Multicultural Leaders Gather in Atlanta
    Twenty-one ethnic ministry leaders convened in Atlanta, Georgia at the Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center for the Nazarene Multicultural Leaders’ Edge Retreat, April 14 – 16, 2008.  These leaders serve as mission directors and coordinators within the various people groups who have become the growing edge of New Start congregations in the Church of the Nazarene.  Mission Strategy Director Oliver Phillips cited the phenomenal rate that these groups are being attracted to the denomination as impetus for these directors and coordinators to develop strategy and serve as facilitators for the emerging mission opportunities created by burgeoning immigration patterns.
    The theme of the retreat was “Formation, Information, and Transformation in a Multicultural World.”  Amy Bliss-Tenny, staff attorney with World Relief was the featured presenter, providing abundant information to assist these leaders in navigating the complicated world of immigration challenges.  David Hayse, director of World Mission Literature reminded the group that “on any given Sunday the holiness message is transported through the Church of the Nazarene in 212 languages and dialects.”  Literature translation must become a priority if we are to disciple, nurture, and prepare ethnic ministry leaders for the future.  Dr. Roy Rogers, District Superintendent of the host Georgia District brought the devotional message.
    Both Althea Taylor, (NCM US/Canada coordinator) and Dr. Phillips presented workshops challenging ethnic leaders to continue and increase ministries of transformation in their various communities.  Taylor stated that “relevance through engagement in community felt needs might be the most underused commodity of the 21st century church.” 
*For more information see www.multiculturalministries.org.

Nazarene Secular Campus Mission Welcomes Clemson University
    A special dedication service was held in April in Clemson, South Carolina to celebrate the new campus ministry at Clemson University.  The Bridge at Clemson is directed by Ken and Mary Paynter and hosted at The Main Street Deli, which serves delicious food to the campus and surrounding community throughout the week and offers service to God through weekly Sunday services.  Students from all 50 states and 89 countries attend Clemson University.
    The Paynters are natives of South Africa, having served in pastoral leadership there for several years.  The family immigrated to the U.S. when their children reached college age and moved from Florida to the Clemson community in 2006 in response to a God-given vision to reach the campus through a coffeehouse ministry (www.clemsonbridge.org).
    The vision has emerged a great deal in the past year.  "God took a seed and exploded it into a dream," Ken said as he recalled the story of how God has provided an established deli and coffee house to become the home of this new ministry.  "After struggling for almost a year to find rental property to fix up and use as a coffeehouse, God has provided us with a beautifully equipped, up-and-running deli and coffeehouse that the church now owns!”
    The South Carolina District Church of the Nazarene has pitched in to fully support this exciting new endeavor.  “It is a privilege to be involved in this ‘God thing’ called The Bridge at Clemson and to partner with Ken & Mary Paynter,” District Superintendent Dr. Eddie Estep said, “Were it not for their persevering faith, we would not be here today; their entrepreneurial spirit, their creative vision, and their passion for the university campus have been used by God to bring us to this point.”
*For more information on secular campus ministry see www.nazscm.org.

Four Nazarene Youth Killed in Car Crash
    Continued prayers are requested for the Walnut Blessing Church of the Nazarene and Pastors Kim and Peter Lundell on the recent tragedy in their congregation.  Kim has served as Korean Mission Director and is a Trustee of Nazarene Theological Seminary, along with other contributions to the work of Mission Strategy across the denomination.  Below is the text of the Los Angeles Times account of the incident.
   Five young men were part of a caravan of vehicles motoring to an Ontario, California, ice skating rink for a youth group outing Friday, April 11, when their car swerved on the 60 Freeway in Pomona and slammed into a concrete divider.  Three were hurled from the Toyota Camry--one tossed clear to the other side of the road. Within moments, members of Walnut, California, Blessing Church of the Nazarene found two of the young men already dead.
   "Everyone regrouped back here. We had to tell the parents of those who died," said Peter Lundell, a co-pastor at the primarily Korean church.  When a third young man died in the hospital, spirits plummeted further. The dead included a 19-year-old, an 18-year-old, and a 16-year-old.  "That sort of sent everyone into a whole new depth of depression," the pastor said.  Then, just a few hours later, a fourth, a 21-year-old man, was dead too.
   Lundell said the young men, David Chung, Daniel Kim, Richard Kim, and Kevin Na, were a mix of recent congregants.  At least two had been cultivated within the fold for years while at least one of the youths had struggled with the ups and downs of a hard life.  But things had been looking up, Lundell said.
   "They loved God. They loved Jesus. Their lives were changing," the pastor said as church members grieved nearby, too heartbroken to talk.  "One of them had grown up in the church, and we had been through a lot with him.  We were so proud of him, and we were excited about what he was going to do with his life."
(Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times - http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-freeway12apr12,1,327732.story)

Radio Ministries Continues to Yield Fruitful Results Among Vietnamese
    Rev. Binh Quoc Huynh, Coordinator of the Vietnamese Strategic Readiness Team (SRT), hosts a weekly radio program focused on the success and challenges of Vietnamese ministry in the United States.  This program shares hope and reconciliation with many who have no other connection to the body of Jesus Christ.
    After a recent audio interview featuring Dr. Oliver Phillips, a number of Vietnamese Pastors and Theology students contacted the SRT with a desire for more information about the Church of the Nazarene.  This interest, along with vibrant ministries across the United States, illustrates the great work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Vietnamese.  Continue to pray for this vital ministry as they further develop a bi-lingual website to resource ministers and continue in translating tools, lessons, and documents for the use of the Church.

Chinese Ministry Experiencing Exciting Growth
    Rev. Sam Chung, Chinese Ministry Mission Coordinator, hosted a recent gathering of twelve Chinese ministries based in Southern California.  Five of these represent new ministries either starting or joining the Church of the Nazarene.  Even more exciting is that many new pastors involved in the ministry have extensive education and training.  Four of the five new pastors hold Master’s Degrees and some have completed some doctoral work.  Three of the pastors will have credentials recognized at District Assemblies this summer.  We praise God for the miraculous provision of leadership among Chinese Nazarenes even as the need for pastors continues to grow.

 
Leadership Transitions Bring Exciting Renewal and Passionate Vision
    Rev. Alexandre R. Pessoa has been appointed as the mission coordinator for Portuguese Speaking ministries in the US and Canada, replacing Jorge de Barros who has provided faithful leadership for many years.  Barros said about his decision to step aside, “It is now time to make room for someone else whom God will allow to take His work to a new and higher level.”  Pessoa is a graduate of Nazarene Theological University at Campinas, Brazil and is currently on staff at Clear Lake Church of the Nazarene in Houston, Texas, developing a new ministry for the international community of college students.  He is married to Evelyn and they have a three year old son, Pedro.
   Rev. Talamua Mona, pastor of the Samoan congregation at Mid-City Church of the Nazarene in San Diego, California has been appointed as the mission coordinator for Samoan Ministries in the US and Canada.  Mona is a graduate of Fuller Seminary and serves as the Samoan Coordinator for the Southern California District.  He is married to Fetaiai and they have five children, 2 boys and 3 girls.
    Rev. Charles A. Tillman has been appointed as Black ministries recruiter, tasked with increasing the number of Black pastors in the Church of the Nazarene.  Tillman is the pastor of Woodville Church of the Nazarene in Richmond, VA.  He is a gifted and experienced educator and administrator, serving on the Board of Trustees for Nazarene Bible College and Eastern Nazarene College as well as on the National Black Strategic Readiness Team and the Virginia District Advisory Board.  Rev. Tillman is married to the former Georgia (Mae) Hudson and has three children: Charles II, Jonathan, and Adam.

 
Solis Appointed Coordinator for Multicultural Congregations
    Rev. Dennis Solis, founding pastor of the multi-racial CrossPoint Community Church of the Nazarene has been appointed as the multicultural churches coordinator within the Mission Strategy Department.  Along with the formation of ethnic-specific congregations, it is necessary to also take the opportunity to nurture and resource multicultural and multi-racial congregations.
    As mission coordinator, Rev. Solis will assist in the development of resources, represent the denomination with multicultural networks, and be available to districts and pastors who seek a better understanding of transitioning congregations to multicultural models.
    Solis, a graduate of Mid-America Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary, has also lead multi-racial ministry in his native Southern California.  He is married to Sherrie and they have two grown children, Nathan and MeLissa.

Haitian Ministries Celebrates Two New Organized Churches
    The year 2007 saw the beginnings of new Haitian ministry on the Georgia and Tennessee Districts as well as new contacts for potential ministry in Northern California.  Cross-cultural and ethnic specific training has been hosted across the country as the ministry of the Church of the Nazarene among Haitians continues to flourish.
    On April 1, 2007, Southern Florida District Superintendent Dr. David Nixon presided over the organization of the Philadelphia Church of the Nazarene in Fort Pierce, FL.  This congregation is led by Rev. Joseph Dessources who has previously served as pastor and district superintendent in Haiti.
    On December 16, 2007, District Superintendent Dr. Larry Dennis of the Central Florida District formally organized the Melbourne First Haitian Church of the Nazarene in Melbourne, FL with 98 charter members.  This congregation has seen tremendous growth from its start less than two years ago and is led by Rev. Dei Lafrance.
    Continue to pray for God’s blessing on Haitian ministry in the year to come.

New Partnerships to Support Messianic Jewish Ministry in the Church of the Nazarene
     Jewish Ministries International has been formed under the leadership of Rev. Monty Coble to facilitate the great need for resourcing Messianic Jewish outreach among Nazarene congregations and districts across the US and Canada.  Rabbi Jack Zimmerman, Coordinator of the Messianic Jewish Strategic Readiness Team (SRT) has noted that the desire for Messianic Jewish ministry far exceeds the availability of current pastors, thus this partnership with Jewish Ministries International will supplement the ongoing work of the SRT in this area.
    Rev. Coble, along with Dr. Mike Vail of Clergy Development, and Dr. James Russom of Nazarene Bible College are working to create a course of ministry enhancement classes to be eventually offered as a degree program in Messianic Jewish ministry.  Jewish Ministries International will also partner with New Church Specialties to provide coaching and guidance to districts desiring to engage in this exciting work.

Point Loma on Track to Meet Diversity Goals
     PLNU Associate Director for Admissions Outreach, Dale Hudson reports that the university’s percentage of non-white students for the 2007-2008 academic year was 22%, the highest percentage in the history of PLNU.  “The encouraging trend is that more and more minority students are residential students and are actively involved in student life and leadership on campus,” he states.  The school is well on track to reach its goal of 25%diversity by 2010.

Mission Strategy Upcoming Events
     July 24-27, 2008 – National Black Nazarene Conference – Orlando, FL
     July 25-27, 2008 – Cambodian Strategy and Annual Leadership Conference – San Jose, CA
     August 5-7, 2008 – Hispanic Centennial Celebration – Pasadena, CA
 

Salguero Represents Denomination at Immigration Summit
     Rev. Gabriel Salguero, Pastor of the Lamb’s Church of the Nazarene in New York, NY, represented the Church of the Nazarene at the Faith Leader Roundtable on Immigration in Washington, DC, March 10, 2008.  This event was jointly hosted by World Relief, the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (HIAS), and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.  In addition to the Church of the Nazarene, participants included representatives from the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, the Opportunity Agenda, Sojourners, Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, the Mennonite Church, the Rabbinic Assembly, and the United Methodist Church.
     Salguero reported, “This is a momentous occasion in the life of the global church in general and the Church of the Nazarene in particular.”  The struggle for faith groups is how to move away from extremist and hateful rhetoric, while centering response around the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Faith groups have committed to seeking out positive, non-political responses to immigration challenges around the world, working for helpful dialogue rather than divisive debate.  Continued prayers are requested as the Church of the Nazarene Immigration Task Force continues to dialogue with other groups to produce a gospel-driven response to a growing international concern.

 

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