Dear Pastor friends,

Susan and I, and Malakai, have had a wonderful Christmas season as we have visited our pastors throughout the district on the zone Christmas tour. I've been reminded again of what a tremendous group of pastors and spouses we have here in West Texas. We pray that everyone has a very very blessed Christmas! I'll see you soon at the Shepherd Sabbath.

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

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.

With 2022 wrapping up, there’s still time to share the love of Christ with your neighbors around the globe by giving to the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Greater Compassion Fund.

By giving to the NCM Greater Compassion Fund, you are providing resources that will meet concrete needs for people who have been displaced from their homes, children’s education opportunities, and so much more. 

GIVE NOW

Soe Win*, age 8, lost his parents at a young age. He grew up never speaking and was mocked, bullied, and overlooked as disabled. Soe Win began attending his local Nazarene child development center, a space where children’s spiritual, educational, nutritional, and social needs are met. There, Soe Win’s teachers worked with him to develop language skills, and the first words he ever spoke were, “Jesus is able.” Today, Soe Win is thriving in public schools.

You can help even more children learn that ‘Jesus is able’ by giving to the NCM Greater Compassion Fund. 

 GIVE NOW

This year, your support of the Greater Compassion Fund made it possible to: 

• Care for Ukrainians who have fled violence or are living in the midst of war

• Ensure people all over the world receive the food, water, and shelter they need

• Partner with refugees to develop economic possibilities

• Provide safe spaces in local churches after major disasters

• Create safe, caring, and fun environments for children to learn and grow

• Share the hope of Christ when hope seems distant

 GIVE NOW

In Central America, church members saw Don Luis and his family as neighbors when they reached Honduras after fleeing from their home because their youngest daughter was being threatened by local gangs. Nazarenes cared for their neighbors as they migrated north in search of safer living environments and greater economic opportunities. Don Luis and his family faced extreme circumstances when they got lost in the jungle on their journey and were followed and threatened by hooded men. When they reached Honduras, they were met by volunteers from a local Nazarene church, who provided food, clothing, and encouragement from scripture.

When you give to the Greater Compassion Fund, you create opportunities to help more people like Don Luis.

Will you support people who are struggling before the end of the year? You can give the hope of Christ through loving compassion. 

Your gift to the NCM Greater Compassion Fund will ensure that vital needs are met with love and compassion.

Grace and peace,

Nell Becker Sweeden,

International Director, NCM

GIVE NOW

TO SEND GIFTS BY MAIL:

In the United States, make checks payable to “General Treasurer” and send them to:

Global Treasury Services

Church of the Nazarene

P.O. Box 843116

Kansas City, MO 64184-3116

Be sure to write “227” in the memo area.

In Canada, make checks payable to “Church of the Nazarene Canada” and send them to:

Church of the Nazarene Canada

3657 Ponytrail Dr

Mississauga, ON L4X 1W5

Be sure to write “227” in the memo area.

For additional countries, please give through your local church or district, designating your gift to NCM Greater Compassion.

Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center

COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY MONTH

"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