millions of professed believers”  (George Barna, 1984). 

            Elton Trueblood noted that “Perhaps the greatest single weakness of the contemporary Christian Church is that millions of supposed members are not really involved at all and, what is worse, do not think it strange that they are not.  As soon as we recognize Christ’s intention to make His Church a militant company we understand at once that the conventional arrangement cannot suffice.  There is no real chance of victory in a campaign if ninety per cent of the soldiers are untrained and uninvolved, but that is exactly where we stand now.  Most alleged Christians do not now understand that loyalty to Christ means sharing personally in His ministry, going or staying as the situation requires” (Elton Trueblood, 1979).

            The third principle of making Christlike disciples is to receive THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, not just individually, but corporately, in the community of believers known as the Church.  Why is this necessary?  Gary Kuhne tells us, “A person generally conforms to the characteristics of his environment.  A new Christian will conform more readily to carnal Christian living than to spiritual Christian living if that is the prevalent spiritual climate”  (Gary W. Kuhne, 1985).

            I contend that we need to invest our lives in a few good men and women who will reproduce themselves and make Christlike disciples of thousands of women and men, teens and children in Eastern Michigan.  After all, it is the command of Jesus Christ, Himself, to all of us who call ourselves His disciples.  It is an essential characteristic of our Wesleyan tradition.  As Henderson notes,

The Wesleyan revolution is an illustration that long-lasting spiritual transformation is not the product of dynamic preaching or of correct doctrine.  It comes only through serious disciple-building, in keeping with Christ’s Great Commission to “go into all the world and make disciples.”  The class meeting which Wesley developed was the instrument by which preaching and doctrine were harnessed into spiritual renewal.  It carried the revolution. (D. Michael Henderson, 1997)

            “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV). Let us make Christlike disciples who make Christlike disciples who make Christlike disciples . . . .

THANK YOU TO ALL PASTORS WHO REPORT ON TIME EACH MONTH
Here are the October SDMI Reporting Results

• First Zone with all churches reporting was once again: Lakes Zone
• Second Zone with all churches reporting was Livingston Zone

First Church to report by:

• Online: Swartz Creek
• Email: Madison Hts.
• Phone: Harvest Community

First church to report in each zone:

• Ann Arbor Zone: Adrian First
• Detroit East Zone: Madison Hts.
• Detroit West Zone: Harvest Community
• Flint Zone: Mt. Morris
• Lakes Zone: Lake Louise
• Livingston Zone: Southwest
• Thumb Zone: Bad Axe

Jot me an email note with any questions or suggestions at scnnazpastorgary@charterinternet.com.  God is growing a great church in Eastern Michigan.  We are blessed to be a part of his great kingdom work!

Gary A. Slusher
Chairman, EMD SDMI

Children's Quizzing Schedule for 2007-2008

• Jan 12 @Rochester Church study chapters 1-10
  
  
• March 1 - WE NEED A HOST FOR THIS!
  Can you help? Call Cathy at 313-534-3928 cell 313-605-5777 or email: cemerling1219@aol.com
  
  
• April 12 - Zone Quiz
  
  
• April 19 @ Detroit First Church - District Quiz
  
  
• June 7 @ONU - Regional Quiz

TEAM DAY- February 23, 2008 - Perry High School campus -
Workshops in all areas of the church, special music, special speaker, lunch on campus, handouts, booths, free blessings, plan to be there!

N.M.I. CONVENTION - Flint Central - Sunday, April 13 & 14, 2008 - Dr. Daniel Ketchum- We will collect Crisis Care Kits on this date.

Great news from Eastside Mission!! God answered our prayers, and the great people of the Eastern Michigan District answered His call to help us out with the cost of the new boiler at the Mission! As of the writing of this article, the boiler will be installed on November 7th and 8th. We want to send out a very special, heart felt thanks to all who generously gave to this huge need for Eastside. Thank you for answering God's call!

Also, don't forget the two holiday dinners that are coming up very soon!

• Thanksgiving dinner - Thursday, November 22. Volunteers come at 10:30am. Dinner served from 11am - 12:30pm.
• Christmas dinner - Saturday, December 15. Volunteers come at 10:30am. Dinner served from 11am - 12:30pm.

We still need turkeys and hams for these dinners. Also, if you would consider donating a new, unwrapped toy or gift for an adult, feel free to bring those too. See you there! God bless! Sammi Justice Director of Publicity Flint Eastside Mission

God bless!
Sammi Justice
Director of Publicity, Eastside Mission
www.flinteastsidemission.org

NYI Quizzing Information on emdnaz.org
The NYI Quizzing page of the District Web site has been updated with the 2007-2008 schedule as well as some details about upcoming quiz events around the country. Many of the quiz meets in our District still need a church to host them so please take a look at the web site for more about EMD NYI Bible Quizzing.

Get Ready for Some Football - 2007 Turkey Bowl
Then get ready for the 2007 Turkey Bowl to be held on Saturday, November 24, 2007 in Plymouth, MI. GET TURKEY BOWL INFO HERE!!!

eTidings is the email newsletter of the Eastern Michigan District Church of the Nazarene. For more information about our District, visit our website at www.emdnaz.org. You are receiving eTidings because you have subscribed to it either through our website or through a district function. If you would like to unsubscribe, please reply to this email or send a new email to etidings@emdnaz.org or jason@sammson.com with the words "Unsubscribe eTidings" at the top of the message.