December 7 , 2018
Lamesa Zone
Dear Pastor/Friends

I am writing this article from Lubbock 
where Susan and I are in the middle of a weeklong visit to the west side of the district. We are having a great time, visiting pastors and churches, and we are especially enjoying the zone Christmas parties. So far we've had great fun at the Amarillo, Lamesa, and Lubbock Zone parties. 
Amarillo Zone

This Saturday, we will be with the High Plains Zone, Monday with the Denton Zone, Tuesday with the Fort Worth area zones and then next Saturday with the Wichita Falls Zone. (Scheduling will not allow us to make it  to the Abilene Zone pa rty, but I did have lunch with the Abilene Zone pastors at Thanksgiving). Several have mentioned that it must be difficult to get around to the zones like this, (2000 miles driving and 1000 flying) but honestly, it is a great highlight of the year for us. Susan works from her laptop in the motel room during the day while I visit churches and pastors. We are reminded each year what a wonderful group of pastoral families we work with and what a great district this is!

Wednesday evening, I had the privilege of visiting our precious Spanish-language church in Muleshoe.  You will recall that they just recently joined our district after renting our building in Muleshoe as an independent holiness church for several years. Pastor Rafael and Mrs. Erminia Cordero are a wonderful missional couple. I am grateful for the special ministry they have among Central American immigrants who work in the dairy industry and cotton fields there. I am always very warmly greeted in Muleshoe. During the service,  I had the  blessing of bringing the children forward and praying for them. What an honor to be associated with this tremendous congregation!
Thursday morning, I met Pastor Travis Zackary of our Refuge Church in Lubbock.  You might recall that their building was destroyed by fire eighteen months ago.  They are now back in their building, and it has been beautifully restored. Everything is like new...and they are debt-free.  Their sanctuary (pictured here) now seats 300! The growth and health of Refuge over the past 5 years has been one of the success stories on our district. Travis,  Alan Wallace, and their staff have done a tremendous job of leading through the fire restoration. One of the great things has been the updating of the baptistry, which is used very frequently in this growing deliverance-based congregation. Incidentally I noticed that they had framed the Pilot Point memento, which we gave out at the district assembly last year, and have it displayed prominently on the platform. "This is to remind our people of our missional/compassionate heritage as Nazarenes," Pastor Travis told me. 
We enjoyed, very much, being with co-pastors Phil and Martha Patalano for their installation in Snyder this past Sunday evening. This was followed by a great celebration meal.  After the meal, Susan and I had a very encouraging tour of the fully refurbished parsonage.  Please join me in prayer for Phil and Martha and their congregation. They hope to begin a powerful Spanish-language ministry in Snyder in the near future.

We are saying goodbye to one of our great pastoral couples later this month as co-pastors Ryan and Serina Nelson will be leaving our district on December 30th to take a new pastorate at the Church Street Church of the Nazarene in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The Nelsons have served in our Amarillo North Beacon church for the past 4 1/2 years and have done a wonderful job. The church has tripled in attendance, paid all of it's district and denominational allocations, and has seen many people give their hearts to the Lord! It is an understatement that the Nelsons will be greatly missed...but we are proud of them, and we know they are in the center of God's will. Susan and I will be at North Beacon this coming Sunday morning (God willing) and will begin the process of leading toward the calling of their replacements.

I love participation in and celebrating new ministries! There are two new ministries beginning in the Panhandle this winter. Sunday afternoon, we will be with Shawn and Rochelle Fouts for the launch of the new Intersection Community congregation in Canyon, a suburb of Amarillo. We are very excited about the vision God has given the Fouts for Canyon! 

Then, on January 19 at 3:00, we will have the official ribbon-cutting and dedication service for "The Well Health Center." Everyone is invited. They will open for their first patients on Monday, January 21st. It's hard to express what a blessing this will be for the people in Cactus. So many good things are happening at the Nazarene Ministry Center there! You can subscribe to their newsletter by  CLICKING HERE. Incidentally, we are very excited about the early January arrival of the new Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center Directors Steve and Pam Wingate. They are a great couple coming to us from Grove City, Ohio. 

Finally, Brothers and Sisters, please take a moment to view the "Giving for Others" report by  CLICKING HERE. Frequently this report helps pastors who are not aware of their current budget status. Our finance officer, Dan Davisson, is reporting to me that we have fallen behind as a district as we move into the final quarter of the fiscal year. I have confidence in you! Last year was our best year in this important area since I've served with you. I know that you will do everything possible in this vital area of pastoral leadership to finish very strong. Thank you. Thank you.

For you and with you,

Pastor David Downs






Our district treasurer, Dan Davisson, has prepared the West Texas 2018-2019, "Funding The Mission" report as of December 5, 2018. 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.







Dear Pastors,
 
As many of you may already be aware, as of January 1, 2019, Fidelity Investments will no longer be accepting paper checks for contributions to the Nazarene 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan accounts. Consequently, it is imperative that every church create an online account in the new Pensions & Benefits (P&B) "403(b) Contributions" system before December 31, 2018. I have attached a link for you and your treasurer's use to access important information from P&B concerning how to create and utilize an online account for all future contributions from the church. It is important to remember that you will also not receive eligible supplemental contributions from P&B unless there is a "Participation Agreement" on file with P&B. If your church does not already have the required "Participation Agreement", I have also attached a link to this form.

For pastors that are already participating in the Nazarene 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan, once your church's online account is set up in the 403(b) Contributions" system, you should automatically be listed. If not, please contact P&B at 888-888-4656.

For pastors that are not currently participating in the Nazarene 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan and have never completed the Fidelity Investments "Letter of Agreement", an online form can be completed and electronically signed during the online setup process. In addition, a hard copy of the "Letter of Agreement" should also be completed and kept on file at the church. I have attached a link to this form as well.


Again, if you have any questions concerning setting up your church's online account in the new P&B "403(b) Contributions" system, please contact Pensions & Benefits at 888-888-4656 or Dan Davisson at the District office at 817-479-8611.


Dan Davisson
WTD Finance Officer

 
 
  
 
 

IMPORTANT REMINDER

 
 

 
 
 
 
 





The Well Health Center
Grand Opening
January 19, 2019

Open House and Dedication
from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

 


 






      
12/1 Morgan Callender
12/1 Travis Zachary
12/2 Frank & Grace Mensah
12/3 Jesus Espinoza
12/5 Peggy Lewis
12/6 Amanda Pettit
12/6 Molly Pettit
12/7 Angalique Parker
12/7 Terra Edwards
12/8 Christiana Sesay
12/8 Micah Boice 
12/8 Olivia Boice 
12/8 Sheree Hayes
12/9 Gaylord & Sheree Hayes
12/9 Lowell Schmidt
12/9 Paul Lee
12/10 Melissa Newton
12/11 Sandra Porter
12/12 Jose Perez
12/12 Paul Prentice
12/13 Josh Boice
12/14 Earl & Betty Robertson
12/15 Mark & Angelica Banda
12/16 Chris & Kelly Branigan
12/16 Mandy Hewitt
12/17 Marvin & Ruth West
12/18 Gabriel Mora 
12/18 Greg & Martha White
12/19 Dan Sommers
12/19 Ismael & Erika Mora
12/19 Jairo & Chrissy Maldonado

12/19 Jason & Kim Powers
12/19 Lawrence Gulley
12/20 Andrew & Emily Taylor
12/20 Trace Hewitt 
12/22 Jonna Jones
12/23 Eugenio Chavez
12/23 Jim & Genell Knisley
12/23 Tyler Frazier 
12/25 Chares Parker 
12/26 Brian Frazier
12/26 Moises Marquez Jr.
12/27 Linda Lennon
12/28 Mark Hewitt
12/28 Corey & Beth Ann Jones
12/28 Crystal Lewis
12/28 Todd & Raquel Forrest
12/29 Charles Gibson
12/29 Larry Dunlap
12/29 Randy Anderson
12/29 Sydnie Newton
12/30 Mae Lynn Parker
12/30 Mark Lofton
12/30 Sherry Seigman
12/31 Selah Diaz

     


Dec. 27 - Jan. 2  Commission Unto Mexico (Guadalajara)
January 8   Ministerial Credentials/Education Committee, Amarillo First
January 14-15  Ministerial Credentials/Education Boards, Fort Worth Northside
February  Alabaster Offering to Global Treasury Services
February 1-3   Shepherds' Sabbath Retreat, Abilene, TX
February 24  Vision Conference and District Assembly Planning Session
February 28  District Nominating Committee Meeting
Feb. 24 - March 2  Nazarene World Week of Prayer
March 2-3  Kids Fest and District Quiz Quiz, Lubbock First
March 12  Annual Pastor's Reports Due
March 15-17  Man Camp, Arrowhead Camp and Retreat Center
March 16  Arrowhead Camp Board Meeting, Arrowhead Camp and Retreat Center
March 23
District Assembly Finance Committee Meeting (Tentative)
April 10-12 Vision Conference & District Assembly, Lubbock First
April 28 SNU Sunday
May 9-10 SNU Board of Trustees Meeting, SNU
May 11 SNU Spring Commencement
June 9-14 Family Camp, Arrowhead Camp and Retreat Center