E-Tidings VOL. 1 , Issue 2, October 2001
From the District Superintendent:
September 11, 2001 will be a day that will forever be seared into the minds of each of us. The graphic sight of those passenger jets plunging into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and their collapse within a matter of hours still seems almost unbelievable. It has caused the foundation of our nation and her people to be shaken like never before. With all the bad news, there is also Good News. That Good News is that Jesus Christ is our foundation and that foundation is sure.
Many have asked me over the past month "Is this the beginning of the end time events?" That is a difficult question to answer but the Bible does say that in the end times "...There will be terrible times..." I Tim. 3:1 NIV. Whether these are the days prior to the end or not, the call of Christ is
"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." Matthew 24:44 NIV.
Being ready involves not only being born again by repenting and having our sins forgiven, but also living a life of Holiness. The work of entire sanctification by God's Holy Spirit enables us to live the Christian life, a life of holiness, that is impossible to lead on our own. This life can only be lived as we experience the cleansing, infilling, and empowering of God's Holy Spirit. If there was ever a day when this cardinal message of the Church of the Nazarene needed to be proclaimed, sought, and lived it is today. It is the only way to be ready, whatever may come.
The question for each of us today is, "Are we Ready?"
News Around the Eastern Michigan District:
Sympathy is extended to the following families in the loss of loved ones:
Rev. Wayne Brown, pastor of Howell Church, in the death of his mother
Susan Frey, wife of associate pastor Rev. Don Frey at Plymouth, in the death of her mother.
Prayer Requests:
Brenda Waller, pastor's wife at Southwest Church, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Nancy Ault, pastor's wife at Gagetown, who is undergoing cardiac tests.
Rev. Judy Esckilsen, interim pastor at Cass City, who is hospitalized and undergoing tests.
Pinegrove Church has been forced to move out of the school where they have met for over 10 years. This was due to a black mold problem. They are currently meeting in the Sterling Heights Church Building on 16 Mile Road.
Flushing Community Church under the leadership of Rev. Darrel Harvey, have purchased 20 acres in Flushing for a future church facility.
Ellington Church had a collapse of the trusses on the new facility they are
building. While one of the men was on the roof when it collapsed, neither he nor
anyone in the building was hurt in the accident. The loss was fully covered by
insurance. The old facility and the new facility are pictured above, respectively.
Caro Church
has purchased a house for a new youth pastor. The house
had been damaged in a fire and the purchase was made from an insurance
company. The people of the church have totally renovated it.
What Happened to the Statistics Portion of Tidings?
Attendance and budget statistics for August and September are available at the Web Site on the Sunday School Statistics page. (This link will take you to a page where you can choose which month to look at.)
October is Pastor Appreciation Month October has bas been designated Pastor Appreciation Month. Dr. Stephen Anthony has asked every church to honor the pastors and families of their church. In addition to what the church does as an organized effort, he is encouraging every Nazarene to do something special for their pastor, staff and families. "A card or phone call of encouragement, an invitation to dinner, a gift certificate, or some other type of recognition from every Nazarene would be greatly appreciated by every one of our ministers" Anthony said.
How to Turn $88 into $400
Impossible you say. Not when a married
couple gives a gift of $400 to the Flint Eastside
Mission. The State of Michigan will then give a
$200 credit on your Michigan State Income Tax
Return. In addition the couple is still allowed to
deduct the $400 from their Federal Income Tax
return, if they itemize deductions. If the couple
is in the 28% tax bracket, they reduce their tax
liability by another $112. Thus the original $400
gift has only cost them $88. Because the Mission
buys food at 14 cents per pound, thus the $400 gift can buy nearly 1.5 tons of food
to be distributed in the community. (Single individuals are limited to a $200 gift, which
generates a $100 State of Michigan credit. This deduction is part of the
Homeless/Food Bank Credit on your state return.)
To make your tax deductible gift, make your checks payable to Flint Eastside Mission and send to 2806 Hoff, Flint, MI 48506. For more information: ESMission@aol.com
News from Olivet Nazarene University
Pizza party
On October 2, Dr. and Mrs. Anthony hosted a
Pizza Party for the Eastern Michigan District
students at ONU. Over 65 of the 91 students
from our district attended along with all of
the EMD Trustees to ONU. The party was
held in the Warming House near the athletic
fields. Eastern Michigan has the third highest
number of undergraduate students on campus.
Only Chicago Central District, where ONU is
located, and NW Illinois have more students.
Weber Center DedicatedA new classroom building was dedicated on October 3rd at ONU. The Weber Center is a state of the art facility which will house classrooms, labs, and offices. The building is named after the Don Weber Family from Flint Central Church who provided the lead gift for it's construction.
Interesting ONU Facts
- Enrollment of 3361 students is at the highest level ever.
New students total 1483. 1415 live in residence halls.
-
First time Freshmen students is highest in years at 548.
-
The average ACT score for incoming freshmen is 22.48.
-
162 students have declared majors of either religion
or some other type of ministry.
-
Eastern Michigan had the highest ONU Budget for 2000-01
at $477,931. We paid $443,561. or 93.2% which was the most
dollars paid by any district and the 5th highest percentage paid.
- The ONU Foundation, which provides scholarships to students, now has 12 million in assets.
Flint East Mission Expansion
The Flint Eastside Mission continues
to expand it's ministry. An adjoining house
to the Mission, which was formerly the
parsonage for the Hungarian Church, has
been purchased to house the clothing ministry.
A donor gave the money to purchase the house.
Much work is needed on the inside. Any individuals
or groups interested in helping to ready this facility
for ministry, please contact the mission at
ESMission@aol.com or call director
Barb Burdine at 810-234-6130.
Also, the Mission is in the process of purchasing
an adjacent building to serve
as the Baby
Ministry Center. Distribution of baby clothes,
formula, diapers,
furniture, strollers, highchairs
and other baby items will be handled through
this center. There is a great need in this area
for this ministry. Any donations
of items or
cash will be greatly appreciated. Also, work &
witness teams are
needed to help renovate
this building also.