SnapShots

The Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents (BGS) recently released a short and personal video to all pastors in the Church of the Nazarene. The heartfelt message was simple, yet can't be said enough: "Thank you, pastor."

The Nepal District celebrated its first graduation with 12 students from South Asia Nazarene Bible College (SANBC), July 28. The graduates included both pastors and lay leaders mainly from the eastern part of Nepal where there is a focus on effective church planting initiatives.

Földes, Hungary - About 25 youth from the Hungarian District gathered 18-19 July, to worship God and find out what it means to be “called” by Him. The Földes Church of the Nazarene hosted the event. The local youth, in coordination with Rudolf Gusztin, the District Nazarene Youth International (NYI) coordinator, organized games, programs and meals.

Deadline to order envelopes September 1

At the Lebanon District mission convention 15 May, each attendee was given a clay jar engraved with the message, “Don’t say thanks without giving,” to reflect the convention’s theme.

Büsingen, Germany - Continuing on its quest to be the church in the 21st century, European Nazarene College (EuNC) will host its annual Leadership Conference, 17-20 January, 2011, with headline speakers Leonard Sweet and Jon Middendorf.

Belfast, Northern Ireland - Hope Charity Shop, an outreach of the Church of the Nazarene, Skegoneill Avenue, opened its doors for business 15 May. The new thrift store is designed to help the church build ministry connections with the local community and immigrants such as the Filipinos who have moved there.

Nearly 100 young people from across the CIS Field (Commonwealth of Independent States) gathered for the Bi-Annual Field Youth Conference in Volgograd, Russia, 7-10 May. The 16- to 30-year olds came together to seek and worship God, learn new ways to serve, refresh their ministry vision and passion, share experiences and make connections around the field.

Throughout history, the Christian movement has found it challenging to balance mission and structure. While structures provide frameworks and support, some of them develop into series of self-imposed dysfunctions that hinder mission.

In support of the mission of the Church of the Nazarene to “make Christlike disciples in the nations,” World Mission Broadcast has partnered with WordAction to deliver the “Reflecting God” devotional series in a new media format. Launched this week at www.ReflectingGod.com, this new ministry is an on-line community for people who are on a desperate pursuit to embrace Holy living.

Over 125 leaders from throughout the Middle East met 3-5 May for the first Holiness Summit in the Eastern Mediterranean Field. The event included lively, God-glorifying worship in Arabic as well as strong Biblical teaching and preaching on the topic of holiness.

Twenty-six new episodes are in production for the Arabic-language Nazarene program that debuted on a Christian TV channel in the Middle East last fall. Producers are also adding English subtitles to 13 of the previously produced episodes. Twenty-six new episodes are in production for the Arabic-language Nazarene program that debuted on a Christian TV channel in the Middle East last fall.

Taking the nursing home floor by floor, Tirza Klauser sang hymns with several other young people for the elderly people who listened from their chairs. Some smiled, others sang along. A few cried. Across the building, teenage boys took walks with some of the residents, pushing them in their wheelchairs and talking. Outside, more teens were doing yard work.

Poznan, Poland - After a six-month delay, Sweet Surrender Coffee House opened its doors for official business on Tuesday, April 6. The Poznan café, which is the second Sweet Surrender coffee house in Poland, had been waiting for a permit that was held up by a conflict in disabled access requirements between the historical society and the city. Sweet Surrender finally received the permit at the end of March.

While pruning back weeds and shrubs, fixing a fence and painting walls, the Work & Witness team to Moncalieri, Italy, suddenly found cake raining down from the sky. The eight students and two staff members from European Nazarene College (EuNC) in Busingen, Germany, traveled to Moncalieri Church of the Nazarene for a one-week work trip over spring break in early April.

The Eurasia regional NYI (Nazarene Youth International) council met in Büsingen, Switzerland, Irbid, Jordan, and Sofia, Bulgaria, 26-31 March 2010. This was the first opportunity for the new council to meet following the 2009 Global NYI Convention.

Dinajpor, Bangladesh - Dressed in spotless white, two long lines of men and women stood in the dusty yard under the hot spring sun of Bangladesh, waiting to make history. As the first musical notes were struck, the 193 future elders, including 30 women, marched along a red carpet and into the large hall to be ordained during the 17th Bangladesh District Assembly on March 24.

Dinajpor, Bangladesh - History and future. Missions of the 21st century. That’s what more than 2,000 Bangladeshis and a group of foreign visitors experienced at the 17th Bangladesh District Assembly March 23-24 when nearly 2000 delegates unanimously voted to sponsor the creation of two Phase 3 districts by dividing the current Bangladesh District into three self-supported districts.

Dinajpor, Bangladesh - One hundred and ninety-four graduates – including 30 women -- received their diplomas in South Asia Nazarene Bible College’s (SANBC) graduation March 23 as part of the Bangladesh 17th District Assembly. The Bangladesh class was more than five times the size of last year’s class, which numbered 36.