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Dear Pastors and Friends,
June 16, 2016
What a busy and exciting June we are experiencing in West Texas. Daily, I have been receiving reports of powerful things the Lord is doing in our churches! It was a great blessing for Susan and me to be able to attend and participate in the reopening celebration of our historic church in Pilot Point (Grace Point) this past Sunday. The renovations to the building, which are excellent, are almost complete and there was a great crowd representing several of our churches and the local community. I know that Pastor Dwayne Edwards and his wife, Debbie, were very pleased.
This coming Sunday, they are planning a huge community outreach-directed car show and rally for Father's Day. I think they are off to a great start. You can follow Pastor Edwards' daily updates and videos on Facebook.
Many of you are involved in VBS and reporting great success. In Hamlin, Pastor Jeff Parson reports between 50 and 60 kids gave their hearts to Jesus during their VBS last week!
Of course we want to thank everyone who helped make Family Camp so successful. Thanks, especially, to Joe and Janet Thomas and the Camp Arrowhead staff who had the grounds in such great condition following the flooding that occurred just 48 hours before camp started.
We enjoyed honoring Joe and Janet Thomas
and welcoming our new camp managerial couple, Josh and Terra Edwards, during the Sunday evening service
.
The crowds were awesome, the offerings were sufficient (we actually closed in the black, PTL!) and, most importantly, the services were anointed of God. Each evening God blessed us with powerful services and beautiful responses at the altars. There were so many precious victories won at the altar.
Particularly, the morning Bible Study lessons on Holiness, taught by Dr. Tim Crutcher of SNU, were very well received. Many of you bought CDs of the lectures, and I would encourage all to consider doing so through Cornerstone Ministries
(their contact number is
817-366-1530
).
Some pastors who were there are planning to play the CD's for their congregations. Others are hoping to invite Dr. Crutcher for a church or zone holiness conference. It was so beautiful to see the altars lined with seekers of the entire sanctification experience on Friday morning, the closing day of Family Camp!
I am so pleased with our district's camping ministries. This week there are 338 teens and their sponsors at Camp Arrowhead for CRAVE teen camp.
After the Sunday morning service in Pilot Point, I flew out to Amarillo to visit the Cactus African service, where internationally known and respected strategic/funding consultant, Jim Copple, was meeting with the Staff of CNMC. Jim had just come back From Kenya where he is working with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries to build a children's home in the Kakuma refugee camp, where tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees are housed.
As I introduced Jim to the congregation in Cactus, I asked them how many had once lived in Kakuma. Virtually everyone raised their hands. Then, I asked how many still had wives and/or children living there. Almost all raised their hands again. When I told them of Mr. Copple's work with the Church of the Nazarene there, they all stood and applauded enthusiastically. The following day, Jim met all day long with Vito and Jenni, the CNMC directors, to talk about capacity building and expanding our ministry to refugees in the Panhandle. Please join us in prayer for this endeavor.
Also this week, our Arlington Antioch Church has been hosting the annual conference of Korean-American Nazarene Pastors. I want to commend Pastor and Mrs. Paul and Esther Lee for their fine work in organizing this major conference. I had the privilege of speaking to the group on Tuesday evening. Many of them are my friends and former students from our days as missionaries in South Korea. I was so very pleased that we were able to participate in this great event.
Brothers and sisters, I want to say again how honored Susan and I are, and how grateful we are, to have the privilege of serving in West Texas. We truly love our district. The pastors and congregations have been so gracious and supportive. We are praying that each of you will continue to enjoy God's richest peace and blessings. We hope the remainder of the summer will be a joyous season for you. Remember, we are available and willing to serve you however we can.
For you and with you,
Pastor David Downs
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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BGS Stateme
nt on Orlando s
hooting
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Global Ministry Center
Our hearts are grieved and saddened by another act of hatred and violence. We extend our sympathy, thoughts, and prayers to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the Orlando, Florida, USA, shooting and to those injured in this incident. We urge our people to reach out in tangible ways to share the love of our Lord with all who are suffering loss in these days.
May the words of Jesus spur us to exemplify His desire for all His children, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35). In this crisis and others like it, may all we do and say reflect God's love and compassion.
Serving in Christ's love,
The Board of General Superintendents
Church of the Nazarene
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Our district treasurer, Dan Davisson, has prepared an updated District Funding the Mission Report. 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.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR CHURCHES HOSTING DEPUTATION THIS SEPTEMBER:
Bad news: Liliana Reza had to cancel her tour.
Great news: Our own Steve and Amanda Pettit, West Texans serving in Dominica, have agreed to fill each English speaking church from Liliana's tour! Your day and time will stay the same, but your speakers will now be the Pettits.
We are currently working on plans to fill the Spanish speaking churches. Please stay posted!
June is an important month for deputation in West Texas! We've heard GREAT reports about the Riggins and the Millers. Your people are going to love hearing from THEIR missionaries.
Remember, you can be creative - you DO NOT have to host them in a service in the sanctuary if a dinner out or a game night or something else works better for your church. Please DO give them a chance to share their story, and offer them a chance to interact with your children and teens. Please DO pray with them and for them and show them lots of love!
June 18 - Gainesville Eastside hosts the Riggins
June 19 - am-Nocona hosts the Riggins
pm-Bowie/ Bowie Hispanic hosts the Riggins
June 20 - Praire Point hosts the Riggins
June 20 - FW ChristCity hosts the Millers
June 21 - FW CrossPoint hosts the Millers
June 22 - FW Northside hosts the Millers
June 23 - FW Crossroads Tabernacle hosts the Millers
June 24 - Mansfield First hosts the Millers
June 25 - Arlington Community Life hosts the Millers
June 26 - am-Arlington First/Arlington Yeshua Nazar hosts
the
Millers
pm-Arlington Renewed Life hosts the Millers
June 27 - Hurst Pursuit Fellowship hosts the Millers
June 28 - FW Grace Tabernacle hosts the Millers
June 29 - FW Westridge hosts the Millers
June 30 - Burleson hosts the Millers
June is also our month to focus on World Mission Broadcast. For suggestions on how to promote this ministry that continues to bring many to Christ week after week go to:
http://broadcast.nazarene.org/
Thanks for all you do to share the love of Jesus around the world through WMB and other ways!
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Kids Camp 2016 - June 27-July1 at Camp Arrowhead
Registration links are on the website for campers and sponsors.
Early Bird registration is due May 1st by midnight = $208
Because Jesus Loves Kids!
Jennifer Sommers
WTD Kids Director
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Tent Ministry News
It has been 2 years now since we have had the tent and it has been a blessing seeing God at work in our local churches. It is a challenge in a different way of reaching out for new people. Seeing God move in many different ways has been incredible. Churches have grown because of this ministry. I encourage you to pray about having a tent meeting in your city.
Be blessed!
Pastor/Evangelist Noe Diaz
Contact information:
Pastor/ Evangelist Noe Diaz
Hereford Church of the Nazarene
Tent Ministry
1410 La Plata, Hereford, TX 79045
806-236-6021
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2016 Calendar of Events
June 18 - July 21
-Scott & Jill Riggins (Phillipines) on Deputation
June 20 - July 8 - Ronald & Shelly Miller (South Africa) on Deputation
June 27 -
July 1
- Kids Camp
July 10-16 - Encuentro Mission Trip
July 18-25 - Pastors' Work & Witness Trip to Dominica
July 21-23 - WOW (Women of Worth) Treasured Retreat
July 27-Aug 1 - African-American Conference, Orlando, FL
July 28-Aug 7 - NMI W&W Trip for Refugee Relief, Croatia & Serbia
September - Alabaster Offering to Global Tressury Services
September 1 - Children's VBS / Summer Mission 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
November - Thanksgiving Offering to World Evangelism Fund
November 4-5 - Discovery Weekend
November 9-11 - SNU Board of Trustees
December 10 -
SNU Winter Commencement
December 27, 2016 - January 3, 2017
- Commission Unto Mexico
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Upcoming June Birthdays and Anniversaries
6/16 David & Robin Hollon
6/16 Vito & Jenni Monteblanco
6/18 Jeff & Lindsay Parson
6/18 Trey Pepper
6/19 Alton Ashby
6/20 Asher Rinard
6/20 David & Kathy Kessell
6/20 Silver Taylor
6/20 Bethany Crouch
6/21 Lee & Linda Lennon
6/22 LeAnna Hughes
6/22 Mark & Mandy Hewitt
6/23 Matilyn Callender
6/25 Camryn Plaxco
6/25 Dianne Book
6/26 Shelley Elam
6/26 Jonna & Ken Jones
6/26 Andrew Taylor
6/27 Ethan Hughes
6/27 Jeffrey & Amy Marcoe
6/29 Samuel & Susan McPherson
6/29 Cindi Tharp
6/30 Dale Pierce
6/30 Dan Davisson
6/30 Serina Nelson
6/30 Michelle Blackstock
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