East Ohio District Church of the Nazarene
November 12, 2015
  OUR DISTRICT PASTOR

This week was one of those times to be proud...proud of being a Christian...proud of being a Nazarene...proud of being part of the East Ohio District.
 
A family's house had burned down and they were devastated and homeless. There was a connection to the Canal Fulton Church and Pastor Dan Skinner. Pastor Dan called the Bishops at Hope House about the possibility of them living in a newly purchased home. Since the Bishops are 'Can Do' people the answer was YES!! But some work still needed to happen. Several of the area churches volunteered to do the final work and make donations. Sunday afternoon was a whirlwind of activity and love as the house was put in order for the family. I was looking at pictures on Facebook of the afternoon of activity. It was incredible to see the generosity. I'm proud!
 
Something else makes me not so proud...the stupid red cup from Starbucks controversy! From what I read, a Christian Internet Evangelist (that means you post stuff on YouTube) named Joshua Feuerstein posted a video calling out Starbucks for the blank cups. He suggested we all demand they put Christmas back into the season by saying our name is "Merry Christmas" and then they write it on the cup. So this controversy has blown up on social media and other news outlets. I wasn't very proud when I saw a clip on the Today Show the other day about how Christians were upset at Starbucks. I mean, didn't Jesus give us some direction about more substantial things to be upset about other than coffee cups? And the truly ironic thing about this is how many people are upset at the people who are upset! I've yet to see a Facebook post of someone actually mad at Starbucks, but I've seen dozens of people mad at the phantom people who are mad (does that make sense?).
 
This is my simple, humble opinion. But when I reflect on the things that make God smile and bring Him pleasure, I wonder about this past week. Was it people calling out Starbucks over red cups or Christians uniting in love to house a displaced family? Personally I think God rolled His eyes at one and smiled at the other. Which event created which? If we want to put Christ back in Christmas let's stop worrying about coffee cups, billboards, and Wal-Mart saying 'Happy Holidays'. Instead, let's love, let's invite others to church, let's do acts of compassion, let's be the hands and feet of Christ and we will never have to worry about Christ not being part of Christmas.
 
Here is some more positive district news to share:
 
--Congratulations to Rev. Dan Hanson who was elected to be the Pastor at Canton First.
--I had two positive church board meetings for pastoral appointments. We still need Advisory Board approvals for these so I'll announce them soon.
--Pastor Tim Hawkins is doing great things in Minerva. I toured the new facility recently and it has amazing potential. I'm very proud of what they are accomplishing.
--Pray for our teens this weekend as they hold their Fall Retreat.
 
I'm proud to be a Nazarene Christian from East Ohio!
 
Dave Lutz


 PASTORS' DISTRICT FAMILY CHRISTMAS BANQUET
Click HERE to download this invitation
 
 EZINE SCHEDULE

Please note:  The Ezine will not be published  
the weeks of November 15 and November 22

 QUICK LINKS  

 IN THIS ISSUE   
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OUR DISTRICT PASTOR
PASTORS' DISTRICT FAMILY CHRISTMAS BANQUET
EZINE SCHEDULE
THE TOP TENS FOR OCTOBER
LOCAL CHURCH NEWS
NMI
CLERGY KIDS RETREAT
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL LITERATURE FROM NPH
NYI FALL RETREAT
NYI BIBLE QUIZ SCHEDULE 2015-2016
2016 CMP REGISTRATION FORM
CHURCH PLANTING BASIC TRAINING
TRAVEL TO ISRAEL AND JORDAN WITH MVNU
DISTRICT PASTORAL AND RETIREES BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES FOR NOVEMBER
 THE TOP TENS FOR OCTOBER

We congratulate the following churches that led our district statistically for the month of October:
 
Top Numerical Gain Morning Worship:  Newton Falls (20); Akron Cottage Grove (19);
Akron Southeast (13); Lisbon (11); Canton Calvary (9); Akron East Liberty (8); Fishcreek (7);
Hubbard (4); Caldwell First (3); Tallmadge (2); Barnesville (2); and Grace (2).
 
Top Numerical Gain Sunday School Attendance:  Tallmadge (16); Canton Calvary (14);
Lisbon (12); Goshen Community (9); Akron Cottage Grove (7); Caldwell First (5); Cuyahoga Falls (4);
Fishcreek (4); Akron East Liberty (4); Akron Southeast (3); and New Covenant (3).
 
Top Percentage Gain Sunday School:  Akron Cottage Grove (70%); Tallmadge (46%);
Goshen Community (45%); Lisbon (30%); Canton Calvary (24%); Akron East Liberty (17%);
Caldwell First (15%); New Covenant (11%); Cuyahoga Falls (8%); and Windham (6%). 


 LOCAL CHURCH NEWS

Fishcreek

INVITATIONAL QUIZ MEET - Saturday, November 14

Fishcreek Church of the Nazarene
4669 Fishcreek Rd., Stow, Ohio 44224

Registration begins at 9:30 am
Cost: $3.00 per quizzer

There will be a quiz bee on the memory verses!
QUIZZING WILL COVER DIG SITES 1-10

RSVP:  [email protected]  by Sept. 7
 

Click HERE for a copy of this flyer




Kenmore Community

Members of Kenmore Community are collecting sports equipment new or used to take with us to donate to schools, communities, and individual children when we return to Nicaragua! The multi-church group that went in 2014 took "tons" of basketballs, soccer balls, jerseys, etc. and we're looking to take even more when we return in July 2016.  Please share this need and pray for God to bless this effort in a mighty way so we can share God's Love with the children of Nicaragua through sports!

We also have space on the trip. If you would like more information on being a team member please contact trip coordinator Harley Weidlich at 330-608-6570  with any questions or concerns .....Thank You and God Bless!

Terry W. Passmore
Pastor
Kenmore Community


Leavittsburg

RECORD ATTENDANCE
 
Pastor Rick Swiger, an avid Steelers fan, told the Leavittsburg congregation that if they had over 70 on any Sunday in November he'd put on and preach in a Cleveland Brown's Tee-shirt. On November 1 they had 75 in attendance so this past Sunday Pastor Rick preached in a Brown's tee-shirt. 


 
 NMI

How to Pray for the Persecuted Church

Around the world, many believers are persecuted--imprisoned, even killed--for their faith.

Since Jesus laid down His life, 43 million Christians have become martyrs.

Right now 200 million people face persecution for believing in Jesus and 60% of those people are children, according to Christians in Crisis International Ministry, a prayer advocacy ministry for persecuted believers.

Sara (not her real name) knows first hand what it is like to be persecuted. The week before Sara and her husband planned to open a Bible School, 4 men attacked their family with metal hatchets.
Because of the attacks, Sara had 3 skull fractures, a punctured eardrum, internal bleeding and needed stitches badly.
"Before the attacks, I considered myself sensitive to the persecuted church," Sara said. "But then I woke up one night and I was one." The experience strengthened Sara's resolve to support those suffering for their faith.

How to Pray from the Bible

Because the New Testament was written to persecuted believers, it is filled with examples of how to pray for our brothers and sisters under attack.

             Here are 5 examples from Ephesians:
    1. Please pray persecuted believers would know the hope God gives (Ephesians 1:18).
    2. Pray the Holy Spirit would strengthen them (Ephesians 3:16).
    3. Please pray persecuted believers would know how much God loves them (Ephesians 3:17)
    4. Pray they would know how to share the gospel (Ephesians 6:19).
    5. Please pray persecuted believers would fearlessly tell others about Jesus (Ephesians 6:20).
To create additional ways to pray from the Bible, take any book from the New Testament (except the gospels). Search for verses with the word "pray." Then use those verses to create prayer requests, just as in the 5 examples above.

How to Pray for Practical Needs

Along with the example prayers in the Bible, there are some practical needs persecuted believers would love your prayers for:
  • Please pray persecuted believers would have access to a Bible.
  • Pray they have the courage to remain in their homeland.
  • Please pray for believers who have been rejected by family and friends. Pray that God would surround them   with a new Christian "family" who loves them and supports them emotionally and physically.
  • Pray for God to be an advocate for women who are socially vulnerable or have lost the custody of their children because of their faith.
  • Please pray that God would provide persecuted believers with jobs and safe places to live.

Learn more ways to pray for the persecuted church and read news alerts on current crises by visiting the Web site for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.


Support in Addition to Prayer
"These people we call the persecuted church are people just like us," Sara says,remembering when she was attacked. "We need to pray for them. It weighs on them when they know the police are after them, but it also weighs on them when they can't feed their families."
"When we support them, it sends them the message 'I am not forgotten -- not by God and not by my brothers and sisters."

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 CLERGY KIDS RETREAT

Can you believe this winter will be our 10th Annual Clergy Kids Retreat?  It has been an amazing event God has truly used and a tremendous blessing to so many of the pastoral families across the East Central Region Districts.

The details and registration info is found at http://www.mvnu.edu/churchrelations/ckretreat.  Here are the basics:
  • Date: Saturday - Monday, February 13-15, 2016
  • Who: Teens (grades 7-12) of Nazarene clergy
  • Location: Kalahari Resort & Water Park - Sandusky, Ohio
  • Cost: $109/person for single-student families; $99/person for multiple-student families  (The East Ohio District will give each clergy kid a $50 scholarship toward the registration cost.  When registering please subtract the $50 off what you send in and Tom Duncan will notify the district what is owed following the retreat.)
  • Sign-up: Registration & $25 deposit is due Jan 7. Balance & Medical Release due Feb 2.
Thank you again for your support of this wonderful event!

Tom Duncan

ps. I have also attached a sheet of testimonials in case you are interested.

Click HERE for the testimonial sheets  
 
 
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL LITERATURE FROM NPH

Click HERE or on the graphic below to connect to the website.

 
 NYI FALL RETREAT
 
Experience a weekend of seclusion and rest by the lake. There will be live music,
fall activities, fellowship,and opportunities to make decisions for Christ.
 
COST: $85 Students & Adult Leader Postmarked by Oct. 23rd
$95 Postmarked by Oct. 30th (No Walk-ins)

Where: FFA Camp Muskingum Carrollton, Ohio
Registration November 13th 6-8pm
Dismissal November 15th after lunch around 1pm

Hoodies will be PRE-SOLD ONLY this year.  Cost is $20.
 
Questions: Renee Avery 330-888-8757 [email protected]


Click Here for the flyer, information, and sign-up.  (pdf)


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 NYI BIBLE QUIZ SCHEDULE 2015-2016

East Ohio NYI 2015-16 Bible Quiz Schedule

November 21-22
Tristate at MVNU

December 12
ColumbianaGalatians, Ephesians, thru Philippians 2
January 9GreentownGalatians, Ephesians, Philippians, thru Colossians 1
February  13
OrrvilleGalatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon
March 11-12Akron ArlingtonDistrict Finals  All 5 Books
April 9
Massillon
Top 30 Quiz-off
May 5-7Mt VernonField Quiz
 

Bible quizzing is starting up just around the corner. Coaches' meetings will start at 8am, and quizzing will start at 8:15am.  Come and Bring your teens! This is a great chance to encourage your teens to study the word of God, promote fellowship with other teens from across the district and disciple your teens in their relationship with Christ.

Costs:
  • District quiz meets: $3 per quizzer
  • Tri-state quiz: $35.00 per team entry fee, $5.00 discount for bringing any blue or computer working jump seats, $5.00 discount per team for multiple team entries from the same church
  • District finals: $3 per quizzer, $10 per team

Tim Lee, District Quiz Director
330-324-1988
Back To Table of Contents
 
 2016 CMP REGISTRATION FORM

To All Certificate of Ministry Preparation Program Participants:
 
Listed here is the registration form for the 2016 CMP classes as well as a link to the MVNU CMP website.  Please make note that you can register ahead of time for all classes, or you can register one session at a time.  However, the registration deadline for each session is the Monday of the WEEK PRIOR to the start of the session.

Click here for the CMP page at MVNU website
Click here for the 2016 Registration form (doc) 
Click here for the 2016 Registration form (pdf) 

If you have any question about the program in general, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. If you have questions about registration or the CMP course schedule, please contact Zach Sherman at [email protected] 

Blessings,

Rev. Tracy Ogden Johnson


 

 CHURCH PLANTING BASIC TRAINING

Church Planting Essentials (CPE) is a three-day church planting "basic training."

The materials were created by Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI), based upon years of working in mission areas where the church is expanding rapidly. Churches Planting Churches (CPC) is a three-day church sponsorship 101.  Certified Trainer Training (CT) equips and certifies participants to re-teach the materials in their local context. It is provided at no extra cost and requires attendance at a session the day before one's other chosen track and the day after (see schedule below).  Please note that lay people are encouraged and welcome to participate.

Why this training and not something else?
  • It's Simple: Basic principles to apply to a variety of church plant models in many contexts
  • It's Reproducible: Geared toward creating churches that will multiply
  • It's Re-Teachable: Contains sessions that certify attendees to reteach the material
  • It's Low-Cost: The cost (noted below) covers your registration fee and some meals. Travel, lodging, and any remaining expenses would be on your own.
Where will it be held and how much will it cost?
Wadsworth Church of the Nazarene - 734 High Street - Wadsworth, OH 44281 - Your $39 cost covers your registration fee and three lunches (Tuesday - Thursday). Lodging is recommended at the following hotels: Holiday Inn - 231 Park Center Dr. - Wadsworth, OH 44281 - (330) 334-7666 OR Comfort Inn - 5 Park Center Dr.- Wadsworth, OH 44281 - (330) 336-7692 Breakfast is included at both hotels. Travel & other expenses are on your own.

What does the basic schedule look like for this training?

(CT)
Monday, April 181:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.Certified Trainer Training Part 1

Tuesday, April 198:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.CPE & CPC Day 1

Wednesday, April 208:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.CPE & CPC Day 2

Thursday, April 218:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.CPE & CPC Day 3
(CT)
Friday, April 228:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.Certified Trainer Training Part 2

To register, visit  http://www.cvent.com/d/9fq738
More information, a sample schedule, and video: http://www.usacanadaregion.org/planting-training
Other questions? Contact Special Events Assistant, Joy Wilson at [email protected]

Click HERE for a flyer and more information (pdf)


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TRAVEL TO ISRAEL AND JORDAN WITH MVNU

 

 

 

 

Friends,

The School of Theology and Philosophy will be traveling to Israel and Jordan in the Spring of 2016. This is an amazing trip which will offer once in a lifetime opportunities for district leaders, pastors, lay leaders and anyone interested in learning more about the Biblical lands. This is your special invitation to join our MVNU faculty and students!

 

You can take this trip as a leisurely activity but if you sign up for a class (undergraduate or graduate, audit or for credit, courses) offered with this trip, it can count towards lifelong learning hours and continuing education. Certificate of Ministry Preparation credit in Bible can be earned on this trip as well.

 

It is our desire to introduce many of our pastors and people to the Holy Land and we hope that you can help us promote this wonderful trip. For more information please visit our website at mvnu.edu/bibletrips.

 

Itinerary Includes:

Tel Aviv

Sepphoris

Mount Carmel 

Caesarea

Petra

Jordan River 

Nazareth

Bethlehem

Sea of Galilee 

Caesarea Philippi

Jerusalem

Dead Sea 

Capernaum

Qumran

Gethsemane 


We will visit many of the most sacred and significant sites of the Bible including the Mount of Beatitudes, the Church of the Nativity, the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and much more. Check out our full itinerary here.

Contact:
Dr. C. Jeanne Serrao, Dean of the School of Theology and Philosophy
800 Martinsburg Road | Mount Vernon, OH 43050
740-392-6868, ext. 3600 | Email: [email protected] 

 

 


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 DISTRICT PASTORAL AND RETIREES BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES FOR NOVEMBER





 NOVEMBER 
  • Neil Taylor-11/2 (Atwater Comm.)
  • Alisha Cox-11/2 (Newton Falls)
  • Jason Cox-11/3/98 (Newton Falls)
  • Jim Smith-11/4 (EOD)
  • Victoria Campitelli-11/11/96 (EOD)
  • Reilly Davidson-11/13/97 (Alliance)
  • Dorothy Carpenter-11/14 (Retired)
  • Broe Davis-11/11 (Warren First)
  • Karen Lee-11/16 (Akron Cottage Grove)
  • Mike & Laura Kimball-11/16 (Sebring First)
  • Ron & Jeannie Miller-11/16 (Steubenville First)
  • Sherrie Smith-11/16 (Retired)
  • Bob Smith-11/17 (Retired)
  • Cathy Hawkins-11/19 (Minerva)
  • Durand Winnale-11/20/95 (Columbiana)
  • John Beers-11/21 (Retired)
  • Kenzi Call-11/22/12 (Hubbard)
  • Dave Lutz-11/23 (EOD)
  • John Lee-11/24 (Akron Cottage Grove)
  • Tim & Cathy Hawkins-11/24 (Minerva)
  • Darryl Johnson-11/26 (Ravenna First)
  • Jackie Chappell-11/27 (EOD)
  • Mark & Marlene Deneen-11/27 (Retired)
  • Arnie & Debbie Yost-11/28 (EOD)
  • Sharon Green-11/30 (Wintersville)