Each January we begin the season of annual reporting in preparation for District Assembly. We are asking pastors and churches to be aware and plan accordingly for the following timeline; please be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks:

• February 12, 2024 | Training for Pastors and Leaders on APR
• February 15, 2024 | APR opens for report submission
• February 25, 2024 | Deadline for local church Annual Meetings
• February 29, 2024 | Deadline for submitting ALL reports
• 1st week in April | Delegate/Pastor Training

Please save the date for our 117th Annual District Assembly, April 18 - 20, 2024, at the Hilton Parsippany in New Jersey. More information on registration, room blocks, and schedule of events will be made available in the coming weeks at the link below. You won’t want to miss this special event as we thank Rev. Dr. Samuel & Angela Vassel for their exemplary service to our district and elect our next District Superintendent for the Metro NY District.

We are looking for volunteers to serve at this event in the areas of registration, childcare, and greeters/ushers. Multi-lingual volunteers are welcome as we aim to serve our diverse population well. Registration fees will be waived for giving your time in this way. If you or someone within your congregation is interested in volunteering, please email Pastor Christine - pastorchristine@mnynaz.com.

We invite you to join us in support of Nazarene Theological Seminary in participating in the Seminary Sunday offering this January 28th. The Seminary Sunday offering benefits ministerial students—the seminarians—by enabling NTS to provide the finest theological education possible while keeping tuition low. Every dollar invested provides tuition assistance, student jobs, teacher salaries, faculty development, multicultural programs, continuing education, library books, technological services, buildings, student housing, maintenance and more! Click the link below for more information and resources.

The USA/Canada Region is prioritizing a new initiative called “Blessing Our Community” this year. Like previous years, they are providing resources for prayer and a sermon series spanning from Easter to Pentecost. There will also be many other valuable resources centered around becoming the missional church. To ensure you stay informed and have access to all the important details, kindly ensure your connection to Regional Communication by following the links below:

• Monthly HUB Email: Sign up here
• USA/Canada Region Facebook Page
• USA/Canada Region Instagram Page
• Blessing Our Community Website

All Metro NY District men are invited to join together at the Bridge Church, February 24th for Men's Conference 2024. Pastor Scott Caesar will lead us in a discussion on the topic of "When We Become Men: An Epic Journey to Biblical Manhood." The cost is $25, which will include breakfast and snacks throughout the day. Please text BRIDGE-MEN to 77948 to register by February 22.

Praxis, as the lifelong learning arm of Nazarene Theological Seminary, exists to equip faithful ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through continued formation, encouragement, and education in the Wesleyan theological tradition. Through paid subscriptions, lectureships, faculty teaching, online seminars, video resources, and conferences, are made available to all Nazarene clergy, laity, and the church in the USA/Canada region and around the world.

The MNYD leadership encourages you to explore the upcoming events and take advantage of these invaluable resources for the benefit of your own well-being and that of your church congregation. Click the link below to find out more information.

December Meeting Minutes of the District Advisory Council:

11/16/23 - Profiles for MNYD and District Superintendent approved.

11/28/23 - Link for profiles and nominations was closed.

12/20/23 - Regional office completed development of biographical information document for 47 nominees.

01/04/24 - Biographical information of every nominee sent to DAC along with link for each DAC member to register and vote their first 5 choices as a straw ballot. Confidentiality of all biographies is very important.

01/08/24 - DAC scheduled to meet with Dr. Stan Reeder, Regional Director USA/Canada Office to discern list of 10 nominees/candidates for MNYD Superintendent.

MNYD zoom prayer meeting began 01/04/24 and will continue every Thursday 7am-8am; and 7pm-8pm until District Assembly. 

For more information, click the links below.

• We celebrate the installation of Rev. William Dubon and Rev. Elizabeth Dubon as pastors of Iglesia del Nazareno Roca Viva.

• We celebrate the installation of Rev. Dieubon Alexandre, Pastor of Haitian Community Church of the Nazarene, along with his wife, Chantale Alexandre.

We join our NMI leaders in welcoming the Kwon family as our new District Links Missionaries, serving in Thailand! Please read their story below and remain in steadfast prayer for their continued ministry in Asia-Pacific.

'Go beyond the walls.' - Joshua 6:20

After experiencing repentance and eternal salvation in 1998, the Kwons’ obeyed the call of God to go into full-time ministry. After, ten years of fruitful ministry at Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) and then on Philippine field, the Kwon's again responded in obedience as God asked them to go beyond their comfort zone.

February 1, 2020, Donghwan (Bill) Kwon was appointed as the new Field Strategy Coordinator for the Southeast Asia (SEA) Field. The field covers 5 countries in mainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and two CAA countries). Currently there are around 180 churches, 150 pastors, and over 7,500 members. God’s vision for the SEA field by 2025 is “to be the missional field," with a goal of planting 300 new churches and organizing two new districts.

In July 2014, Bill Kwon began serving as the Myanmar country coordinator for the Southeast Asia field. He served as the District Superintendent of the Myanmar District from 2015-2019. The Myanmar district (now Myanmar Northwest District) is now a phase 2 district, gave birth to another phase 2 district (Myanmar Southern District), and planted the Central Myanmar Pioneer area where he served as founding DS for this District since 2020. Now the country of Myanmar has 73 missional churches and around 80 active ministers in the four districts.

Bill was elected as the 6th chancellor of Southeast Asia Nazarene Bible College (SEANBC) in August 2015. In 2018, SEANBC has surpassed that goal by simultaneously growing and multiplying, having grown to 792 students studying in 41 learning centers in mainland Southeast Asia. In February 2019, SEANBC was renamed Chapman International College (CIC) in order to reflect the school’s expanded vision and enable the school to offer education in creative access areas. Chapman is already set to offer liberal arts programs in Myanmar, Thailand, and more.

Mill Kwon is gifted in language learning and teaching. She has taught English as a second language from kindergarten kids to seminary students. She worked as a teacher trainer for Scholastics, ESL teacher at Faith Academy, and English instructor at APNTS. She is an experienced translator and interpreter, translating various books including Bible Quiz booklet and NMI handbook. Currently she translates the global NYI discipleship series, Be, Do, Go. She speaks, Korean, English, Thai, and some Mandarin.

The Kwons have four children, two girls and two boys. Their eldest daughter Yihyun (Andrea) is in her last year of school at George Mason University; their son Minki is a freshman at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. Their son Minjae and daughter Geumju are in the 8th and 5th grades at the International Community School of Bangkok, Thailand.

Musicians Needed!

If you or someone you know is a talented musician, and is willing to travel within the Metro NY District, please email Susan Magnuson and let her know. Many churches on our district are in need of musicians to assist in their Sunday services and we would love to be a resource for connecting those individuals. Please know that stipends may or may not be available and is based on the discretion and financial ability of the church in need.