Vol.040.Oct.2007

Dr. John Calhoun, D. S., E-mail: jcalhoun@norcal.org

Editor: Kay Clark, E-mail: kay@norcal.org, 925-680-0538 (office)

Northern California District Church of the Nazarene

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

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

Contents

Page 1 Table of Contents & Message from Dr. John Calhoun, D. S.

Page 2-3 The Board of General Superintendents Visit San Francisco Ministries

Page 4 Church Updates

Page 5 Nazarene Youth International (NYI)

Page 6-8 Sunday School Ministries; Children’s Quizzing; Article from Abe Powers on Quizzing

Page 9-11 Nazarene Missions International (NMI)

Page 12 Updates on Cambodia Churches & A Nazarene Church in Nicaragua Hurricane Damage

Page 13-14 Percentage of Budgets Paid from March – August 30, 2007

Our Church, Our Opportunity

RESOURCES FOR MINISTRY TEAM

Three events in the next few months are provided for the enrichment of our pastors.

1. Gallup Summit on Strengths Based Ministry to be held at Point Loma Nazarene University November 29-December 1, 2, 2007.

2. Nazarene Pastors Conference, January 9-11, 2008, in San Diego, see link: http://www.nazarenepastor.org/cms/.

3. Tri-District Minister Resource Day will be March 5, 2008, in Stockton, California. The Northern California District joins the Central California and Sacramento Districts in sponsoring this event. Dr. Reggie McNeal is the featured speaker.

Dr. John H. Calhoun, District Superintendent

On August 22^nd the six members of the Board of General Superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene visited the San Francisco Bay Area. They were the guests of Dr. John Calhoun, District Superintendent, and Mrs. Dawn Stueckle, Director of Sunset Youth Services with her co-workers, Rev. Ron Stueckle and Rev. Delvin Mack.

The Board of General Superintendents wanted to meet with our ministry leaders in the San Francisco vicinity to learn more about their urban and multi-cultural works. Those in attendance left to right back row: Dr. John Calhoun, District Super., with wife Jan Calhoun, Rev. Moon Louie, Rev. Rudy Zamora, Rev. Dan Chung, Rev. Mike Davis, Dr. James Cunningham, Gen. Super., Rev. Barry Brown, Dr. Jesse Middendorf, Gen. Super., Dr. James Diehl, Gen. Super., Rev. Wilber Chiu, Rev. Humberto Reyes, Dr. J. K. Warrick, Gen. Super., (second row) Dir. of Sunset Youth Services, Dawn Stueckle, Rev. Jeff Mammen, Dr. Nina Gunter, Gen. Super., Exec. Dir., Tess Reynolds and her associate, Mark Cole of New Door Ventures (formerly S. F. Golden Gate Community, Inc.), front row left Rev. Michael Chua, Rev. Ron Stueckle, Rev. Edwin Weaver, Dr. Jerry Porter, Gen. Super., Rev. Delvin Mack, Rev. Don Creasman, and Rev. Randy Newcomb.

Dr. Jerry Porter, Gen. Superintendent, with Pastors Michael Chua & Barry Brown

Gen. Superintendent, Dr. J. K. Warrick, (center) with Pastor Don Creasman left, Mark Cole, (center), and Pastor Rudy Zamora on the right.

(Left) Dr. Jesse Middendorf, Gen. Superintendent, with Pastors’ Ron Stueckle and Randy Newcomb.

To the right is Rev. Mike Davis with Dr. James Diehl, Gen. Superintendent.

Dr. Jesse Middendorf, Gen. Superintendent, talking with Rev. Jeff Mammen (center),
Rev. Mike Davis (top left), Rev. Wilber Chiu (right), with Rev. Delvin Mack (far right).

We “welcome” Rev. Brian Mackey, and his wife Naomi, as the new pastor at Francisco New Start Ministries. Brian and Naomi have served the Church of the Nazarene in Alaska as interim pastor and now Brian is finishing his second Master's degree.  Naomi works as a nurse and this fine couple will be moving in to San Francisco this month.  The New Start Ministries congregation anticipates a great new chapter as they follow their new pastor.  They also are looking forward to a newborn in the parsonage that is expected in a few more months.

We are happy to announce that the Ukiah Valley First Church will “welcome” Rev. Jody Hampton, his wife Sheryll, and their daughter Keanna, as the new pastor in Ukiah beginning November 4^th. Pastor Jody has been the associate pastor at the Santa Clara Church since 2005.

Pastor (Grandpa) Vergil and (Grandma) Sharon Keena at the Willits Church of the Nazarene are the proud “grandparents” of baby Kristin Emily (Kamail’wahine –which means crowned princess) Keena. She was 4 lbs. and 13 oz. and 17 inches long. This little petite baby has brought happiness to the joyful family! Grandma Sharon is already buying girly goodies!

Hi Friends!

I trust that all is well with all of you and the youth ministries that you are a part of. I’m sure that many of you have heard the wonderful things that NorCal District NYI has been a part of this summer. It has been a very busy summer with Jr. High Camp at Rock N’ Water, NYC in St. Louis, Sr. High Camp at Lake Shasta, Big Picture Training, and The All-Nighter in Santa Rosa. It was so good to see all of you that were able to come to these events. I want to say a special “thank you” to our youth leaders that have literally poured sweat and blood into so much of our activities this summer. You guys are the best! I praise God for each of you and for what you contribute to our district and most of all for your dedication to your students. We couldn’t do what we do without you.

FYI: Please mark this date on your calendar. October 27^th is our next council meeting. It is a very important meeting where we will be discussing next year’s calendar including camp dates and more Big Picture Training. Another subject on the agenda is our need to reconcile our budget from NYC and camps. Concerning budgets, we will need to look at fundraising not only to pay for what we have borrowed, but also to try to make camp more affordable or to at least keep the cost from increasing. Please make this a priority. Our meeting will be at Pittsburg Church of the Nazarene. They are located at 5305 Kirker Pass Rd. Pittsburg, CA 94565. The meeting will start at 10AM with the Executive Council meeting at 9:30AM.

Again, “thank you all so much for what you do!” I continue to be excited to be a part of this wonderful team.

Paz,

Donabel Martin

NorCal District NYI President

I am reading The Complete Book of Discipleship, by Bill Hull and I am challenged by it both personally and professionally.

Here is a summary of his Five Ingredients for a Healthy Disciple-Making Environment:

1. Trust: Every disciple needs at least one person you can trust. This is someone with whom you can be vulnerable. This is someone who you give permission to speak into your life.

2. Grace: Grace creates a culture of acceptance in which people see the value and good in others. When people feel safe, they welcome other people's input into their own lives.

3. Humility: "Just as humility is Jesus' primary character trait, it should be the foundation we build on as we seek to follow him and be formed into his image."

4. Submission: "When you submit to others and invite them to join you on the journey, your needs will be met, you will practice humility, and others will be able to love you." Nothing is more radical than Christians who submit to other people's needs.

5. Affirmation: When people receive praise, they want to do better. "Affirmation allows people to be broken before God and to deal with un-confessed sin, shame, and the other inner-life issues that destroy our good effort at discipleship."

“These foundational and essential elements create community. Will I be an example of these traits of Christ to others so we create the kind of community in which disciples can grow? Will I help my fellow disciples to be able to answer yes to the questions, 'Can I trust me with you?”

Rev. Tim King, SSM President

New Life Church of the Nazarene

1164 Monroe St. #5

Salinas, CA 93906

831.444.6064

CHILDREN’S QUIZZING IS HERE!

In May, we had the opportunity to send a NorCal team to the Regional Children’s Quiz Meet at Point Loma Nazarene University. Kara Childress (Livermore Discovery Church) Benny Kishore, Jocelyn Walters , Jordan Medina, and Christian Medina (Concord Christ Community Church) did an excellent job representing our district as they all walked away with either a gold or silver medal!

However, the fun doesn’t stop there! This year we are studying the book of Genesis, and it is sure to be en exciting study as we learn everything from Creation to the life of Joseph! There will be 20 portions of scripture that we will memorize, using music and games. The GREAT NEWS is…it is not too late for you to get involved in this life changing ministry, and the material is fun and very easy to use/understand.

Our first quiz meet is October 27, and will cover the first 5 sections. Please pray about how your church can use this ministry to reach out to kids and bring the kids you do have into a deeper relationship with God!

If you have any questions please feel free to email me!

Joyfully Serving!

Lynnette Medina

lynnette1973@msn.com

Report From Abe Powers - The 2007 National Quiz NYC

Abe Powers pictured with Rev. Dave Curtiss, Nazarene Youth International Dir., General Church

I had the incredible honor of being one of five quizzers representing our Point Loma region at nationals this year in St. Louis during NYC. Having graduated in June, this was my last opportunity to compete in quizzing after 8 years of borderline obsession to the sport. Needless to say, I had sky-high expectations going into the event. In all of my previous years, I had always rooted for the seniors to do well, and now that I was one of the seniors, I really wanted to finish strong. I especially wanted to do well in my final round of quizzing.

In that last round, we were quizzing the Trevecca region. The winner would go on to finals, and the loser would be eliminated from the tournament and finish third. The round started off great for our team, but then things began to deteriorate. On question 17, the unthinkable happened: I got my third and final error, eliminating me. Our team ended up losing on the last question; a quizzer from Trevecca jumped and got it. All my hopes and dreams of a glorious finalé to my quizzing career had been done away with, but the Comforter was there. As I cried on my friends' shoulders, the tears were not bitter; they were tears of overwhelmed gratitude for what God had blessed me with through eight amazing years of quizzing. Although our team didn't win this year, I had the honor of being on two national title teams in years past, and most quizzers don't even win one. While individually I finished third this year, God had also blessed me with being #1 quizzer several years ago. But the competition accomplishments were nothing compared to the people I met and the ways that God used his Word to speak to me on a daily basis. I cried that day not because I was angry at God for not giving me some kind of fairy-tale ending to my quizzing career, but because the blessings that he had given me over eight years all came washing over me, and I was overwhelmed.

The report from this year's quizzing nationals isn't one that tells of a championship team; it's one that attempts to explain how much more there is to quizzing than the competition and how God's blessings in the overall picture far outweigh immediate disappointments.

If you are serious about getting your youth into the Living and Active Word of God, you will find no greater tool than Bible Quizzing. It's easier than you think to get started. Just call my Dad, Rick Powers, the Quiz Director for our district, and he'll let you know how to get the program going with your youth. Home number is (707) 557-1833.

Thank you so much for your love and support.

Abe Powers

Samuel Guido Honored with Scholarship

Samuel received a scholarship from the National Honor Society, because of his gift with foreign languages in 2007. His performance was the highest in his school.

We pray for his continued love for learning.

He is the son of Revs. Wilmer and Carolina Guido, our Hispanic Ministries Coordinator on the Norcal District.

World Mission Broadcast News

Your dollars helped to initiate the first Hispanic Internet Radio Station for the Church of the Nazarene. On June 1, 2007 at 9 p.m. “the first inaugural transmission of the radio began on the Internet.  It is primarily for the members of the Church of the Nazarene on the Mexico and Central America Region. It will be used to teach, reach and promote Jesus Christ and the Church of the Nazarene. Log on to www.idnradio.com to listen in.

In the Philippines, people who have subscribed to short devotional messages produced by the World Mission Broadcast team are able to download them right to their cell phones. 

In the Beginning… Pledges were made for Books for Pastors—Tools for Ministry …. Here is the first report of our dollars being put to work.

Near the end of April, the first consignment of the Books for Pastors—Tools for Ministry project was distributed to the 12 district superintendents on the Africa East Field.  Regional Education Coordinator Filimao Chambo and Field Strategy Coordinator Don Gardner were present to facilitate the distribution of the first title, What is a Nazarene?

The district superintendents (D.S.’s) were reportedly very grateful and welcomed the books because of their value as teaching resources. Books were also placed in the AEF-ANSE (Africa Nazarene School of Extension) libraries located throughout the field in order to assist with the effective training of pastors.  

According to AEF-ANSE Coordinator Catherine Mukoko, “The East Field has consistently placed a strong emphasis on extension education which is carried out through the ANSE program. Extension centers are located on each district with more than 1,500 learners enrolled. It is anticipated that placing books in the ANSE libraries will ensure that this much needed resource will be accessible to all pastors and learners.”   Mukoko added, “The D.S.’s were also thrilled that the first book was the revised version of What is a Nazarene? The church is growing, and it is critically important that new Nazarenes learn what the denomination is all about.  

“The district superintendents and pastors on the Africa East Field, in the countries of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania,” Mukoko concluded, “would like to express their appreciation to the facilitators and initiators of the Books for Pastors project.”  
NCN News-Africa   Ms. Catherine Mukoko 
NMI Bridge for October
LINKS Reminder:

Do not forget to send in your LINKS Christmas money to the General Treasurer. Your part helps all of our missionaries celebrate Christmas in their own way. Also if your LINKS missionary is miles and miles away, now is the time to send them a Christmas package so that it arrives in time for Christmas!

MISSION PRIORITY

MISSIONS MUST BE IMPORTANT IF THE WORLD IS TO BE WON

Mission Priority One (MPO), based on the four objectives of NMI, is a “measuring stick” to ensure missions as a priority for Nazarenes. The MPO program has been adapted so it is attainable for any church, allowing Nazarenes to understand their importance in building God’s kingdom around the world 

Objective: To encourage people to pray for all efforts of world evangelization.

Requirement: The church will pray for missions. 

Objective: To inform people of the world’s needs and what the church is doing to meet those needs.

Requirement: The church will use mission’s resources and participate in activities to develop global awareness.  

Objective: To challenge children and youth to learn about and participate in the mission of the church and to respond to God’s call.

Requirement: The church will provide opportunities for the children and youth to experience missions and to respond to God’s call.  

Objective: To raise funds for missions outreach.

Requirement: World Evangelism Fund will be paid in full.

Participate is defined as involvement in one or more activities in each category of MPO.   MPO has a purpose in that billions of people around the world who have not accepted Christ as their Savior are dependant on our:  

1. Prayer—bringing them to the throne of God daily. 

2. Global awareness – ”learning about events around the world and, how they affect eternity. 

3. Children, and youth being able to participate and serve at any age. 

4. Giving –providing resources to tell others about God’s love. (Copied from NMI Website) 

Suggestions: Provide global awareness with Children’s Ministries, NYI, Sunday school, etc., using children’s and youth mission’s resource materials.

u Use pages from Mission Connection. Plan for visiting missionaries to interact with children and youth. Encourage them to sacrificially give to missions, especially to World Evangelism Fund, Alabaster, and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

u Involve them in faith promise events. Participate in Crisis Care Kits and School Pal-Paks projects.

u Cooperate with zone and district mission projects and activities.

u Enlist youth for summer ministries—local, district, and general levels. Encourage them to participate in special missions emphases at camps, retreats, etc. Plan a commitment service for children/youth.

u Encourage children and youth who sense God’s call to missionary service to contact the local and district Mission Call Coordinator. World Evangelism Fund on a 10-month plan.

PRAYER TOPICS FOR MISSIONS

Missionaries safety, ministry, family, and work relationships are important requests for them. Indigenous leadership—pastors, district superintendents, regional leaders, and leaders in Sunday School Ministries, Nazarene Youth International, and Nazarene Missions International around the world can all use our prayers. Current events—they affect the witness of worldwide Nazarenes. Persecuted Church—Christians suffer daily for their faith. Growth of the Church of the Nazarene around the world— people accepting Christ as their Savior is our purpose. Prayer is often partnered with fasting. “Fasting in the biblical sense is choosing not to partake of food, because your spiritual hunger is so deep, your determination in intercession so intense, or your spiritual warfare so demanding that you have temporarily set aside even fleshly needs to give yourself to prayer and meditation” (Wesley Duewel).

NMI ENCOURAGES PRAYER AND FASTING THROUGH: Specific Prayer Times—pray for world evangelism in church services, mission cell groups (chapters), Sunday school, prayer groups that meet regularly, or prayer vigils. Prayer Mobilization Line—requests and answers from the field. Call 816-444-PRAY (7729), access it through the NMI Web site (www.nazarenemissions.org), or subscribe to the twice weekly e-mail version on the NMI Web site. Nazarene World Week of Prayer—annual event during the week of the first Friday in March (World Day of Prayer). One world mission region is featured each day that week with requests reflecting that day’s region. Information available at www.nazarenemissions.org. Additional Requests—can be found in mission education lessons and newsletters from missionaries, JESUS Film Harvest Partners, ministries to the Persecuted Church, and ministries to the 10/40 Window. Missions International 6401 The Paseo Kansas City, MO 64131 Phone: 816-333-7000, Ext. 2350 Web Site: www.nazarenemissions.org E-mail: nmi@nazarene.org *

Update From Cambodia – Rev. Samith Mey - The Point

The government has started to check church registration documents in Cambodia. We have found that most of our churches have not been registered with the ministry of religion, as we had thought. We found the only church of the Nazarene in Phnom Penh (which is none-existent now) had been registered in 1994. That means all or most of our churches there have only registered through the city and some through the province level. These churches had not been registered to the ministry of religion by the District Superintendent of Cambodia.

I have contacted the South East Asia Director to look for ways that we can expedite the process of getting the Church of the Nazarene registered in Cambodia. We will continue to follow-up with the situation of our churches there.

Please continue to pray for wisdom and guidance for us to continue this process and to get the churches registered.
Here is a picture of the church in Srah Reang.

We trust our Lord that He will continue to bless His children to serve Him faithfully.

He is so good.

Blessings,
Samith Mey, Cambodian Pastor

The Point Church of the Nazarene

Nicaragua – Church of the Nazarene – Rev. Wilmer Guido

Pastor Wilmer has been in contact with their Pastor Roberto. He sent this picture to Pastor Wilmer and thankfully, no one died from this hurricane. As you can see the devastation that occurred to the church has been severe.

Annual Budgets Paid for 6 Mos. (March - August 30, 2007)

Church	World Ev.	P & B	District	Education	SSM
Alameda	110	100	100	93.36	100
Antioch	67.74	100