FEATURED STORY: Take Jesus to Dinner

FEATURED STORY:
Take Jesus to Dinner
Bangladesh: Rays of Hope
Bronx Bethany: A Place to
Belong
Julie’s Story: If God Is With
Me, There’s A Way
THE CALL
NAZARENE
COMPASSIONATE
MINISTRIES
MAGAZINE
2006, First Issue
Vol 3., No. 1
Address all correspondence
regarding subscriptions to:
NCM
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, MO 64131
Phone: 1.877.626.4145
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.ncm.org
02
PHOTO CREDITS:
E. Decker - 4; T. Jara - 5; M.
Cyr - 11; B. Naidoo - 13;
M. Craft - 14; SEA NCM
- 16; J. Mullen - 17; R.
Prescott - 18; H.
Gschwandtner - 19, 31;
NCM SE Asia - 23; S. Gualberto - 24; D. Gschwandtner - 25; L. Webster - 28;
D. Hane - 29
EDITOR:
Ellen R. Gailey Decker
Postmaster: Please send
address changes to:
NCM
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, MO 64131
THE CALL
Upcoming Trips
The Vision
Fall 2006
Swaziland
Medical Missions Team
NCM exists to minister holistically to people everywhere.
In keeping with the spirit of our
Nazarene founders, NCM exists to
minister holistically to people
everywhere. We have a passion for
meeting people’s physical, spiritual,
emotional, and intellectual needs.
To this end, we desire to provide the
Nazarene constituency at large with
resources like this magazine, which
encourage and call forth compassion
as a lifestyle. We will never abandon our role in diligently calling the
church to be the people of compassion and simplicity that our founders
envisioned.
The vision that drives NCM is simply
that compassion would weave into
the fabric of the church. We do not
want Nazarene Compassionate
Ministries to be just another organization within the Nazarene structure,
but rather that NCM would exist
only because there are things that
we, as the church, can do collectively that we cannot do individually.
NCM would then become the collective compassionate response of
the church to a world in need. Our
prayer is that social holiness would
erupt in every local church and that
we could come alongside these
faithful members and resource them
to serve others.
As a part of this vision, we implore
God to use us to minister to our
suffering and dying world. Our
vision for ministering to povertystricken, sick, and hungry people
has no limit. We can dream as big
as the church will allow, through
its continued prayers and financial
support. We seek to implement this
vision through managing resources,
empowering people, enabling
compassion, and especially through
extending the hope of Jesus to the
world. Thank you for your interest
and support .
September 1 - October 15,
2006
Team Leaders:
Nazarene Health
Care Ministries
NHCM facilitates Medical/Dental Work and Witness teams to
meet the holistic needs of people in various countries. This
includes, first of all, their spiritual needs, then physical, and
Dr. Harry and Echo
VanderWal
E-mail: [email protected]
Dr. Harry and Echo VanderWal are looking for medical
personnel to accompany them
to Swaziland. They would like
to assemble three medical
teams for September 1 through
October 15, 2006 at the Swazi
clinic. Please contact them for
more information.
mental needs. The primary goal of all NHCM teams is to show
through their lives and words the love of Jesus Christ. All health
care professionals (including spouses) are welcome to participate.
July 2007
Malawi
Medical Missions Team
July 2007
If you’d like to learn about new trips or are interested
in leading one, be sure to check out our website at
www.nhcm.com
Team Leader:
Dr. Charles Fuselier
E-mail: [email protected]
This team will be hosted by the
Nazarene Theological Seminary
in the capital city of Lilongwe
and will also work in Zambia
where there is a fast growing
body of Nazarene churches.
This will be a two week trip and
will include a visit to Victoria
Falls and possibly a safari in
Kenya as well. The team will be
led by retired, longtime missionaries, Rev. Tom and Ethel
Lowry. A building project will
be attempted as well. Contact
Dr. Charles Fuselier for more
information.
03
C O V E R S T O RY
CR
OIV
SE
I SR CSAT R
OER Y
have brought food to us, my children do not
steal any longer.” Other children have been
able to go back to school, or are able to stay
with their families.
Take Jesus to Dinner
In Mozambique nearly 500 families receive
a basic monthly ration of one meal a day for
a period of four months, just in time for the
next harvest. The distribution began in
December. We are also providing seed for
each of these families in Mozambique to grow
enough food for the next twelve months - if
the rains come.
At least ten countries in Africa
are facing severe food
shortages as a result of a
terrible drought that has
decimated crops. Eight
countries in southern Africa:
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland,
Mozambique, Malawi,
Zimbabwe, Zambia, and
Namibia are facing their fourth
and worst consecutive year of
famine and drought. Benin is
also facing its worst famine in
years, while Kenya has declared
certain regions emergency
disaster areas.
S
ub-Saharan Africa has 12 million people facing extreme food shortage,
while at the same time it is struggling with almost 70 percent of the world’s
HIV/AIDS patients. This combination is depriving families of their
income-generating adults as well as local farmers. Medicines and doctor’s visits,
combined with drastic price increases of maize and other staple foods, are further
squeezing families who are already trying to exist on less than $1 USD per day.
Out of desperation for money, people are turning to prostitution, criminal
activities, and child labor. Many families have rationed their food intake to only 2
to 3 meals per week. When this is no longer possible they have resorted to eating
leaves or roots, some of which are bitter and poisonous. Our mission coordinator
in Mozambique has reported deaths of our Nazarene brothers and sisters. Other
reports to the NCM-Africa office have told of Nazarenes being attacked and
eaten by crocodiles as they try to harvest water weeds and algae from the Zambezi
River.
Our Nazarene brothers and sisters are hungry
and need our help!
BY HARALD BIESENBACH
Harald Biesenbach is the
Disaster Response Coordinator
for Helping Hands Africa,
a ministry of NCM-Africa.
The number of famine victims is simply overwhelming and the situation is
worsening by the day. The governments of Malawi and Zambia have already
declared a state of national famine emergency, and even the small country of
Lesotho estimates that nearly 600,000 of their people face starvation. Zimbabwe
has about 3 million at risk of starvation, including more than 700,000 people
who were forcefully evicted from their homes and shuttled into settlement
camps. They lost everything they owned.
Through God’s grace and partnership with the Canadian Food Grains
Bank, we are bringing food relief to 3,600 families in Zimbabwe over the next 6
months. Nearly 1/3 of the food aid is going to evicted people in the
settlement camps of Zimbabwe. The first distribution took place just before
Christmas.
In Zambia, NCM is part of a consortium which includes the Canadian Food
Grains Bank. Together we are bringing food relief to over 10,000 families. God is
showing blessing and mercy through us. One mother said pointedly: “Since you
The need is massive. We still need to feed
10,000 more Nazarene families in Lesotho,
Malawi, Benin, Kenya, and Swaziland. Our
Nazarene brothers and sisters are hungry, and
need our help! Jesus said, “If you do it for
one of the least of these, you do it for Me.”
Therefore, we are encouraging you to “Take
Jesus to Dinner.”
A 100 pound bag of maize (corn) or rice,
a little bit of beans, and some salt will feed a
whole family of five for an entire month at an
average cost of only $35 USD.
“Taking Jesus to Dinner” means fasting one
meal as a family or individual, and giving what
you would have spent on that meal towards
food relief in Africa. You can help one family,
or perhaps two, to go to bed without an empty
stomach. If you “Take Jesus to Dinner” every
Friday evening for a month, a family in Africa
could have food to eat for four months.
With your help, we can feed 10,000 more
families in Africa. Please help our Nazarene
brothers and sisters as together we “Take Jesus
to Dinner.”
Donations
should be
marked
“Africa
Hunger”
ACM1192
05
LIFESTYLE
W
LIFESTYLE
Emblazoned Hope
hen she was 10 years old,
Deenie Kass watched a ship
with the word HOPE emblazoned on its bow depart the harbor to
travel across oceans, providing medical care
to people around the globe. She wanted to
be on that ship, and that day her dream to
be a nurse began.
Deenie was in Saudi Arabia during
Desert Storm. Her 90-year-old grandfather,
a Nazarene pastor for over 50 years, prayed
for her to have the heart of a missionary.
His prayer was answered as Deenie’s ward
was chosen to tend to the Iraqi prisoners
of war.
in Germany and Kosovo. On a return
flight from Germany, Deenie was called
on to help a man with a heart attack. The
airline awarded Deenie a ticket anywhere in
the world for her heroic measures.
It is Russia, though, that has captured
Deenie’s heart. “It was on a 1997 trip with
Nazarene Health Care Ministries that I
had my eyes opened to the tremendous
needs in Russia,” shared Deenie. “Alcohol,
drugs, and suicide are prevalent. I wanted
to help.”
Deenie has collected hospital slippers,
reading glasses, elastic support stockings,
and bandages from her family, church, and
Compassion
If we could summarize the
ethics
of
Jesus
it is this: that
love
God
of
is best shown by
loveof fellow
“Many of the soldiers panicked when we
approached them with needles,” explained
Deenie. “They had been told we would
kill them. It wasn’t long until their fear
turned to smiles.” Deenie ministered to
the wounded soldiers with compassion and
made Arabic tracts available to suffering
patients.
Deenie has also worked and ministered
community organizations. She buys vitamins and over-the-counter medicines for
Russian clinics where she treats patients,
teaches classes, and shows the JESUS Film.
men
Deenie makes almost annual trips to
Russia, and in 2004 she began studying
the Russian language at a local university. “Every time I return, I marvel at the
wonderful way God works through His
people,” reflected Deenie. “We are like that
ship called HOPE. When we incarnate the
compassionate service of Jesus, our lives are
emblazoned with Hope, and the world is
drawn to Him.”
If you would like information about
Nazarene Health Care Ministries visit their
website at www.nhcm.org.
Sherwood Eliot Wirt,
The Social Conscience of
The Evangelist, 1968
Commits
to the
Long Run
Michael Warchol felt a burden
for three world disasters last year:
the mudslides in the MAC region,
the massive Pakistan earthquake,
and the devastating hurricanes in
the U.S. Recently married with a
mortgage and fixer-upper house,
Michael wanted to give more than
his budget would allow. So he set
his sights on the Marine Corps
Marathon, a grueling 26.2 mile
run for charities in Washington,
D.C.
“I had great motivation for
choosing NCM,” shared Michael.
“First, my dad is a Nazarene pastor
on the Gulf Coast of Florida, so
they know hurricane damage! Also,
Guatemalan congregation
members had family impacted
by the MAC mudslides. Second,
the fact that NCM is a part of the
Combined Federal Campaign
means that here in D.C. people
respect it as a charitable organization and will donate to it. Third,
my wife and I went to Moscow
on a mission trip in 2005. As we
07
At mile 23, I “hit the wall.” Most of my muscles
began to feel like they were cramping, and I
wondered if I would make it.
ministered and performed in concerts,
we saw some of the world’s needs
firsthand.”
Michael, who holds two degrees
in music and enjoys carpentry and
graphic arts in his spare time, has
enjoyed running since middle school.
He had to train extensively for the run.
He dedicated hours every day either
before or after going to his job in the
Education Department at the Kennedy
Center.
“When the cannon goes off and
the excitement is in the air, it’s hard
not to let your adrenaline take over,”
explained Michael. “I had to caution
myself that I was in this for the long
haul.” Thirteen stations along the
route gave out water. Michael had to
balance drinking too little which would
cause dehydration, and drinking too
much, which would also be disastrous.
While the last three miles were the
most challenging, Michael’s passion
for the goal spurred him on toward the
finish. Michael completed the run in
four hours. He raised several hundred
dollars for compassionate ministries.
LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE
Caribbean
C O M PA S S I O N
Clips
C A R I B B E A N RECOVERS
F R O M H U R R I CANES
D E N N I S A N D WILMA
COMPASSION FOR THE
CHILDREN
the golden age
Neyba is one of the poorest
Two Nazarenes died and 71
communities in the Domini-
Nazarene homes, churches,
can Republic; children’s malnutrition is a critical problem.
and parsonages were damaged
The Church of the Nazarene,
when Hurricane Dennis ripped
under the leadership of Pastor Santos Rodriguez, has
through the Caribbean.
started a Child Development Center. The Center is providing education, nutrition (hot lunch five days a week),
Destroyed sugar plantations and
the leadership of Rosa Moreu and her husband, is a big
and spiritual
supporter of NCM child sponsorship. They also saw the
factories caused hundreds to lose
formation for
their jobs. NCM provided food,
thirty children.
need to assist the elderly in their community. Recently
the church opened a “Golden Age Center” that ben-
“Though this
water, and clothing. In addition,
The Church of the Nazarene in Ponce, Barbados, under
efits more than 50 elderly people daily. This ministry
church is the
provides them with medical attention, food, crafts, and
47 pastors’ families received
newest on the district,” stated Dr. Carlos Saenz, “it has
games. Many of the elderly people in the Center have
financial assistance and many
caught the vision of compassion as a lifestyle.”
accepted Christ as their Savior.
more families received spiritual
and psychological counseling.
BARBADOS WORKSHOP
The Caribbean Re-
Hurricane Wilma damaged all
gion conducted the
four of the Nazarene churches on
very first NCM work-
the Grand Bahama island. NCM
shop in Barbados.
Hosted by Jammeline
helped with essential supplies
Pollar and Jennifer Newton, the workshop was held for
and services to affected
Nazarenes.
three days in November. The 47 attendees experienced
the moving of God among them.
09
LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE
AFRICA GIVES TO
HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF
by Trino Jara, NCM-Africa
Coordinator
The news came. A terrible hurricane hit
the United States and totally destroyed
New Orleans. African Nazarenes started
speaking about the tragedy. “Poor people
- they lost everything!” Others expressed,
“Here in Africa we can identify with
disasters.” Many older African Nazarenes
were concerned for their beloved
missionaries that served in their countries
in the past, wondering if they were all
right. Everybody began to ask: “What can
we do to help our beloved brothers and
sisters suffering because of the hurricane?”
CARAVAN OF COMPASSION
Four senior citizens of Shelbyville,
Indiana First Church of the
Nazarene recently went into crisis
mode. They began to imagine what it
would be like to survive a disaster but
to lose all material possessions. Their
reflection encouraged the people of
their church to donate enough items
for 306 Crisis Care Kits and 150
boxes of clothing. Thirteen people
formed a caravan of five vehicles to
truck the supplies to the warehouse
in Fawn Grove, PA, where they also
volunteered their services for a week.
“Not only did we do a good deed that
would help so many people,” said
leader Billie Nolley, “we also had a
lot of fun!”
There are no resources to pay for a
W & W trip from Africa to the United
Faith Alive!
States.
by Mr. Edward Mikwamba, Africa Cen-
Someone suggested, “Why don’t we
challenge Nazarenes throughout Africa
to raise an offering for this tragedy?” The
news spread through the Africa Region
and several churches took the challenge
seriously. In some plates Kwacha were
deposited, in others Shillings, Birr,
Kwanza, Meticals, Francs, and small coins.
In some places the plates were full, in
others just a little, but no matter the size,
these offerings represented sacrifice. The
total amount collected was an amazing
$1,151.67 USD. Kenya, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Malawi, Mozambique and
AS A LIFESTYLE
Inspiring stories from around the world about those who are making compassion their way of life
Zambia all participated in this offering.
Meanwhile, a terrible drought in some of
these countries was affecting thousands.
In spite of their hunger, they gave like the
widow’s mite: they gave what they had.
tral Field Youth Ministries Coordinator
Recently
70 youth
attended
the Malawi
North
Annual
District
camp with
the theme, “Faith Without Works is
Dead.” The camp, organized by District NYI President Alex Mkandawire,
included Spirit-filled worship services,
sports, music, and the preaching
of God’s word. Also included were
workshops on HIV/AIDS, EvangeCube evangelism, and NYI leadership.
The youths showed the Jesus Film to
the Chizaura village, with about 100
people coming to the Lord over three
days. After the camp the youths volunteered to mold bricks and work on the
foundation of a church to be built in
the area so members no
longer have to meet under the trees.
PAHOKEE NAZARENES
LOVE THEIR COMMUNITY
by Ryan Scott,
NCM USA/Canada
Administrative Assistant
When grocery stores in
Florida shut
down after
Hurricane
Wilma, the
Pahokee
Nazarene
Church swung into action. With the
help of Roy Shuck and Joey Condon,
the church of about 45 fed 500 families
a day and gave non-perishable food to
thousands of others. Freddie Lindsey
from Monroeville, AL supplied a semitruck load of food each day. During 19
days of distribution, they helped about
6,000 of the town’s 8,000 residents.
In a community where 35 percent of
the residents lost their homes
during Wilma, the Pahokee Nazarene
Church also put on a Thanksgiving
feast. Five-star chef Brett Smith and his
team from Baltimore cooked for more
than 1,000 in attendance. Former NFL
linebacker Ricky Jackson supplied a
gospel choir and other entertainment
for the day. Pastor Danny Moore and
city manager Lillie Latimore spoke to
the crowd. After the meal, volunteers
canvassed the neighborhoods and fed
another 1,000 people. Servers came
from across the South Florida District,
including new District Superintendent
David Nixon and his family. One small
church has literally transformed its
community in the wake of disaster.
11
LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE
Christian
Community
A
iming to shed its reputation as a country rife with
drug-related violence, Colombia is launching an
effort to “rebrand” itself as a vibrant land full of
happy people. The government has launched the “Colombia equals
passion” campaign to attract tourists and foreign investors. The
Christianity
equals
Compassion
in Colombia
Nazarene church has taken over the idea behind this campaign and
added a Christian twist. The Nazarene Church in Pascual Guer-
BY LUIS MEZA
rero shows that “Christianity equals compassion.” This lifestyle has
in Cape Town
spread contagiously throughout the area attracting many who are in
12
Dr. Meza is the South America
NCM Coordinator
need of the compassionate love of Christ.
Believing they cannot preach a message of holiness and at the
same time be insensitive to the needs of their neighbors, Colombian Nazarenes began to give hot food each Friday to people living
on the streets in Pascual Guerrero. Out of these efforts grew “Awaken Life,” a ministry to those affected by drug use. The compassion
continued when more than 300 youth impacted the community
through an event with music, testimonies, food distribution, 1,000
ice cream cones, and preaching. More than 200 people accepted
Christ and 75 of them are now attending local churches. Since
then 130 cell groups of about 1,500 Christians mobilized to bring
compassion to the neighborhoods of Cali, Colombia. Together they
cleaned, painted public places, and tended gardens. Inspired by the
word of God, Nazarenes in Colombia understand that compassion
as a lifestyle is an essential part of their Christian testimony.
I
f you spend a few days on the beaches
and in central Cape Town, it’s hard to
believe you’re in Africa. The tanned
surfers, sun-roofed cars, and palm trees seem
more like a resort than the Cape of Africa.
Though the area might attract vacationers,
there is much hidden beneath this façade.
Just outside Cape Town there is tremendous
poverty in crowded townships of squatter
camps, corrugated-iron shacks, and huts.
These townships have as many as 1.1 million
people in two square miles.
For the last four years, the Green Pastures
Church of the Nazarene has led “Medical
Crusades” into these townships. Through
free medical treatment, medicines, eye care,
and children’s outreach, the gospel is shared.
More than 500 people have accepted Christ
since crusades began. In the Athlone and
Hanover Park areas, activities have included
face painting, puppet shows, and open-air
services that share the message of Christ.
The church members also distributed soup,
bread, and clothes to those in need.
Green Pastures also built an addition to
their church, the Seed of Love Skills Center.
With the unemployment rate in South Africa
at 42 percent and rising, the Center teaches
valuable skills in sewing and compu-ters.
Pillow cases, track suits, and tablemats that are
made are sold to raise funds for further
ministry. Twenty people have obtained
employment since taking classes. The Center
is also used for discipleship training and
encouragement in holiness living.
Once a year, the RSA Western Cape
District has a Compassionate Ministries Rally;
250 attended the most recent one at the St.
Montague Village Nazarene Church. They
brought food, clothing, and cash offerings,
which were given to the poor in the church’s
community. Praise the Lord who makes it
possible for Cape Town communities to be
touched with the compassion of Christ!
BY REV. BOB NAIDOO
Rev. Naidoo is pastor of
Green Pastures Church of the
Nazarene in South Africa
LIFESTYLE
BY PASTOR HOWARD A. ALPERIN
Pastor Alperin is ministry coordinator
for “Compassion in the Streets.”
Compassion in the Streets
Gloria has been on the streets of Memphis for at
least three years. She’s pretty much experienced
it all: the poverty, the losses, the heartbreaks. But
when Gloria received a homeless pack and hugs of
For he has not ignored the
SUFFERING
kindness from Calvary Church’s “Compassion in the
Streets” ministry members, she broke out in a
of the needy.
grateful chorus of “Glory Hallelujah.” Heartfelt hugs
and prayers followed.
14
He has not turned and
In Matthew 25, Jesus says that
they are very grateful for the
what we do for those in need, we
gifts. There is usually not just
have done for Him. Month after
a basic “thank you”, but hand-
month, the team from “Compas-
shakes, hugs, and prayers. Six
sion in the Streets” homeless
people have met Jesus since the
ministry goes out to serve Jesus.
ministry became part of Calvary
Braving the freezing tempera-
Church two years ago.
tures in winter and the oppres-
The volunteers don’t just make
sive heat of summer, they serve
a difference in the lives of the
the homeless on the downtown
homeless. Seeing young children
streets of Memphis, Tennessee.
like Brianna Amaba and Zachary
The team provides each home-
Craft give out socks or crackers
less person with love, prayer,
to the homeless impacts each
clothes, and a homeless pack. A
volunteer for the Gospel. When
homeless pack includes every-
little children love the homeless
thing from a Bible to food items,
with hugs, it reminds us all that
a toothbrush, toothpaste, and
compassion as a lifestyle, like the
water. In the winter, hot coffee is
Kingdom of God, is often taught
served. It is evident in the faces
to us by the little children.
and actions of the homeless that
walked away.
He has
LISTENED
to their cries for
help.
Psalm 22:24 (NLT)
FRONTLINE
FRONTLINE
Tsunami One-Year Anniversary Update
BY STEPHEN GUALBERTO AND CENY HIRAHARA
Stephen is the Asia-Pacific NCM Coordinator.
Ceny is the Southeast Asia Field Coordinator
16
A team from the Thailand
District, under the leadership of
District Superintendent Rev. Hahom,
recently journeyed to the BangNiang
village in PhangNga province where
they have been helping tsunami
survivors. Over the past year, close
friendships have developed and the
atmosphere was full of smiles and
joyful spirits. While there the team
built another home, distributed toys
and school supplies to children in a
camp, and had a Christmas celebration. Some of the survivors have
become Christians through the Thai
ministry team. “You are different
from other groups,” they shared.
“Thank you for bringing joy to us.”
There is now a big need to provide
permanent jobs to the affected persons. The Thailand District plans to
teach motorcycle repair, help establish
small shops in mobile carts, and to
provide clean water by digging water
wells. There is also a plan to survey the
AIDS situation in the area.
In Indonesia, an education scholarship program for children affected by
the tsunami on Nias island began in
January, 2006. The program started
with 400 children with a goal to reach
1,000 children in 5 years. The church
has been ministering to displaced
people in Nias who take refuge in
Sibolga, a town several miles across the
sea from Nias. The education scholar-
to minister and work in the most
devastated part of Aceh province.
A Nazarene representative, commissioned by the church in Indonesia, is
now working with FAO (Food and
Agriculture Organization) of the
United Nations in a boat building
project for survivors.
David Harris, coordinator of NCM
Australia/New Zealand Field, was appointed the Regional Tsunami
Response Coordinator. He assumed
the full-time assignment in January.
In India several projects were
progressing well at the one-year mark:
rebuilding schools for 2,000 children,
community health care training,
self-help groups for women, and a
nutritional rehabilitation program for
children.
ship program will also be extended to
displaced children in Sibolga.
Two Nazarene youth volunteers
have joined Medan Peduli, a local
faith-based organization in Indonesia,
Efforts in Sri Lanka include a rehabilitation center for tsunami victims
and ongoing trauma counseling. For
a more in-depth tsunami update on
India and Sri Lanka, please see the
2005 NCM Magazine, issue 3.
17
Bulgaria Flooding Update
BY JOEL MULLEN
Joel Mullen is the Southeastern Europe Field Director
Flash floods surged through the Bulgarian village of
Protitovzi in August, causing significant damage to the
infrastructure of the village (homes, roads, gardens, power
and water supplies). Protitovzi is a very poor community
with an 80 percent unemployment rate. The greatest immediate needs were food and firewood to provide heat for the
winter. Seeds to replant gardens and fields were also needed.
Generous donations provided for some of these needs
and other supplies for the village. Churches in Albania
sacrificially gave clothing. A shipment of Crisis Care Kits
was gratefully received as well. You have made a difference
- thank you! If you would like to donate to this ongoing
need, please send your check marked with ACM 1800 in the
memo line.
FRONTLINE
Helping 30 Villages
FRONTLINE
God Bless Those Christians!
Dr. Gschwandtner is the
NCM Regional Coordinator
for South Asia
Pakistan Earthquake Update
BY HERMANN GSCHWANDTNER
It is one of the most radical Muslim areas of Pakistan, infiltrated by Taliban who
crossed the Afghan border. Here Nazarene Compassionate Ministries has decided
to share the love of Christ to those affected by the earthquake that ended the lives
of at least 90,000 people on October 8, 2005. “Yes, we know you are Christians,”
said the relief chairman in a provincial town, “but we welcome you. Together we
can help these poor people.”
More than six hours of driving from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, brings us to the Himalayan foothills—hills that are
more than 7,000 or 8,000 feet high! “The people here desperately need these tents,” explains John, our local coordinator.
“The snow is already 3 to 4 feet deep.”
He was right. The people gratefully accepted our winterized tents and blankets. We set aside enough for another village
up in the snow, which would otherwise have no chance to survive the winter in this area devastated by the earthquake. How
grateful we are to Humedica of Germany that has partnered with us in this major disaster and in others. Together we
continue to plan how we can serve more of these thousands of suffering and neglected people.
We were given a newspaper article that told of a badly wounded quake victim who found himself on a helicopter
18
transporting him to a hospital in Islamabad. When he realized he was on an American helicopter his spontaneous response
was, ‘God bless America!’ — even though Pakistanis have heard bad stories about America. Likewise, they have heard bad
Donations helped to purchase a farm near Las Casa,
Guatemala. The farm will be used for an
stories about Christians, yet today, the compassion of dedicated Christian teams is making a difference in Pakistan. “God bless
those Christians” is on the lips and in the minds of many Pakistanis. The love of Christ is again turning darkness into light!
agricultural training program to achieve diversification of crops and greater income for participating
farmers in 30 villages. A steel building is being
constructed with donations from NCM for
training and hands-on experience. World Relief is
also partnering with Compassionate Ministries by
contributing $1,500 per month for training for three
years. AMIGOS Internacionales has offered the use
of a well-drilling rig to provide water for irrigation of
demonstration crops and orchards.
Donations for Pakistan earthquake relief can be made online at ncm.org or by check to
General Treasurer (please mark checks:
South Asia Earthquake ACM1570)
19
THE CALL
THE CALL
BY STEVE CREECH
Restoring
Hope
Nazarene Disaster Response:
Just the Facts
about Hurricanes, Help, and Hope
What?
A 6-month hurricane-relief ministry
thrust to the Gulf Coast.
T R U E O R FA L S E ?
• N
azarene Disaster Response (NDR)
Where?
The primary focus will be on the
assists only Nazarene families and
neighborhood surrounding New
churches during times of disaster.
Orleans First Church of the Naza-
• N
DR utilizes only Nazarene volunteers
during its recovery assistance.
• N
DR is only funded by the general church.
• N
DR has wrapped up our Hurricane Katrina
recovery operation.
THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS IS:
FALSE!
rene, with their recently rebuilt
multi-cultural community worship
center as base. There will also be
3 other “Restoring Hope” sites in
Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.
When?
March 1 – August 31, 2006
How?
Reaching neighbors with the love
Remember the TV series Dragnet? Sgt. Joe Friday’s typical response to the witnesses at the crime scene
NDR Fact #3
of Christ by preparing and distrib-
was to look them in the eye and say, “just the facts”. So, here are “just the facts” about NDR:
We still need your help! Hundreds of thousands of people are still homeless and tens
uting food, cleaning up neighbor-
of thousands of homes are still uninhabitable. We are organizing a major thrust to the
hoods, and repairing homes.
NDR Fact #1
NDR Fact #2
The purpose and passion of NDR is to help all people
During the long recovery process following Hurricanes
in times of crisis. You do not have to be a Nazarene or
Katrina, Rita, and Wilma we have had tens of thousands of
attend a Nazarene Church to be helped by NDR; in fact,
Gulf Coast for spring and summer 2006, called “Restoring Hope” (see sidebar). You
Who?
are needed now more than ever!
NDR Fact #4
We need several teams in each
volunteers assisting in disaster relief; not all of these
The difference between NDR and some other disaster relief agencies is that we do
area every week for 6 months.
you don’t even have to be a Christian. NDR volunteers
volunteers are Nazarenes. We have many groups from
more than feed or clothe people in need. In addition to this, NDR shares the love and
do what they do because of their faith, not the faith of the
outside churches and agencies contact us offering to help.
Please email <[email protected]> or
compassion of Christ with people in a real and tangible way. We hope the impact of
people they help.
We sign them up and put them to work right beside our
NDR extending Christ’s love does not stop once our teams leave an area but
Nazarene brothers and sisters.
continues throughout people’s lives.
check out the website
<ndrrestoringhope.org> for how
you can sign up!
21
H E A R T B E AT S
H E A R T B E AT S
BY DORLI GSCHWANDTNER
BY MINDY BOWNE HANCOCK
If
If God is With Me…
There’s a Way
22
Julie Tennant has been living a lifestyle of
compassion for most of her 30 years. Her
special ministry began when she was only
eleven years old. A family member came to
Julie and her parents, Randy and Barb, with
a special request: some friends had just found out that their baby was
going to have Down Syndrome—was there anything Julie could do to help the parents
deal with that news? That’s the day Julie’s letter writing ministry began.
Julie was born with Down Syndrome. When she was old enough to
understand, her parents explained that
having Down Syndrome meant that
she had an extra chromosome. Her
Grandpa calls it “a love chromosome.”
Julie assures people in her letters that
they don’t need to be nervous about
having a Down Syndrome baby—very
likely, “he will be cool.”
In one letter, she wrote “When your
baby is born, you [will] really love
him—just like my parents love me…I
think your baby will be happy like me.”
Above all, she assures parents that they
do not have to be afraid, because God
is with them, and she cites Joshua 1:9.
Julie’s mother reports that the response
to Julie’s letters has been incredible. It
turns out that, in the Kingdom of God,
having a love chromosome can be quite
a gift.
Soon, Julie’s ministry will expand—she will be talking to a local
church about why parents should keep
their Down Syndrome babies instead
of choosing abortion. Julie’s ministry
spans parents, unborn babies, and
recently, Hurricane victims.
Last August when she found out
about Hurricane Katrina and watched
the grim news reports, Julie was very
disturbed. Her parents helped her
understand the consequences of the
Hurricane. They told her to imagine
what it would be like if her workplace,
her house, and her puppy were all lost
in a storm. They said, “What would
you do?” She told them confidently
that she would still have God to help
her. She began to wonder what she
could do for the people who had lost
so much in the Hurricane. Julie had
an idea: she would create magnets, sell
them, and give the money to help the
people! She had made magnets with
her parents before, so she knew just
what to do. Julie picked out an image
of Noah’s ark, and she created the message for the magnets: “if God is with
me…THERE’S A WAY.” Julie took
her magnets to church and sold them
for $1.00 each.
After selling her magnets, Julie sent
100% of her profits to NCM with a
letter and several of her magnets. She
wanted to convey her sympathy for the
hurricane victims, and her assurance
that she is praying for them still.
Julie’s story reminds us that even
in the midst of the storm, God proves
Himself faithful as He works through
His servants. Thank you Julie for
sharing your lifestyle of compassion
with us all.
you watch closely, you’ll see a
group of young girls stealing
along back alleys, avoiding all
eyes, furtively creeping around corners. Their
crime? Wanting to learn and refusing to
submit to a law prohibiting a girl’s education.
Their punishment? Prison. In Afghanistan
in the 1990’s, it was illegal for girls to attend
school. But Omaira, then a girl of eight, went
anyway – in secret, along back alleys to her
former teacher’s home (who risked prison
she thinks of her cousin Shahla, who fled to
Pakistan with her family many years before.
Shahla is receiving freely what Omaira could
only get by stealth.
Just across the border in northern Pakistan,
Shahla is sitting at a desk in school, busily writing. Along with 2,000 other Afghan refugee
children, Shahla attends one of the Nazarene
primary schools that have been operating since
2002. It doesn’t matter that she is a girl. In
fact, most of the other students and many of
2,000
Afghan
children
attend
Nazarene
primary
schools
along with her students if they were caught).
Learning is difficult when you expect soldiers
to haul you away midway through class, but
Omaira persevered. In 2001 the law changed,
and girls are now allowed to attend school.
Omaira is attending university but often has
trouble keeping up, and feels that she missed
out on her education. It’s with longing that
Going to
School
Used To
Be A
Crime
23
the teachers are female. Shahla enjoys school
and is grateful to have a sponsor through
NCM. Many of her classmates do not yet
have sponsors to provide for their continuing
schooling. If you are interested in sponsoring a
child, please email NCM at <ncm@nazarene.
org>, or call toll-free at 1-877-626-4145 or
sponsor online at <www.ncm.org>.
H E A R T B E AT S
Some schools have difficulty
Books
getting students excited about
H E A R T B E AT S
Rays of Hope
learning, but recently in the
BY DORLI GSCHWANDTNER AS
TOLD BY JOSHE BOSE
Philippines 6,000 students
celebrated because they
Provide Lessons
on Compassion
received textbooks so they
could study more!
Gifts in Kind through
Nazarene Compassionate
Ministries sent two 40-foot
containers of elementary and
high school text books to
churches in the Philippines.
Almost sixty percent of the
books were distributed to
seven public elementary
schools and high schools,
two colleges, three Christian
private schools, and several
village health centers in a town
in the Philippines. The rest of
the books went to the different
Nazarene districts and local
churches in the Philippine
Field.
The beneficiary schools have
now opened their doors to the
Church for spiritual formation
training for their faculties and
students. The town mayor who
witnessed the unloading of the
books was very grateful to the
Lord and the Church for this
generous gift. He commended
the Church by saying, “This
is a Church that truly imitates
the love of God by prioritizing
service to others.” This dona-
All public schools in the Philippines suffer from a constant
shortage of textbooks and reference books due to lack of
funds; the most affected are the students.
tion extended even beyond
the recipients, as the Nazarene
Church ministered to the
inmates and jail guards assigned
by the local government to
BY STEPHEN GUALBERTO
Stephen is the Asia-Pacific NCM Coordinator.
help unload the books.
She is holding a tiny baby, nestled
tenderly in her arm. Her fingers
tremble as she tries to keep the large
knife steady. She sits slumped, barely
able to support herself. By her side
are her husband and an old pot filled
with tasteless roots from the jungle.
For two months they have eaten
nothing else. Behind them yawns the
dark entrance to a meager dwelling.
Almost a peaceful scene – but their
eyes cry out in despair.
“I had been
traveling to church
when I found this
young couple in
Ghoraghat. Their
misery tore at my
heart, and I knew
we must help. So
we raised some money to buy rice and
lentils – enough for seven days.”
Enough for seven days. But what is
one week in a lifetime of hunger?
What is a single act of kindness
toward a child doomed to die? What
will it take to penetrate the darkness
of this reality?
“We wanted to do more for this
community. So, about two months later,
we established a school with a nutritional
rehabilitation program.”
In a small bamboo grove, a tiny
community huddles. Mud-and-straw
huts lean against the tall stalks as if
they lack the power to keep themselves
upright. Thick bamboo shrouds
everything in watchful shadows. In the
center: the school. It is
made of a packed-mud
floor, bamboo walls, a
tin roof, and two tiny
rooms, accommodating
three classes. Some rays
of sunlight penetrate the
heavy shade to touch the
children’s faces. They are
still poor, still hungry, but smiling with
hope.
“One family eating roots planted
compassion in our hearts to carry hope into
a community that had no future.”
Dorli Gschwandtner has served as a Nazarene in
Volunteer Service (NIVS) in South Asia.
Joshe Bose served as Project Manager of the
Ghoraghat Community Development Project in
Bangladesh.
The
significance of a
one-week
supply of rice…
The vision to
accomplish a
task at hand…
The
compassion
found in Christ’s
love…
All of these are
rays of hope
that transform
darkness into
light.
H E A R T B E AT S
Bronx Bethany is not only a place to worship—it is transforming the community.
The Bronx is
home to 1.3 million, 30% of whom
live below the
poverty line
Katy Laine’s experience with other churches led her to believe that she would
be judged because of her past and no longer welcomed. When she came to
Bronx Bethany Nazarene in 2003, she kept waiting for the “hypocrites” to
surface. They never did. Instead, Katy and her daughter Raquel found a caring
community where they belong.
Bronx Bethany:
a Place to Belong
The Bronx is home to 1.3
million persons, many of them like
Katy, looking for a place to belong.
the cleansing of their hearts by faith
families in Summer Day Camp. Begun
in Jesus Christ.”
over 8 years ago by educator Maureen
The BBCC After-School Enrich-
Griffith, every summer about 50 kids
Thirty percent of them live below
ment Program provides safe,
learn in a fun, interactive environment
the poverty line and 70 percent are
challenging, fun, and affordable
that includes educational field trips.
minorities. Bronx Bethany opened
services to the children in the
their doors two years ago to provide
community. Students like Raquel have
BBCC’s latest ministry is “Alcoholics
Victorious,” a program with a
a Charter School
hotline and monthly
and a Compas-
meetings that offer
sionate Ministry
support for
Center, “Bronx
recovering substance
Bethany Commu-
abusers and their
nity Corporation”
families.
(BBCC).
Facilitated by S.
BBCC was
BY ALTHEA TAYLOR
Althea is Associate Pastor of Bronx Bethany
Nazarene and Executive Director of BBCC
Diane Jordan, the
birthed from the church’s mission
an opportunity for new experiences
program draws people from the local
statement, formulated in 2000 under
through musical instruments, dance,
hospital as well as other churches in
the leadership of Rev. Dr. Sam
Spanish classes, and karate. Children
the area.
Vassel. “We are to be a Spirit-filled
also receive educational support
community of love with a place for
services.
everyone; a place where people can
experience the forgiveness of sins and
BBCC also offers activities for
Bronx Bethany is not only a place to
worship— it is transforming the
community.
Good
Neighbors
WITH THANKS TO LINDA WEBSTER
AND SUSAN CURRIER
Linda and Susan work at NCC
“They have been really nice and kind to
me,” shared Michelle. “Whenever I have
needed help or advice, I know I can go to
them.” With no family nearby to help her
with raising children, Michelle is thankful
for a good neighbor like NCC. “The hardest
part of being a single mom is trying to juggle
the bills with raising kids,” said Michelle.
“I’m glad I have met other young moms
through NCC so we can
talk and get through our
struggles together.”
Michelle attends
NCC’s crafts and aerobics
classes. She is also receiving Christian counseling
to help with life issues.
“NCC has helped my kids
with basically everything,” Michelle said.
“Including having a better
mom.”
“They have been really nice and kind to me. Whenever I have
needed help or advice, I know I can go to them.”
- Michelle Newby
BY MARVIN THRASHER
AND
STEPHEN O. GUALBERTO
Michelle Newby dreams of a better future
for her children: she wants them to go to
college and make something of themselves.
Michelle, 22, is the mother of four
children, Hastings, 6, LaQuisha, 3, Asia, 1,
and Meredist, 10 months. She knows that for
her kids to have a better future, she needs to
be the very best mom she can be.
Neighborhood Christian Center (NCC) a
local Compassionate Ministry Center in
Memphis, Tennessee, is helping Michelle
achieve her dreams.
Rev. Thrasher is District
Superintendent of the Niugini
Islands District in Papua New
Guinea. Rev. Gualberto is the
Asia-Pacific
NCM Coordinator.
A large copper mine on the island of
thinner due to the lack of adequate
Bougainville, Papua New Guinea was poison-
nutrition. Rev. Batopa asked his church
ing local streams and the ocean, killing the
members to take up a special offering to
community’s source of food. Fighting broke
help Pastor Jacob’s congregation buy a hand
out and the people forced the mine to shut
cranked sewing machine to tailor the clothes.
down. Although peace talks have calmed the
The result of this compassionate outreach
situation, poverty is widespread now as a
is exciting. John Bosco, a known leader
result of the incident.
during the revolution, was
People were walking
gloriously brought to the
around in rags and leaves
Lord. He has started a church
because they had no money
in his village and is preparing
to buy clothing.
to attend Bible College. The
Within this hopeless
son of revolutionary leader
situation, Pastor Ien Jacob’s
Francis Ona also feels that
family recently started a
God is calling him to prepare
Recently NCC was
awarded a multi-year
grant from the Urban
Child Institute. The
grant, which totals
$1,010,349 over three years, will be used
new Nazarene church.
for ministry.
to target children ages 0-5 through a new
initiative called Changing a Generation. The
holistic approach includes reaching parents
during pregnancy through adult programs
and neighborhood churches.
Founded in 1978, NCC serves approximately 90,000 individuals each year through
compassionate, Christ-centered ministry.
Pastor Jacob contacted
Because Nazarenes have
District Superintendent
given generously and enabled
Rev. Thrasher to see if there was any way the
us to offer clothes in God’s name, people
Church could help the community with their
have been brought into a living relationship
clothing situation. NCM Asia-Pacific agreed
with Jesus Christ. “We will never know the
to give $300 USD for Bougainville.
full impact of a few dollars given in Jesus’
Pastor Jacob found a merchant willing to
name, but God knows,” said Rev. Thrasher.
sell him a $400 USD bale of used clothing for
“Please pray with us for these men and
only $300 USD. Many of the clothes were too
women that are now taking the Good News
large for the people of Bouganville, who were
to their friends and families.”
Clothed with Compassion
H E A R T B E AT S
THE CALL
Recommendations:
BY JERRY D. PORTER
General Superintendent
1. Denounce and oppose the
rise of insensitive reactions
Immigration:
against undocumented immigrants, and support any and
all efforts to build bridges;
a Global and USA Challenge
2. Provide pastoral care and
crisis intervention to
undocumented immigrants
and asylum seekers;
The movements of peoples to and from various cities, countries, and
continents are more than accidents of nature. It is also more than mere
responses to economic and political pressures and incentives.
We bear testimony that God is ever present and that God has a design
for a world that is culturally interactive, constantly intermingling with
each other to enhance the interdependency, pluralism, and redemptive
diversity of the Kingdom. It is with this conviction that we read, “Do not
“From one man [God] made
every nation of humankind, that
they should inhabit the earth; and
[God] determined the times set for
them and the exact places where
they should live. God did this so that
people would seek [God] and
perhaps reach out for [God] and
find [God], though [God] is not far
from each one of us” ”
- Acts 17:26-27
3. Provide resources and
technical assistance to local
churches in compassionate
ministry with undocumented
immigrants and asylum
seekers;
4. Monitor immigration
mistreat or oppress a stranger; you know how it feels to be a stranger,
policies and practices in order
because you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9, RSV,
to defend fair and adequate
adapted).
process in regard to asylum
The Word consistently calls us to be the community of God to give
shelter, protection, and help to immigrants living among us, with a
petitions, judicial review,
refugee resettlement
constant reminder that the Bible is filled with stories of immigrants. The
priorities, and immigrant
Israelites never forgot that they too were once immigrants for forty years
categories;
after the exodus from Egypt, as they sought the Promised Land. They
never forgot that the ethic of welcoming the stranger is woven into the
very fabric of the Israelite covenant.
Globally, there are more than 13 million refugees and another 26 mil-
5. Become more informed and
active citizens, using our
voices and votes to speak for
lion who are internally displaced. Additionally, there are millions more
the voiceless, to defend the
who seek asylum or are migrants, hopeful for a way out of dire poverty.
poor and the vulnerable, and
The Christian community cannot afford to be unresponsive to these
realities. Whatever legislative measures are adopted by receiving countries
should be compassionate and humane. What should our response be?
to advance the common good,
to the glory of God.
31
Nazarene Compassionate Ministries
Church of the Nazarene
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City, MO 64131