March 2006 Editor: Kay Clark [kay@norcal.org]

Contents

Nazarene Bible College Page 1

New Grandbaby for Cobbs Page 1

SSM Updates, Kids Encounter Wkend Pages 1-2

NMI News Pages 2-3

Church Budget Percentages Pages 3-4

NAZARENE BIBLE COLLEGE

President Hiram Sanders announces that The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools approved Nazarene Bible College for initial accreditation. Initial accreditation is for five years.

Dr. Sanders commends the administrators, faculty, staff, and students who gave quality attention to completing this important step for the college. Nazarene Bible College is also accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education. Currently, the college is completing a self study for its regular re-affirmation of accreditation for that association.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail or at of the number listed below.

Dr. Laurel L. Matson, LLMatson@nbc.edu

Ofc. 800.873.3873 Ext. 5061

“WELCOME” TO ALEXANDER!

Barbara and Jack Cobbs, (Co-Pastors at Ukiah Church) are the proud grandparents to Alexander Mayfield Cobbs.

He was born to Tara and Travis Cobbs on Dec. 29^th. This “big guy” weighed 9.8 lbs. and was 20 ½ long. Such a cutie!

SSM UPDATE: by Rev. Tim King, Salinas

How many of you know the pleasure of reading a picture book to a toddler, only to be begged at the last page, “Again, read it again”? And so you comply, again and again and again.

What makes the child’s interest so keen? Is it the interesting storyline itself? Is it the colorful illustrations? The animated voice of the reader? The warmth and security of the storyteller’s lap?

Perhaps your answer is “E”: All of the above.

I’m thinking about how we present the Gospel Story in the 21^st century. To all of you Gospel tellers throughout Nor Cal Church of the Nazarene, are there children in your church asking you to tell them again and again? Do children wish to return for more good news every week?

My guess is that there are some really good storytellers in your congregation. When I say storytellers, I mean it in the broadest sense, including grandmas and grandpas, authors, photographers, videographers, webmasters, teachers, historians and even DJs. Are we encouraging them and providing space and time for them to put their gifts into use for the Kingdom? Let’s let the creative juices of our folks flow freely so that by WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE the Gospel story gets told again and again.

LJJK…

Have you clicked on the Sunday school section of www.norcal.org? Keep checking back for frequent updates.

If you have suggestions for postings or links, please e-mail: Pastor Nancy Clayton at

nclayton@xroads-naz.org

Kids Encounter Weekend

May 26^th to 28^th

Redwood Glen in Scotts Valley

Ages 6 - 12

Cost before April 1^st $130

Cost after April 1^st $140

Registration Deadline by May 15^th

Looking for staff to attend - ½ price

For questions contact:

Gerry Hauser – Email: gh4nazkids@aol.com

Phone: 510-357-5035

Carol Kibler – Email: cjkib@sbcglobal.net

Phone: 650-424-0425

DISTRICT MISSIONS CONVENTION

By Rev. John Wilcox, Santa Cruz

If you were thinking that the NMI Convention would be the first week of May, you would be wrong.

If you were thinking that the NMI Convention would be in Concord or maybe Livermore again, you would be wrong.

But, if you were thinking it would be the second week of May, and be located at "The Point" in San Jose, (3695 Rose Terrasse Cir., San Jose, 95148) you would be RIGHT!

WHEN: Friday, May 12, 8:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (with NYI)

WHERE: "The Point" - The new facility in San Jose (formerly San Jose First Church)

WHAT: "The Cross: Seize It - Share It" (Theme)

WHO: Dr. Carlos Helmer from Juarez, Guatemala (Keynote Missionary) 

HOW: Bring Tylenol, Dimes, Teens, Children, Church Calendars, WEF paid.

Be Ready to: Order NMI materials 2006-07, Pledge for Projects, Pledge for F.L.Y. (Foundation for the Legacy to our Youth), tell the nations of the world about the glory of God!

NMI REMINDERS

Hopefully all of our Nor Cal churches participated in Alabaster Offerings this year, either in September, February or BOTH (preferred).  Don't forget to send it in as soon as possible, so that it will be reflected in our reporting at Convention.  The same holds true for:

§ Books for Pastors/Tools for Ministry

§ Nazarene Mission Broadcast

§ Compassionate Ministries

§ LINKS (plus Missionary Christmas donation)

§ District NMI Budget 

Soon NMI Presidents and Pastors will be working on the annual STATISTICAL REPORT due around April 1. 

Please send that to our District NMI Secretary, Carolyn Hart, 6120 Bava Court, San Jose, CA, 95123.

CRISIS CARE KITS

Does it seem like there are more and more natural disasters around the world like mud slides, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornados, monsoon rains, flooding, and fires?  There are more and more needs, so it stands to reason there is a greater need for Crisis Care Kits in 2006 than ever before.  In fact, it's almost impossible to keep up with the needs.  So, do we give up?  No...not Nazarenes.  We don't give up. 

If your church hasn't assembled any CCKs this year it's never too late, because they're always needed!  If your church has done some, why not challenge them to do more?  Your adults could buy and donate all the needed items, and your children/youth could put the Kits together.  Get all the information you need on www.nazarenemissions.org and make the necessary "clicks."

MISSION PRIORITY ONE

We have received numerous questions regarding the new MPO requirements.  You can go to the NMI website (see CCK article) and visit the MPO web page (under Involvement).  Our goal is that every church on our district will be a Mission Priority One church.

FROM MY HEART

Your Church of the Nazarene (today's denominational version) has some of the finest missionaries in our history.  They deserve our daily intercessory prayers because they NEED our daily intercessory prayers.  They are "the beautiful feet" of the gospel, risking their health and life, to take the compassionate message of Christ's love to all the world. 

The first century disciples had to sort out the universal glory of Jesus from the cultural patterns of Judaism before they could obey the Great Commission and take the gospel to all nations.  This is our challenge today as well.  We, too, must sort out Jesus from our religious traditions, from "our" Christianity.  We, too, must free the gospel from the amendments we've made to the grace of Christ Jesus.  We, too, must be ready to celebrate the ways that Christ is obeyed fully, but differently, among the diverse cultures of the world.  Only then will the gospel continue to go forward "unhindered" (Acts 28:31).

Your new missionaries are carrying the Cross of Christ into all cultures, are boldly witnessing, yet with much sensitivity, are embracing the cultures into which they are sent.  Keep them in your daily prayers.  God is about to do a great thing!

Church Budgets - % Paid through February 15, 2006

Churches	World Evgel	P & B	Dist	Edu	SSM
Alameda New Beginnings	100+	100+	100+	100	100
Antioch	96	100	100+	100	100
Arcata	32	0	0	0	0
Castro Valley	56	100	74	82	100
Clearlake	50	69	72	67	74
Concord Christ Community	79	80	100	100+	100
Crescent City	50	90	100	100	100
Cupertino New Life	100+	100+	90	92	90
D. C. Western Korean	0	20	100	0	0
East Bay Korean	100+	100+	100+	100	100
El Shaddai	0	0	0	0	0
Eureka	40	87	100+	100+	100+
Fortuna	0	17	47	10	100
Fremont Central	26	25	100+	9	9
Gilroy	0	0	0	0	0
Hayward	0	0	0	0	0
Hayward Spanish	100	100+	100	100+	100
Livermore Discovery	100+	100+	89	100	82
Marin Hamilton Comm.	100	100	100	8	100
McKinleyville	56	100	79	100	100
Monterey Living Hope	83	83	91	92	100
Napa	38	45	50	48	0
Oakland Bayview	3	4	100	0	0
Palo Alto	99	100	100	100	100
Petaluma Hillside	81	100+	57	70	41
Pittsburg	100+	100	100	100	100
Salinas New Life	81	94	100	100	100
Salinas Oasis	100	100	100	100	100
San Bruno	33	0	9	0	100
San Bruno Samoan	0	0	0	0	0
San Ramon Christ Comm.	100	100	100	100	100
Santa Clara	84	100	100+	100+	100+
Santa Cruz	98	0	100	100	100
Santa Rosa	92	92	100+	100+	100+
S. F. Chinese	100	100	100	100	100
S. F. Chinese Gospel	100	100	100+	100	100
S. F. New Life	18	0	100	12	100
S. F. Golden Gate	0	0	0	0	0
S. F. New Start	100	100	100	100	100
S. F. Sunset Chinese	41	100	51	22	100
S. J. Cambrian Park	100	100+	100	100	100
S. J. International Christian	86	82	100+	100+	100
S. J. Valley	100	100+	100	100	100
Sonoma Valley	100	65	70	91	0
Sunnyvale	64	100+	63	37	100
The Point	89	85	100	15	27
Ukiah	100	85	100+	100	100
Vallejo First	85	75	74	75	74
Vallejo Filipino	100	100+	100	60	100
Vallejo Korean	45	100	100	48	100
Watsonville	94	100	100	100	75
Willits	100+	100	100+	100	100