| Global Weekly Summary |
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January
7,
2005 Global
News This Week
Tsunami damage reports still unclear Despite limited communication lines, our correspondents around the globe have been able to provide initial reports. The disaster directly affected two Nazarene regions, Eurasia and Asia-Pacific. India (Eurasia Region) As the death toll tops 150,000, NCM and its partners are working around the clock to make a difference in this sea of misery. India’s NCM Coordinator, Atul Meshramkar, brought in the new year in Nagapattinam, the worst affected place in India. “Please pray for NCM staff and volunteers assisting in the relief efforts,” Atul requests. “We are numb from what we have seen. Our team of six NCM volunteers has traveled to several places for on-ground assessments. One was a hamlet in the Cuddalore district, where 571 people died. Out of 900 homes, 500 were destroyed. Even the livelihoods of this fishing village were washed away. The people are really suffering. We so want to help them restore their lives after this terrible disaster.” As of January 5, the tsunami had claimed 15,160 lives in India alone, and 384,956 were homeless in 560 relief camps. Even the very poor, marginalized women from NCM’s self-help groups in India have stepped up to volunteer with the massive relief efforts. Long-term rehabilitation plans include medical services, nutritional treatment for children, rebuilding schools, planting churches, and community development. Thailand (Asia-Pacific Region) Indonesia (Asia-Pacific Region) Internet
NCM disaster aid tops $86,000 (U.S.); more aid needed Nazarenes continue to find different ways to contribute. Several students from the Indonesia Nazarene Theological College in Yogyakarta have volunteered to give up a semester to be the church’s hands to those who need help, and many are packing relief supplies for Nias. Arun Noah from the Reynolds Hospital in Washim, India is preparing medical teams to help in Sri Lanka. On January 6, early in the morning, 2,880 crisis care kits were trucked to New York for shipment to Sri Lanka. The Board of General Superintendents recently stated, “We call on Nazarenes around the globe to pray fervently for the people and nations so deeply affected. Our message of holiness expresses itself in specific and concrete ways in tragedies of this nature.” In addition, the Board encourages Nazarenes to give generously to the relief and recovery efforts that are underway. “This is one of the worst natural disasters known in human history,” stated World Mission Director Louie E. Bustle. “Local Nazarenes in the affected areas are doing an amazing, sacrificial work of reaching out and loving their neighbors in Christ’s name. We absolutely need to do our part in resourcing them with what they need to save lives and reach souls.” Persons and churches wishing to make a donation for relief efforts can mark their checks ”Tidal Wave Relief ACM1762” and mail them to the General Treasurer, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. Immediate donations may also be made online at www.ncm.org. All donations remitted through the General Treasurer’s Office will receive 10 percent Mission Special credit if the local church is identified. Additional giving information specific to the tsunami disaster is located on the following web page: http://www.ncm.org/news_tsunami.html. For further information, contact NCM directly at the above mailing address or the following: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Tsunami
Disaster Photos
Following a year of tragedy, Caribbean Nazarenes maintain
faith God Will Take Care Of You A pall of sadness hovered over the church. The congregation seemed under strain to combat the feeling of emptiness left by a number of deaths during the year, including two recently. The pastor himself had suffered the death of his mother just a few days ago. The themes of death and suffering were quite evident at the Black Rock Church of the Nazarene in Barbados. Through all their sorrows, however, congregation members were encouraged to maintain their confidence in God. Sister Sonia Bynoe, worship leader and wife of Pastor Trevor Bynoe, told them, “Even in the valley experience God is with us.” She then directed the singing of the hymn “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” based on Psalm 23:4, which reads: “Though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” The sermon, delivered by Sherwin Rollins, carried much the same tone. His introductory remarks left no doubt of the underlying theme of his message: “Through this year there has been much pain but our God is still with us. My God knows best. He is the one who is in charge. No trial is too great for our God to deal with.” Rollins said God had promised that even though He was God of the mountain, he was still God even though they were in the valley. “The present suffering that we are going
through is nothing to compare with the joy we will encounter when we
meet Jesus in heaven.
The Lord will provide and He will provide in the right time and in the
right way.”
WMB
South America launches children’s
program The program is designed for children between the ages of 4 and 11 years old and addresses many issues Latin American children face daily, including getting along with siblings, love, and family to name a few. A web site is currently under development that will provide weekly activity assignments that children will be able to download and print. Already
radio stations in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Argentina,
and the United States have
agreed to
air “Aventuras
Con Buzy.” Additional planning with SAM Region Sunday School Ministries
is underway to create regional Sunday School materials using Buzy and
his friends.
MacMillan elected new National Director for Canada Regarding the election, Stewart stated, “I am delighted with the election of my friend, Clair MacMillan, as the new national director. He is well acquainted with the work and ministry of the National Board and will give to the church in Canada excellent, wise, and balanced leadership. I congratulate Rev. MacMillan on his election and pledge my full support to his leadership. I also congratulate the National Board on their wise decision.” Born in Prince Edward Island, MacMillan attended Olivet Nazarene College in Illinois before serving as pastor at the Oakville, Ontario Church of the Nazarene and Moncton First Church of the Nazarene in New Brunswick. Because of his recent appointment as superintendent of the Canada Atlantic district, MacMillan, with the agreement of his District Advisory Board and the National Board, will continue to serve in both capacities for a transitional period of time. The acting chair of the National Board, Dale Hansen of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, said in his official announcement of the election, “The National Board of the Church of the Nazarene Canada is very pleased to announce that the 22 members of the National Board have elected Rev. Clair MacMillan to the position of national director. The election of a new national director was made necessary by the upcoming retirement of the present national director, Dr. Bill Stewart. Rev. MacMillan has responded affirmatively to the election.” The National Board made this election after a lengthy exploratory process.
The executive committee began last summer with a list of 18 possible
candidates. After prayer and discussion, this list was reduced to five
names. The Executive Committee then interviewed those from this list
who were willing to allow their names to stand for election. Finally,
two names were submitted to the members of the National Board for a mail
ballot election. MacMillan was elected at this time. Canadian pastor Art Lewis goes home He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Janis,
and his two sons, Justin and Michael. He is also survived by his mother
Gladys Lewis of Nova Scotia,
as well as three sisters, Lynda, Clara, and Evelyn, and four brothers,
Tommy, Harvey, Roy, and Allan. Lucille Bevan, wife of first chaplain coordinator, passes away A member of the Ocala Church of the Nazarene, she is survived by her
husband, Leroy A.; daughter, Shirley Utterback; two sons, John W. and
James R.; four brothers, Paul, David, Thomas, and James Zylstra; sister
Mary Leuder; four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Board of General Superintendents establish Thought Partners for future
planning In an effort to understand and deal with the critical issues facing the Church of the Nazarene, the Board has authorized the appointment of the “BGS Thought Partners.” These individuals are being appointed for a two-year period to work closely with the Board and the Global Mission Team at International Headquarters. BGS Thought Partners Those appointed include: • John
Bowling, president of Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, Illinois
and president of the General
Board The Global Mission Team (GMT) is presently chaired by General Superintendent Jim L. Bond and includes: Jack Stone, general secretary and Headquarters Operations officer, Marilyn McCool, general treasurer and Headquarters Financial officer; Louie Bustle, director of World Mission; David Graves, director of Sunday School Ministries; Tom Nees, director of USA/Canada Mission; Jerry Lambert, education commissioner; Nina Gunter, general director of Nazarene Missions International; Gary Hartke, global director of Nazarene Youth International; David Felter, general editor; and Hardy Weathers, president of Nazarene Publishing House. Both the GMT and Thought Partners will be charged with providing recommendations to the Board on critical issues facing the denomination. The Board of General Superintendents has final responsibility for all decisions. General Superintendent Bond, current BGS chairman, will lead the Thought
Partners for the first 24 months of the program. The organizational meeting
of the Thought Partners group will be March 1, 2005 in Kansas City, Missouri,
following the 2005 meeting of the General Board. Denomination
to help celebrate birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. There are more than 145 Kansas City congregations that minister primarily to the black community. The Kansas City Blue Hills Community Church of the Nazarene is one of the largest of these congregations, with more than 700 members. The speaker for the event will be the honorable Wavny Toussaint, a Nazarene who currently serves as judge of the New York City Criminal Court in Brooklyn, New York. During her years of practice as a lawyer, Toussaint served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the city of New York, an associate at a private law firm, and as principal law clerk to a justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Kings County. A highlight of this year’s event will be the presence of John “Buck” O’Neil (pictured), chairman of the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City. O’Neil will be presented with the “Good Citizenship Award.” An announcement will also be made of the development of the “Buck O’Neil Scholarship Fund” to assist needy High School graduates in the Kansas City area on their way to college. This event is jointly sponsored by the Kansas City District, NTS, Blue
Hills Community Church of the Nazarene, Bresee Institute for Metro Ministries,
Nazarene Publishing House, and Mission Strategy USA/Canada. Clergy Development launches Soul Care To
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NUC appoints leader for Behavioral Science program
Harlem Globetrotter legend and Nazarene Bob Karstens dies According to a Redlands Daily Facts news report, Karstens was labeled as the first Caucasian player to be under contract with the "World's Greatest Basketball Show," joining the traveling basketball group in 1942. He is credited with being an original creator of the group's famous "Magic Circle" pregame routine. He also developed the "Goofball," which was a gag basketball filled with off-center weights, the "yo-yo" basketball and the behind-the-back backhand shot. Karstens was born March 11, 1915, in Davenport, Iowa, and joined the team in 1942 after famed Reece "Goose" Tatum was drafted into the Army Air Corp during World War II. A former St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, basketball player, Karstens was the Globetrotter's "showman" from 1942-43. On June 13, 1994, he was awarded the Legends Ring for his contributions to the organization. As reported in the Daily Facts, Karsten’s son Andrew remembers his dad as an all around great guy. His favorite story about him is one his father told him about being on the same train as Jesse Owens and a group of African-American basketball players. Bob Karstens went over to the designated section that Owens was required to sit in, being an African-American in a segregated America. After talking for a while with the group of basketball players, Bob Karstens was told to get off the train by the conductor. Andrew Karstens laughs at what his father used to tell him next. "My father turned to Jessie Owens and said, ‘This is a switch, now I'm getting kicked off the train for being in the wrong section!'" said Andrew Karstens. Andrew says that story is an example of the kind of life his father led. He wasn't bound by the boundaries of segregation. Bob Karstens is in the basketball Hall of Fame, according to his son. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, January 15, at the Church of the Nazarene in Redlands. Karstens is survived by his wife, Pauline Karstens of Redlands, three
sons and four grandchildren.
The preceding information may be used in newsletters and bulletins. For more information or to report stories, contact Nazarene Communications Network News. VOICE:
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