January 30, 2003
Volume 0304
Senior Editor: David J. Felter

News This Week
Earthquake in Mexico Spares Nazarenes
Africa Region Surpasses 250,000 in Membership
Nazarenes Observe Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
JESUS Film Continues to Prove Effective
Nazarenes Make the Trek to Reach Kuna Indians in Panama
“Instant Message" Chiming in at M3 Conference
Out of Africa
International Church of the Nazarene Web Links
Prayer Mobilization Line
Nazarene Collegiate News

Nazarenes survive Mexico earthquake
Colima, Mexico—A powerful earthquake struck western and central Mexico January 21, shaking the states of Colima and Jalisco the hardest. There are no reports of injuries to Nazarene church members, and Nazarene missionaries are safe; however, the devastating quake killed at least 29 people, injured hundreds, collapsed homes and properties, and caused power outages. The quake sent panicking residents running into the streets looking for safety. An 85-year-old woman in the town of Zapotitlan in Jalisco died after she rushed out of her house and was crushed by a falling security wall surrounding her yard. A large portion of the fatalities (nine), however, occurred in the city of Colima due to collapsing buildings. The Red Cross indicates that up to 40-percent of the homes in the city of Colima have been destroyed.

Mexico's national seismological service put the quake's magnitude at 7.6. The agency said it struck at 8:07 p.m. in Colima, a small state that includes the port city of Manzanillo, roughly 300 miles west of Mexico City. Scientists in the United States calculated the magnitude at 7.8. There were also at least 10 aftershocks of magnitude 3.9 to 4.5 in the days following the quake.

The Nazarene Church has a new church plant in Colima, but no buildings as of yet. The church has been renting a storefront for services. Nazarene youth from Guadalajara, Mexico made the approximately four-hour trip to the Colima area to help with relief efforts.

The last major earthquake in the Colima area was in 1995. It registered a magnitude of eight and killed 49 people. Nearly 100 people were injured in that quake, which hit northwest of the Colima/Jalisco area.

NCN News will continue to monitor the situation in Mexico, updating the happenings as they manifest.
--NCN News

Africa Region surpasses 250,000-member mark
Johannesburg—Regional Director J. Fred Huff reports the Africa Region has now surpassed 250,000 in membership. “We are rejoicing that over a quarter of a million Nazarenes now reside on the Africa Region. This means that one out of every six Nazarenes in the world live on the Africa Region. We praise God for what He has done through His faithful servants in Africa.” Huff continues by proclaiming, “The Region will continue to move ahead incrementally through the graduated goals of 350,000 members, 500,000 members, and one million members.”

Statistics compiled for October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002, indicate the following:

Not going unnoticed was the fact that 151 churches were organized last year on the Region, along with the establishment of many new preaching points.

In response to the region’s accomplishments, General Superintendent in jurisdiction W. Talmadge Johnson states, “We are currently nearing the completion of our third trip to Africa within 13 months. It is heart-warming to see that God is moving by His Spirit throughout this continent. It is especially exciting to see the response to the Gospel, as evidenced by the fact that Africa has now exceeded 250,000 in church membership.”

After hearing membership had topped the quarter-million mark, Louie E. Bustle, director of World Mission, commended the commitment of the Region, stating, “This was accomplished through much prayer, fasting and deep dedication on all who are a part of this region. As the director of World Mission, I congratulate you and rejoice with you on reaching this milestone. To God be the glory!”
--NCN News-Africa

MLK Birthday Observed
Kansas City—An estimated crowd of 350 participants gathered in the Nazarene Theological Seminary Chapel January 24 to honor the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Following a call to worship by Larry Lott, pastor of Blue Hills Church of the Nazarene, the Blue Hills Choir sang the fitting gospel song, "We've Come this Far by Faith." In his opening greeting to the participants, NTS President Ron Benefiel reminded them that the topics of peace, justice, and reconciliation are still important issues in the kingdom of God. He challenged participants "to seize the day; to incarnate grace; to seek justice and pursue peace." Providing music for the event was the Paseo Academy High School chorus, singing the challenge, “Is Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning?”

The cold, snowy, gray day seemed to dissolve into bright horizons of hope as the ministry of King was celebrated in story and memory by Love Henry Whelchel, chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Clark Atlanta University. Whelcel (pictured) was a friend and contemporary of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights Demonstrations in Alabama.

Oliver Phillips, Black Ministries Mission Director, provided key leadership in the development of this event. Phillips and the Nazarene Church were featured in an article appearing in the Kansas City Star, highlighting programs and events saluting Martin Luther King, Jr. A portion of the January 15 article reads:

“The Church of the Nazarene's congregation is predominantly white in the United States and Canada,” Phillips said. “But in recent years that has started to change.”

"They understand that diversity is a part of who we are, and that we have to embrace the diversity in order to help us grow," Phillips said.

"I try to encourage white pastors to observe Martin Luther King because you must send a signal that you care about what they care about. You can't expect black people to come to the church and leave our icons at the door."
--NCN News, KC Star

JESUS Film continues to prove its effectiveness
Buenos Aires—The JESUS Film and TOBIAS Communications ministries have caused an explosion of results in a new stage of operation on the South America Region. According to region officials, people are coming to Christ at an unexpected rate, forcing leaders to consider new strategies and seek more resources.

Beginning January 1, 2003, JESUS Film teams partnered with Discipleship ministries and the TOBIAS videos with the goal of starting a new church after one month of showings in an already established local church. After less than a month of showings, several teams are finding that they are drawing in enough people to start more than one church.

Alberto Gimenez, JESUS Film coordinator for South America’s Cono Sur field, reports he is already receiving calls from his teams asking if they can begin showing the films in another location to plant a second church. After only eight of a scheduled twenty-two showings, one team reports they had approximately 100 people prepared to start a new church.

This success is attributed in part to the TOBIAS videos. Tim McKeithen, South America Region Discipleship Coordinator, says district superintendents and pastors are eager to use the tool and the videos are being sold as fast as they can be produced. Using the basic principles of testimony, prayer, Bible, church, worship, and holiness, the videos are proving to be outstanding tools for discipling new converts.

For more information on TOBIAS Communications, visit www.tobiascom.com
--SAM Region

Nazarenes reach Kuna Indians in Panama
Guatemala City—The success of the work of the Church in Panama is providing evidence that the people in this small Central American country have a burden for their communities. Workshops were recently held during the month of November in the districts of Bocas del Toro and Central Panamá to help Nazarenes there learn more about specific topics in Compassionate Ministries and to share ideas of possible projects.

One large project progressing in Panama City is the ministry to the Kuna Indians. The Church of the Nazarene is currently the only evangelical church evangelizing this area of Panama. Led by Pastor Sonia de Segura and her husband Blas, a small group of volunteers take a trip each Saturday to a small, remote Kuna village to bring food to the people. The group not only provides the villagers with physical food, but spiritual food as well. The weekly trip consists of a three-hour bus ride followed by a 45-minute canoe trip just to reach the village. The JESUS Film is also used as a ministry tool in this project.

On November 9, 2002, the Church of the Nazarene officially organized a Theological Extension Center among the Kunas of Icandí in the Madungandi community of Panama. As a result, 16 people were baptized on November 21. A little more than a month later, December 28, 23 more were baptized. On that same day, the first Kuna Church of the Nazarene was officially organized.

The church currently has a membership of 44. There are 367 children; ages 1-14, enrolled in Sunday School, with many adults also attending. The members are now preparing for the opening of the church building, which will be complete by the end of January 2003.
--MAC Region

College Late Night Pizza Party with Special Guests: Instant Message
Nashville—College students and youth workers are invited to join Nazarene Youth International and Nazarene Theological Seminary for a special late night free pizza party with special guests, “Instant Message” during the Millennium3 Conference at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. The party will take place Tuesday, February 18 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. in Governors A/B.

Instant Message (pictured) exists to communicate truth to a younger generation through comedy, music, drama, mayhem, and whatever other eye-catching, fast-paced, state-of-the-art, don't-try-this-at-home-means they can think of.

With solid experience working with young people from across the country, the members of Instant Message understand the culture, complexities, and crucial choices of today’s youth culture. Their varying gifts and personalities, combined with experience and know-how, create a presentation style that grabs attention, builds trust, and communicates truth with a one-on-one sincerity.

For more information about NYI, please visit nyi.nazarene.org. For more information about the M3 Conference, visit www.M3Conference.org.
--NYI

Out of Africa
Joanie Doerr, NCN - Africa, supplies all information for this summary.

Two new district superintendents appointed on Africa South Field
Johannesburg—The Africa South Field recently welcomed two new district superintendents; Philemon Dlamini, elected on the second ballot to be superintendent of the Swaziland North District, and Edwin van Zeeburg, appointed by General Superintendent W. Talmadge Johnson as the superintendent of the RSA Eastern Cape District.
--NCN News-Africa

Registration almost complete in Rwanda
Rwanda—After five years of intense work, Nazarene church registration has finally been completed in Rwanda. The Minister of Justice in Rwanda signed the final papers for registration just prior to the last day of 2002. The finalization of the process will take place with the signature of the Prime Minister and subsequently the publication of the registration notice in the Rwanda Governmental Journal.
--NCN News-Africa

Church of the Nazarene Ministry Links
All links to the varied global ministry functions of the Church of the Nazarene can be found by going to http://www.nazarene.org. A drop-down box will list all the sites available for your surfing pleasure. Visit us often!

Prayer Mobilization Line
This information can be found by going to http://www.nazarenemissions.org/pml

Nazarene Collegiate News
NNU receives million-dollar property donation
NAMPA—Northwest Nazarene University is expanding its available student housing, thanks to a property donation worth $1 million by Holly 1000 apartment complex owners Loren and Roz Rader. The Raders are turning over the 20-unit Nampa apartment complex to the university. The Raders have owned and managed the complex and adjacent house on the corner of Colorado and Holly streets, directly across from the NNU campus, since the early 1980s. Because of its proximity to the school, this complex has been the home of many NNU students throughout the years. University officials said the apartments will be configured so the complex will be able to have 80 beds.

With this donation, relationships proved to be key, according to Eric Forseth, the university’s vice president for enrollment services and marketing. “Gary Skaggs, NNU´s vice president for university advancement, played a pivotal role in this relationship. Cultivating this significant donation was a direct result of his relationship with the Raders,” Forseth said. “From an enrollment perspective, this generous donation will assist NNU in enhancing on-campus housing enrollment. This addition of 80 beds greatly enhances the diversity of our housing accommodations for new and returning students.”

NNU currently offers four traditional residence halls that typically house freshman and sophomore students, and now has four apartment complexes that offer housing for upperclass and married students.
--NNU

Africa Nazarene University semester begins with record enrollment
Kenya—The Africa Region’s flagship university, Africa Nazarene University, began this year with a record enrollment of 634. The student body is comprised of 615 undergraduate students and 19 Masters of Religion candidates.

During the first two weeks of January, the administration and some of the faculty were thrilled to move into the spacious offices of the impressive new Harmon Schmelzenbach Administration Building. The newly completed ladies’ dormitory also opened with 168 ladies occupying the facility.
--NCN News-Africa

Sports Bytes:

ENC
Women’s Basketball: 1-14
Men’s Basketball: 5-9

MNU
Women’s Basketball: 14-5
Men’s Basketball: 16-6, NAIA rank: 17 (Div. 2)

MVNU
Women’s Basketball: 9-14
Men’s Basketball: 14-8

NNU
Women’s Basketball: 10-5
Men’s Basketball: 3-12

ONU
Women’s Basketball: 14-9
Men’s Basketball: 12-10
Baseball Preseason NAIA rank: 18

PLNU
Women’s Basketball: 16-5, NAIA rank: 23
Men’s Basketball: 14-6
Baseball Preseason NAIA rank: 22

SNU
Women’s Basketball: 15-4, NAIA rank: 3
Men’s Basketball: 11-9

TNU
Women’s Basketball: 14-4, NAIA rank: 12
Men’s Basketball: 12-6

The preceding information may be used in newsletters and
bulletins.. For more information or to report stories, contact
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