The Global Church of the Nazarene News from The Global Nazarene Communication Network News of Lenexa, Kansas, United States: Joy to the World "This week in the Church of the Nazarene..." Volume 1651 for Wednesday, 21 December 2016

The Global Church of the Nazarene News from The Global Nazarene Communication Network News of Lenexa, Kansas, United States: Joy to the World "This week in the Church of the Nazarene..." Volume 1651 for Wednesday, 21 December 2016

Global Ministry Center
Joy to the world

It is our prayer that every Nazarene will experience and extend Christmas joy in this sacred season. (video)
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Christmas is the season of joy. It is joyful because we are reminded that God, in Christ, came to do what we could not do for ourselves: save us from our sins and make the world right again.
To accomplish this, two thousand years ago God took an unprecedented and astonishing action. In great humility and love, the Creator entered the pain and suffering of His creation. He became one of us so that we could share in His life. The baby born in Bethlehem is the eternal Word made flesh. He is Emmanuel – God with us.
Jesus still enters into a world of suffering and need. He is the light in the darkness. He comes with a message of freedom from sin and oppression. He comes with a mission to bring healing, wholeness, and love into places of devastation, brokenness, and hatred. “His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
It is our prayer that every Nazarene will experience and extend Christmas joy in this sacred season.
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King.”
Board of General Superintendents
Jerry D. Porter
J. K. Warrick
Eugénio R. Duarte
David W. Graves
David A. Busic
Gustavo A. Crocker

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Christmas is the season of joy. It is joyful because we are reminded that God, in Christ, came to do what we could not do for ourselves: save us from our sins and make the world right again.

To accomplish this, two thousand years ago God took an unprecedented

and astonishing action. In great humility and love, the Creator entered the pain and suff ering of His creation. He became one of us so that we could share in His life. The baby born in Bethlehem is the eternal Word made flesh. He is Emmanuel – God with us.

Jesus still enters into a world of su ffering and need. He is the light in the darkness. He comes with a message of freedom from sin and oppression. He comes with a mission to bring healing, wholeness, and love into places of devastation, brokenness, and hatred. “His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

It is our prayer that every Nazarene will experience and extend

Christmas joy in this sacred season.

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King.”

Joy to the World

Board of General Superintendents

Jerry D. Porter, J. K. Warrick, Eugénio R. Duarte,

David W. Graves, David A. Busic, and Gustavo A. Crocker

Read more
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Thank Offering gifts help continue mission
Gifts of thankfulness from the recent World Evangelism Fund offering continue to be received. These funds reach ministries around the world and are now making Christlike disciples in the nations.
Nazarenes are a generous people. Gifts of thankfulness from the recent World Evangelism Fund offering continue to be received. These funds reach ministries around the world and result in praise to God, our generous giver. So far, US$515,000 has been received in Thanksgiving, or Thank, Offerings for the World Evangelism Fund. These gifts are now making Christlike disciples in the nations.
Thank you for your generosity. As we recognize your faithfulness, we cannot help but give praise to God. Your devotion to the mission is a blessing that stretches into eternity as people around the world come to a saving knowledge of Christ. Your gifts will help others know the Great Giver and recognize that the blessings they receive are All From Him.
God bless you for your devotion to taking the gospel around the world.
With gratitude,
The Board of General SuperintendentsRead more
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Moscow, Russia
Church helps deaf children in Russia find forever homes
When Moscow First Church of the Nazarene began welcoming deaf and hard-of-hearing people into the congregation, members became aware that deaf and hard-of-hearing children in a local orphanage were not adopted as readily as the hearing children and couldn’t even communicate with their caregivers at the orphanage. Tatiana “Tanya” Cantarella, pastor, and missionary on the Commonwealth of Independent States Field, decided it was time to do something about that.
To more effectively communicate with the 15 or so hearing impaired people attending Moscow First, Tanya and several other church members had taken sign language courses until they became fluent in the language.
Some of their deaf and hard-of-hearing friends volunteered at this local orphanage where 14 hearing-impaired or deaf children lived. Tanya learned that none of the caregivers knew any sign language, and there was no special teacher for these children. This caused problems and miscommunication issues within the orphanage, in particular for the older boys and girls. They did study at a special school, but besides that, there was little communication with their caregivers.
Since Tanya and her husband, Davide, were actively involved in the adoptive parenthood field, Tanya became interested in helping with a trip planned for potential adoptive parents and children from that orphanage to Kazan, Russia. The idea was for the adults and kids to travel together, get to know each other in an informal setting and, possibly, new families would be forged as a result. There were kids with hearing problems in the group, and so Tanya and two other people from Moscow First Church joined the team to help with interpretation and making a video.
“After we got back from the trip and I had a chance to get to know these special children, I thought that if they get adopted by parents who don’t have problems with hearing, this would only solve half of the problems, and there will be miscommunication issues still,” she said.
There is a common myth that if one teaches sign language to the child, he or she won’t be able to learn spoken Russian. The statistics and facts reveal just the opposite. Nevertheless, because of this myth, parents in Russia (and other CIS Field countries) don’t feel it is necessary to learn sign language to communicate with their children, even if that is the standard practice in other countries.
Another myth that deaf/hard-of-hearing people believe is that they cannot legally adopt children.
So, Tanya developed a dream: “It would be so amazing if deaf parents could adopt children with hearing problems.”
She contacted an Internet portal for deaf and hard-of-hearing people called gluxix.net (literally means “there are no deaf people”) and they did an interview with Tanya, in which she spoke in sign language about the rights of deaf people, particularly the fact that they can be adoptive parents. They also interviewed five deaf/hard-of-hearing children in sign language.
This interview was the trigger for the deaf/hard-of-hearing community to begin exploring adoption.
“There was a lot of feedback as well as many questions," Tanya said. "Since the questions were similar in nature, I invited everyone who was interested in coming to a meeting to discuss all concerning issues."
The meeting took place December 2015 at the orphanage, and 16 deaf people came. The questions discussed included volunteering at the orphanage and what kind of help is needed.
“Simply going to the orphanage once in a while to bring kids presents and to organize some fun events for them isn’t just not helpful, it’s actually harmful. The only real help for these children is to place them into families,” Tanya said.
As the result of this meeting, some people have volunteered to teach the orphanage caregivers sign language and the orphanage director has agreed to hire a special teacher for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
By Russian law, people who want to take in children have to go through a certain training before they can adopt. The orphanage regularly conducts these classes, but they are always geared toward the hearing people.
The first school for adoptive parents of deaf/hard-of-hearing children took place in spring 2016. In the summer, a couple from the school adopted one of the boys. Another lady, from the Moscow Bible Church, who took the adoptive parents’ classes before, adopted a 16-year-old deaf girl from the orphanage, as well. All but two of the other deaf/hard-of-hearing kids were taken by hearing families. Of the two children left, one boy is waiting for his birth mother to recover her parental rights, and another girl has turned 18, so she is technically old enough to live on her own.
Currently, a second group of deaf/hard-of-hearing people is taking the adoptive parents class. Since all the deaf/hard-of-hearing kids were adopted from the orphanage where it all started, right now the team is looking for other orphanages that have children with hearing problems who are available for adoption.
For more on this story, read "Russia church begins deaf ministry"[Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region]Read more
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Asia-Pacific

Flags of the Nations: Guam
In the center of the Guam flag is the coat of arms, an almond shaped emblem that depicts a proa sailing in Agana Bay and GUAM in red letters. The shape of the emblem recalls the slingshot stones used by the islanders' ancestors. The landform at the back depicts the Punta Dos Amantes cliff on Guam.Since September 1, 2009, the Church of the Nazarene's Global Ministry Center (GMC) proudly flies a flag each week of one of the many nations in which the denomination is present in ministry. Leaders were invited to send a national flag to be flown at the GMC alongside the flag of the United States*. The national flags rotate weekly, and photos of them raised are sent to the church leaders of that country.
This week: Guam
The Church of the Nazarene officially entered Guam in 1971.
Guam had a population of 161,785 in 2015. That same year, Guam reported one organized Church of the Nazarene. Guam has 125 total members.
Located on the Asia-Pacific Region, Guam is part of the Micronesia District. For more information about the Asia-Pacific Region, visit asiapacificnazarene.org.
* = The weekly highlighted flag is raised on the middle of three poles in compliance with U.S. government protocols. It flies to the left of the GMC host-nation United States flag, which flies above the host-state flag of Kansas. The Christian flag flies on the third pole.
The Global Ministry Center is the mission and service hub of the Church of the Nazarene.Read more
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Eurasia

Glasgow, Scotland
Ian Wills takes lead for Northern Europe
Ian Wills became the new field strategy coordinator for Eurasia’s Northern Europe Field in August. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, he is a fourth generation Nazarene. He worked in finance and banking for several years before studying theology, earning a Bachelor of Divinity and a Master of Theology at Glasgow University, and a Doctor of Ministry at Asbury Seminary. He also continues to serve as pastor of Parkhead Church of the Nazarene in Scotland.
What has been your ministry so far?
I’ve been a Nazarene pastor since 1997. I worked as an associate pastor in the Parkhead Church of the Nazarene in Glasgow for 12 years and then as lead pastor in Parkhead for seven years. In between, I had a year’s sabbatical when I studied at Asbury Seminary for a doctorate (D.Min.).
My main ministry in my church is helping the church reconnect with the local community, building a strategy for incarnational ministry in one of the poorest areas of Glasgow where our church is located, taking a commuting congregation to become an incarnational, embedded church community. It has been over a period of 20 years that we’ve really focused on this. We function as a community hub for all kinds of local ministries such as family ministry, addiction ministry, and refugee ministry.
Why did you feel led to take on the role of FSC?
Originally I had no interest in this, I wasn’t against it, but not interested. Then I went for a three-day prayer retreat and God spoke to me through 2 Kings 6, where a company of prophets decides to build something new together. I needed to hear that; I basically said to God "If I don’t see something in black and white I won’t do it," and I felt this passage gave me a black-and-white picture of working with other leaders to sharpen the missional edge of the church.
My big passion is: How do we release local churches into the mission of God? How do we take local congregations to become incarnational ministries? Or in simple terms: How do we get churches to do and say what Jesus did?
What does the new role mean for your current ministry?
Since the FSC role is only part-time, I will remain the pastor at Parkhead Church of the Nazarene. This is possible because in Parkhead I have a team and staff who are very able and gifted in the ministry that they’re involved with in the local church. The church board is very supportive of me taking on this new role and think this will be valuable to the wider church.
I have an established church at my feet and the structures are already in place; it’s just helping those structures release the local church doing what Jesus does and says.
In this initial stage I’m trying to develop a vision and strategy with local district superintendents, so this first year I will be working alongside them to create a vision and picture of what the Northern European Field and a strategy coordinator’s role could look like.
Where do you see opportunities and challenges in the Northern Europe Field?
In Northern Europe, the church often feels like exiles; they are strangers in their own society or community and uncertain of how to reconnect with their communities. This is a challenge, but yet there are some churches across the field that have shown that it’s possible and are flourishing. But it’s not an easy journey.
Many of the challenges in Northern Europe are the same no matter what country you’re in, there are lots of similarities, so there is great opportunity for mutual learning. The church has a lot to offer society, and I hope that together we can work on rediscovering and valuing the church (as people both outside and inside the church are often very negative) and capturing an optimistic, hopeful vision of the church.
I’m driven by at least two questions that every church should be asking: Who is our neighbour? What do we have in our hand? This is a way of connecting who we are and what we have with our neighbour.[Church of the Nazarene Eurasia Region]Read more
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In Memoriam
The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received December 19-21, 2016.
Arthur Hughes, 93, of Quincy, Massachusetts, passed away December 19. He was a retired minister, serving in Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Hughes. Married for 68 years, the couple died within 24 hours of each other.
Betty Hughes, 88, of Quincy, Massachusetts, passed away December 19. She was the wife of retired minister Arthur Hughes, who served in Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York.
Robert Mitchell Sr., 83, of Erin, Tennessee, passed away December 19. He was a retired minister, serving in South Carolina and Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his wife, Emmaline Mitchell, in 2012.
For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section by clicking here.
Note: Please join us in prayer for the families who have lost loved ones. Click on names for full stories, funeral information, local online obituaries, and/or guest books (if available). To submit an entry of a minister or church leader, send to news@nazarene.org.[Compiled by NCN News]Read more
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Global Ministry Center
Global Ministry Center holiday schedule
The Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center will be closed December 23 through January 2.
While there will be no staff at the Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center December 23 through January 2, if an emergency need arises for communication of information during the Christmas holidays, please leave a voicemail message at 913-577-2720. That number will be checked daily.
Note: NCN News will resume its regular weekly schedule January 6, 2017. Read more
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Human Resources

GMC employment opportunities

Located in Lenexa, Kansas, the Global Ministry Center is the administrative, mission, and service hub for the Church of the Nazarene's ministries in 159 world areas. The following positions are available:

People are our most valued resource. Our committed employees are involved in "Making Christlike Disciples in the Nations" in 159 world areas.
The Global Ministry Center Human Resources Office professionals strive to deliver the highest possible service to our employees, and are responsible for the recruitment, placement and retention of qualified individuals to staff the ministry and administrative positions of the GMC. The many employee services include compensation and benefit administration, payroll, employment, employee relations, training, counseling, organizational communication and events, and workplace programs.
*Volunteer opportunities for GMC ministries are available now. Email jveigl@nazarene.org for details.
Employment Opportunities
Administrative Assistant (Full time)
General Superintendents’ Office
Description: This person provides editing and proofreading for the BGS Office, coordinates travel logistics and maintains itineraries for the BGS, and provides general administrative support.
Administrative Assistant (Full time)
Global Clergy Development
Description: This person will assist Global Clergy Development leaders in fulfilling the objectives of the ministry. Duties will include creating correspondence, facilitating conference and meeting arrangements, updating website pages on nazarene.org and related websites, and other duties as assigned.
Administrative Assistant (Full time)
Pensions & Benefits USA
Description: This person will lead/manage special and cyclical projects, provide administrative assistance to the administrative director, coordinate education/training of internal staff and plan participants, ensure that appropriate resources and support are provided to complete projects, process customer services inquiries, and assist with monitoring and posting items to P&B USA social media outlets (Facebook/Twitter).
Communication Specialist (Full time)
Global Mission Administration
Description: This person provides insight and supports the work of the Global Mission administrative director; helps foster collaborative communication efforts between the regions and Global Mission team; advances the implementation and continuous improvement of the Global Mission communication strategy; collaborates on the improvement of existing and the creation of new initiatives, stories, and projects; and participates in and assist in the development of communication procedures and planning of meaningful gatherings for communicators.
Deputation/Home Assignment Coordinator (Full time)
Global Mission Personnel Office
Description: This person works directly with missionaries, creating and facilitating training to assure maximum effectiveness during home assignment. Other responsibilities include working with local and district church leaders in understanding and engaging missionaries while in their church(es), coordinating scheduling for deputation in churches and district events, and connecting local churches and districts with missionaries to encourage stewardship and relationship.
Receptionist (Full time)
Business Center
Description: This position will provide quality service and hospitality to callers, guests, and offices of the Global Ministry Center. A majority of the time will be spent at the front desk communicating with various employees, constituents, and others via phone, email, and in person. The receptionist will be asked to serve in other roles within the Business Center as needed.
Software Developer (Full time)
Information Technology
Description: Members of the software development team are primarily responsible for facilitating the ministry of the Global Ministry Center through the analysis, design, implementation, and support of software solutions.
Technology Specialist (Full time)
Pensions & Benefits USA
Description: This position will assist the technology supervisor in developing and maintaining the technology resources available to the Pensions and Benefits USA office and its constituents. This will include Web content management, development of systems for document storage and retrieval, assistance with upkeep of other business databases, resolution of basic desktop issues, and assistance with technology-related communication and training.
To obtain additional information, please call 913-577-0500 and ask for Human Resources.
Location of our Positions
The GMC is the administrative hub for the Church of the Nazarene denominational ministries in 159 world areas. The GMC is conveniently located in Lenexa, Kansas, with easy access to I-35 and I-435 and within short driving distance to Kansas City International airport. All GMC positions report to this location.
Our Non-Discrimination Policy
The Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center offers equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, sex, or veteran status. The Global Ministry Center is an “at will” employer.
Our Faith-Based Organization
We are a faith-based organization. Acceptance of our Christian Code of Conduct is required and membership in the Church of the Nazarene is required for certain positions. The GMC and applicable remote work sites are smoke-, alcohol-, and drug-free Christian workplaces.
Application Processing
Our Human Resources Office receives and processes many employment applications annually for a limited number of positions. While we regret that we cannot respond to each applicant, we do contact those individuals possessing the skills, education/training, and experience that best match the requirements of the open position for which the application was submitted.
An application must be completed by all applicants and an application must be completed for each position for which one wishes to be considered. Applications are retained for one year. Resumés are not necessary for entry-level positions, but they are preferred for professional level positions.
Applying for Employment with the GMC
Application forms may be requested by calling 913-577-0500, emailing humanresourcesgroup@nazarene.org, or obtained in person from Human Resources at the Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas, 66220, Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:30 U.S. Central Time. Completed applications may be mailed or emailed to the attention of the Human Resources Office.
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Global Ministry Center
Church of the Nazarene celebrates Compassionate Ministries Month
December is Compassionate Ministries Month, a time to celebrate the way God is transforming lives through the Church of the Nazarene’s acts of Christlike compassion worldwide.
Congregations are encouraged to set aside a Sunday during the month of December to focus on God’s call to active compassion. Resources from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries are available to help congregations think about living compassion in the margins of the world and to consider what it means to join the work being done by churches around the world.
Across six world regions, local Nazarene churches are responding to the needs of children, families, and individuals in their communities. One of the largest areas through which churches show compassion is holistic child development ministries. Across 37 countries, 164 Nazarene child development centers are caring for more than 18,000 children living in difficult circumstances. Through holistic child development, children are encouraged to grow through opportunities that include education, nutrition, health and hygiene education, life skills, and spiritual nurturing. In 2016, Nazarene churches in 13 countries opened 18 new child development centers.
Another key area of compassion through the Church of the Nazarene is response to natural disasters and other emergencies. In 2016, floods, earthquakes, storms, drought, and famine devastated communities around the globe, and local churches were there to respond. In April, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador, causing the deaths of 640 people, including members of Nazarene churches. More than 26,000 were displaced from their homes. Through support from the global church, local congregations in Ecuador were ready to respond with water, food, mosquito nets, blankets, and medicine.
In October 2016, when Hurricane Matthew swept through parts of the Caribbean and up the eastern seaboard of the United States, local churches responded. In Haiti, 1.4 million people were in need of assistance, and dozens Nazarene church buildings were damaged. The majority of people in the most affected areas lost their homes and had little to no shelter. Through the support of the global church, local Nazarenes were able to distribute hundreds of crisis care kits and tents and thousands of food packages and water filters. In the months that have followed, churches continue to care for people affected by the hurricane.
Natural disasters aren’t the only events that create great need. In Jordan and Lebanon, millions of Syrian refugees have sought safety and hope after fleeing a crushing civil war. Churches there have been providing for the needs of refugee families in their communities, including scholarships to Nazarene schools for children living as refugees who would not otherwise have a chance at education. Individuals and churches worldwide have contributed to these scholarships to help children haunted by war hold on to hope for the future.
As millions of refugees have journeyed toward safety and stability through Greece and central Europe, Nazarenes have been there to provide for immediate needs and to provide a ministry of presence. As families and individuals living as refugees make their way to countries in Northern Europe, Nazarene churches there are also offering compassion in the name of Christ.
These are just a few examples of the many ways Nazarene churches across six world regions are seeking to live out Christlike compassion. Through Compassionate Ministries Month, Nazarene congregations have the opportunity to renew a commitment to God’s call to compassionate living.
To learn more about Compassionate Ministries Month, visit ncm.org/compassion to download free resources.[Nazarene Compassionate Ministries]Read more-------

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The Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Organized in 1908, the denomination is now home to about 2.3 million members worshipping in more than 29,000 local congregations in 159 world areas.
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The Global Church of the Nazarene
The Global Ministry Center
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, Kansas, United States 66220
Phone: 913-577-0500
Email: info@nazarene.org
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