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It was a great joy to meet with our newly district -licensed ministers in Abilene on November 13-14 for our first annual "Discovery Weekend." This was a time of encouragement and discovery for those who received their district license at last year's district assembly.
We were espec
ially pleased to host Dr. Linda Cantwell, Vice-President for Recruitment at Southern Nazarene University,
as our resource person and presenter.
Dr. Cantwell led the group through a very helpful presentation of Strength Finders. Her presentation was outstanding! I want to offer special appreciation to our assistant DS/district secretary, Earl Robertson, who organized this great event!
I want to thank each of our churches who participated in the coat give-away ministry at the Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center this past weekend. Co-director, Vito Monteblanco, reports that nearly 300 people came through the ministry center and received coats. You can read a full report of the event in the article below.
Though the flock is enduring much hardship, with families at home in war-torn South Sudan and other areas in Africa, as well as tragedy within the church family, our African congregations in Amarillo and Cactus continue to grow under the leadership of Pastor Michael Gatkek. In Amarillo the attendance is sometimes near 100, and in Cactus the worship attendance has grown to 40. At first the Cactus congregation was made up entirely of young men, but recently women and children have begun coming. This has included Somalis and others from Muslim countries. This past Sunday Pastor Gatkek sent me this photo of a Muslim Somalian named William who gave his heart to Jesus during the service in Cactus. He is one of four who accepted Christ as Savior this past Sunday in Cactus. What a wonderful blessing! This is just what we have been praying for.
I mentioned above that there has been a local tragedy among the Nazarenes in Cactus. Last week one of our men, Brother Peter Mach, a former Lost Boy of Sudan, was the victim of a suspected homocide on the farm near Cactus where he was working. He is pictured here during a recent worship service in Cactus. How horrible that this precious man who had endured so much in getting to America from South Sudan, was murdered in his new country. We are so grateful for the promise of eternal life for those who trust in Jesus...and I am especially appreciative of Pastor Gatkek as he ministers to his precious, courageous, and very needy congregation during these trying times. We are so honored to have them as a part of our district family, and we join them in sorrow, and in love.
This past Sunday I had the wonderful privilege of worshipping with Pastor Rasmi Abraham and our Arabic-speaking congregation in Euless. What a blessing it was to be with this exciting and growing congregation. One of our locally licensed African preachers from Amarillo African Church of the Nazarene drove over to join me for the service, and he gave his testimony.
Kor Chakud grew up in the home of a Muslim cleric in Sudan. He had memorized most of the Koran by the age of eight. Later, after fleeing to Egypt during the war he gave his heart to Jesus. He speaks Egyptian Arabic. I think Pastor Abraham's people, many of whom are Egyptian, were greatly blessed by his testimony.
Finally, I'm hoping that all of our ministers will make every effort to attend the Shepherds' Sabbath (see article and registration below) in January. I am praying for an encouraging and inspiring weekend for all of our pastors, staff, retirees, and licensed ministers. Susan and I will see most of you in December as we attend the zone Christmas get-togethers. I believe we'll miss only one, due to a scheduling conflict with other zone meetings. We'll hand out this year's district Christmas tree ornament at these events.
Have a very blessed Thanksgiving!
For you and with you,
David Downs
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Jenni and Vito's first winter here they noticed many of the children were walking to school in the dead of winter with not much more than a hoodie on. This inspired the event
Bundle-Up Cactus
, where CNMC collected donated new or gently used coats, hats, and gloves to give to the children and teens of Cactus.
Each year has been a huge success. In addition to giving away coats, this year we wanted to find a way to educate our community on ways to stay healthy during the winter season. So we started the first annual CNMC Health and Wellness Fair. We had people from ten different agencies come and set up booths to educate our neighbors about the health services available to them, as well as some fun activities for the kids!
This year we received around 200 coats and managed to serve almost 300 people. As staff we reflected together on the stories in the Bible where Jesus multiplied a simple sack lunch to meet the needs of the crowd and seems that God did it again, here in Cactus. It is clear that God was at work on Saturday and somehow turned 200 coats into enough to meet the needs of Cactus, Texas.
One of the kids who received a coat left singing a song and dancing. When we listened closer we realized he was singing about his new awesome coat! We are thanking God for each of you that continues to pray for us, donate, and volunteer with us and of course for his incredible provision when we need it most.
by Dana Franchetti
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You can also view the reservation form on our website by
clicking here.
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Hispanic Ministries
God has been blessing and supporting the Hispanic ministry on our district. More and more, pastors and churches are joining our efforts to seek unity and strengthen each of our congregations.
On Saturday, November 28th, we will be having a training seminar on the program, "Free to Love." This program is aimed to restore and build strong marriages and, at the same time, is a powerful evangelism tool for our churches. Pastors Honore and Melina Calera from the Church of the Nazarene in Slidell, Louisiana, (who are certified mentors in this program), will be speaking at this seminar. We believe with all our heart that this will be a very effective tool in spreading the gospel of salvation for every church that chooses to participate.
Blessings,
Pastor Moises Marquez
West Texas District Hispanic Coordinator
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District Licensing Information
A. Qualifications for receiving a First-time District License
1. Have a local license for one year
2. Have registered with the District Ministerial Studies Board:
www.wtnazed.org
3. Have completed a minimum of 6 courses in the Course of Study which must include the following
two:
1. History & Polity of the Church of the Nazarene (the Manual course)
2. Becoming a Holy People (the Holiness course)
4. Meet with the Ministerial Credentials and Ministerial Studies Boards:
January 12, 2016 at Amarillo First Church of the Nazarene*
January 19, 2016 at Fort Worth Northside Church of the Nazarene
5. If applying for a district license and there has been a divorce in the past, the candidate must meet
the boards on January 19th at Fort Worth Northside.
6. Request an Application Packet from:
Earl Robertson
540-312-4500
B. Qualifications for renewal of a District License
1. Completed 2 courses from the Course of Study
2. Meet with the Ministerial Credentials and Ministerial Studies Boards:
January 12, 2016 at Amarillo First Church of the Nazarene*
January 19, 2016 at Fort Worth Northside Church of the Nazarene
3. If applying for Ordination/Recognition the candidate must meet with the District Boards on January
19th at Forth Worth Northside
4. Request an Application Packet from:
Earl Robertson
540-312-4500
*Please note that the meeting place on the west side of the district has been changed to Amarillo First.
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West Texas Children's Ministry!
Coming up...
Camp dates for 2016 - June 27 - July 1 at Camp Arrowhead
. Mark your calendars now and get the word out! Families can start making payments into their PayPal accounts every month to help with the costs. Starting in October if you set aside $25 each month you'll have $175 by the May 1 early bird deadline. Camp Early Bird fee with be around $200 this year.
Kids Fest & District Quiz - March 4-5
(tentative date - will be finalized in the coming weeks). ALL quiz and talent entries will be due February 22. More details will be coming to your inboxes later this fall.
Want to be in the know?
Contact Jennifer Sommers to sign-up for our email blasts at [email protected]
Want to connect with other Kid Min Leaders?
Join our Facebook page - West Texas Children's Ministry. This is a closed group so send a friend request to Jennifer Sommers or Renae Fowler to join.
Finally - our summer mission offering was another HUGE success! Looks like the West Texas Kids were number 1 in money raised again this year for our mission project...In His Name! Way to go West Texas Kids and churches!
Because Jesus Loves Kids!
Jennifer
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WTD Kids Ministry News!
WTD Kids Leaders -
We have 5 quiz meets coming up in the next few months. Please come and support these churches as they provide opportunities for your quizzers to practice before zone and district meets this spring. Make sure you RSVP as soon as possible so they have adequate time to prepare.
Below is a link to our Children's Council Contact Page and District Kid's Calendar for the year. We've also updated our children's page on the district website at
www.westexnaz.org so check it out!
Because Jesus Loves Kids!
Jennifer Sommers
WTD Kids Director
Upcoming Quiz Meets for WTD Kids!
Amarillo Valleyview Invitational Quiz Meet
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Chapters 1 - 10
Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. quizzing to follow at 9:00 a.m.
7601 S. Western
Amarillo, Texas 79110
RSVP by Monday, December 7th
806-282-4263
Bowie Church
Saturday, January 9, 2016
9:00 am start
Digsites - TBD
Lunch - TBD
940-923-1123
Ft Worth First
Saturday, January 23, 2016
2001 E Main St
Crowley TX 76036
9:00 am
Digsites-1-16
Lunch- TBD
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WTNYI Update:
A few more spots are available to join the team for Encuentro 2016 next July in Puerto Rico! Register and get more information at
www.wtnyi.com.
West Texas is preparing for EXTRAVAGANZA '16 on the campus of Southern Nazarene University! There's a new date this year so be sure to get all the details and register online at
www.snuextravaganza.com
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Dear West Texas NYI Family (students, youth workers, pastors, etc.),
Please take the time to read all the information below. There are exciting things happening in WTNYI.
In 2016 West Texas NYI is trying something new! Youth A Rama will be joining the region at Southern Nazarene University to make Extravaganza 2016 a truly exceptional event.
The West Texas NYI council spent much time in prayer and discussion before making this decision. We understand the tradition of Youth A Rama and the impact that is has made on the lives of so many students. Extravaganza at SNU is a meaningful regional event that has impacted the lives of many students over the years as well. That being said, the NYI Council is excited to join forces with Extravaganza. We pray that it will be received as a new opportunity and tradition, taking Youth A Rama to the next level; Introducing our students to the region, and our university, while still maintaining unity as a district. We want to see more students attending our fine university and one way to do that is to get more of our West Texas Students on the campus. The region has moved Extravaganza to March 31 - April 3 in 2016. If you are not familiar with Extravaganza at SNU, it is almost identical to Youth A Rama but on a larger scale. It offers more options for students to display their talents and has separate divisions for junior high and high school. The regional council has made recent changes putting more emphasis on the worship services at Extravaganza. It already is a great event. Add in a little West Texas flair and it becomes an exceptional event. :) The WTNYI Council is excited to get on board with this event and bring our West Texas students to SNU. We pray you too will be excited about the potential. Most importantly we want our students to encounter God! Join us in praying that God will prepare all our hearts for what He wants to do at all our local, district, and regional events!
Also in 2016, ENCUENTRO 2016. July 10-16, 2016. West Texas NYI is taking a team of students, sponsors, families, etc. to Encuentro 2016 in Puerto Rico. This is an NYI- sponsored mission trip with over 2500 students anticipated to participate during July 2016. We will work along side our Puerto Rican Nazarenes conducting youth, adult and family evangelistic missions. Prayerfully consider how you can get your students involved in this incredible mission opportunity. Go online to
www.wtnyi.com for more information and to get your students registered.
Mark Your Calendars:
Youth Ministry Summit (Youth Leaders conference) --October 12-13, 2016
SNU West Texas College Days -- February 18-20, 2016
Extravaganza at SNU -- March 31 - April 3, 2016
Crave (Youth Camp) -- June 13-17, 2016
Encuentro Mission Trip -- July 10-16, 2016
WTNYI is so blessed to have so many dedicated youth leaders that passionately care about our students. We join you in prayer for our students and local ministries.
Your NYI Council,
Gary Young
WTNYI President
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PASTOR'S WORK AND WITNESS TRIP 2016
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Dear West Texans,
Many of you have asked how we can help France and Lebanon in the wake of recent terrorist attacks. Go to the Nazarene Missions International page on Facebook for excellent information and prepared PowerPoint slides that share details about Nazarene work in these countries. Our best response is informed prayer!
This month, remember our special offering for missions:
The Church of the Nazarene's annual Thank Offering for the World Evangelism Fund has been a denominational tradition for more than 75 years. Every year we look back and remember what God has done. Out of thankfulness, we give back to God. This year's World Evangelism Fund Thank Offering celebrates how our time, prayers, and donations help spread the gospel. Through language schools, church plants, mission hospitals, and many other ministries, God uses our gifts to do amazing things.
To give a personal gift, use the
Give page
. For more information on planning your church's offering, visit the
Resources
and
Stories
pages.
Imagine what God will do through our generation and those that follow as we continue to serve Him. Today's sacrificial giving to the Church of the Nazarene around the world assists in Developing the Future.
Blessings,
Cheryl Crouch, WT NMI President
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PENIEL SCHOOL OF MINISTRY LAUNCHES FALL CLASSES in NETWORK OF TEXAS CLASSROOMS
The Practice of Christian Ministry and Introduction to the Old Testament are now being taught in weekly classroom gatherings at web-connected churches in Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Harlingen, Midland, Lubbock, Amarillo, and Tyler. Check out our website at penielschoolofministry.org for online registration and complete information.
The West Texas, South Texas, Dallas, and Texas-Oklahoma Latin Districts of the Church of the Nazarene collaborated earlier in 2015 to create the Peniel School of Ministry. The rotation of classes at Peniel allows a student to complete educational requirements for ordination in as little as three years.
Peniel's fully qualified classes are ideal for ministry students who want the collegial environment and convenience of a nearby classroom. Eleven-week trimesters allow each class to meet just four hours once a week, with typical out-of-class preparation of about an hour a day. The Alliance relationship between the Texas districts and Nazarene Bible College makes it possible for Peniel students to complete 72 hours of an accredited BA degree with NBC at steeply discounted tuition.
SPANISH LANGUAGE CLASSES: Later in 2015 Peniel will launch its NBC-Alliance 24-class ordination track entirely in Spanish. Juan Vazquez-Pla, coordinator of Spanish language instruction for Peniel, will be instructor for Historia y Politica de la Iglesia del Nazareno in the winter trimester.
Peniel's network of video-connected Spanish-language live classrooms will be groundbreaking in USA/Canada. As in English, Spanish-language students who register their studies with Nazarene Bible College may receive degree credit.
AUDITING AVAILABLE: Peniel discounts audit registration for interested laypersons or ordained clergy looking to obtain CEUs or simply to sharpen their ministry skills.
THE TRADITION of PENIEL: Did you know that the Church of the Nazarene in Texas predates the October 1908 Pilot Point merger? Phineas F. Bresee preached a revival at Texas Holiness University in Peniel in the spring of 1908. Bresee issued an invitation for those present who wished to join the Church of the Nazarene, an invitation the entire faculty accepted, including THU President E. P. Ellyson. In fact, Ellyson would be elected General Superintendent that fall at Pilot Point. The first pastor of Peniel Church of the Nazarene was Mrs. E. P. Ellyson!
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District Funding the Mission Report
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. You can view your church's current progress below or by clicking here.
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West Texas District
Calendar of events
2015-2016
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2015
December 4-
District License Application Packets due
December 27, 2015 - January 2, 2016
Commission Unto Mexico
2016
January 12-
Ministerial Credentials/Education Committees--Lubbock
January 14-
SNU Spring Semester Classes Begin
January 15-17-
Shepherds' Sabbath Retreat
January 19-
Ministerial Credentials/Education Boards--Fort Worth
February 20- Fort Worth Zone Talent & Quiz (Denton, Arrowhead, & Mid-Cities invited)
February 20- ALL Children's Zone Competitions - no later than the 20th
February 25-
Vision Conference/District Assembly Planning Session
February 18-20- SNU West Texas College Days
March 4-5-District Kids Fest & District Quiz at Lubbock First
March 7-
Pastor's Forum Sponsored by the RCPL at SNU
March 12-
Annual Pastor's Reports due
March 17-20-
Youth-A-Rama (Tentative)
March 19-
District Assembly Finance Committee Meeting
March 31 - April 3rd-
SNU Extravaganza
April 13-15-
Vision Conference/ District Assembly- Fort Worth
May 1-Early Bird Camper Registration by midnight
May 12-13, 2016-
SNU Board of Trustees
May 14, 2016-
Spring Commencement
June 1- Regular Rate Camper Registration by midnight
June 1-Counselor, Staff, & Intern registration by midnight
June 5-10- Family Camp at Camp Arrowhead
June 13-Regional Quiz at SNU
June 13-17
- Crave (Youth Camp)
June 15- Late Rate Camper Registration by midnight
June 27-July
1-Kids Camp
July 10-16- Encuentro Mission Trip
August 24-
SNU Fall Semester Classes Begin
September 1-Children's VBS / Summer Mission Offering due to General Treasurer
September 10- District Children's Council Meeting - Lubbock First
October 12-13- Youth Ministry Summit (Youth Leaders Conference)
November 10-11-
SNU Board of Trustees
November 11-12-
SNU Homecoming
December 10-
SNU Winter Commencement
December 27, 2016- January 3, 2017
- Commission Unto Mexico
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NOVEMBER PASTORAL BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
11/26 Steve Swanson
11/28 Jim Graham
DECEMBER PASTORAL BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
12/1 Morgan Callender
12/1 Travis Zachary
12/5 David Lee
12/6 Mandy Goon
12/6 Molly Pettit
12/8 Sheree Hayes
12/9 Gaylord & Sheree Hayes
12/9 Lowell Schmidt
12/9 Paul Lee
12/10 Josie Martinez
12/11 Johnnie Johnston
12/11 Sandra Porter
12/12 Johnnie & Joyce Johnston
12/12 Paul Prentice
12/14 Early & Betty Roberts
12/15 Mark & Angelica Banda
12/16 Chris & Kelly Branigan
12/16 Mandy Hewitt
12/17 Marvin & Ruth West
12/18 Gabriel Mora
12/19 Ishmael & Erika Mora
12/23 Eugenio Chavez
12/26 Moises Marquez Jr.
12/27 Linda Lennon
12/28 Corey & Beth Ann Jones
12/28 Todd & Raquel Forrest
12/29 Charles Gibson
12/29 Larry Dunlap
12/29 Randy Anderson
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