Dear Pastor/Friends,

I am very grateful for all of the pastors in my life. My childhood and adolescent pastors (Pastors Phillips, Mayberry, and Murphy) each had a profound and different impact upon my life and ministry. During October we hope our congregations recognize our pastors in a special way, but for me…every day is Pastors’ Day. Susan and I deeply love our pastors and their families. One of the greatest blessings of my life is the opportunity to serve, encourage…and sometimes to defend and protect, the shepherds of the Lord’s flock on our district.

It was a great honor to install pastor Jeremy Page at Fort Worth Westridge Church on October 16th. Jeremy, Lynette and their son, Luke are already greatly loved by their new congregation. The day of the installation was also the day of Westridge’s 70th anniversary celebration. What a great day it was! The congregation was overflowing into the foyer. It was wonderful to see former staff and pastors. I thank the Lord for this good congregation!         

It was a great encouragement to hold our annual Discovery Weekend for district-licensed ministers and spouses this past weekend in Euless, after missing two years due to Covid. In addition to addressing the group myself, we had the privilege of meeting extensively with Drs Linda and Richard Cantwell, of SNU. They are highly trained and experienced with Strength Finders. It was, as always, very illuminating and encouraging for us all, including Susan and myself. Special thanks to our district secretary, Zack Smithson, who organized and hosted the event. Next October, we will meet for a Discovery Weekend on the west side of the district. Pictured below left to right, are, Tracy Wallace, Robert Wallace, Mary Brewer, Anthony Brewer, Jose Palacios, Vicky Palacios, Zack Smithson, Dr. Linda Cantwell, Fred Rodriguez, Monica Rodriguez, Pastor Downs, Max Saucedo, Mike Mehany, and Susan Mehany.

Two of our newest church-planting couples participated in Discovery Weekend. Pastor Robert and Tracy Wallace, who are planting a rural organic work near Peoria, and Fred and Monica Rodriguez who are planting in the Woodhaven neighborhood in Ft. Worth. Fred and Monica recently took a group of leaders from their new congregation (which is now running 15-25 weekly) to Kansas City for an Evangelism Multiplication Conference sponsored through the GMC. Also, in September they hosted their first community-outreach event, serving a Grandparents’ Day breakfast at nearby Elliot elementary school. The Lord helped feed the multitude as they had planned to feed 75-100 that day, yet over 200 came! Fred reports that not only did they have enough to feed everyone…there were enough leftovers to feed the teachers as well. We are grateful for all of our church planters around the district. It hasn’t been easy to plant churches over the past couple of years, but they have been faithful, and the Lord is beginning to produce the fruit.

Susan and I are looking forward to being with many of our pastoral families in Hereford this coming Saturday for the Amarillo Zone Fall Festival fellowship. Then we will be traveling across the district in December, hoping to attend each of the Zone Christmas gatherings. I really like the way the annual ornaments look this year. We plan to bring them with us to distribute at the parties. 

Zone Christmas parties are scheduled on the following dates. Your zone chairpersons will provide details:

• Amarillo, Dec. 2
• High Plains, Dec.3
• Arrowhead, Dec. 5
• Abilene, Dec. 6
• Lubbock, Dec. 8
• Denton, Dec 9
• Lamesa, Dec. 10
• Wichita Falls, Dec.11
• Combined Metro Zones, Dec. 12

It is going to be a busy, and highly enjoyable, Christmas season. It looks like this year we were able to schedule all of the Christmas gatherings without overlapping. We are excited about seeing each of you!

For you and with you,

Pastor David Downs

PASTORS' FAMILIES SAFETY NETWORK

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

Hello West Texas!

We are nearing our first deadline to get registered for Nazarene Youth Conference 2023 in Tampa Bay!!!

Cost of trip: $1750 by October 15th ($1850 October 16th - January 15th)

October 15th - early bird registration deadline with a $150 payment made towards the trip.

$650 must be paid by January 15th, 2023 as well as registration closes after this date.

Trip paid in full by May 15th, 2023

If you have any questions please contact your Youth Pastor/Leader and then contact either Kelsea or I if y’all need anything else!

Thank you kindly, 

Kelsea Gale Beville

Communication Director | Graphic Designer

Lubbock FCN

6110 Chicago Ave.

Lubbock, TX 79424

(806) 794-1675

[email protected]

and 

Michael Preston

West Texas NYI President | Youth Pastor

Lantana Community Church

2200 E Jeter Rd.

Bartonville, TX 76226

469-316-8549

[email protected]

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries has announced a newly assigned offering to assist with the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian.

Individuals can give online at:  https://give.ncm.org/category/project-types/all-projects/140017

If churches prefer to donate by check, they can make the checks payable to General Treasurer, note for NCM Project #140017, and mail to:

 GLOBAL TREASURY SERVICES CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE              P O BOX 843116                                                                                           KANSAS CITY MO 64184-3116

This November, from the 21st until the 29th, we are joining once again with a number of other organizations in the Panhandle to raise funds through the Panhandle Gives. This campaign is centered around Giving Tuesday which is November 29th. Last year, you, our friends, and a host of your friends, helped CNMC raise nearly $40,000! This year, we would like to reach our goal of $100,000! This amount will enable us to continue the ministries currently offered though the wonderful staff we have and will have but also, help us to grow and expand the CNMC ministry to help meet even more people's needs in 2023.

Another way you can partner with us during the campaign is to become a fundraising hero yourself; you can have your own fundraising page on the Panhandle Gives website with CNMC and direct all of your friends and acquaintances to your page to give to the ministry of CNMC. If you, as a Peer to Peer fundraising hero for CNMC, raise the most money for the campaign there is a special prize from CNMC. If you are interested in in helping CNMC as a fundraising hero, please contact Phil Anderson at [email protected] to get you signed up.

Also, would you consider praying specifically about what God would have you give to CNMC this November and donate through the Panhandle Gives? The more we raise, the more we receive through the Amplification Fund. Money donated to the Panhandle Gives Amplification Fund is distributed to organizations by percentage of total money they raise over $250. Every dollar helps us reach our goal!

The ministry really needs a very good to good midsize 4 door travel car, such as a Hyundai, Kia, Toyota etc. This car would be used for travel back and forth to the bank in Dumas and meetings in Amarillo and the West Texas District. We would also use it to deliver Meals on Wheels have it available for interns, and other in-town ministries in which walking is not an option. Right now, most of us use our own vehicles to run errands and do ministry for CNMC. This car would be a great blessing to help staff not have to use their own vehicles or drive the large 15 passenger vans we have for teams.

If you are willing to donate for a car, just earmark your donation ‘car’. If you have a car that you would like to donate that is reliable and fits our needs, please call Rev. Olbin Visagie through our office number: 806-421-0160. 

Pastors Alli and Olbin Visagie are available to speak in churches (virtually or in person) to share their missions story. 

You may contact them by calling Cactus Ministry Center at 806-421-0160 or email them directly.  

[email protected]

[email protected]