October/November 2024

CENTRAL GULF COAST

CONNECTION

A WORD FROM PASTOR RYAN

"Alright, CGC...Many of you have asked how we can help in North Carolina. We have a plan. We're collecting canned food, bottled water, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and flashlights at the District Ministry Resource Center, 1003 East Main Street, Prattville, AL 36066. Just stack in the back of the DMRC.

You have until Friday morning, Oct. 4, to bring supplies. The trailer will leave late Friday morning.

Rev. Gary Aldridge is taking the items to North Carolina in his trailer. These are the needs the District Superintendent from North Carolina has asked for. They have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. This is our opportunity to come alongside our brothers and sisters on the front line of this devastation.

If you can't bring supplies, would you consider donating directly to ncnaz.org?"

We had an amazing Team Day this year. We had record attendance and great breakout sessions. Rev. H. Lamar Smith challenged us as we heard two amazing messages. River Region COTN did a fantastic job leading us in worship and their team served us well.

I continue to hear stories around our district of how churches are “reaching” and blessing their communities. God is moving in mighty ways on the CGC.

Let’s congratulate and be praying for these churches and their new pastors as they begin serving together:

Rev. Ryan Brown

District Superintendent

- Rev. Blake Mohling at Tuscaloosa Holten Heights COTN

- Pastor Greg Wilson at Landmark COTN

- Rev. Angela Stephens at New Faith COTN

- Rev. Robert Prater at Roanoke COTN

- Pastor Blas Garcia at Iglesia Manantial de Vida Nazareno

- Rev. Sam Evans at Ridgeville COTN

- Pastor Anderson Perez at Moundville COTN

Churches in Transition:

Please be in prayer for our East Brewton church as they continue to pray about their next pastor.

CGC MISSION

CGC VISION

MINISTRY TEAM RETREAT

DEADLINE to Book

October 14

IMPORTANT!

To receive tax-exempt status, your church must send their

tax-exempt letter to the District Ministry Resource Center.

UPCOMING TRAININGS

M25 CONFERENCE - FEB 2025 - KANSAS CITY, MO

EARLY BIRD PRICING $79 - CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO REGISTER

M25 is a USA/Canada Regional quadrennial Nazarene conference focused entirely on evangelism. It will further the Regional Vision, our CoRe Strategy of the Cycle of Resurgence, and in particular our 2025 emphasis of Bringing People to Jesus. The agenda will include plenary speakers, break-out workshops, affinity group meetings and corporate worship times. Pastors, Lay Leaders, and Students will leave this conference encouraged, equipped, empowered and ready to engage in new ways of Bringing People to Jesus.

DISTRICT NEWS & REMINDERS

ATTENTION CHURCH TREASURERS

In order to receive proper credit for NTS/NBC gifts, reporting should be done as follows:

All gifts to NTS or NBC must be reported on the Funding the Mission website via the point to point reporting method. These gifts will be credited as approved point to point giving.

AUDIT OF TREASURER'S BOOKS

Every church is advised to conduct an annual audit of the financial records of the treasurer(s) of the church. This includes the NYI, NDI, NMI, Nazarene childcare/schools, and any other financial records of the church as mandated in the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene.

CHURCH PROOF OF INSURANCE & INCORPORATION PAPERS

The District Advisory Board requests that all churches provide proof of insurance, in addition to filing incorporation papers at the District Office; unless your church has already done so.

District Finance Report and District Calendar

For Global Nazarene News visit the Nazarene Communications Network (NCN)

Nazarene Discipleship Ministries (NDI)

Brian Aaron, District NDI President

Prime Time Retreat

The Central Gulf Coast District Prime Timers held their retreat August 22-23-24 at Shocco Springs Talladega. This year we changed our retreat to a Thursday-Friday-Saturday so everyone could be home on Sunday for church. This was one of the best retreats we have ever had. Our D.S. Ryan Brown was our speaker & Cannanland sang on Friday night. The Holy Spirit was so real in our services.

We went paddleboat riding on Friday afternoon. Fun, fun, fun! We raised a lot of money with our auction and our Auburn/Alabama Fundraiser. Make plans to join us next year, August 21-22-23, for our retreat. The location has not yet been determined.

Gail Holley, Central Gulf Coast Prime Time Director

I was able to attend the Singles Retreat in NC this year, and it was fantastic! Over 250 singles from several states attended. The music was uplifting and the services were full of God’s blessings and exactly what I needed. As we all go through times when we walk through Deep Waters, be assured that God will go with you…He is always beside you and His promises are true. One evening we took a prayer walk from station to station and that was so spiritual and meaningful to me. It helped me to reflect on some areas in my life that I have been burdened about…some Deep Waters that I have been walking through. But God is good…all the time!

I would like to encourage you to consider going to at least one retreat each year…as you will be blessed. Plan ahead and mark the date on your calendar, save up your money (or have fundraisers), and go be blessed (take some friends too)! Everyone needs a retreat from time to time!

God bless,

Ronda Williams

Children's Bible Quizzing

Children’s Bible Quizzing on the Central Gulf Coast District is alive and well. We had our first quiz meet, a practice quiz, on September 14 at Praise Park, with 18 quizzers from across the district. We have quiz teams from Spencer, Holten Heights, Roanoke, River Region, Praise Park, and Capital City. Even though official scores were not calculated, we had several quizzers with perfect scores. They are preparing to defend their First-Place trophy from the 2024 South Central Regional Quiz Meet. Every quizzer from that First-Place team is back this year, and there are several other quizzers that are challenging that group. Also, there are several other churches on the district planning to participate this year. Registration fee is $10 per quizzer for the year. Please complete the Registration Form as soon as possible and send a church check for the registration fees. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Bill Hamby at 205-294-9849 or email him at bill.hamby@hotmail.com.

The quiz schedule for this year is as follows:

October 12 – Quiz 1 (Pensacola First) Dig Sites 1-5

November 2 – Quiz 2 (Lanett) Dig Sites 6-10

January 25 – Quiz 3 (Dothan First) Dig Sites 11-15

February 22 – Quiz 4 (Columbiana) Dig Sites 16-20

March 8 – District Quiz (Capital City) Dig Sites 1-20

April 25-26 – South Central Children’s Quiz (Atlanta, GA) Dig Sites 1-20

UPCOMING EVENTS

RETREAT DEPOSIT OF $100 DUE DEC 1!

Click Here to Read the Global NDI Newsletter!

Nazarene Missions International (NMI)

Diane Thompson, District NMI President

centralgulfcoast.org/cgc-nmi

PRAYER ...

... is the number one requirement for being a Mission Priority One Church. I encourage you to draw closer to God by adding a fast with your prayer time. So, what is fasting? Simply to deny yourself something of enjoyment, a meal, a particular food or drink, or an activity, then dedicate yourself to sincere prayer. What do we want to see happen in our churches? Obviously, we want to experience a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit for the saving of souls; for the calling of people to serve; for our missionaries and their needs. Once a week, or month, or whatever the Lord puts on your heart, just plan a time to fast a meal and with God’s help follow through. Matthew 17:21 KJV …Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

To be a Mission Priority One Church:

1. Pray for needs around the world

2.Give something to Alabaster

3. Care & Connections – Pray and Connect with Nazarene missionaries this year

4. Engage Children & Youth in Missions

5. Pay World Evangelism Fund in Full

6. Submit the Local NMI President’s Report at the end of the fiscal year

These offerings go toward WEF:

Easter, Thanksgiving, Prayer & Fasting (optional), and Faith Promise.

Offerings can be submitted through Funding the Mission or mailed to:

Global Treasury Services

P.O. Box 843116

Kansas City, MO 64184-3116

NACA Nazarene Missions Trip

NACA Nazarene Missions Trip Details

April 5-11, 2025

Cost: $55 per day per person – This includes transportation to and from the airport either from Albuquerque, Phoenix, or Flagstaff.

Transportation is on your own with arrival on Saturday mid-morning.

Sunday – Worship

Monday-Thursday – Work

Friday – Sight-seeing (optional)

Saturday – Travel home

Registration forms will be posted on NMI FB and CGC District Website in January.

JESUS FILM TRIP

Please be in prayer for Rev. Freddy Williams as he delivers a set of JESUS Film equipment to a team in Guatemala the first of October. We are praising God for the opportunity to be a part of this ministry and for someone who is willing to go.