Dear Pastor/Friends,

I hope and pray you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. There is so much to be thankful for! (Psalms 104:1-3) For me, near the top of my list are the wonderful pastors and families of the West Texas District. Please know that you are loved and appreciated. Susan and I are excited about seeing you at the upcoming zone Christmas parties!

I want to express my congratulations to Fort Worth Northside and Pastor Lynn Nichols, who just completed a very positive pastoral review. Lynn and Penny have been at Northside for over six years now and have done an excellent job. We are so pleased to have them on our district.

I had the privilege of attending an outstanding gathering of South Sudanese pastors and young people, which was held at Fort Worth Northside on November 12. This event was organized by Pastor Michael Gatkek. I am so grateful that Michael, who is the South Sudanese regional coordinator for USA/Canada, is based on our district. He has been involved in numerous church plants here and around the world. You will recall that we took a large offering at the district assembly last year for portable sound systems to be used in three South Sudanese churches in Aweil. God willing (and there are many challenges) Michael will be traveling to Aweil early next year to deliver these units!

Also on November 12, Susan and I had the privilege of attending a very special Thanksgiving service that was held at Rescue Hill Compassionate Ministry Center, in Arlington, celebrating the wonderful ministry of Premal and Kavita Awarsamal among international students at UTA.

There was a great group in attendance…over 100! The service was followed by a wonderful hand-cooked Indian meal. Providing authentic Indian cuisine to the students, prepared by Kavita, has been key to the success of the UTA ministry. Premal reports that their group has now grown to over two hundred students! Praise the Lord.

Finally, it’s time to preregister for the Shepherds’ Sabbath in Abilene, which will be held on January 13-15. We are very excited about seeing you there. You can reach the pre-registration instrument by CLICKING HERE.

God bless you, everyone! Have a blessed Advent season!

For you and with you,

Pastor David Downs

Our district finance officer, Dan Davisson, has prepared the West Texas District 2022-2023 "Funding The Mission" report as of December 1, 2022. 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. 

Click here to download the report.

Attention All Funding the Missions Users and Church Treasurers

The recent release of the FTM 3.0 by Stewardship Development has added a new enhancement that we wanted to bring to your attention. Now, when you go to your FTM webpage to pay your budget allocations for the World Evangelism Fund, Pensions and Benefits, and other 10% Missions Specials, you can also pay your District Unified Budget and Education Budget at the same time. You now have links on the “Contributions” page to both the West Texas District website and the Southern Nazarene University website. Just click the link and go directly to the “Give” page of either website. It’s just that easy! Please note that you will have the option of paying using either ACH, debit or credit card, and also the option of helping with the cost of the applicable fees. Please reference the screenshot below. If you have any questions, please contact the district office.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 2

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: 1. History & Polity of the Church of the Nazarene (the Manual course) and 2. Becoming a Holy People (the Holiness course).

      4. Meet with the Ministerial Credentials and Ministerial Studies Boards:

                       January 10, 2023 at Amarillo First Church of the Nazarene or

                       January 16, 2023 at Fort Worth Northside Church of the Nazarene

      5. If applying for a first-time district license and there has been a divorce in the past, the candidate must meet with the District Boards.

       6. Request an Application Packet from:

                        Zack Smithson

                        [email protected]

                       817-368-8090

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 10, 2023 at Amarillo First Church of the Nazarene or

                       January 16, 2023 at Fort Worth Northside Church of the Nazarene

           3. If applying for Ordination the candidate must meet with the District Boards. 

           4. Request an Application Packet from:

                        Zack Smithson

                        [email protected]

                       817-368-8090

In order to accommodate next year's General Assembly dates, there will be some date changes for Family Camp and CRAVE next year.

CRAVE: June 19-23, 2023

Family Camp: June 25-30, 2023

Dear Pastors and Children’s Ministry Leaders,

The Board of General Superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene has made a formal statement regarding our policy regarding sexual misconduct. “The Church of the Nazarene has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior with minors. All workers, leaders, and pastoral staff are to be above reproach in their conduct and to act in the best interest of others. This requires not only that they themselves refrain from engaging in any abusive or suspicious behavior involving minors; they will also be required to report without delay to the proper authorities anyone seen engaging in such behavior.” The Board of General Superintendents (statement from M11 conference in Louisville)

The West Texas Children and Youth Ministries partner with MinistrySafe for our online sexual abuse training. MinistrySafe is a tool to help churches begin the process of protecting the children and youth in their ministries. The West Texas Ministry Safe Training Team (MST) will be working with each church on the district that ministers to children to begin (or update) this process at their local church.

We will be taking the following approach.

Step 1 – Every Senior/Lead Pastor communicates with the West Texas Ministry Safe Training Team (MST) a list of pastoral staff, leaders, or volunteers who minister with children or youth (18 years of age or younger). All Senior/Lead Pastors are required to complete the training regardless if they directly minister to children/youth or not.

• Provide First/Last Name, working email, preferred language, and identify if Sexual Abuse Awareness Training (AWT) or Skillful Screening Training (SS) is required.
• Please note, Skillful Screening is required for all senior/lead pastors and anyone who screens/hires/fires staff or volunteers who will be ministering to children/youth.
• 
  

Step 2 – The MST will send a training email to each person’s email provided from Step 1. This email will include a link for each individual to complete the training. If there are individuals who do not have a working email, the senior pastor (or delegate) can contact the MST to discuss an alternative approach for training.

Step 3 – Each individual will open the link provided (open the link only once). They are to watch all seven videos and then complete the online quiz. This will take approximately one hour to complete the entire process for Sexual Abuse Awareness Training. (Senior Pastors are provided a separate link to complete the Skillful Screening Training).

Step 4 – The MinistrySafe system will notify the MST that the training is completed. The Team will update records and notify West Texas Kids Treasurer to initiate payment from local churches.

Step 5 – West Texas Kids Treasurer, Candace Clem ([email protected]), will coordinate with each local church to pay for the training. (Training costs $5 per MinistrySafe Awareness Training; $50 for Skillful Screening Training).

The MST is prepared to work with you as you conduct this process on the local level. See team contact information:

Mary Brewer - 817-915-5034 [email protected] Zones: Fort Worth, Lamesa, Metro Mid-Cities, Wichita Falls

Connie Lincecum - 817-240-4474 [email protected] Zones: Abilene, Amarillo, Arrowhead, Denton, High Plains, Lubbock



Jennifer Sommers – 817-919-8078 [email protected]

Regards,

Jennifer Sommers

West Texas District Children’s Director

Upcoming Events…Mark your calendars now!

• ACTIVATE 2023 - July 17-21, 2023 -Online registration will be up and ready in March 2023!
• BLAST! formerly Kids Fest at Lubbock First Church - March 3-4, 2023 - NEW things coming our way for this event beginning next year! Details coming soon.
• SPARK - Regional Children’s Leaders Event at Arrowhead Camp - March 16-18, 2023

Contact Jennifer Sommers for more information - [email protected]

• WTX KidMin Journey - virtual small group for any children’s leaders and volunteers on the district! Join anytime. Click here for details.
• WTX Ministry Leader Opportunity - deadline to join is December 20th. Click here for details.

Brighter Girls Conference ’23 is our teenage girls' annual time of getting together as young women of Christ who strive to find intentional time with Jesus!

This is a weekend of growing not only spiritually but together making new relationships our students can keep throughout the years. Brighter is open for female students in 6th - 12th grade. Hosted by Lubbock First Friday, February 10th - Sunday, February 12th. The cost is $65 (student/sponsor) more details and contact information can be found here.

If you're interested in potentially volunteering, working for, or partnering with Rescue Hill we would love for you to join us for an orientation on Thursday, December 15th. We will be going over our volunteer opportunities (prayer team, grocery stocking, house cleaning, and working shifts) and our employment opportunities (for overnight and weekend shifts). We also want to give a little education on what it's really like working with survivors. We hope you will join us at 6:30 PM for dinner and orientation! Registration is required. 

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

"A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal,"

Steve Mariboli in, Life, the Truth And Being Free.

As many of you know, December, in the Church of the Nazarene, is Compassionate Ministry Month. This month is set aside to help us remember the compassion Jesus showed as he ministered on this earth. His purpose was to show people then, and now, how we should act toward one another. He was teaching us how to live like Him.

The Church of the Nazarene was built on the premise of compassion. It is a foundational character of those who call themselves Christ followers. Compassion flows out of love for God and love for our neighbor. It is as essential in our walk, as worship. Compassion should be the DNA of who we are. Compassion is a lifestyle.

This December, CNMC is asking if each church on the district would consider first, take the time to pray for CNMC and second, show the new “This is CNMC” video one Sunday (or all of Sundays) and third, take up an offering to support CNMC. It would mean the world to us as we minister, but it means healing, deliverance and hope for those whom your compassion is given.

Here is the link to the video for your convenience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZZWDyYRPds&t=1s

You can send checks to:

Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center

P.O. Box 990, Cactus, Texas 79013

Or for online giving: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=G9P73NKKNXAME&source=url

Thank you, for all you do for the Kingdom of God and thank you in advance for your prayers, and for your support of CNMC this Compassionate Ministry Month!

With Hope, Peace, Joy & Love

Phil Anderson