Vol. 030. August-Sept. 2006 Editor: Kay Clark, E-mail: kay@norcal.org, 925-680-0538

Contents

Page 1 Dr. John Calhoun - Editorial

Page 2-3 Pastors’ & Spouses’ Retreat & NYI News, Mid High Camp Update/Pictures

Page 3-4 Senior High Camp Update/Pictures

Page 5 Blue Slide Camp Update/Pictures

Page 6 & 7 Up-Coming Events, FYI, “We Salute”

Page 8-10 Donna’s Story of Faithfulness & Obedience, SSM News

Page 10-11 NMI News

The Unchangeable Christ in a Changing World

By Dr. John Calhoun, District Superintendent

Change is easy, when you are young, right?  Actually one can see that the human being is more like other mammals than not, we easily become creatures of habit.  And it begins when we are quite young.  Just observe how much more secure a small child can be when living within a predictable routine. 

Even those non-conformists of yesterday like the “hippies” are now resisting change.  Just look at all the aging male drivers of VW bus/vans in faded psychedelic colors hanging on to the last remnants of their hair represented by a few straggling, wiry strands tied in the back to resemble a rat’s tail.  Change is hard to do, even by former “change agents.”

Our world is thrusting change upon everyone faster than we can track it.  We don’t like it but it just keeps coming at us but for one thing—the Unchanging Christ.  His call to follow Him can be done in any culture and anytime.  In fact, to truly follow the Unchanging Christ, we have to be willing to make peace with the changeableness of the culture.  Then we can keep adjusting our methods to fit the times and make sure each new generation is invited to follow The Christ--The Unchangeable One who can adapt to anyone, anytime and any place.  The question is, can we?

Where: Mt. Hermon Christian Conference Center

Dates: September 18 – September 21, 2006

Guest Speakers: Rev. Craig & Connie Rench

(Check-in 4:30 p.m. & Check-out - 9:30 a.m.)

Starts: Dinner at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 18^th

Ends: Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21^st

Package Rates for Double Occupancy

Deluxe $282 per person

Standard $229 per person

Economy $179 per person

Package for Rates for Single Occupancy

Deluxe $387

Standard $334

Economy $284

Deadline to receive reservations is August 29th-call Kay at the dist. office! (925) 680-0538

Mid-High Camp’s “Rock-N-Water” Update/Pictures

What an amazing couple of months this has been for NYI. We are done for this year’s camp season and we are already making plans for next summer.

What: Mid-High Camp

Who: Grades 8-9

When: June 26-29, 2006

Mid-High camp was directed by Kim Hersey. She is our youth pastor at Salinas New Life Church. For the second year in a row we had our camp at Rock n’ Water and what a blast that was! We had a great time rock climbing, swimming, white water rafting and just having fun. We started this year’s camp by gathering together at Roseville Church of the Nazarene. There we were able to do team building activities and by the end of that afternoon, you can already sense that the students were comfortable with each other. That evening we headed to Rock n’ Water’s camp ground and got ready to literally set-up camp. On Tuesday and Wednesday the students worked hard and the adults seem to work a little harder (we have more weight to carry up the mountains you know, and those joints were a little stiff) to try to get the task ahead accomplished.

Every evening we worshipped together. We sang songs, we celebrated God’s work and we listened to God’s word. I was impressed by how our students, after a long day’s activity were still able to focus and absorb what God is talking to them about. This was very evident on the last night of camp as Pastor Eric challenged the students to live a life that is solid in Christ; he asked them to choose “Which boat are you, the Titanic or the Arc?” The students in my group and in other groups were able to recall the other challenges brought to them by Pastor Mike from Cupertino, “How will you live out the fruit of the spirit in your world?” And from me from two nights before, “Are you going to trust God enough to listen to him even if a carpenter knows nothing about fishing?” I guess, I shouldn’t be surprised because God is a God who captures our hearts, and he has captured theirs.

Senior High Camp – Houseboats Update/Pictures

What: Sr. High Houseboat Camp - Lake Shasta, CA

Who: Incoming Freshmen – Outgoing Seniors

When: July 24-28, 2006

Sr. High Houseboat Camp was on the hottest week of the year here in California, and we were probably in one of the hottest counties in the state! We still had a great time! This year’s camp was once again directed by Drew Romero, youth pastor at Napa Church of the Nazarene. During the planning stages, we had estimated that our attendance would drop this year due to NYC (Nazarene Youth Congress). However, we were pleasantly surprised on the day of registration when we totaled up to 95 participants and that is 23 more than last year’s! This year we also had at least 6 churches participate for the first time.

So you might be wondering what we do at Sr. High Houseboat Camp. Some of our activities included: skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, waterfall hike, playing card games, making crafts, etc. Some students even used this time to rest. It is so cool to see students from different churches hang out with each other, plus they have formed relationships that I know from experience, will last a life time.

In as much as these students stay busy all week, we do challenge them in their spiritual lives. One of the strengths of this camp is that we have lots of free time. As adult sponsors, we used this time to have one-on-one time with our students and or group of students from our local churches and even students that have no youth pastors. It is our desire to invest in their lives not just for a week but for eternity. On both Tuesday and Thursday we had workshops that we offer the students to attend. In these workshops we covered contemporary issues facing our students now, as well as what all the colors and symbols mean in the church. We also had LeAnn Wiley from PLNU come do a workshop in preparing for college. Every morning we have “optional prayer time.” From this group we see who our leaders are, who is serious in this journey called faith. Every evening we also worshiped together. This year we have asked Pastor Ken Osso from Pasco, WA to return as our speaker. Pastor Ken was vulnerable with the students about his life and in return during our small group times, the students were able to be vulnerable with us. It was so refreshing to hear that our students are tired of living for themselves and want to now live for God and the church. I was challenged by Ken and the students that in as much as I am in love with Jesus now, I still need to be more in love with him everyday.

It was the “best week ever!” Please continue to pray for our students on the NorCal District. Thank you for your support to NYI!

Donabel Martin, NYI President

Blue Slide Camp - July 24 - 28

Family Camp at Blue Slide/Eureka Church - This year we ministered to over 400 people at our summer camps, both at Blue Slide and with our day camps here at the church.

We kicked off the summer with out Men’s Working Retreat & “thanks” to all the hard work they were able to build 2 new cabins.

Over the July 4^th Holiday, we came together at Family Camp with Pastor Brad Edgbert as our camp speaker, and with Nick Lende leading us in song.

Then Brad Stanhope showed the teens how every decision they make for Christ in their lives today will affect their future and they were challenged to “Make it Count!”

We had “3” Sport’s Camps for basketball, cheer, and soccer. The kids learned the fundamentals of each sport, and that they could “do everything through Him who gives them strength”. (Phil. 4:13)

Pioneer Themed Day Camp for kids on Wednesdays. Each week the kids learned about the pioneers of our country and how they were similar to those of the Bible.

Our summer has been blessed with both wonderful weather and amazing ministry programs.

Up Coming Events!

ê District All-Nighter at The Point Church San Jose, Sept. 8-9

from 8 p.m. – 8 a.m. - Contact: Amer Khokhar (408) 270-7646

ê Christian Family Night at Six Flags Magic Mountain

Sponsored

by PLNU September 15-16, 2006 from 7PM-1AM

ê NYC 2007 – Anyone graduating high school in 2007-2011

ü Dates: July 8-15

ü Cost: $450 Registration + $650 travel, hotel, food, activity &

other expenses – Total cost of trip is $1,100

ü Register online at: www.waterfirewind.com

ü Questions, e-mail Pastor Curtis Lillie

didicatcha9erinthere@hotmail.com

ê Quizzing starting – “Get ready!”

Children’s – Contact Carol Kibler at cjkib@sbcglobal.net

Teens - Contact – Rick Powers, Debbie or Abe at (707-557-1833)

Teens Report on National Quiz Meet

Five Northern California Teen Quizzers participated in the National Invitational Tournament in July.  Two of those five quizzers were also in the annual National Regional Tournament.  Their reports follow. 2006 National Teen Quizzing Invitational

Nationals this year were held at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma.

What’s special about this year’s Nationals is that along with the national tournament was the Invitational that drew hundreds of quizzers from all over the U.S.A.

The toughest invitational division is the District Experience. The five quizzers chosen to represent our Northern California district were Margaret Urfer (Hayward), James Childress (Livermore), David Wall (Napa), Andrea Frediani (Napa), and I, Abe Powers (Napa). We went into the tournament with guarded expectations, because most of the districts were much larger than ours. Let me explain. In ’05 – ’06, there were 14 quizzers on our district. Many districts boast 100 quizzers or more. However, we proved that size isn’t necessarily equal to strength! Our team coasted to a 2^nd place finish in a thirty-four team division.

 In national quizzing, I was one of five quizzers representing the Point Loma Region on the A Team. As last year’s national champions, we had high expectations. However, the road wasn’t as clear this year, but we still managed to finish at a respectable fourth place out of eight teams.

Bible Quizzing is an exciting sport and not only because of the competition. It has the potential to transform youth into mighty warriors of the Spirit. Ephesians 6 says that the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit. Youth cannot learn how to fight spiritual battles without a weapon!

 Quizzing is an incredible way to train up the next generation. To find out more about joining quizzing, call Rick or Debbie Powers at (707) 557-1833. I would be happy to talk with you or your teens as well.

 Thanks and God bless, ~Abe Powers

ê Work & Witness Team: Go to the web site: www.nazarenesj.com for updates and pictures. They depart on August 10^th. Please pray for a safe, productive, memorable trip, and that they will reflect God’s love to all they meet.

For Your Information

Oak Street House Sold

One of our endorsed Compassionate Ministries, Golden Gate Community, Inc. has recently sold the property affectionately known as “Oak Street House.”  It is bought by a ministry group that envisions offering residential housing to International Graduate Students.  The hope and prayer is that as a community is formed among these students, Christ can be made to be attractively presented in belief that some will receive him before returning to their country of origin.  Add this to your prayers list.

“We Salute”

John Ford, Jr. that will be leaving soon for Army boot camp from McKinleyville Church

Garret Clark will be joining the Air Force – The Point Church

We are grateful to all of our men and women in the Armed Forces. We pray that God will bless them and keep them safe.

Donna’s Story of Faithfulness & Obedience

I am Donna and I am the wife of a pastor. I was raised in a non-Christian home in Shawnee, Kansas, just outside of Kansas City. When I was in elementary school I came to know Christ through the bus ministry of the Shawnee Church of the Nazarene. As I grew I prayed regularly that my parents would come to know Christ. My Dad was a good man, but had little interest or need for “religion”. Any attempts I made at witnessing were usually met with indifference at best, scoffing at worst.

After my graduation from Mid-America Nazarene University, I met and married Ken who was enrolled at Nazarene Theological Seminary. Though Mom and Dad loved Ken, they were a little bewildered that I would bring a “preacher” into the family. When Ken left seminary, we moved to Washington State where Ken pastored for 10 years and then to Arizona. Each time they would visit us they would attend Sunday morning worship with us. I would feel like maybe we had made some headway and they were closer to accepting the Lord. Then my work would take me back to Kansas City and I visited them without Ken. It didn’t take me long to realize it was all a show for Ken’s benefit. Still I prayed. Fourteen years passed, then this past winter Ken and I decided that I should take the kids to Kansas City to see my parents. Both my parents had health issues off and on, and with the aging process we wanted to make sure our kids saw Grandma and Grandpa once again. After I had purchased the tickets, but before we went, the Lord started to speak to me.

Some singles from the church had gathered at our house for a fellowship and prayer time and witnessing to loved ones became a topic of interest for several. The Lord began to make it very clear to me that on my visit to my parent’s house; I was to share my faith with them once again. Sharing my faith with my parents was very difficult, but I wanted to be obedient. I began earnestly praying and preparing for the task. Many at our church joined with me in prayer. A week before our trip, my Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. Sharing with my parents became more urgent than ever. During my visit, the results of the P.E.T. (Positron Emission Tomography) scan had revealed that the cancer was isolated and operable. I sat down with Mom and Dad and begin to share the difference Christ had made in my life. My Mom kept trying to change the subject, and Dad was absolutely silent. No response whatsoever. As I returned home I felt deeply disappointed, but I had peace because I knew I had been obedient.

The surgery was scheduled two weeks later, so again I flew back to Kansas City to be with Dad. After the surgery the doctor informed us that because the cancer had attached itself to a main artery in the lung, so they were not able to remove it. Because of commitments at the church over Easter, I was scheduled to leave the day after the surgery took place. While there, the doctor said our next option appeared to be radiation. I left Kansas City and when my plane landed in Sacramento and I checked my voicemail to discover my sister had called. Dad was experiencing complications from the surgery. They were worried. The week that followed was a long one indeed. Dad was worse, he stabilized, and they would have to move him to ICU. On Thursday, one week following the surgery, I received the call that no one ever wants to get. Dad would not recover and I needed to fly there, as soon as possible.

I boarded a plane the next day and flew back to Kansas City. I went straight into the ICU room to be with Dad for what little time he had left. My Dad was awake and very aware, but because of breathing devices, he was unable to speak. He communicated via hand signals. I had been with him for a couple of hours when he began a hand signal that I couldn’t figure out. “Dad, I’m trying, be patient with me, I’m not sure what you mean,” I said. Finally, he motioned for pen and paper. He hadn’t the strength to write very well, so you had to read each letter as he wrote it. On the paper, he wrote the words, “Ken was on TV today.” I was lost. I looked at Dad, and said, “Dad, I’m working on it, I’m just not sure what you mean.” Then the Holy Spirit came, and I looked up at my Dad, “Dad, are you saying there was a preacher on TV today and you want to pray to accept Christ as your Savior?” I asked. He shook his head yes. I bowed my head and I prayed, my father prayed with me, for Christ to come into his heart. I lifted my head and spoke words that I never dreamed I would be able to say: “Dad, I will see you again.” Shortly after I prayed with Dad, he motioned that he wanted us to get Mom back up to the hospital. (It was the middle of the night and we had already sent Mom home.) Mom came back to the hospital and as she walked into the room, Dad began the hand signaling again. This time I knew what he meant. “Dad, do you want me to tell Mom that you have prayed to accept Jesus as your Savior and do you want me to pray with her?” I asked. His head shook once again. I explained to Mom, and there at Dad’s bedside I prayed with my Mom as well. Dad only lived fourteen hours after accepting Christ, but I tell you he was a changed man. There was the man, who had been indifferent and cynical, now wanted to pray with everyone who entered the room, including the respiratory therapist. He wanted us to sing him some hymns. Mostly, there was a peace in his countenance that had long eluded him. When I mentioned that I would see him again, there was understanding in his eyes.

What I learned from this was that God is faithful and has perfect timing. I learned that when God tells us to share our faith, we need to be obedient. The response may not be what we want at the time, but you never know what will happen. My Dad is in heaven and I am so thankful I was obedient. Mostly I am thankful for the love of a Savior who kept pursuing my Dad through the years and never gave up. Praise His name!

Donna Rowley, Beloved Daughter

Be Healthy! Make Disciples!  Disciples of Jesus read the Good Book as well as other books that inspire, challenge, and stretch them.  What good reading have you been doing this summer?  Send me your titles, and I'll share them in the next Bridge, so be might be aware!   Personally, I am reading The Heavenly Man.  For those of us who think we have problems, this story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun puts it all into perspective!

Some of our churches have submitted Ministry Start-up Grant Applications.  Your SS Board will receive and review each application and prayerfully distribute funds as we are able.

For those leading Small Groups, Sunday Schools, and Outreach Ministries, see some helpful resources and ideas at http://www.nazarene.org/ssm/r_fall06_intro.html

Be Healthy! Make Disciples!  Disciples of Jesus read the Good Book as well as other books that inspire, challenge, and stretch them.  What good reading have you been doing this summer?  Send me your titles, and I'll share them in the next Bridge, so be might be aware!   Personally, I am reading The Heavenly Man.  For those of us who think we have problems, this story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun puts it all into perspective!

Some of our churches have submitted Ministry Start-up Grant Applications.  Your SS Board will receive and review each application and prayerfully distribute funds as we are able.

For those leading Small Groups, Sunday Schools, and Outreach Ministries, see some helpful resources and ideas at http://www.nazarene.org/ssm/r_fall06_intro.html.

Here's a good discussion about discipleship in the local church...

"Measuring What Matters: How do you gauge if your people are getting stronger?"

A LEADERSHIP Forum

http://www.christianitytoday.com/bcl/areas/churchvitalsigns/articles/le-2000-002-10.58.html

Rev. Tim King, Sunday School Min. Chairman

New Life Church of the Nazarene, Phone: 831.444.6064

1164 Monroe St. #5, Salinas, CA 93906

Guatemala Here We Come!

Twenty Nazarenes from our District are headed to Guatemala in the very early hours of August 11, and returning very early on August 21^st. Their mission is to build a minimum of three “erector set” churches and sharing Jesus by way of mini Vacation Bible Schools.

Remember to pray for safety in travel as well as safety on the work sites, health and the opportunity to share Jesus with the folks they meet. Pray for Pastor John, Pastor Jim, Pastor Matt, Pastor Bob, Todd, Clare, Danny Mike, Grady, Marcus, Ryan, Kathy, Felix, Larry, Andi, Rick, Linda, Charley, LaDonna and Lou. For updates on the team log onto http://www.nazarenesj.com .

LINKS…. Loving, Interested, Nazarenes, Knowing and Sharing

At District Assembly, every church was given a new missionary family to love and pray for. Do not forget their birthdays, anniversary, Christmas, but most of all let them know you are praying for them!

Prepare NOW for Alabaster!

Where is your alabaster box? Is it getting full? If not, dust it off and start putting those quarters, nickels and pennies in it. Sometime during the month of September, every church needs to take an Alabaster offering. This offering goes to help buy land and purchase building supplies for home and foreign missions. If you need ideas or want information, go to www.nazarenemissions.org and click on "Downloads" under "Resources.”

School Pal Packs

Now is the time to collect school supplies to create school pal packs for the mission field. The following items are needed for one pack:

Pack contents below into a 1-gallon zip-loc bag:

§ 2 MEAD or composition notebooks

§ 1 package of 10-12 #2 pencils

§ 1 package of 10-12 black pens

§ 2 pink erasers, 2-3” long

§ 2 6” rulers (with metric)

§ 1 package of 12-15 colored pencils

§ 1 pair of blunt-nosed scissors

§ 1 hand-held pencil sharpener

These contents will serve two students giving each student a composition notebook, 5-6 pencils, 5-6 pens, an eraser, and a ruler. Two students will share the colored pencils, sharpener, and scissors.

2. Fill each 12”x12”x12” box (which can be purchased at an office supply store) with 10 Paks—no more, no less.

4. Please put both “To” and “From” addresses on the box.

5. Send the boxes to the following (depending on method of shipping):

For Shipping via the Postal Service:

From California:

Nazarene Relief Shipments - Hands of Hope

1201 South Powerline Road

Nampa, ID 83686

6. Send a check—made payable to General Treasurer’s Office, Church of the Nazarene—in the amount of $10.00 per box (for storage and shipping costs during the distribution process). Ten Percent Credit is given for the $10.00 per box that is sent for this project. Do not put the money in the Paks or boxes.

Mark the check, “School Pal-Paks ACM1788,” and mail to:

General Treasurer’s Office

Church of the Nazarene

6401 The Paseo

Kansas City, MO 64131-1213

Include the name and address of your church with the check.