Vol.035.Feb.2007 Editor: Kay Clark, E-mail: kay@norcal.org, 925-680-0538

Northern California District Church of the Nazarene,

1866 Clayton Rd., Ste. 200, Concord, CA 94520,

Web page: http://www.norcal.org

Contents

Page 1 Dr. John Calhoun, Pastors’ Day and Thank You for Prayers for the Family

Page 2 Norcal District News – Marin Hamilton Community, Spanish Ministry Joins the Team

Page 2-3 NYI Calendar, SSM News, Children’s Quizzing

Page 4-5 Kids Encounter Weekend Inf., NMI News

Page 5-6 NMI News continued, Prayers for Our Military Serving

Page 6 Upcoming Dates PLNU, Rev. Jeffrey Finger -Project

"Be Healthy, Make Disciples, Train Disciple Makers"

Dr. John H. Calhoun, District Superintendent

Pastors’ Day on February 9^th was informative and productive. Our Guest speakers were: Dr. J. K. Warrick, Gen. Superintendent, and Dr. Keith Wright, retired D. S. from the Kansas City District. They spoke on “A Cultural Transformation: Missional Pastors and Missional Churches”. There were approximately 60 pastors present that enjoyed the fellowship and wealth of knowledge these two gentlemen shared with them.

As most of you might know, Jan’s father, Dr. Orville Jenkins, Sr., passed to heaven on February 5^th at the age of 93. Dr. Jenkins was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Jenkins, who passed away in May 2004. John and Jan wish to “thank all of you” for your prayers, kind words, and generosity that you have shown them during this time.

Marin Hamilton Community Church “WELCOMES” The Iglesia Del Nazareno Ministerios Shekinah (Spanish)

Pastor Ricard Alfonso Aparicio Garoy, and wife Reina with sons,

(L to R)Luis Francisco, Eliezer Adonay, and Sergio Nehemias.

L-R- Pastor Fritz Toussaint, Haitian Ministry; Pastor Ricard Aparicio & wife, Reina, Spanish Ministry; and Pastor Patti Branscome, English speaking Ministry

Mark Your Calendars:

• Multi-Cultural Day - Concord Christ Community, March 3; 10AM-3PM info call (707)712-9408
• NYC Q&A – Petaluma, on March 9; 7PM; inf. call Curtis Lillie (925)216-0502, directions call Dave Myers (707)763-0977
• NYI Council Meeting:  April 21, TBA 10PM-3PM
• NYI Convention, The Point San Jose; May 4-5 more information on the way!
• Mid-High/Jr. High Camp, June
• NYC:  St. Louis, MO. July 10-15 
• Sr. High Camp,  July
• District All-Nighter, September 7

Donabel C. Martin

Vallejo First Nazarene

707.648.1986 or 707.712.940

40-Day Spiritual Adventure

Last year Sunday School Ministries emphasized the importance of helping people make the connection with Christ. This year the emphasis is on making the connection with God’s Word.

There is power in the Word of God to give hope and to change lives. However, in our society and in many of our churches, people are becoming increasingly biblically illiterate. They are not spending time in God’s Word. They are not reading and applying God’s Word to their lives. Our desire is to ground people on the Word of God.

Sunday School Ministries is thrilled to partner with the American Bible Society and Faith Comes By Hearing to assist you in getting into the Word. By listening to the audio drama New Testament in the New International Version for 28 minutes a day, you will listen to the entire New Testament over a 40-day period.

The emphasis MAKE THE CONNECTION WITH GOD’S WORD will begin the Monday after Easter and conclude on Pentecost Sunday. A FREE MP3 CD disc will be provided to every adult in each church that participates in this study. A computer or CD player that supports the reading of MP3 files will be required.  It will transform your life and your church as you listen daily to God’s Word!

Children’s Quizzing:

There are 2 more quiz meets coming up before regionals.  This year we have kids from Concord, Livermore, Cupertino and the Point (San Jose).  On March 24^th the quiz will be held at Cupertino New Life Church at 10:00 a.m.  This is a great time to come and watch if you or your kids are thinking about it.  We try to keep if fun for the kids, and you would be impressed at how much they know!

CHILDREN'S SUMMER CAMP NEWS: Your Sunday School Ministries Board is diligently working to offer a 2007 Summer Kid's Camp in partnership with the Sacramento District, to be held at Diamond Arrow Campground.  Carol Kibler (Children's Ministries Director) has assembled a team to work with the Sacramento District. More details will be forthcoming.

May 25^th to 27^th will be the Kids Encounter Weekend.  It is held at the Scotts Valley Redwood Glen campground.  The kids have a great time swimming, hiking, meeting new friends and enjoying being out in the mountains. If you have never been this is a great way to get your kids involved in camping (we stay in cabins and the bathrooms are inside!)  My kind of camping!

For more information you can e-mail me at cjkib@sbcglobal.net

Carol Kibler, Children’s Ministry Dir.

Nazarene World Week of Prayer: February 25 - March 3

It is a tradition in the Church of the Nazarene to focus our prayers on a different area of our world each day for one week every year. A united time of prayer for Nazarenes around the world to pray and intercede for the needs of our missionaries as well as fellow Nazarenes, Pray on:

Sunday for Africa, Horn of Africa Unrest

Pray that there will be stability and security in the Horn of Africa Region, so that the Church will be able to work freely throughout the Region. War in many locations is causing difficulty for our evangelists and leaders as they plant churches and train and disciple converts and leaders

Monday for Asia-Pacific, Missionary Visas
Pray for visas for our missionaries in Thailand as they face challenges due to the recent changes in administration. 

Tuesday for Caribbean, Haiti

Please pray for the eleven district assemblies in Haiti being conducted from March 12-25. More than 97,000 Nazarenes in Haiti have not been able to have district assemblies for over 2 years because of violence throughout the country. Pray that God will protect Haitian Nazarenes and church leaders as they travel to these assemblies. Pray for spiritual renewal as they gather for worship.

Wednesday for Eurasia, Orphan and Refugee Children

Pray for the orphan and refugee children in Iraq and Lebanon.

Thursday for Mexico/Central America, Evangelism Efforts

For evangelism efforts throughout the MAC region using the JESUS Film, Evangecube, and Holiness Cube.

Friday for South America, Iberoamerica 2007

Pray for the Iberoamerica 2007 holiness and evangelism conferences. Dr. James Diehl, general superintendent, will be preaching at these conferences to be held in Colombia, March 2-4; Ecuador, March 9-11; Venezuela, March 12-14; and Bolivia, March 16-18. Pray for a great out-pouring of God’s Holy Spirit on these special events in each country.

Saturday for Canada/United States. The District NewStart Teams

Each district in USA and Canada is working to select a NewStart District Coordinator

and a NewStart Team for encouraging the sponsorship of new churches across their district. Pray for these important district teams of leaders.

For other specific requests to pray for log onto: www.nazarenemissions.org then click on Prayer.

February, Love and Alabaster

It is February, a time for hearts, love and valentines. It is also time for our bi-annual Alabaster Offering. What a gift of love we could be to some Nazarenes that need help to build a church, a chapel, a clinic or a Pastor’s home. Save and then give those pennies, nickels, quarters and dollars so that others may hear the news about Jesus.

Pray for our Men and Women in the Military

In reading the Bridge, I appreciate the section for Military prayer requests. My son Forest Davidson, (22 yrs. old) is in the Army, and was deployed to Afghanistan in January. His tour has been extended by 14 months. He has been serving as a check point guard, which is an answer to prayer!!

My oldest son Daniel Davidson, (24 yrs old) just returned from Iraq. He was a medic over there for a year. He is now in the National Guard and going to school to become a firefighter. He has been called back into service in Iraq for a second tour with the National Guard, and will continue to be a medic.  He will be there for one year.  They will be deploying him 2 weeks before he was to graduate from the Fire Academy.  Hopefully his instructors will allow him to do an accelerated program so that he can graduate before he leaves.  He is scheduled to leave in March.  I know that God’s hand is on both of my boys, and I pray that they will seek Him daily for guidance and strength. Please pray for me as well, that I will be a testimony to those around me of Gods incredible peace that only He can give!!! 

Thanks again for your prayers. Deborah Bryant, Napa Church of the Nazarene

Bryan Hochhalter, is an Elder on the Northern California District. He was to leave Afghanistan by the end of January to come home! He is serving as an Air Force Chaplain.

Pastor Bryan used to pastor at our San Ramon Church. We are grateful for his safe return!

If you have someone special in the military that you’d like us to pray for, please send the information to kay@norcal.org.

My name is Kate Kopp and I am your contact for Point Loma Nazarene University. If you ever need anything, have questions, or want me to know about any important events please feel free to contact me at anytime. Thanks so much.

Kate Kopp

Admissions Counselor

Point Loma Nazarene University

619.849.2789

800.733.7770

www.pointloma.edu/admissions

Here are the important PLNU dates for 2007-2008:

ELEV8-- May 25 - 27

NYC-- July 10 -15

Christian Family Night at Magic Mountain--Sept 14

Nazarene Preview-- Nov 1 - 2

El Encuentro-- Jan 11-14, 2008

I wanted to let you in on a new project that I’m piloting beginning Wednesday, February 21^st.  In conjunction with a 6 week teaching series (“What is God trying to tell us?”) that I am presenting at Hillside Church of Marin (http://www.hillsidemarin.org/directions.php), I am offering a “Word of the Week” line. 

Here’s how it works.  You call this number (510) 698-5063 and you will hear my greeting/intro to the Word of the Week.  Then, once a week you’ll get a text message letting you know of a new audio devotional that I’ve made available.  Just dial that same number to listen to a 1-2 minute reflection on what it’s like to consider and follow Jesus in the day and age we live in.  I hope these will be encouraging messages to really anyone who would want to receive them in the middle of their work week.

If you’d like, you can press 2 to respond and leave me a voicemail with a thought, question, or comment.

This service is provided for free to you and me by a new company called “SayNow” (www.saynow.com).  However, your carrier will charge you the standard rate for the text message and any airtime you use.

Jeff Finger

jwfinger@gmail.com - (415) 987-8267