August 11, 2016 
daviddowns
Dear Pastor/Friends,
 
Congratulations to Pastor Greg Johnston and Whitney First Church for their great pastoral review, which I had the privilege of conducting Tuesday evening. Greg and his wife, Debbie, who have served in Whitney for 22 wonderful years, are very much loved. There are so many exciting things happening in his ministry there. One thing that has impressed me about Greg and the Whitney congregation is the significant number of fine pastors who were called to the ministry and raised up for service under Greg's ministry and are now serving around our district! 
 
What a nice surprise we had when we dropped in on the FW Northside Sunday evening service a couple of weeks ago and found that Pastor Nichols and his congregation were hosting Pastor Barbara Jones and the choir from Christ City Church in Ft. Worth. How beautiful to hear the wonderful testimonies of redemption and deliverance from Barbara's precious congregation. She has been pastor there, in one of the most challenging neighborhoods in the Metroplex, for sixteen years. The wonderful stories of how the Lord has moved in the surrounding neighborhood, through the lives of her people, were very, very, encouraging and inspirational. Pastor Jones mentioned to me that she and her choir love visiting other area churches to sing and testify. I would encourage our FW area pastors to invite them over for a service sometime this coming year!
 
I was pleased to receive a beautiful commemorative plaque in the mail last week from Dr. Carla Sunberg and Nazarene Theological Seminary recognizing our district's creation of the new West Texas District Endowed Scholarship Fund at NTS. Special thanks, again, to the individuals and churches who participated. NTS students with a WT connection (and there are several) are encouraged to apply for tuition scholarship through this new fund.  

 
We continue to receive great reports about all that God is doing through the growing Chinese Ministry at Denton Willowwood. These pictures help  express the excitement. I asked Pastor Mark Ramsey  for 
an update recently and learned that another of these wonderful young men, who are studying aviation in the Denton area, accepted Christ just two weeks ago!
 

The fall course schedule for Peniel School of Ministry is about to get underway. I was especially pleased to learn that School Director/Pastor Keith Megehee, has announced that there will be a special scholarship-enhanced introductory class taught in Spanish to help introduce our Spanish-speaking licensed ministers to PSM. This Spiritual Formation course will be taught by Toni Porter. Please see the article below for more information. Incidentally, did you know that each volume of WT District Family e-newsletter is available in Spanish?
 
Finally, I want to encourage our pastors, and any guests you might have, (especially in the Fort Worth area) to make plans to attend the special district-sponsored pastors' seminar on equipping our churches for racial reconciliation, which will be held at Arlington First Church on September 13th (9:00-12:00). Please take a few moments to study the promotional brochure immediately following this article.


For you and with you,
 
Pastor David Downs

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LENSES


PSM


Peniel School of Ministry Announces  Introductory Spanish 
Course in September
 
The Peniel School of Ministry announces an ordination- track course at Emmanuel Iglesia del Nazareno in North Richland Hills September 5-17.  Toni Porter - former missionary, professor at ENTE, and wife of GS Jerry Porter, will be teaching Spiritual Formation. Courses taken through Peniel meet educational requirements for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.  Additionally, credits may be transferred to Nazarene Bible College to meet degree requirements.
 
Through the generosity of the Porters, this class is available for the reduced introductory cost of $50.  Students may register at the opening class in person or online. Class times, registration information, and required texts are provided on  the website at www.penielschoolofministry.org/espanol.
 
Peniel School of Ministry is a collaborative effort of the West Texas, South Texas, Dallas, and Texas-Oklahoma Latin Districts.  Registration for fall courses in English will be announced in a few days.
 
Rev. Keith Megehee
Peniel School of Ministry Director



naznite
www.snu.edu/naznite

CLICK HERE to open the 2016 NAZ NITE ORDER FORM

CLICK HERE for an area map and hotel info


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shepherdsabbath

whatshappening
... LOCAL CHURCH NEWS

 



discover
DISCOVERY WEEKEND
A MINISTRY-EQUIPPING WEEKEND
OCTOBER 28-29, 2016

This is a special weekend for first-time licensed ministers. They will explore their strengths for ministry through our affiliation with Nazarene Strengths Institute.  Also, practical information will be given to equip them in the process toward Ordination and ministry in general.

For information contact:  
Earl Robertson, our Asst. District Superintendent
[email protected]; 540-312-4500
FTM


Our district treasurer, Dan Davisson, has prepared the WTD 2016-17 "Funding The Mission" report as of  August 11, 2016 . Pastors, please pay close attention to your church's contributions so far this year. Please make every effort to encourage your people to faithfully maintain their giving for others.

kidz


District Children's Council annual meeting - Saturday, September 10th at Lubbock First Church
Please RSVP to Elaine Nauert [email protected] or Jennifer Sommers  [email protected]
Details will be emailed out.
 
Kid Min Training Day - Saturday, October 15th from 10:00am-2:00pm at Fort Worth First Church
Please RSVP Jennifer Sommers with your church name and how many leaders you will be bringing. 
 
Leaders - this is a day for you and your team!  Bring anyone that teaches Sunday school, Quizzing, Kids Church or on Wednesday nights at your church.  Cost will be $15 per person to cover lunch and a few supplies we will provide.  The day will be broken up in both large and small group formats giving you time to meet with your team specifically to discuss items for your specific church.  It promises to be a great day to meet with other kid min leaders from across the district, share ideas, be encouraged and most importantly lift up our churches and their families.  We are working on simulcasting this to a church on the west side as well so churches in that area can go and participate too.  If the simulcast doesn't work we are planning on offering a training day for the west side later this year.  We'll let you know what we work out. 
 
Thank you to all of our West Texas leaders and churches that came and experienced and or ministered at camp this summer.  We had an amazing time and the Lord was truly leading and ministering to our kids.  I can't thank those of you who came and served enough.  It is always such a privilege to share God's truth with kids on our district but to do it with such a great staff and CREW is beyond words.  Special thanks to Susan and Dr. Downs for coming and ministering to our kids as well that week.  Not many districts can say their DS and his wife served meals at their camp.  We are blessed!  
Mark your calendars now - Kids Camp 2017 - July 17-21 at Camp
Arrowhead.


Jennifer Sommers
WTD Children's Ministries Director



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NMI 



Dear Pastors and NMI Leaders:

August means LINKS giving and Children's Project collecting.

LINKS:
The LINKS program is an important part of Nazarene missions! It provides personal connections between missionaries and Nazarenes around the world, giving each church an opportunity to become acquainted with a missionary family and their field of service. Click here for your church's missionaries (remember you have both ACTIVE and RETIRED) and suggested giving amounts:


Label with missionary names, your church name, church year, and West Texas. Mail all LINKS monies (by September 1) to Global Treasury Services (address below)
 
Click here for information about your LINKS missionaries:
 
 


Children's Offering Project: The project  is "Power" and will focus on getting God's Word into the hands, hearts and minds of kids around the world. Google "Kids Reaching Kids Nazarene" for information and materials. It is the general church project, and our whole district is participating in it. (We were number one in the world for the children's offering AGAIN last year! Thank you for your generosity!)  This offering is DUE SEPTEMBER 1!

Make checks payable to "General Treasurer" and mark with "Children's KRK Offering", your church name, church year, and West Texas. Mail to:
 
o   GLOBAL TREASURY SERVICES   (866-624-3092)
o   P.O. BOX 843116
o   KANSAS CITY, MO  64184



Many churches like to collect School Pal-Paks for kids around the world while our own kids are preparing to head back to school. Click on the picture to get details about School Pal-Paks.
 


West Texans on the Field: Praise God! ALL of our West Texas Mission teams have returned safely! Thanks to all of you for serving, and we look forward to hearing how God worked in you and through you this summer.
 

West Texan Called : Tyler Parson, son of our Hamlin pastor, will leave the US next year to serve in the Philippines through 365m, a Nazarene training program. Please consider supporting him through prayer, financial gifts, and opportunities to speak in your churches.

 
Deputation Schedule (please check carefully for your church name!):

September 7 - Higgins hosts Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 8 - Dalhart (both congregations)/Cactus (all congregations)
      Dumas/Dumas Nueva Vida* host Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 9 - Borger First/Stinnet/Borger Trinity/Pampa* host Steve
      &  Amanda Pettit
September 10 - Clarendon/Wellington/Dodson* host Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 11 am - Amarillo First host Steve & Amanda Petit
                          2pm - African Community host Steve & Amanda Pettit
                            pm - Turning Point host Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 12 - Amarillo South Georgia/Valley View/North Beacon* host
  Steve & Amanda Pettit 
September 13 - Hereford New Bethel/Hereford/Muleshoe* host Steve &
  Amanda Pettit
September 14 - Plainview hosts Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 15 - Abernathy hosts Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 16 - OPEN 
September 17 - Lubbock Refuge hosts Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 18 am - Dickens Bible hosts Steve & Amanda Pettit
      pm - Lubbock First host Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 19 - Ropesville/Levelland* host Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 20 - Post/Grassland* host Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 21 - Denver City/Seagraves* host Steve & Amanda Pettit
September 22 - Decatur Jesucristo es el Camino host Vito & Jenni Monteblanco
September 23 - OPEN
September 24 - FW Emanuel/FW Fuente de Gracia* host Vito & Jenni
         Monteblanco
September 25 am - FW Sobre la Roca hosts Vito & Jenni Monteblanco
      pm- River Oaks Iglesia de Gracia host Vito & Jenni Monteblanco
September 26 - Denton Hope Community Hispanic/Denton Willowwood 
        Hispanic* host Vito & Jenni Monteblanco
 
We are excited that Steve & Amanda Pettit, missionaries from West Texas serving in Dominica, and Vito & Jenni Monteblanco, missionaries from West Texas serving in Cactus, are able to fill in for Liliana Reza, who had to cancel her tour.

Remember, hosting Deputation Missionaries doesn't have to mean holding a service in your sanctuary. You can take them to dinner or invite them to join in whatever your church enjoys - a game night or a picnic... get creative! DO allow your people (especially children and youth) time to interact with them and get to know them!


Blessings,

Cheryl Crouch, WT NMI President
 

CalendarWest Texas District
2016 - 2017 Calendar of Events

September - Alabaster Offering to Global Treasury Services
September 1 - Children's VBS / Summer Mission Offering due
September 1 -  LINKS Offering due
September 7-26 - Steve & Amanda Pettit on Deputation
September 9 - Naz Night at Six Flags Over Texas 
September 10 - District Children's Council Meeting - Lubbock First
October 10 - Pastor's Forum at SNU
October 12-13 - Youth Ministry Summit 
October 15 - Camp Arrowhead Board of Directors Meeting 
October 28-29  - Discovery Weekend
November - Thanksgiving Offering to World Evangelism Fund
November 9-11 - SNU Board of Trustees
December 10 -  SNU Winter Commencement
December 27, 2016 - January 3, 2017  - Commission Unto Mexico
-----------------------
January 10 - Ministerial Credentials/Educational Committee 
Amarillo First
January 20-22 - Shepherd's Sabbath Retreat
January 17 - Ministerial Credentials/Educational Committee
Fort Worth Northside
February - Alabaster Offering to Global Treasury Services
February 23 - Planning Session - Vision Conference & District Assembly
March 3-4 - Kids Fest in Lubbock, TX
March 3-5 - PK Retreat @ SNU (for pastors' kids, grades 10-12)
March 13 - Annual Pastor's Reports due
March 18 - District Assembly Finance Committee meeting
April 5-7 - Vision Conference & District Assembly, Lubbock First
June 4-9 - Family Camp, Camp Arrowhead
June 12-16 - CRAVE Teen Camp, Camp Arrowhead
June 21-30 - General Assembly, Indianapolis, IN
July 17-21 - Kids Camp, Camp Arrowhead


birthdays
Upcoming Parsonage Families Birthdays & Anniversaries

8/11 David & Cindi Tharp
8/12 Joyce Johnston
8/13 Michael & Leona Davis
8/13 Genesis Perez
8/14 Tyler Parson
8/14 Martha White
8/14 Dale & Barbara Peirce
8/15 Luke Jones
8/15 Travis & Tabitha Zachary
8/15 Kevin & Sherry Seigman
8/17 Hope Powers
8/17 Earl Robertson
8/17 Ron & Jackie Miner
8/18 David Tharp
8/19 Suzanne Fisher
8/20 Meghan Ramsey
8/20 Mark & Sharon Ramsey
8/20 Ryan & Serina Nelson
8/21 Phillip Kenedy
8/21 Jimmye & Wendy Cole
8/22 Catania McGuire
8/22 Cristi Ashby
8/22 Gregory White
8/23 Awilda Hayes
8/23 John Keating
8/25 Ajay Ricenbaw
8/25 Barbara Peirce
8/25 Clint Benn
8/26 Harold Brown
8/28 Corey Jones
8/28 Matthew Jones
8/28 Matthew & Dana Carte
8/29 Cayden Callender
8/30 Caleb Hughes
8/31 Elijah Smithson 




 
         
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