SnapShots

Amman, Jordan – On the evening of May 27, a crowd of believers from all over Jordan – representing nine Nazarene churches and several churches of other denominations – came together to celebrate Pentecost for the second year in a row.

Greve, Denmark – Although Denmark is an officially Lutheran country, many young people claim to be atheists. Lars Ørsøe was the only believer in his entire high school. When he mentioned to classmates that he was a Christian, they often replied, “Wow, you are the first one that I’ve ever met.”

Church planting is an increasingly urgent focus in districts throughout the Northern Europe and Central Europe fields. During his district assembly tour this spring, Jerry Porter, the general superintendent in jurisdiction over the Eurasia Region, urged leaders to pray about where God might be leading them to plant new works.

In the British Isles South, District Superintendent David Montgomery says the district is looking at proposals for at least two new works. In the Netherlands, a local Nazarene church has outgrown its building and is praying and fasting this month about whether God wants them to plant a new church in their neighborhood. Plans are also underway in Hungary and the British Isles North District for strategically initiating new fellowships to reach unchurched people.

Nathanja Klauser and her fellow Easter Camp directors have participated in the Germany District’s annual children and youth camps since they were kids. Now, as the new leaders of the week-long spiritual event, they hoped they weren’t too young  -- all are in their 20s -- or inexperienced to manage this important shaping and influencing time for the district’s youth.

From 09 April to 27 May, 2012, Nazarenes across the Eurasia Region will unite in a single focus to celebrate a journey from “Easter to Pentecost.” Through the six-week devotional guide, “Resurrection Power,” every believer connected to the Church of the Nazarene in Eurasia has the opportunity to encounter and dwell in the power of the Holy Spirit that Paul describes.

A group of 35 Nazarene Missions International (NMI) leaders from the U.S., Canada and Trinidad and Tobago recently traveled to Sri Lanka and India to pray and partner with local Nazarenes. One stop on the tour was to attend a JESUS film showing on a tea estate in Sri Lanka.

Covering an area of 17,075,400 square kilometers and stretching across 12 times zones, Russia is the largest country on the planet. Historically, the Russian monarchs knew that the only way they could rule over such an enormous land was by connecting its most remote parts - hence the construction of the famous and picturesque Transiberian Railway, which connects Moscow to Russia's eastern provinces and Pacific shores.

Fewer than one percent of the people in one South Asian nation* are Christians. Nazarene leaders there saw a window of opportunity to share the JESUS film in an area where people are ardent followers of another faith.

Bangkok, Thailand – Twenty-four young people from the Eurasia Region joined more than 200 other developing Nazarene leaders from all six regions for the Third Wave conference in Bangkok, 3-8 January.

Beirut, Lebanon – Late last year, the Arabic Literature Committee in the Eastern Mediterranean Field completed its translation of the two-volume, New Beacon Bible Commentary on Romans into Arabic. It was the first translation to be completed under the committee’s recently appointed director, Andre Hannoush, a Nazarene pastor in Beirut.

Gelnhausen, Germany - "I'm so happy! Miss Monica, I didn't know there are people in Germany that love me! Can you tell them 'thank you' for me?"

Albert, 9 years old, doesn't know if it's too good to be true. In his arms he's holding a Christmas parcel; it's so heavy that he can barely hold it.

November 24-27, 2011 was not just a few days on the Eastern Maharashtra District. It was revival meeting for the district and the days were packed with His presence among the pastors, leaders and other participants.

Over the past few years, the France district of the Church of the Nazarene has undergone and is undergoing renewal, characterized by recently started new works, and a new spirit of harmony and unity. The culmination of this renewal was marked by the joint celebration service on Sunday, November 20, 2011, with each of the six churches and three mission starts on the district represented.

At the end of March, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) in Ukraine unloaded a container filled with medical supplies ranging from crutches and walkers to physical rehabilitation equipment and catheter units and more. The donated medical supplies had been sent by an organization in Maryland, U.S.

Razgrad, Bulgaria – More than 100 pastors from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo and Romania met for the Southeast European (SEE) Field “Power of One: Eurasia Region Missional Church Initiative” training weekend in the Eurasia Region 15-17 April. It was the ninth and final field event in the region to train leaders in how to use the new initiative resource package since it debuted last September. Several more districts will hold training events later this month and in May.

Gorre, Albania - Nearly 50 young people from one Nazarene church and two other evangelical churches in Lushnje, Albania, gathered the weekend of 18 to 19 March for an interdenominational youth conference. The youth conference is the latest event to come out of an ongoing partnership between several of the evangelical churches in Lushnje, including the Church of the Nazarene, said Steve Beiler, a missionary in Albania.

Belfast, Northern Ireland - Rev. Philip McAlister was elected district superintendent at the British Isles North District 58th district assembly, on 28 March, in Megain Memorial Church of the Nazarene, Belfast. Rev. Colin H. Wood, who was appointed district superintendent of the British Isles North in 1992, retires this year.

Japan – The Church of the Nazarene in Japan is finding its footing since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake on 11 March and subsequent 33-foot tsunami that killed at least 10,800 people. Nazarenes around the world are asking how they can help their brothers and sisters.