BELIEVING THE UNCONVENTIONAL

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December 2013 Dr. Larry W. Leonard District Superintendent lwleonard@tnnaz.org BELIEVING THE UNCONVENTIONAL Conventional wisdom paralyzes our imagination.

The day before I wrote this article, I was driving down the city streets of Nashville. I saw a man walking a rather large white dog.

Before I got to them, I noticed that the dog firmly placed all four feet in the ground and refused to move, lowering its head as if getting something off the ground to eat.

Yes, a man was walking a goat on a dog leash in the heart of Nashville!

1 December 2013 Dr. Larry W. Leonard District Superintendent BELIEVING THE UNCONVENTIONAL Conventional wisdom paralyzes our imagination. We have been taught so many stereotypes that when an opposite situation arises that doesn t fit nicely into the normal mold, we have trouble believing. The day before I wrote this article, I was driving down the city streets of Nashville. I saw a man walking a rather large white dog. The only reason I paid any attention to this normal occurrence was that they were dangerously close to the road. Before I got to them, I noticed that the dog firmly placed all four feet in the ground and refused to move, lowering its head as if getting something off the ground to eat. Four feet straining against the leash is not the normal behavior of a trained dog. As I got up beside them, I realized that the dog was no dog at all. It was a goat! Yes, a man was walking a goat on a dog leash in the heart of Nashville! The goat was decked out with an orange bandanna around its neck and a scarf neatly wrapped around its ears to protect them from the wind! I couldn t believe my eyes, but it was true: the conventional dog on a leash turned out to be an unconventional goat on a leash! When the baby Jesus came to the world as the long-awaited Messiah, few believed because He did not fit into the conventional wisdom of the adult king whom they believed would conquer people and systems adverse to the nation of Israel. Jesus was the true King predicted by Isaiah, but the human imagination was frozen into large blocks of impenetrable disbelief. The very Savior of a nation, of a people, of all humanity was abused, reviled, and crucified, simply because people weren t willing to believe something unconventional. Like many of us, they did not want to know what they did not already know. It is easy for us to criticize the people of Israel these many years later. However, do we do the same thing with our conventional wisdom? When God doesn t behave the way we think He should, do we receive Him as the Sovereign One who is always proving Romans 8:28: For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose? Do we become bitter and blaming, even to the infinite Creator God? At this Christmas season we must allow our God to be whatever He decides is best for Him to be in our circumstances. Even if our life situations are as improbable as a goat on a leash wearing a bandanna and scarf, do you still trust and embrace the Savior of the universe to do all things well? Believe the unconventional God who says, As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Make this Christmas season one where God can do the unconventional in your life.

SDMI: Sunday School Discipleship Ministries International Rev. David Hill, SDMI Chairman 403 Page Place Mt.

net Sunday School Make the Connection People of Prayer Engaged in the Word Making Christlike Disciples Christmas Greetings from the

ANNUAL AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY OFFERING Each church will receive an offering of gratitude for God s Word which will help the ABS

org or mark and send your offering to the General Treasurer.

net. Mark your calendars and promote MARCH 1, 2014 IMPROVE YOUR SERVE First Church of the Nazarene Nashville, Tennessee A beneficial

2 SDMI: Sunday School Discipleship Ministries International Rev. David Hill, SDMI Chairman 403 Page Place Mt. Juliet, TN Sunday School Make the Connection People of Prayer Engaged in the Word Making Christlike Disciples Christmas Greetings from the Tennessee District Sunday School Discipleship Ministries Team. God bless you during this celebration of Advent! God with us! ANNUAL AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY OFFERING Each church will receive an offering of gratitude for God s Word which will help the ABS spread the Word. Please designate the offering with AOT1002 through fundingthemission.org or mark and send your offering to the General Treasurer. WOMEN S BREAKAWAY JANUARY 25, 2014 Grace Church of the Nazarene Nashville, TN For more details, contact Ruth Chandler at mcghee55@att.net. Mark your calendars and promote MARCH 1, 2014 IMPROVE YOUR SERVE First Church of the Nazarene Nashville, Tennessee A beneficial day of training for church leaders, ministry directors, teachers, and all God s servants. District Men s Retreat I Am A Warrior Evening March 7 Lunch March 8 Camp Garner Creek Great line-up of speakers including Ron Gilbert, Randy Durien, Steve Estep and special guest Col. Jeff Hawkins. For more information, contact Pastor Nick Deford at (615) or pastornickdeford@gmail.com.

NMI: Nazarene Missions International Mrs. Becky Hancock, President 504 W. Angela Circle Goodlettsville, TN 37072 E-mail: becky.hancock52@gmail.

NMI designates this as "Compassion month and most of you add compassionate ministries to your local church Christmas activities. God is glorified in this and we are blessed.

I was agreeing with the prayer this week in the devotional book, "Reflecting God'" asking God "for young people to be involved in ministries to the poor, homeless and needy in the U.S.

We will be collecting these kits as a district at Improve Your Serve in March and saving your church some shipping costs. Our Work and Witness team is in Cuba! In February another team is going.

3 NMI: Nazarene Missions International Mrs. Becky Hancock, President 504 W. Angela Circle Goodlettsville, TN "We know that indeed this is the Christ, the Savior of the world." John 4:42 Ah, sweet December! The time to love as God loved us! NMI designates this as "Compassion month and most of you add compassionate ministries to your local church Christmas activities. God is glorified in this and we are blessed. Don't forget the Disaster Relief needs in our world as well and give through NCM. I was agreeing with the prayer this week in the devotional book, "Reflecting God'" asking God "for young people to be involved in ministries to the poor, homeless and needy in the U.S. Our children and teens want that opportunity so why not provide a way for them to do that. Making Crisis Care Kits is a great way! We will be collecting these kits as a district at Improve Your Serve in March and saving your church some shipping costs. Our Work and Witness team is in Cuba! In February another team is going. Many of you had the privilege of meeting Rev. Bob Prescott on his recent district tour. He has challenged us to continue our partnership with the church at Camaguey as he coordinates the teams going to this country. Our partner church there has poured the third and final section of the roof and is ready to begin the finishing touches on the building. Pray for our teams as they go and then share the news with your local congregations. God is calling many to serve as volunteers. One of our own has felt the call to a creative access area. Amy Murphy, our pastor at Joelton, has begun preparations to go in February. Tennesseans have blessed others who have made this commitment. I know you will do the same for Amy. Be ready to host her and bless her with your generosity. May you find joy in this holy season as you celebrate the Christ, the Savior of the World!

com December is here, the lights are hung, the tree is being trimmed, and the stores are slammed with people singing Christmas music or

The celebration of advent and the new year on the horizon bring excitement and reflection of the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

This years event was once again held at Hermitage church. The church was an amazing host to this record-breaking event.

Daniel Meadow and his team did a fantastic job of leading us through a truly memorable weekend.

tennessee.nazquizzing.org. We are proud of our quizzers for their passion for the Word.

Laser tag, bowling, dodgeball, ice skating, Let It Shine gymnastics and MORE are planned for this great night.

4 NYI: Nazarene Youth International Rev. Jason Underwood, NYI President 584 Franklin Road Franklin, TN December is here, the lights are hung, the tree is being trimmed, and the stores are slammed with people singing Christmas music or at least making a joyful noise. The celebration of advent and the new year on the horizon bring excitement and reflection of the hope we have in Jesus Christ. The TNYI has been blessed to see God at work this year and we look forward to what is in store for our students as we look ahead. This years event was once again held at Hermitage church. The church was an amazing host to this record-breaking event. We had 546 in attendance as students competed in athletic events displaying their gifts from God, for God. Daniel Meadow and his team did a fantastic job of leading us through a truly memorable weekend. Our quiz teams are preparing for the final stretch of the season. If you would like to see the full quiz results so far go to We are proud of our quizzers for their passion for the Word. Mark your calendars now for our nearly new years lock-in. This year s event will begin at Christ Church on FRIDAY JANURY 3. Laser tag, bowling, dodgeball, ice skating, Let It Shine gymnastics and MORE are planned for this great night. More information will be available on our website or contact Pastor Jon Allen (jon@youthstory.org) for more details. Extravaganza is not over yet! Extravaganza Arts will be held January at Trevecca Community Church. Jamin Wentworth (jwentworth@tccn.org) will lead the arts portion of Extravaganza. Look for forms and more information at tnnyi.com. With all of us gearing up for Extravaganza we can t forget that TNT@TNU will sneak up on us quickly. The dates are April 3-6. We want as many students there as possible as we prepare to defend our title of grand champion!

5 Attendance Report for November Clarksville Mission Area SS AM Clarksville First Clarksville Grace Clarksville Korean Clarksville Park Lane Dover Gray s Chapel Long Creek Woodlawn Community Columbia Mission Area Brentwood Concord Comm Columbia First Columbia Grace Franklin Community Gateway Community Lawrenceburg Grace Lawrenceburg Vaughan Lewisburg Nashville New Life Korean Pleasant Point Spring Hill Restoration Comm Fly Mission Area Elmore Fly Jones Chapel Mt. Wesley-Akin Chapel Savannah Summertown Memphis North Mission Area Covington Crossroads Community Dyersburg Memphis Calvary Memphis New Hope Millington Memphis South Mission Area Memphis Christ Like Memphis Eastside Memphis Emmanuel Memphis Faithful Believers Memphis Friendship Memphis Grace Memphis Holiness Tabernacle Memphis Hope Tabernacle Memphis Refreshing Springs Nashville East Mission Area Hermitage Madison Madison Hispanic Nashville Bethel Nashville First Nashville Grace Nashville Inglewood Nashville Whites Creek Old Hickory Baptized Gallatin ~ Pastor Alan Thompson Shelby Perry Nashville North Mission Area SS AM Ashland City Faith Comm Gallatin Goodlettsville Greenbrier New Walk Hendersonville Highland Joelton Portland Springfield Sumner Cty. Living Springs Nashville South Mission Area Kingston Springs Nashville Bell Road Nashville Blakemore Nashville Calvary Korean Nashville Christ Nashville Community Fellowship Nashville Donelson Nashville Glencliff Hispanic Nashville Kaleo Nashville Immanuel Nashville Trevecca Comm Nashville Trinity Nashville Westwind Waverly Mission Area Camden Dickson Lighthouse Erin Fulton Griffin s Chapel Jason Chapel Paris Pine Hill Waverly TOTAL Thanks to ALL churches for 100% reporting for 93 consecutive months. Welcome New Nazarenes Gallatin ~ Pastor Alan Thompson Glenda Porter; Harold & Anne Kemp; Ed & Donna Richardson Memphis Calvary ~ Pastor Lynn Holmes Chip, Elizabeth & Dylan Boucher; Ruth Evans; Amanda Herrmann; Deana Morrow; Allen, Wendi & McKenna Noakes; Jay & Krisha Scott; Jeff & Andrea Southern Nashville Grace ~ Pastor Ken Dove John & Ismay Allen; Brian & Dawn Olson Waverly ~ Pastor Daron Brown Gordon, Patty & Samantha Peek; Charles, Marie, Jeanette & Lydia Stirman; Kelsey Elliott; Kayla Simons Woodlawn ~ Pastor Tracy Hoskins Louis Jolet Jr.; Kaylee Sowers; Ciara Golson; Christopher Luck

TOP TEN NOVEMBER PLAN AHEAD JANUARY 21 ~ Pastoral Training: Lent/Easter Observations FEBRUARY 20 ~ Next Steps: What Are You Reading? Spiritual Reading Plan.

Thursday 18 ~ Good Friday 20 ~ Easter MAY 1 ~ Next Steps: The Missional Church 8-9 ~ Ministerial Interviews 27-June 2 ~ Family Camp: Dr. Talmadge Johnson & Rev. Ian Fitzpatrick SUNDAY SCHOOL 1.

6 TOP TEN NOVEMBER PLAN AHEAD JANUARY 21 ~ Pastoral Training: Lent/Easter Observations FEBRUARY 20 ~ Next Steps: What Are You Reading? Spiritual Reading Plan. MARCH 1 ~ Improve Your Serve 3-4 ~ Pastor s Soul Care: Jeren Rowell, Speaker 9 ~ Daylight Saving Time begins ~Minister Assessment Interviews & Workshops APRIL 13 ~ Palm Sunday 17 ~ Maundy Thursday 18 ~ Good Friday 20 ~ Easter MAY 1 ~ Next Steps: The Missional Church 8-9 ~ Ministerial Interviews 27-June 2 ~ Family Camp: Dr. Talmadge Johnson & Rev. Ian Fitzpatrick SUNDAY SCHOOL 1. Nashville First Nashville Trevecca Community Columbia Grace Hermitage Memphis Calvary Goodlettsville Clarksville Grace Nashville Grace Gallatin Erin NUMERICAL GAIN 1. Memphis Calvary Gallatin Nashville Bell Road Brentwood Concord Community Memphis Friendship Paris Franklin Community...14 Portland Gateway Community Crossroads Community... 9 PERCENTAGE GAIN 1. Nashville Bell Road % 2. Memphis Friendship % 3. Gallatin % 4. Paris % 5. Memphis Refreshing Springs % 6. Crossroads Community % 7. Highland % Nashville Donelson % 9. Memphis Christlike % Camden % MORNING WORSHIP 1. Nashville First Nashville Trevecca Community Columbia Grace Hermitage Goodlettsville Clarksville Grace Clarksville First Memphis Calvary Nashville Grace Gallatin...306

7 Funding the Mission giving Unified & TNU as of Nov. 30 World Evan. & P & B as of Nov. 30 Funding the Mission Funding the Mission Unified TNU WEF P & B Reported Income Income Updated Ashland City Faith Community 87, /30/13 3, , , , Brentwood Concord Community 91, /31/13 7, , , , Camden 13, /29/ Clarksville First 72, /25/13 4, , , , Clarksville Grace 0 9, , , , Clarksville Korean 23, /25/ , Clarksville Park Lane 139, /31/13 5, , , , Columbia First 41, /29/13 1, , Columbia Grace 322, /30/13 12, , , , Covington 4, /2/ Crossroads Community 53, /28/13 2, , , , Dickson Lighthouse Christian 7, /31/ Dover First 9, /26/ , Dyersburg First Elmore 17, /21/ Erin 141, /19/13 5, , , , Fly 26, /9/ , Franklin Community of Faith 0 2, , , , Fulton First Gallatin First 21, /9/13 9, Gateway Community 252, /31/13 10, , , , Goodlettsville 431, /29/13 16, , , , Gray s Chapel Greenbrier New Walk 12, /24/ Griffin s Chapel 49, /30/13 1, , , , Hendersonville 56, /29/13 1, , , , Hermitage 323, /30/13 2, , Highland 13, /27/ Jason Chapel 82, /3/13 2, , , , Joelton 4, /31/ Jones Chapel Kingston Springs 12, /30/ Lawrenceburg Grace 22, /9/13 1, , Lawrenceburg Vaughan Memorial Lewisburg First 21, /30/ Long Creek 13, /2/ Madison 16, /29/ Madison Hispanic 29, /31/ , Memphis Calvary 307, /30/13 11, , , , Memphis Christ Like Memphis Eastside 6, /30/ Memphis Emmanuel Memphis Faithful Believers Memphis Friendship 31, /30/13 1, , Memphis Grace 171, /1/3 6, , , , Memphis Holiness Tabernacle Memphis Hope Tabernacle Memphis New Hope 31, /4/13 1, , Memphis Refreshing Springs Millington 4, /7/ Mount Wesley-Akin Chapel 12, /31/ Nashville Bell Road 10, /28/13 3, , Nashville Bethel 39, /1/13 1, , Nashville Blakemore 45, /28/13 1, , Nashville Christ Nashville Community Fellowship 17, /29/ Nashville Donelson 23, /7/ Nashville First 1,006, /30/13 29, , , , Nashville First Korean Nashville Glencliff Hispanic 0 1, , Nashville Grace 293, /14/13 14, , , , Nashville Immanuel 7, /30/ Nashville Inglewood 19, /19/13 1, , Nashville Kaleo Nashville New Life Korean 10, /5/ Nashville Trevecca Community 506, /30/13 16, , , , Nashville Trinity 27, /22/ Nashville Westwind Community 8, /9/ Nashville Whites Creek 24, /4/ Old Hickory 85, /30/13 3, , , , Paris First 22, /5/ , Pine Hill 42, /12/13 1, , Pleasant Point 4, /2/ Portland 164, /30/13 5, , , , Savannah 11, /30/ Spring Hill Restoration 35, /2/20 1, , Springfield First 4, /11/ Summertown First 8, /27/ Sumner County Living Springs 11, /9/ Waverly First 167, /6/13 6, , , , Woodlawn Community 80, /23/13 2, , , , Total 5,661, , , , , We appreciate churches utilizing Funding the Mission and reporting the monthly income. If you need any assistance, please contact the District Office at (615) 255~2929 and we will be glad to assist you.

January 2014 TAKING MINISTRY PARTNERSHIPS TO A NEW LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE. Dr. Larry W. Leonard District Superintendent

Dr. Larry W. Leonard District Superintendent lwleonard@tnnaz.org January 2014 TAKING MINISTRY PARTNERSHIPS TO A NEW LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE This month of January, 2014, marks the beginning of my sixth year